Category: The Kootenays

Revelstoke to Calgary (with a pit stop in Banff)

As much as we were impressed by the drive to Revelstoke, we had many eye popping vistas greet us as we headed to Calgary. Golden BC has the whole Kicking Horse Mountain resort going for it, which is about 14 km from Golden, and completely not on our itinerary. One thing to keep in mind, which we didn’t, is that you lose an hour going into Mountain Time in Golden. So we grabbed snacks at the Highway 1 Tim Hortons, a facility that has seen better days, and headed east. Field BC, is the last outpost for British Columbia and […]

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Best Western Revelstoke – new construction, fresh decor

The Best Western PLUS Revelstoke opened in 2011, which makes it a fairly new property. Best Westerns are highly varied in quality even with the PLUS designation the brand has been pushing for the last few years. I loved the rock and wood decor, which seemed to fit into the overall outdoors-y feel that Revelstoke has. We were only there one night, but the room was spacious enough for two adults and two kids. There are key amenities such as high speed Internet, free breakfast, a pool, pets friendly, a fitness centre and a hot tub. What did seem lacking […]

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Nico’s Pizza Revelstoke

After a long day driving, you are often too tired to think and the thought of a complex dinner with kids is too much and since we’re not the organized types who have a picnic dinner on standby. The Best Western we were staying at, although a new construction, did not have a restaurant, but was willing to shuttle us into town. As we weren’t sure what we wanted to eat and I had no intention of drinking (I knew even one beer would put me to sleep), we returned to the car for the 5 minute drive into town. […]

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Vancouver to Revelstoke

This is the first article of a circle tour my family did between Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and back. This journey in the end covered roughly 2600 kms of driving in one week, which by some standards is crazy, but by Canadian standards is not too bad. Our first leg was Vancouver to Revelstoke, which is about 6 hours of driving. If you are only familiar with normal east-coast driving, be prepared that this is a lot of high altitude mountain driving. This is good because the scenery is amazing but can be daunting at first. When you take Highway One, […]

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Five Reasons to Stop at Field BC

My experiences with Field, BC have been mostly limited to driving by it. Normally by that point in my voyages east, I was road-weary and just wanting to get to Banff or Calgary. There are however, a few reasons to exit the highway and enjoy your self. Burgess Shale. About 1/2 a billion years ago, this part of BC was an ocean. The Burgess Shale is the largest fossil collection. Emerald Lake Lodge. The view of the mountains and lake is to die for. (Worth the 20 minute drive from Field.) Truffle Pigs Bistro. Just the name makes me want […]

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Boundary Country 2014

Tucked in South Central British Columbia Boundary Country provides the bridge between the BC’s Okanagan and Kootenay regions. The urban center of Boundary is Grand Forks. Boundary offers many spectacular sites and events to explore. The Rock Creek Fair in September is certainly worth a visit as it perfectly captures small town warmth and welcome. Midway hosts the Groove music festival in June and Grand Forks has the Grand Forks International baseball tournament at the end of June. Park in the Park is fast becoming a major car show and it too is hosted in Grand Forks in mid August. […]

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History, Mystery and Hot Springs Caves abound in Ainsworth Hot Springs

Looking for the Best Hot Springs in Canada?? Well, look no more as we’ve found a well kept secret called … Ainsworth Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada! History, Mystery and Hot Springs Caves abound in Ainsworth Hot Springs Whether you’re looking for an unique  hot springs experience that includes an underground cave boasting temperatures of  38 degrees C (108 degrees F) for relaxing pleasure (year-round), or whether you enjoy Spelunking in the underground Cody Caves of only 10 degrees C (July/August) you’ll find them both in Ainsworth Hot Springs along with breathtaking views of the Kootenay Lake & Purcell […]

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Top Ten Reasons why Fernie is the coolest town in North America

A small mountain town known for its mining heritage, nestled between majestic Rocky Mountain peaks? Yes. Epic skiing and snowboarding all winter long? Yes. A dozen lakes and rivers to swim, boat, raft, fish, and float on in the summer? Yes. Dozens of trails to hike and bike from dawn ’til dusk? Yes. Nightlife that rivals the best night out in any Canadian city? Yes. Welcome to Fernie. I’m not from around these parts, not by a long shot. Coming from Vancouver and having lived in international cities, I was skeptical of the list I just mentioned. But having spent […]

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Top 5 Reasons to Visit Fernie in Winter and Summer

Fernie is for Families and for Friends. It’s for Fans of skiing and riding, for Free-stylers and Fast downhillers, for Fresh tracks throughout the day and for Fine dining and Fun in the evenings. Before you come, make sure you book accommodation, before you leave this winter you should: Take the new chair to the top of Polar Peak and experience Fernie’s epic powder for even longer vertical than before! Drive out to Island Lake Lodge and discover some of best snowshoeing in BC. Get up before the rest with a first tracks package and make the freshest lines while […]

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10th Anniversary of St. Eugene Golf Resort Casino

April 6, 2010 – Cranbrook, British Columbia The year 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the golf course at the St. Eugene Golf Resort Casino. What many people are not aware of is the work and dedication to an ideal that transpired years before the first golfer took the first swing at the course. “The first year I was here was in 1995,” said Graeme Douglas, CGSA, manager, golf and hotel facilities. “I had been working on courses in Europe and Les Furber wanted me to come see the project. The Mission building was a shell, but […]

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