I have shared with you my experience exploring the beautiful city of Cranbrook B.C. during the winter, but I had the chance to head back this past summer and fell even more in love with this amazing place.
If you haven’t heard of Cranbrook before, this spot is located right in the heart of the beautiful Southern B.C. Rockies. Basically you have a 360 degree view of stunning mountains and so many outdoor adventures it was hard to fit it all into one weekend but I sure tried and I wanted to share some of my favourite things to do with you.
Where to stay
I had a chance to stay in the beautiful Prestige Hotels and Resort and I have to say this was one of the most unique and gorgeous hotels I have had the chance to stay in because I actually got to stay in a rail car. The railway is such a historic part of the city and being able to stay in such a different room was amazing. I got to stay in the chandelier room that included a comfortable king bed, jet bath tub, and the most incredible deco.
What to do
Experience one of the hundreds of lakes or rivers
The rivers and lakes that surround Cranbrook offer the perfect spot for canoeing, kayaking, or my personal favourite paddle boarding. Not only is it so calming being out on the crystal clearwater but you also cannot beat the the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
Explore the city via bikes
One of the things I love most about Cranbrook is how active the community is. One of the top things to do in the area is go mountain biking right in the Rocky Mountain Trench between Purcell and Rocky Mountains. While I am no mountain biker I decided to stick to some of the easier trails along the NorthStar Rails to Trails path. This 28km scenic route connects Cranbrook and Kmberley. We stopped to take some pictures of the beautiful waterways and mountain views along the way.
Take a hike
Biking isn’t your cup of tea? Well there is honestly there isn’t a better way to explore the beautiful rockies than on foot. Fishers Peak is a stunning summit along the skyline of Cranbook. The Whiteswan Provincial Park is also a must do. It is home to the natural Lussier Hot Springs for a relaxing soak after your hike.
Learn about the culture
When I was there in the winter I had the chance to tour St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino. There is so much history to this resort because it used to be a red brick school and is one of the few places where they kept the original building. My first visit we learned about the Ktunaxa Nation’s history but this time around we got a more hands on experience and had a chance to learn how to build a real tipi, how cool is that?
Work on your swing
There are seven 18 hole golf courses in the Cranbrook area so you have a choice to swing beside a rushing river or under mountain peaks. I had a chance to hit some balls at the Wildstone Golf Course. I have to say it was a little distracting to focus on my swing with the beautiful rockies in the distance.
Eat some local food
One of the things I love most about Cranbrook is the fact that they have so many delicious local restaurants. I was actually surprised by all of the food options that weren’t chain restaurants. I loved having breakfast in the morning at Hot Shots, lunch at Soulfood (a farm to table spot), some pints and poutine at Fire Hall Kitchen and Tap and then finish up at the Heid Out for some delicious food and live music.
I absolutely love Cranrbook. From the beauty of the mountain backdrop, to the delicious local foods it is an amazing place to explore and discover and I am sure I will be back for more.
Happy travelling my friends,
xo
Mia
