I go to Chilliwack every year - that's where my family live (and I lived there a few years while growing up). So given that information, I'm probably not the best person to make recommendations on sight seeing. I usually just spend time with my family.

However, I do know that there's a tourist information office right off the highway on the west side of Chilliwack. They would have loads of information for you.

Othello tunnels outside of Hope is kind of cool. We spent an afternoon there. There's also Minter Gardens, kind of a smaller version of Butchart Gardens. It's just east of Chilliwack. I've been to both with my husband (who isn't from that area).

Lots of nice drives - up to Chilliwack Lake, etc. A longer drive would be to Hell's Gate Canyon - incredible scenery.

Patty
While I live in Kelowna now, I grew up in Chilliwack and lived there for many years, and my family still lives there. If you have kids in your group, there are water slides at both Bridal Falls (Trans Canada Waterslides) and Cultus Lake. The ones at Cultus Lake are bigger. Bridal Falls park has a nice hike up to the falls and a picnic grounds, There is also a golf course right close there and Minter Gardens is right accross the highway. Harrison Hot springs is another popular tourist spot. Harrison Lake has a nice sandy beach and each year hosts the Sandcastle competition that attracts competitors from around the world.
I think that is in sept. but you would be able to find out from the info center. There are also lots of neat little restaurants and icecreams shops there. The hot springs itself is a main attraction. Lots of Europeans go there for it. There is an indoor hotsprings pool that is open to the public, and the Harrison Hotel also has there own complex of pools. You can take a short 20 minute walk down the lake to the actual hot springs site. (it stinks like rotten eggs as hot springs do.)
There are whitewater rafting trip down the Chilliwack river, and Cultus lake is where most of the locals go to waterski, as there are lots of provincial campsites and day parks along this lake. The town of Yarrow,
has a number of antique stores with lots of farm antiques as well.
I know the Chilliwack fair is fun to go to and it is some time in August.
Also the PNE ( Pacific National Exibition )is on in Vancouver for the month of August with lots to see and do there, also the Abbotsford Airshow usually takes place the weekend after the long weekend in August.
Here are a couple of websites to check out
www.tourismchilliwack.com
www3telus.net/harrisonhotsprings/

have fun planning.
Lynette

Thanks for all your input, Susan and Lynette!! I'll be getting out the map and marking the places you've suggested.
Patty