Getaway BC » Cranbrook

Walk or drive to find art along the way

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

In 2007, the Creston area celebrates the tenth year of the annual Creston & Kootenay Lake Eastshore ArtWalk/ArtDrive. The ArtWalk/ArtDrive begins in Kootenay Bay, and participants can visit working artist studios and galleries as well as venues displaying the work of local artists and craftspeople, by a selfguided tour, as they follow Highway 3A along scenic Kootenay Lake. From there, the path winds through the beautiful Creston Valley, and continues on Highway 3 to Yahk. Organizers have produced a full colour brochure with an easy-to-follow map of venues and the different points of interest in the area. It will be available at the Creston and District Chamber of Commerce, on the Kootenay Lake ferry and at several venues along the way.;

Meet the sasquatch at the Creston brewery

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Guided tours of the Columbia Brewery, home of Kokanee and the elusive sasquatch, and sampling session are offered at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm on weekdays during the summer months. Outside you can have your picture taken with the sasquatch or visit the Beer Gear Store. Come see how BC’s own mountain lager and numerous other craft beers are made.

Find your thing at Crawford Bay

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Over the years the hamlet of Crawford Bay has attracted a rather eclectic group of artisans to their quiet east shore. Products vary from custom iron work to textile art or handmade brooms and artisan bread. Among these varied shops a visitor is sure to find something that is truly unique and useful for their home. In the days of modern conveniences shipping is available for motorcyclists and others who may not be able to take their products with them right away. And who does not want to be able to say they are sweeping the driveway with a broom from the craftspeople who supplied the mode of transportation for Nicole Kidman in the Hollywood movie Bewitched. Contact the Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce at (250) 227-9315 or visit their website at www.kootenaylake.bc.ca to find out more.;

Follow the road to Yahk and back

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Driving along Highway 3, from Moyie toward the US border, you will come to the community of Yahk, a great place for a detour. Watch the goats play on the roof of the Goat Mountain Soap Company or have a couple of scoops of ice cream. Who could resist when the flavours are called Beaver Butt and Salmon Slobber? There is also great camping in Yahk, gentle walks in nature, watching birds from the river edge, picnics in the forest, wild animal watching and wild flower identifing. This little community also provides travellers with all the amenities they need for a pleasant stay or to continue on their way through the East Kootenay.;

Hunt for antiques

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Yardsale junkies and antique hunters have a blast in the East Kootenay. Throughout the region there are stores that specialize in vintage wares. One point of special interest is the area around the community of Yahk where several stores are focused within few kilometres of one another.

Beat snow and ice on a snowmobile

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Snowmobiling has a large ridership base in the East Kootenay. On the weekends, you will see a lot of trucks, loaded with sleds, heading out into the bush. Like with any other motorized vehicle, remember to ride responsibly and safely. Riding in the snow can be fun, but there are special challenges that you should be aware of before you head out. Never ride impaired and make sure you know about any potential avalanche risks. Ask a professional guide for assistance if you are not sure what to do. There are hundreds of trails and you can ask the local clubs or guides for the ones that are most suited to your tastes and riding abilities. ;

Take the longest free ferry ride

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

However mundane the “longest free ferry ride in the world” on Kootenay Lake may have become to local residents, it remains an experience not to be taken for granted. Whether you spot the distant Kokanee Glacier, get lost in your daydreams about the relics of Pilot Bay, or chance upon the sight of a hunting osprey, there is always something new and fantastic to be seen on the water. There is plenty of parking for walk on travelers and shops and cafes at both terminals to make the ride an outing in itself. Sailing schedules are available at (250) 229-4215, www.kootenaylake.bc.ca or the Ministry of Transportation’s website.

Go for a camping trip at the lake

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Small and large bodies of water determine much of the landscape in the East Kootenay, so opening time at a lake is very much part of the summer routine. Often there are private or provincial campgrounds located along the shore. Another possibility of accomodation on the two largest lakes in the area, Kootenay and Koocanusa Lake, is to rent a houseboat and sleep wherever the current might take you that day. Some larger lakes are accessible for motorized boats, others only allow non-motorized boats. Hint: test the temperature before you jump in; some of the mountain lakes are quite cold – even in the heat of summer.

Make a splash at the Radium Hot Pools

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

The story of the Radium Hot Springs is as old as the Rocky Mountains where they are located. Even before Europeans discovered this area, the First Nations people knew of the healing power of the hot pools. From a first concrete pool, built in 1914, Radium has developed into the largest hot spring pool in Canada and the water’s temperature is a comfortable 39 degrees. There is a shallow lounging area, perfect for children and a 25 metre long cooler pool complete with diving board. A luxurious new day spa is offering an array of massage and wellness treatments, plunge pools and a steam room.

Soak in the Hot Springs in Fairmont

GetawayBC.com — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:00:00 +0000

The first European settler in the Fairmont Hot Springs area was George Geary, an Englishman, who came to the area in 1887 and homesteaded a vast tract of land that included the hot springs. His home still stands at the south end of the Mountainside Golf Course. Today, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers four and a half star accomodation, spa services, golf, skiing and other recreational activities, but the centrepiece is still the hot spring. Every night the pools are drained, scrubbed, and refilled by morning with fresh, mineral-rich natural hot springs water to ensure the facility is as clean as possible.