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Reprinted from Coast Reporter

Family fun in the Columbia Valley

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Reprinted from Coast Reporter

Family fun in the Columbia Valley

By Olivia Harmon

Early on a spring morning the sun is already heating things up on the warm side of the Rockies in B.C.’s Columbia Valley. Even novice golf skills aren’t enough to put a chill on the first tee box at Riverside golf course. Alongside the Columbia River, the 18-hole course at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers a great day of golf. Golf may not be everyone’s ideal pastime, but the golf course is a great place to start experiencing the Columbia Valley.

Unlike most golf courses a beginner would take their first strokes on, Riverside is a cut-above the rest. The course is outlined with a stunning mountain backdrop coupled with an enriching, natural atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot for a family-friendly game, or to push your skills to the next level. Located in the East Kootenays of B.C.—a well known golf Mecca—there is plenty of room to practice with the critically acclaimed Mountainside and Creekside golf courses at Fairmont as well. There are also dozens of championship courses within an hour’s drive of Fairmont Hot Springs to occupy even the most ardent of golf addicts.

“We’re trying make golf a more accessible sport for all ages,” Peter Smith, director of golf at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, said. “Creekside is a great place to learn, but then Mountainside and Riverside offer some of the finest golf in the Valley.”

While golfing is a popular activity in the Columbia Valley, there is far more to experience. The area surrounding the town of Fairmont Hot Springs includes Kootenay National Park, Columbia Lake and Canal Flats Provincial Parks. Hiking excursions will be a lasting memory in any one of these destinations and treks range in difficulty, meeting every hiker’s needs.

But exploring the outdoors can be a daunting proposition for the inexperienced. Enlisting the help of professional guides can open the door to a world of outdoor adventures that the average person may not attempt otherwise. Andi Dzilumns and Jocelyn MacGregor from the Eco-Adventure office at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort are working to create a safe and fun atmosphere for families to get out and experience the B.C. Rockies.

“Our goal is to give visitors the tools to not only enjoy the outdoors, but enjoy it responsibly,” Dzilums said. “We want people to really have an educational experience that they’ll remember long after their visit to the Valley.”

The Eco Adventure programs are available to the public year round and provide a learning experience for amateur and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike. Drawing on the experience of professional naturalists gives everyone a chance to be introduced to the riches of the Columbia Valley.

Summer activities for the whole family in the Valley include canoeing and kayaking, hiking in a variety of terrain (including a stunning hoodoo hike minutes from Fairmont Hot Springs), horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and boating on Columbia and Windermere Lakes.

Fairmont Hot Springs, in the heart of the Columbia Valley, is an ideal central location.  Invermere is a 10 minutes drive north, with a good variety of restaurants and shops and it is located right on Windermere Lake, which offers opportunities for boating, windsurfing, swimming and fishing. 

It’s not hard to find a B.C. Rockies experience unlike any other in the heart of the Columbia Valley. The hard part is convincing yourself it’s time to go home.

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