Cool Communities in the Kootenays - Podcast

Описание: Visit one or all, these BC mountain towns will keep you active and travelling all season.

By Steve Fennell

British Columbia is a province to visit at your own pace. It’s impossible to explore every community in one season but an exciting start is Southeastern, BC, more specifically the Kootenays.

Home to towering mountain ranges, including the Western Rockies, Selkirks, Monashees, and Purcells, this region provides an RV trip unique to Canada. Mountains roll continuously in the distance, lakes lay at the base of rugged hillsides while streams and rivers flow seamlessly through it all. To start your adventure in the Kootenays, you can visit all of these areas in one big trip or really take your time and enjoy everything they have to offer.

Fernie
A classic mountain town that’s known for its powder skiing in the winter and variety of activities in the summer, Fernie is located along BC Hwy 3 and less than an hour from the Alberta border.

Of the many campgrounds, the Mount Fernie Provincial Campground in the provincial park of the same name is a good choice. Located in the southern Kootenay mountain range, it spans 105 ha (259 ac) and is where you can spend a few days enjoying hiking and biking trails or exploring Lizard Creek, which winds through the park before creating a waterfall into the Elk River.

If you prefer a little more services, the Fernie RV Resort has 144 sites that include water, sewer, and 30/50-amp power (except for Econo sites). The latest news is the resort added 30 full-service sites next to the Elk River. They are also 50 percent larger than other locations in the park.
www.tourismfernie.com

Cranbrook
Approximately 100 km (62 mi) west of Fernie, at the junction of BC Hwy 3 and BC Hwy 93/95, Cranbrook was once a rail town when the Crowsnest Railroad was established in the area in 1898. Its rail history is showcased in the Museum of Rail Travel at the Cranbrook History Centre, which has an interesting display of classic trains.

Exhibits include the Strathcona Car, which has hosted such esteemed guests including Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill. More history can be discovered in nearby Fort Steele Heritage Town, a living history museum with theatre performances, live demonstrations and reenactments.
www.cranbrooktourism.com

Creston Valley
A little more than an hour southwest of Cranbrook via BC Hwy 95 and BC Hwy 3, Creston Valley prides itself as a prime, fertile agricultural region. What this means is you’ll be treated with local flavours from its fruit orchards, wineries, restaurants, and the popular Creston Valley Farmers Market (for hours of operation be sure to visit
www.crestonvalleyfoodactioncoalition.ca/farmersmarket)

If you plan to stay a few days, Creston is near two provincial parks, Lockhart Beach and Yahk. While you can cool off in the refreshing waters of Kootenay Lake at Lockhart, Yahk is located on the edge of the Moyie River, which is popular among anglers of all ages. Other choices include Mountain Park Resort, Scotties RV Park and Campground, Pair-A-Dice RV Park and Campground, and Arrow Mountain RV Park.
www.explorecrestonvalley.com

Nelson
What’s special about Nelson, other than being an active outdoor lifestyle community and situated at the base of the Selkirks, is it has more than 350 restored heritage buildings that provide a unique culture and warm atmosphere.

The self-guided tour of these buildings includes observing architecture from the Victorian era and the 1920s or take the Mural Tour (also the self-guided) that showcases the works of artists from around the world. Most are painted during the annual Nelson International Mural Festival hosted by the Nelson & District Arts Council. This year the event will be held August 12-14, 2022 throughout the community.

Nelson also has a vibrant arts culture and the Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History is worth visiting. In addition to learning about the area’s history, it showcases changing art exhibitions ranging from contemporary to pop culture.

Although Nelson has a great selection of local RV parks, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is a good choice. It consists of four campgrounds and some of the services include power (in select areas), water, picnic areas, and a dump station. It also has more than 1 km (1.6 mi) of sand beaches along with a boat launch and a network of hiking trails.

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Captions
Lead: Fernie’s picture-postcard downtown district.
2. Travelling along BC Hwy 3 next to the Kootenay River. Scenic drives can be found throughout the region.
3. Touring BC Hwy 3 outside of Cranbrook.
4. Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery in Creston.
5. Cast or fly fish, the chances of success are high in this region.
6. Many types of watersports can be enjoyed with the backdrop of a beautiful mountain range.