7 Beautiful BC Lake Resorts | Relax by the Water

Only a 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver, Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa is a favourite staycation spot for local families looking for laid-back fun by the lake. The easy-to-access sandy beach is the perfect place to build sandcastles, enjoy a lakeside picnic, or take a dip in the cool water on a warm day, and the fun doesn’t stop at the shore.

Starting in June, Harrison Lake becomes a true water wonderland, featuring an inflatable Water Park (the ultimate water-top, bouncy-castle-style amusement park), which includes “the blob” (inflatable pillow), slides, swings, trampolines, and “Wipeout-style” catapults. Visitors can also rent bumper boats loaded with electric water guns and engage in epic water fights.

When the lake fun is done, head back to the resort and unwind with a soak in one of five soothing natural mineral pools, warmed by the healing waters of the hot springs that are located only steps away. Relax your tired muscles with a hot stone massage at the Healing Springs Spa, and be sure to catch the daily tea time, hosted each afternoon, where hotel guests are invited to enjoy complimentary cookies, muffins, and freshly-stewed teas in the lobby or poolside.

Enjoy a more rustic stay in a quaint cottage, or splurge on a roomier space for your family. Whether it’s a romantic weekend for two, or a reunion with your whole family, the resort can accommodate groups of all sizes, and thanks to their pet-friendly policy, your furry friends are welcome too.  

The only lakeside hotel in Whistler, and recognized as one of the top three resorts in all of Canada by Conde Nast Traveler, Nita Lake Lodge offers the perfect balance of solace and social–a quiet, lakeside retreat, with access to the upbeat action of nearby Whistler Village.  

Opt for a wellness weekend, and indulge in the treatments offered at the award-winning spa, participate in on-site yoga classes, soak in the adults-only rooftop hot tubs while taking in the surrounding mountain views, or stand-up paddleboard or kayak across the pristine glacier-fed lake.

If urban action is what you seek, walk to Whistler’s bustling Creekside area, where you can shop at the designer stores in the village, dine at one of Whistler’s top restaurants, or socialize with drinks on one of the many sun-drenched patios.

Home to Whistler’s best lakeside restaurant, Aura Restaurant, there’s no need to leave Nita Lake Lodge when you start to feel hungry. Nosh on award-winning cuisine while taking in views of the glowing glacial waters and towering trees that surround you, and then stroll back to your room for a good night’s rest.

Stay in style in one of the luxury suites offered at Nita Lake Lodge, ranging from valley-view studios fit for two, to towering two-level townhouse-style spaces–all suites offer soaker tubs and gas fireplaces – the perfect all-season Whistler escape.

Just as the name implies, Summerland is the land of summer fun, offering first-row access to one of BC’s best boating lakes, Lake Okanagan, as well as prime proximity to pristine golf courses, award-winning vineyards, and must-try hiking and biking trails.

Drop your bags at the Summerland Waterfront Resort & Spa, your Summerland base that feels just like home. Offering fully-equipped kitchens, comfortable sitting spaces, in-room entertainment, fireplaces, and balconies, the spacious suites are perfect for entertaining, or sitting back after a full day of outside play.

Take a dip in the lakeside pool, and soak in the adjacent hot tub, and then cook up a BBQ dinner and toast s’mores at one of the large outdoor fire pits, or enjoy upscale cuisine from the lakeview patio of the on-site restaurant. This resort is ideal for family fun by the lake, in a place that epitomizes summer fun.  

From the private, beachfront, on-site seasonal ice rink, to the wide range of water sports available, Penticton Lakeside Resort has everything you need to enjoy lakeside family fun at any time of the year.

The private beach and marina are a big draw for visitors looking to bypass the bustling boating crowds and enjoy some water play on Okanagan Lake, and the resort offers some unique amenities outside of the water fun as well. Wine enthusiasts will love the hotel’s new GEO Wine Experience Centre, where guests can swish and sip on local wines from the region and learn about some of BC’s best wines, produced right in the area.

All of the rooms at Penticton Lakeside Resort have stunning mountain or lake views, and rooms vary in size from a standard hotel room, to a more luxurious penthouse suite. Opt for a room in the newly-built West Wing, the hotel’s 70-room addition that features a modern refreshed look, and highlights such as a spacious atrium and a multi-level observation deck that’s perfect for lounging by the lake.

A 45-minute drive from Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, Ruby Lake is BC’s best kept secret–a warm, turquoise lake sprinkled with white sand beaches, fully immersed in its natural surroundings. The lake is loved by swimmers, kayakers, and stand-up paddle boarders who circle the serene spot enjoying the quiet, pristine surroundings.

The only resort on the lake, Ruby Lake Resort is a one-of-a-kind oasis, brimming with history and hidden secrets (some well-known celebrities have escaped to this spot to escape the crowds). Located on 80+ acres, the property features a large lagoon which doubles as a natural bird and wildlife sanctuary, and includes access to a private dock, where guests can enjoy board and boat rentals, or lakeside yoga.

The accommodations offered range from rustic, glamping safari-style tents, to comfortable lagoon-side cottages. New this year, guests can also stay in one of five tiny wood cabins that have been added to the site. The resort’s restaurant offers surprisingly upscale authentic Italian cuisine that can be enjoyed from a waterfront patio, or from the privacy of your room.

This lakeside gem is ideal for free-spirited outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for a hidden paradise, where they can unplug and enjoy peace and quiet in the rustic and natural surroundings of Ruby Lake.

Home to the Westside Wine Trail (with 13 wineries to explore), and Mount Boucherie (a local favourite hiking spot), West Kelowna is a top pick for outdoor play in the Okanagan Valley, and set along one of the largest lakes in BC, the area also brings in boaters from around the country.

Tucked along the western shore of Okanagan Lake, The Cove Lakeside Resort offers all of the features of a luxury resort, with the laid-back feel of a boutique-style hotel, based in the beautiful surroundings of BC’s Okanagan Valley.

Dive, dip, or slide into one of the two outdoor pools, indulge in a spa treatment, or take a turn at the putting green, and only 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna, you can wander away from the water and enjoy shopping and dining nearby.

When you’re ready to rest your head, this full-service, all-suites resort offers one, two, and three bedroom suites, with five-piece kitchens and expansive balconies, the perfect fit for families and groups of all sizes.

For a lakeside getaway that offers family fun on-and-off the water, head to Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel & Villas, where you can rent a boat from the dock and explore the lake from the water. Back on land you can play a round of tennis, or spend the afternoon at the 9-hole putting green, and then take a refreshing dip in the pool, and watch on as your kids enjoy the water slide and spray park–or join in on the fun!

For sports lovers, shoot some hoops at the outdoor basketball hoop, or play a game of foosball, air hockey, or ping pong in the games room. In the evenings or on rainy days, families can take in a movie in the private big-screen movie theatre.

Go for a stroll along the water’s edge on a wooden boardwalk that takes you to Hotel Eldorado, a sister property, and enjoy dining on Kelowna’s favourite patio, cocktails in the lounge and on-site whiskey room, or yoga and a movie on the rooftop patio.

Then, kick back in a cozy room, suite, or villa and enjoy room service or cook your own dinner with lake views as your backdrop, the perfect way to unwind after a full day of outdoor play. Rain or shine, this resort is ideal for a getaway that the whole family can enjoy.