Planning a road trip? Head to The Rockies! Outdoor adventure awaits! Parks, landscapes, scenic mountains — expect all these and more. Pack your bags and let’s head to British Columbia.
There are many day trip opportunities in BC. Depending on your personal level of adventure, you can swim, hike, follow naturalist trails and arrange camping trips. You can do all that in Creston. It is an enchanting town located in the south of Kootenay Lake in the southern Kootenays, at the junction of Highway 3, 3A and Highway 21. It runs 7 miles (11 km) south to the Canada/US border.
The trip to Creston is well worth it. Known as The Valley of the Swans, you will instantly fall in love with its snow-capped mountains, deep sparkling lakes, gentle mountain streams, open spaces and fields of grain. Here is a place where Kootenay River converges with Kootenay Lake. Indeed, it’s best for those city dwellers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy lifestyle. Major festivals are the Blossom Festival held in May, the Apple Festival every October and the Fall Fair. Even without these festivities, there are enough places to see and do in this scenic town. Visit the Stone House Museum for some pre-historic lessons. Stroll the streets and appreciate the Murals of Creston which depict the life in the valley. You can tour the Glacier Brewery of the Kootenays, home of Kokanee Beer, in Erickson Street. If you’re going there mid-June to mid-September, you may join an organized tour and see how it has evolved from the Fort Steele Brewery established in 1898 to what it is today.
Have some nostalgic fun by watching a movie at the Valley Drive-In Cinema which has been in operation since 1955. Get a taste of the wildlife via a visit to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. You have a choice between guided tours and canoe tours to appreciate this large expanse of preserved wetland. It is a sanctuary for up to 250 species of upland birds and waterfowl. It is also a major stopover for migrating Tundra Swans.
Raring for high adventure? White-water kayaking along Moyie, Goat and Salmo Rivers is waiting for you (experienced kayakers only). Don’t worry if you aren’t qualified to kayak; instead, enjoy mountain biking at Stagleap Provincial Park during the summer or cross-country skiing and snowboarding during the winter. Drive up north a bit through Highway 3A along the eastern shores of Kootenay Lake and you’ll enjoy the beaches and campgrounds. Golfing and fishing are other good options.
Enjoy an organized family trip and discover adventure in a whole new way.
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