Finding a Hotel in BC's Rockies
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for BC's Rockies, British Columbia.
Whether visiting the Canadian Rockies for business or pleasure, the experience will be one surrounded by natural beauty. The region has mountain peaks, green valleys, wooded hillsides, flowing rivers, crystal clear lakes and soothing natural hot springs, as well as a profusion of small mountain towns full of character and accommodation.
Compared to its cousins in Alberta, the BC Rockies and its towns offer a mellower, but no less active, place to stay. Several towns in the region have a range of budget and mid-price hotel and motel accommodations, while there are also one or two more luxurious options dotted throughout the panoramic landscapes.
FERNIE
Snow-sport and mountain-biking enthusiasts, as well as golfers and fishers, may find themselves looking for a place to rest their heads in Fernie, a town located at the southern end of the BC Rockies. Luxurious hotels include Lizard Creek Lodge, which offers ski-in, ski-out lodgings, and Island Lake Lodge, which sits an 8-km (5-mi) drive or snow-cat journey (in winter) off Highway 3. It provides a get-away-from-it-all vacation option both in winter with cat-skiing and in summer with its own hiking trails and lake, as well as spectacular views of the Lizard range. Fernie also has several mid-range and budget possibilities at both locally owned and chain hotels found along Highway 3, which runs directly through the town.
CRANBROOK
West of Fernie is the city of Cranbrook, the largest in the area. Its airport means Cranbrook is often the starting point of a visit to the BC Rockies and more than 20 hotels and motels are located along the long main strip (Highway 3) that runs through the town. Most are largely geared to passing traffic, but for visitors wanting more than the standard chain-hotel amenities, a couple of high-end hotels with conference facilities are available, as well as the upscale golf resort and hotel of St. Eugene, just north of Cranbrook.
KIMBERLEY
Kimberley, known for its Bavarian-themed architecture and international accordion festival, has hotel and motel accommodations geared mostly to mid-range budgets and catering largely to families of skiers in winter and golfers in summer. A few budget motels are located at the southern end of town, while the Chateau Kimberley Hotel offers a more elegant choice in the town centre.
INVERMERE, WINDERMERE & RADIUM HOT SPRINGS
Along Highway 95, which runs north and south along the western edge of the Rockies, visitors encounter Invermere, Windermere and Radium Hot Springs. The former two communities are both lakeside locations with mid-range chain hotels while the latter offers more luxury coupled with the promise of natural hot springs in which to soak aching muscles or tired minds. At Radium, guests can stay in 4½-star luxury at the Prestige or enjoy the two golf courses at the Radium Resort.
GOLDEN
Farther north where Highway 95 meets the Trans-Canada (Highway 1) visitors reach Golden. This buzzing town is almost always full of outdoor enthusiasts and adrenalin junkies arriving with ATVs, watercraft, mountain bikes, snowmobiles, snowboards and skis. For resting those weary bodies after a hard day of activity, a cluster of accommodation is available, largely located along the Trans-Canada, which runs through the town, or just south of the highway in the town's small centre. Accommodation ranges from large international chains to small independent hotels.
Situated 6 km (4 mi) out of town and up the mountain is Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, where there are on-hill hotels available. Here, the Palliser Lodge provides ski-in, ski-out accommodation, complete with outdoor hot tubs.
REVELSTOKE
Finally, Revelstoke, located a little farther west along the Trans-Canada, equally boasts an outdoor paradise surrounded by mountain peaks and with the impressive Columbia River flowing right through town. The town has a lively, cultured atmosphere, especially in summer, and is host to various budget and mid-range hotels and motels. The Hillcrest Hotel provides more luxurious features, such as in-suite Jacuzzis, and the Nelsen Lodge, at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, is an on-hill option for mountain bikers and skiers alike.
Compared to its cousins in Alberta, the BC Rockies and its towns offer a mellower, but no less active, place to stay. Several towns in the region have a range of budget and mid-price hotel and motel accommodations, while there are also one or two more luxurious options dotted throughout the panoramic landscapes.
FERNIE
Snow-sport and mountain-biking enthusiasts, as well as golfers and fishers, may find themselves looking for a place to rest their heads in Fernie, a town located at the southern end of the BC Rockies. Luxurious hotels include Lizard Creek Lodge, which offers ski-in, ski-out lodgings, and Island Lake Lodge, which sits an 8-km (5-mi) drive or snow-cat journey (in winter) off Highway 3. It provides a get-away-from-it-all vacation option both in winter with cat-skiing and in summer with its own hiking trails and lake, as well as spectacular views of the Lizard range. Fernie also has several mid-range and budget possibilities at both locally owned and chain hotels found along Highway 3, which runs directly through the town.
CRANBROOK
West of Fernie is the city of Cranbrook, the largest in the area. Its airport means Cranbrook is often the starting point of a visit to the BC Rockies and more than 20 hotels and motels are located along the long main strip (Highway 3) that runs through the town. Most are largely geared to passing traffic, but for visitors wanting more than the standard chain-hotel amenities, a couple of high-end hotels with conference facilities are available, as well as the upscale golf resort and hotel of St. Eugene, just north of Cranbrook.
KIMBERLEY
Kimberley, known for its Bavarian-themed architecture and international accordion festival, has hotel and motel accommodations geared mostly to mid-range budgets and catering largely to families of skiers in winter and golfers in summer. A few budget motels are located at the southern end of town, while the Chateau Kimberley Hotel offers a more elegant choice in the town centre.
INVERMERE, WINDERMERE & RADIUM HOT SPRINGS
Along Highway 95, which runs north and south along the western edge of the Rockies, visitors encounter Invermere, Windermere and Radium Hot Springs. The former two communities are both lakeside locations with mid-range chain hotels while the latter offers more luxury coupled with the promise of natural hot springs in which to soak aching muscles or tired minds. At Radium, guests can stay in 4½-star luxury at the Prestige or enjoy the two golf courses at the Radium Resort.
GOLDEN
Farther north where Highway 95 meets the Trans-Canada (Highway 1) visitors reach Golden. This buzzing town is almost always full of outdoor enthusiasts and adrenalin junkies arriving with ATVs, watercraft, mountain bikes, snowmobiles, snowboards and skis. For resting those weary bodies after a hard day of activity, a cluster of accommodation is available, largely located along the Trans-Canada, which runs through the town, or just south of the highway in the town's small centre. Accommodation ranges from large international chains to small independent hotels.
Situated 6 km (4 mi) out of town and up the mountain is Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, where there are on-hill hotels available. Here, the Palliser Lodge provides ski-in, ski-out accommodation, complete with outdoor hot tubs.
REVELSTOKE
Finally, Revelstoke, located a little farther west along the Trans-Canada, equally boasts an outdoor paradise surrounded by mountain peaks and with the impressive Columbia River flowing right through town. The town has a lively, cultured atmosphere, especially in summer, and is host to various budget and mid-range hotels and motels. The Hillcrest Hotel provides more luxurious features, such as in-suite Jacuzzis, and the Nelsen Lodge, at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, is an on-hill option for mountain bikers and skiers alike.
On-site Day Spa
Robson Valley Hotel
Best Western Valemount Inn & Suites
Rocky Mountain adventure awaits you in this wilderness paradise!
Non-Smoking Motel
Waterslide Hotel
Secluded Setting
Island Lake Lodge
in Fernie, BC
Offering luxurious accommodation, fine dining, a full-service spa, hiking, weddings and catskiing!
