Last year we journeyed out to the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival and it’s taken me this long to give it some proper attention on this website. Luckily there’s still time to plan your trip out to Harrison Mills and Harrison Hot Springs for this year’s festival. I recommend planning for a day or two to honour these amazing birds and spend some time in an incredibly beautiful part of our glorious province.

It’s a quick and scenic drive out to Harrison Mills, just ninety minutes from Vancouver along the Lougheed Highway/BC-7. Just head east to Mission and follow the signs to you reach Harrison Mills.

 

We checked into Rowena’s at Pretty Estates, an historic property situated on the Fraser River consisting of a main manor and a several rustic cottages filled with restored antiques. This time we were in the main building, but there’s still a very private feeling and the walls are well-insulated so you feel as if you are the only people around, unless you require anything and then the service is brisk.

You will rest well here atop glorious bedding in either the manor rooms or the cottages with barely a noise to be heard apart from the occasional eagle or a swing of a golf club connecting with a ball from the nearby course.

Upon arrival there’s always a tasty local cheese plate and local wine to sip while you get comfortable and begin to wind down. We took ours out onto the balcony with views of the river and began our search for the bald eagles, assisting with the binoculars provided.

Nothing yet, but it was getting dark, so perhaps they, like us, were resting.

Dinner at Rowena’s is easy; we just hopped next door to the River’s Edge where diners can choose from casual West Coast fare or go upscale with dishes such as the Escargot, French Onion Soup and excellent Lamb Chops. Our meal was lovely; service attentive, dishes well executed, we wish this place was closer.

After a well deserved sleep in, we headed out for a walk to catch some of the bald eagles and the salmon that bring them to the area. We saw salmon, beautiful forest greens and a number of other interesting articles such as this abandoned toiled, but no eagles.

Somewhat disappointed, but at we at least had a nice breakfast to look forward to back at the resort. An omelette full of farm fresh fresh range eggs, eggs benny and locally made pork sausage energized us and put our minds back in positive mode.

After a drive about the area to observe fall country colours, we returned for afternoon tea. The scones are amazing, sandwiches and special bites delicious but some of the sweet other items that weren’t made at Rowena’s weren’t as nice as the homemade goods, as is usually the case.

Finally out for another stroll, hopeful and keen to catch these damn birds we had success. They are obviously more active later in the day here.

That night we decided to drive out to the nearby Harrison Hot Springs for a soak in the hot springs, and dinner in the Copper Room.

The prime rib was excellent and it’s always such a flash back in time to sit in the Copper Room and listen to the old school band and watch couples of all ages hit the dance floor. There’s always some serious talent out there.

This year the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, begins November 15th and ends December 6. During this time the entire area celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of the Fraser Valley by honouring the majestic Bald Eagle and the Cycle of the Salmon. Harrison Mills is home to the world’s largest concentrated eagle gathering. The raptors are drawn to the area by the millions of spawning salmon that travel up the Fraser River to tributaries, such as the Harrison River. The estuary is also home to incredible wildlife such as trumpeter swans, ducks, seal, bear, coyote, deer and the great white sturgeon. Situated on the banks of the Harrison River, Pretty Estates Resort is the perfect place to watch this phenomenal eagle gathering! You can book your room , watch the eagles though their live cameras  and view the eagles from the patio at River’s Edge Restaurant or the estate’s eagle viewing gazebo.

The Sts’ailes BBQ Salmon Lunch or Fundraising Dinner, is also organized and hosted at Pretty Estates. Purchase tickets  Sts’ailes BBQ Salmon Luncheon on Saturday, November 22nd and buy tickets for the fundraising dinner on Saturday, November 29th.