Kimberley News
Top 3 Things to Do in Kimberley That are Social Distancing Approved
Well our 2019 selves would have never thought our 2020 selves would be in this position, but here we are. The return of another winter season brings us to a new era of winter activities – the social distanced type of activities. While skiing and snowboarding is a great way to get outdoors, enjoy the mountains and keep our social bubbles intact, there are a variety of other outdoor activities to enjoy in our communities as well.
To top it off, we’ve done the research for you and put together some recommendations;
Fat Biking around Trickle Creek Golf Resort
Fat Biking is one winter sport that just keeps on rising in popularity. At Kimberley Alpine Resort you can take a guided Fat Bike tour around Trickle Creek Golf Resort by staying in your social cohort. Your tour is topped off by sitting around a fir and enjoying S’mores. The quintessential winter day!
Shop, Hang and Drink Local
Kimberley is home to a quaint pedestrian platzl located right in the heart of the town. Visit the inside and outside of this block not only for some great Instagram worthy selfie ops but also for local restaurants and shops with an unmistakable alpine vibe. Stop into The Shed for a laid back restaurant and bar with delicious worldly food creations and eclectic rotating beer selection. Check out the Arrow & Axe General store to find tried and testing outdoor and camping gear as well as ‘good vibes’ jewelry, outdoor fashion and local products. Pop over to Overtime Beerworks to sample the lagers, pales and ales from the only local brewery in Kimberley (outdoor seating available). But that’s not all, when looking at the platzl on google maps you’ll see a whole smattering of spots in one little area to explore all day long.
Snowshoe with Fondue & Night Skiing
Being a resort with night skiing, our running chairlift and lit up ski run provide the unique opportunity to enjoy the mountain by night. If you’re not into skiing under the lights and the stars (and even if you are and just want to mix things up a bit), take a fondue snowshoe tour. Wind through the forest atop the mountain under the stars, work up that appetite to enjoy a spread of fruits and pastries to dip in the chocolate fondue pot in the cozy warmth on our mountain top Kootenay Haus.
- Published in News
6 breathtaking views and awesome adventures you won’t believe are less than a days drive from Calgary
If you live in Calgary, you’re actually pretty lucky to! Being able to live in a beautiful urban area surrounded by gorgeous mountains is certainly something to be thankful for. On top of the views, being so close to seemingly endless outdoor adventure and activities are an accolade many cities don’t have to brag about. If you’re looking for outdoor fun while maintaining social distance, here are a few suggested short staycations to consider.
Kimberley, B.C
Hiking & Biking
Let’s start with Kimberley. People love to describe Kimberley as a hidden gem in the rockies – and that’s exactly what it is. You’ll need to turn off the main highway to find this town but trust us, it’s worth the time. Not only can you hike up the ski hill at the resort to take in some of the gorgeous views of the town from the top of the mountain, but Kimberley, like the others above have an array of trail networks in and around the towns. One of the places that is a must do while in Kimberley is the short walk to the Marysville waterfalls, it’s another one of those hidden gems you don’t expect to find so easily and is definitely worth the short trek out to it!
Fernie, B.C
Views from town and the top of the mountain
Next up, is a town that is already many Calgarians’ favourite short trip to make, Fernie, B.C. An easy 2.5/3 hour drive from the south end of Calgary along the Cowboy Trail you’ll drive right into Fernie’s town site, where you are literally surrounded by mountains on all sides. Continue through the town to Fernie Alpine Resort and you will not be disappointed. The views of the Lizard Range from the base of Fernie Alpine Resort are breathtaking enough, but by taking a ride on the Elk Chairlift you’ll get a view of the valley of Fernie, B.C that can’t be matched.
Golden, B.C
Hiking & Via Ferrata at Kicking Horse
Continuing on, let’s go to Golden, B.C, home to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and just a 2.5 hour drive from Calgary’s north side. One of the unique aspects of Kicking Horse is the view of 6 National Parks from the peak of the mountain. And guess what, the peak of the mountain is easily within your reach! Kicking Horse has gondola accessed hiking and dining that offer some of the most stunning views you’ll find. And if you’re looking for something a little more to get the adrenaline pumping, the views from Via Ferrata are intense not just due to the views but due to the fact that you’re dangling off the side of a mountain or the suspension bridge (all while harnessed in of course).
Places to stay along the way
Even though you can easily visit any one of these towns and get back to Calgary in a day, staying overnight is always a nice option to have!
✅ Gorgeous slopeside mountain views
✅ Outdoor patios & in hotel restaurants offering take out
✅ Outdoor pools & hot tubs
✅ Close to all activities & adventures
✅ Convenient and safe – all our suites have full kitchens
Both of our feature properties at Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort feature all of the above, making either location a great basecamp for your quick getaway or longer staycation.
See special offers at Lizard Creek Lodge
See special offers at Trickle Creek Lodge
We realize this can be a difficult time to consider travelling, before heading out on your trip check on the Alberta & British Columbia government website for any guidelines or restrictions at your time of travel. To see what safety procedures and routines we have put in place visit our resort or hotel websites.
Kimberley Alpine Resort COVID information.
Feature Photo by Powder Matt
- Published in News
We will meet again
In the words of arguably the most famous woman in the world, Queen Elizabeth – ‘‘Around the world we have seen heartwarming stories of people coming together to help others’, Kimberley (as we knew it would be) is of course, no exception.
We are all facing the most difficult time the world has ever seen, for most of us in a lifetime. And no doubt everyone has noticed the changes it has made to our daily lives. And while these times are challenging, it’s time like these that show us what we’re made of and allows us to appreciate the things we do have and to realize that we are all in this together, it’s through the support of each other we will get through this and come out the other end with a renewed appreciation for what surrounds us.
Here are just a few of the awesome initiatives going on in our community;
Facebook Social Distancing Cooking Class
Started by our very own Rob from Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery! This Facebook group is open to everyone – a place to share recipes and cooking videos to help everyone with ideas for what to cook your family for meals as well as maybe pick up a few new skills. Join the group today.
The Kimberley Front Porch Project
Local photographer Chelsea from Meadowsweet Photography has started a Facebook group to feature the people and businesses of Kimberley to show the way people are being affected during these times, in exchange for being featured there is an optional GoFundMe page set up for donations that will be given to the Kimberley Food Bank. To date there has already been over $5000 raised! To have Chelsea stop by and feature your family and/or business, check out the Facebook group page for contact info, to donate directly go to the Go Fund Me.
Paws in the Window
Another fun way to raise donations is the Paws in the Window initiative, set up by the Kimberley Kritters store. They ask you to make a piece of pawprint art, put it on display in your window, take a picture and send it to the Facebook page. For every picture received Kimberley Kritters will donate $1 raising funds to support free pet food and supplies to those who need it in the community. See the art and get inspired on the Facebook group page.
Care Packages from Food & Beverage
When we unexpectedly shut down on March 15th, as you can imagine one of the side effects of this was having a surplus of food in danger of going to waste. Our Food & Beverage Director, Shawna, along with colleagues Chef Jenn and Sous Chef Kasey thought quickly and put together care packages for our team to take home avoiding food waste and making sure it was well used.
Sparks Kimberley Birthday Parades
The longer the situation continues, the more birthdays we’re celebrating at a physical distance. The Sparks Youth Centre has come up with a fun solution to that. Let them know when your birthday is in their Facebook group and you might even get a parade for your birthday to enjoy from your home!
Our outdoor adventures may be on hold, but rest assured they will still be there for us to enjoy in the future and until then, we’ll continue to support each other. And so to quote The Queen one more time – ‘we will meet again.’
*If you know of someone doing something great for your community message us through our Facebook page and let us know!
- Published in News
COVID-19 Precaution: Kimberley Alpine Resort Closed for the Season
Dear Guests
Further to our March 15th decision to suspend Ski Area Operations, after careful consideration of the quickly changing circumstances around Coronavirus (COVID-19), Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has made a decision to suspend ski resort operations for the remainder of the 2019/20 ski season at our Western Canadian Resorts, including Nakiska Ski Area, Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Here at RCR our number one priority is the safety, health and well-being of our Guests, Team Members, and the Communities which we live, work and play in. As tough a decision as this has been, we feel it is the right thing to do under the current circumstance.
In an effort to limit social interaction we will not be opening our guest service and ticket offices for the time being, both at resorts and our Calgary office. For questions regarding purchased products please email the address below (In response to this situation we are receiving an overwhelming volume of calls and emails, your patience is appreciated as work respond to these requests).
We sincerely apologize to you our guests for this inconvenience. As always, we truly appreciate the support which we receive from you and thank you for that. We will look forward to welcoming you back to our resorts and Mountain Communities in the future.
Sincerely,
John Shea
President/Chief Resorts Officer
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
- Published in News, Press Releases, Uncategorized
A travelers guide for visiting Kimberley Alpine Resort
Off the beaten path? Yes. Easy to get to? Also Yes.
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘off the beaten track’ and it might not apply to many places as much as it does Kimberley. Having to leave the main highway to take a side highway to get to the town is part of it, however that’s not the only way to Kimberley.
A lesser known way to get to Kimberley (yet even easier and faster), is through air. Kimberley is the closest ski resort in the region to an international airport – about a half hour away!
The Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC), is just a short drive down the road, and the great news is, it’s serviced by major airlines such as West Jet and Pacific Coastal Airlines. With daily flights flying in from airports all over Canada as well as from the United States, Kimberley no longer needs to be looked at as ‘off the beaten path’ (although it does still have that charm). A huge bonus – if you’re staying at Trickle Creek Lodge, Kimberley Alpine Resort’s premiere ski in/ski out hotel property, they’ll even send a shuttle to pick you up right from the airport – for FREE! This is one place you can really fly & ski all in one day.
Kimberley Alpine Resort and the town of Kimberley B.C hold a certain small town vibe about them. They both have a distinct Canadian feel while architecturally European looking, they’re like no other place in B.C (or Canada). Skiing of course being one of the many popular activities to experience in Kimberley, it certainly doesn’t stop there. It’s well known for being a family friendly resort with appropriate terrain (and perfect purcell powder), apres activities for kids and the only resort in the area with night skiing, however it’s also an awesome time for of agers – Americans take note, our drinking age is 19 up here ;-). There’s live music every weekend in The Stemwinder Bar & Grill at the resort located just a few steps away from Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery and even pop up craft beer stations to check out while you’re riding the powder. On top of that, Kimberley hosts fun events all the time with everything from ski races to outdoor concerts and parties.
If all that ski hill fun isn’t enough, the town of Kimberley is less than a 5 minute drive away and has an incredibly quaint walking plaza with multiple shops and a craft brewery, it’s like an awesome pub crawl but barely having to move!
If you’re looking for even more ideas on what to do in Kimberley, here are some other helpful spots to check out;
4 Epic Winter Adventures to Have in the Canadian Rockies (Besides the Obvious)
Winter Activities & Heli Skiing at Kimberley Alpine Resort
If you’re looking for even more terrain to hit, Fernie Alpine Resort is just about an hour away from Kimberley and perfect for a little day jaunt to check out a different mountain.
So what are you waiting for? Go on, book your trip to Kimberley now!
Visit the Canadian Rockies International Airport website for flight info.
Book your flight through West Jet.
Pair flights with your hotel and lift tickets through RCR Vacations.
Photos by Prestige Tours, The Real McKenzie Photography, Michael Scraper, Cole Pellerin
- Published in News
BUCKHORN & MAIN SPRINKLED WITH A FEW KIMBERLEY FAVOURITES
Delicious smells wafting from the kitchen and friends laughing on the patio make up the summer vibe at Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery. With potted flowers outside and rustic cabin-like styling indoors, the restaurant weaves itself seamlessly into the mountain landscape. Buckhorn & Main is connected to the Trickle Creek Lodge at Kimberley Alpine Resort and is the perfect jumping off point for your next summer get-away. The reason you’ll want to come back year after year though, is because of people like Food and Beverage Manager – Shawna Crawford.
Shawna’s been with the resort since 2000 when the restaurant first opened as Kelsey’s. She fondly remembers celebrating Mother’s Day there with her then 18-month and 4 year old daughters. Her girls were raised in the small community of Kimberley and largely at the hill. This fuels her passion for patrons to experience the same friendly and comfortable environment her own family had growing up in the area.
In spite of being the gateway for an endless number of activities, Kimberley has maintained it’s small town, off-the-beaten-path feel. Locals have an inherent pride of where they are from and extend the invitation to visitors to enjoy their town as locals too. When the restaurant ended it’s franchise with Kelsey’s and launched Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery it was only natural that it was named after one of Kimberley’s own favourites, the beloved fixed-grip lift the “Buckhorn” and the longest night skiing run in North America the, “Main.”
With the restaurant, golf, biking and hiking trails, swimming and hot tubs all on the hill, staying at Trickle Creek or the Polaris Lodge make for a nice locale to go out from but that’s only the start of activities in the area.
You’ll feel yourself slip into holiday mode walking around the Bavarian style Platzl with it’s quaint boutiques, coffee and bike shops and restaurants where it’s not uncommon to take in live music or a game of open-air Ping-Pong.
Must-see activities include the short, easy walk along the meandering river in Marysville (just south of Kimberley) to take in the views of a 30-meter waterfall. Enjoying an ice cream across the street at Lickity Split before heading to the skate and bike-park for the kids to play is a sure favourite. The area is surrounded with bike trails, from easy 2 km loops like Happy Hans that’s great for even the smallest of pedalers accessed easily from the Nordic Centre parking lot to the Bootleg Bike Trails for the downhill enthusiasts.
Thankfully the Spirit Rock Climbing Centre is open most nights until 10 pm allowing you to sneak a climb into an already activity-filled day. There are routes for everyone from seasoned climbers to beginners, and with the auto-belay system the whole family can have fun together.
Lastly, make time to unwind with the scenic 83 km drive north of the city to take a short hike at White Swan Provincial Park to soak in the natural, rocky pools along the river that make up the Lussier Hot Springs. It’s the perfect way to end a perfect trip.
- Published in News, Uncategorized
Added Flights Makes Planning Spring/Summer Fun Even Easier
Kimberley, B.C. is sometimes referred to as ‘off the beaten path’, but the truth is it’s actually super easy and extremely convenient to get to, given its close proximity to YXC – the Canadian Rockies International Airport. Yes, you read that right, it’s that close to an international airport. You don’t need to fly into Calgary and rent a car to get there, just fly right into YXC and grab a cab or shuttle to Kimberley (Trickle Creek Lodge has a free one if you’re a guest there). Being less than 30 minutes away, you’ll be in Kimberley before you know it (most people who live right in Calgary aren’t even that close to YYC, Calgary’s International Airport)!
Making things even easier is the addition of more flights to YXC through Pacific Coastal Airlines as part of their spring/summer schedule. Increase in flights and scheduling includes 7-day a week service, same day business travel options, flights twice daily between YXC & YVR and enhanced connections between regularly scheduled destinations within Pacific Coastal.
Don’t know much about Kimberley? Looking for a good reason to visit the area? Here are 5(ish) of the best reasons.
So much Golf!
‘A Golfer’s Dream’ is Trickle Creek Golf Resort’s slogan, but really it can apply to the whole region of Kimberley and its nearby towns, since there are so many golf courses to choose from! Try to fit them all in on one trip – you won’t be able to! But that’s okay, just another great reason to make the easy trip back.
Food & Craft Beer
If you’re one of those hipsters who travels around trying all the craft beer, fancy coffee and delicious food you can (and even if you aren’t), Kimberley is a stop you will want to make. There no shortage of unique and delicious options. Start the day off at the Kimberley City Bakery, all you have to do is read some of the rave reviews on their Facebook page and you’ll be convinced to stop in. You can easily spend the rest of the day bouncing around the restaurants in and around the downtown Platzl, try The Shed for a delicious lunch and craft beer, pop into Overtime Beer Works for a local brewery experience, try Pedal and Tap (so good it’s only open for dinner) and if you’re still thirsty after that, head to Buckhorn & Main that has great daily features (located right in your hotel, Trickle Creek Lodge).
The town of Festivals
The festivals in Kimberley just don’t stop!
With something fun going on just about every weekend, in summer it
starts with Marysville Daze at the beginning on June and continues with First
Saturdays, Julyfest (the best of the fests), Round the Mountain, Kimberley Kaleidoscope
(and a lot more)!
Outdoorsy Things – Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Kayaking
Kimberley truly is an outdoorsy town with a huge variety of outdoor fun, from strenuous to recreational. Is hiking and/or biking your thing? We’ve got trails from easy to hard, from forests to waterfalls and even an old train route turned bike/pedestrian path from Kimberley to Cranbrook called Rails to Trails. Prefer fishing? Kimberley is surrounded by mountain lakes and rivers and is known for it’s ‘feisty fish’. Looking for something a little gentler and to leisurely take in the surrounding scenery? Try kayaking down a quiet stream.
Quaint town to explore
For a ‘small ski town’ there is actually a ton to do in Kimberley, especially for families. Kids and adults will enjoy the aquatic centre, skate park, climbing centre and exploring the nature park (to name a few).
More about the new Pacific Coastal service see the Press Release on their website.
More information about activities, festivals and dining in town on the Tourism Kimberley website
More information about resort activities throughout our website
Main photo: Pacific Coastal Facebook
Other photos courtesy of Trickle Creek Golf Resort, The Shed and Tourism Kimberley
- Published in News
PSA – Kimberley is Slaying the Scene RN
Now that we have your attention, it’s time to give you the downlow about Kimberley. Don’t worry if you don’t understand our millennial slang, we’ll explain it all in due time.
No matter how much time you’ve spent in this unique place (there’s just something special about a town with only one set of street lights), we can almost guarantee you still don’t know all the Kimberley experiences there are to be had. We don’t blame you, TBH there’s so much going on in this awesome, but unassuming town it’s hard to keep up with it all.
All the feels – friendly, modest charm
What do people think of when they think of Canadians (besides hockey), they think of the word friendly. Canadians are known around the world for being a friendly bunch and Kimberley is one of the absolute best examples of this. At Kimberley, locals and repeat visitors are super passionate about what an amazing place this is, but they aren’t going to be extra about it. If you ask, we’re happy to let you in on our secrets, but if you don’t ask, we’re happy to let you figure it out on your own too.
Get your Canadian on – go to a Dynamiters Hockey game while in town, skate at the skating rink at Trickle Creek Lodge, Snowmobile – tours are run out of nearby Cranbrook.
Wonderfully Non-Conformed
Kimberley is not quite your average ski town – in some ways it is, however in many ways it’s one and only of its kind in Canada. With its distinct European vibe, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled further than you probably have.
Do something different, Kimberley styles – Check out the Ullr Dag fest, an annual ski burning ceremony as an offering to the norse god of snow. Visit the Cuckoo Clock in the Platzl (give it some coin and it will even yodel for you) or attend one of their newer festivals – the Medieval Festival (annually in July).
Food & craft beer scene is on point
For a smaller town, there is a ton of lit AF places to eat and drink. First of all, Kimberley has its very own brewery – Overtime Beer works, a craft beer lovers dream! Other Kimberley dining gems include The Shed, Pedal and Tap, Sullivan Pub and Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery. Of course, there are all the usual comforts as well like – Stonefire Pizza, Kimberly City Bakery, Britner’s Fish & Chips, Burrito Grill (and more).
Get turnt – at free après live music at Stemwinder – weekly, The Shed in the Platzl, Overtime Beerworks (just beside the Platzl) and Friday night College nights at the ski resort.
Convenient
A lesser known fact about Kimberley is that it’s actually super convenient to get to. The Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) is located under a half hour away from the resort and has major carriers flying in, like WestJet. Many hotels also offer shuttles to pick you up, like Trickle Creek Lodge, Kimberley Alpine Resort’s top Ski in/Ski Out property.
Vacation Goals – Fly & ski all in one day. This can be done at Kimberley since the airport is so close or if you miss day skiing, we have night skiing as well!
Low key popular destination
In the ski resort world, there seems to only two extreme sides to the spectrum – super crowded, or deserted. Well Kimberley has somehow mastered being blissfully in between. While there are a healthy number of visitors to the town at any given time, if you’re skiing there’s a good possibility, you’ll hit a run or two and not see another soul and there’s a great possibility you won’t stand in a single lift line up.
Pro tip – Check out Dorval. Dorval is a forever favourite run of our staff as most people ride right on by it! Our theory is everyone is too busy making their way to the Easter chair to notice this spot and pass it by, but next time we suggest you try it out! To get to Dorval, ski right of the intersection to Dean’s Right and Ridgeway, some of the best attributes of Dorval are – it’s one of the steepest runs on the hill and is only groomed once a week. One of the rarest experiences you’ll have on this run is actually seeing another soul riding near you and if you do, there’s a safe bet they work at the resort or grew up skiing there.
A better Romantic getaway
Even better than Netflix and Chill? Romantic getaway seems to imply hanging out in your hotel room, going out for nice meals, spending quality time with your SO – and all of these are things you can do in Kimberley. But we’re upping the romance game by offering you fun experiences with your bae too.
Couple Goals – try out twilight snowshoe tour at the top of the mountain, topped off by chocolate fondue in the Kootenay Haus. Or go on a Snowshoe S’mores excursion, taking you around Trickle Creek Golf Course with a stop for a fire and smore’s before finishing up.
All Seasons Adventure on fleek
There’s so much to do here, you won’t have time in one trip (bruh….).
Pics or it didn’t happen. Try these Kimberley adventures on for size – Heli skiing, Night skiing, Snowmobiling, Cross Country Skiing, Skating, Hockey, Black Spur Ultra (fall), Round the Mountain (summer), Horseback Riding (summer), Hiking, Biking and don’t forget golf…so much golf!
The downlow on snowfall
If after reading this whole list, snowfall is what it really comes down to when you you’re your vacation choice – the best is still yet to come for Kimberley! Historically, we get most snow during our winter seasons between February and April.
Yaas. That is all.
——–
Millennial Slang Help:
PSA – Public Service Announcement
Slaying – Looking fresh or on point
RN – Right Now
all the feels – A phrase used to describe something that makes you feel good; or having good vibes
Extra – Over the top, dramatic behavior
On Point – fleek (see below)
Lit – When something is turned up or popping
Turnt – Hype for a party
S.O – Significant Other
Bae – A pet name that stands for Before Anyone Else
On fleek – refers to something that’s perfect or on point.
Bruh – Another way of saying “seriously?”
Yaas – An enthusiastic way of saying yes
Photos; Mountain Man Cole, The Shed, Tourism Kimberley
- Published in News
4 Epic Winter Adventures to Have in the Canadian Rockies (Besides the Obvious)
Sure, the Canadian Rockies are known for clean lines, epic powder days, and bluebird skies, but skiing and snowboarding are far from all they have to offer. A winter wonderland and snow globe brought to life; if you need a break from the slopes or just want to vary your vacation activities, try these unique winter adventures on for size. You don’t have to venture far from the resorts, either (if at all).
- S’mores Fat Bike Adventure – Kimberley Alpine Resort
This adventure on the Trickle Creek Golf Course includes a two-hour guided fat bike tour (also available as a snowshoe tour) through the winding trails of the golf resort. After you’ve broken a sweat, a firepit, hot beverages, and toasty s’mores will be waiting to power your ride back down. If you’re looking for an even bigger adrenaline rush, they also run night tours via headlamp.
- Snowshoe and Fondue Tours – Kimberley Alpine Resort
Held at the top of North Star Mountain, you’ll ride the chairlift up for snowshoe trek through the deep pow. When you’re ready to warm-up, the Kootenay House Log Cabin will have chocolate fondue waiting as a tasty reward. They also run a special Valentine’s Day tour if you’re looking for a unique outing with your loved one.
- Cat Skiing – Fernie Wilderness
For dedicated backcountry enthusiasts, snowcats can plow through almost any type of weather so whiteout conditions won’t impede your vacation plans. The Fernie Wilderness has some of the most legendary and challenging runs on the planet but is still accessible enough that beginning skiers and boarders can practice their turns. An added bonus? The trips are BYO.
- Purcell Heli-Skiing – Kicking Horse Resort
Heli-skiing is one of the most coveted winter experiences for true powder hounds. Grouped by skill level, a helicopter will take you to up the pristine mountaintop in search of untouched lines and fresh powder in the Canadian Rockies’ vast wilderness. You are guaranteed at least five runs with an average of 700 vertical feet, so get ready to feel the burn.
- Published in News
A Guide to Thrive in Winter
Let’s get straight to the point; winter tends to overstay its welcome. With major snowstorms lasting into April earlier this year, Mother Nature definitely took longer than expected to bestow warmer temperatures upon us Canadians.
Living in this wonderful, snowy nation, there are some crucial lessons to learn in order to thrive in the ‘Great White North’. Most importantly, is realizing the importance of making the best of your environment and conditions (especially the long winter months we so often endure).
Our initial instincts are to stay warm and cozy during blizzard-stricken months, huddled indoors with blankets, warm drinks, a crackling fire and taking in an unhealthy amount of Netflix, while silently praying that our neighbour or significant other will shovel the walkway. Winters have such great potential though, why surrender such glorious opportunities to see the remarkable beauty Canada boasts in its backyard?
Exploring the outdoors throughout all four of our Canadian seasons is a revitalizing experience for us, which should be taken advantage of to refresh our frame of mind. It’s a chance to discover new adventures just a snowball’s throw away. We’re all familiar with making the most of warm temperatures during the summer months with patio season and backyard lounging in full swing. The winter landscape can be just as inspiring too, when given the chance.
If you need more convincing, here are a few of Canada’s premiere winter activity destinations:
Fernie, British Columbia
The shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs along 2nd Avenue in Fernie are some of the Canadian Rockies’ hidden gems, with surrounding mountain peaks looming over the glow of its downtown streets.
Located just down the road, Fernie Alpine Resort is home to some of Canada’s most legendary powder, with an average snowfall of 30ft. From epic downhill skiing to leisurely snowshoe and groomed cross-country skiing trails, the resort has activities for the whole family. It also offers plenty of weekly programs to get you outside and even yoga classes to help you find your winter Zen. Their on-mountain accommodations along with a local shuttle to town make for a perfect introduction to Canada’s winter activities.
Kimberley, British Columbia
If you’re looking for a classic mountain town, you’ve found it. The town of Kimberley embodies the Canadian spirit with humble, welcoming locals and a relentless passion for nature. Kimberley is home to craft beers, great local dining, the oldest building in Canada and a variety of activities to enjoy outside.
With stunning scenery of the Kootenay mountains, Kimberley Alpine Resort is just minutes from town and offers great facilities and terrain for people of all skiing and snowboarding ability levels – from first-timers to seasoned slope shredders. Looking to stay on level ground? Try the area’s expansive snowshoe trails, cross-country skiing network or check out fat biking, one of North America’s favourite new activities (mountain bikes with wider tires for better grip in snow conditions).
Golden, British Columbia
One of the most famed locations along the Powder Highway, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and the town of Golden are conveniently located along the TransCanada Highway and ready to provide you a mountain experience like no other. Drop into Whitetooth Brewing Co. for locally crafted beers, or the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre for an up-close learning session with these amazing animals.
Delving deeper into nature, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort offers Canada’s highest dining experience, the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at 7,700ft. Once you’re fueled up, hit the slopes of the Catamount Chair to learn the basics on your skis or snowboard, or bring your little ones to the tube park and natural ice rink at the base of the resort. Advanced skiers head to the top via the gondola for wide ranging bowls, ridges and chutes. If staying grounded is your preference, Golden is primed with world-class snowmobiling, along with plenty of rentals and tours available.
Life’s too short – and winters are too long – to miss out on a lifetime of adventure. Let winter activities revitalize your soul and help you look forward to the inevitable snowfalls each year. Meet Mother Nature halfway on this one and discover how rewarding Canada’s winter climates can truly be.
- Published in News