What type of holiday are you looking for? Are you traveling with family or friends? When would you like to visit? Let us make some recommendations!
Text by Jasmin Shannon, Lemons For Days
Photos Mark Shannon
There’s a magical time in the year where the mountain bikes spend more time in the garage than on the trails, the floaties and SUPs are tucked away for the season, and that legendary powder is beginning to dust the highest peaks surrounding the town of Fernie. Beautiful fall sunrises, golden leaves still hanging on to the trees, and crisp mornings that are perfectly made for a warm cup of coffee and a walk along the Elk River with your best friend. Now is the ideal time to plan that trip to the Elk Valley to take advantage of all this British Columbia gem-of-a-town has to offer.
Fernie, BC is a short three-hour drive from Calgary through rolling foothills, and surrounded by the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery. My best friend and I knew it would be the perfect place for a girls’ trip. We headed south, then west through the Crowsnest Pass, but alternatively you could also head through the national parks west of Calgary, and then south through the Columbia Valley.
This area of the Kootenays is known for all kinds of outdoor pursuits from skiing to biking to fishing & hiking. Fernie has incredible boutique stores and restaurants, plenty of accommodation options, and countless activities that allow you to immerse yourself in nature, pamper your body, and recharge your batteries.
Free activities include hiking, biking, the self-guided Fernie Art Walk or Heritage Walk, disc golf in James White Park, and even soaking your toes in the Elk River. There’s a great visitor information centre as you arrive in town, that can give you some helpful suggestions of other sites and activities to check out depending on the season.
After checking into our hotel, we took in the golden evening light while walking along the riverside pathway at Dogwood Park, just minutes from downtown. The weather was truly spectacular during our stay with warm afternoons and the deepest blue skies overhead. Before the sun fully ducked behind the Lizard Range, we stopped in at the Fernie Distillers, where the bartender mixed up some tasty tea-infused cocktails. Later, after a quick change of clothes, we enjoyed a delicious Mexican meal at Chilango followed by a glass of red wine on the patio back at the hotel.
The next morning, we made our way downtown to explore the shops and galleries that line the historic 2nd Ave. Some of our favorites included picking up a new cologne for my husband at Drift & Sonder (Fernie’s refillery and eco-conscious shop), cute clothes from Freyja Kootenay Boutique, and some good reads from Polar Peek Books.
It was such a nice afternoon, we opted for a patio lunch at The Brickhouse, then off to check out the new exhibit at the Fernie Museum and hit up a few of the galleries. Back outside, we took advantage of the warm fall sun to see the colorful murals and public art that is dotted around the downtown core. That night, we checked out the latest menu additions at Bramasole Restaurant & Wine Bar and had a fantastic dinner in this very cozy restaurant. We highly recommend the gnocchi dish!
On our last day, we booked facials at the Three Sisters Day Spa. It was one of the best I’ve ever had and was such a relaxing way to top off a trip with a little pampering and glowing skin. Leaving town, we quickly ducked into Fernie Brewing Co. to grab some local craft beers to bring home. Much like the drive out, we found ourselves commenting on just how beautiful this corner of the province is and already planning our return trip.
No matter the season, Fernie is always a destination I recommend as there is plenty to do and see. And no, you don’t have to be a skier. ;) Take advantage of the Fernie Fills My Cup Promotion from now until the end of November and get up to $150 in local gift cards to shop & dine if you book a stay.
