April 17, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Sun Peaks Resort, Skiing & Snowboarding
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I’m a rubbish and panicky skier. But I really wanted to be better and knew I needed to practice during my visit to Sun Peaks Resort in late March. So imagine my glee at hearing that the very family- and new-skiier-friendly Sun Peaks Resort offers a green (easy) run at the top of all their major runs. Families or friends of varying ski abilities can trundle up in the lifts together, ski parts together if they wish and meet down the bottom. No need to part ways for the day and meet up only Apres Drinks! Black diamond folks can go one way, and scaredy cats like me can go another! Excellent!
But I did have to put it to the test, of course… We took the Sundance Express lift up to the top of one set of runs, and while I was nervous, I threw myself into the challenge. But rather than make a tough, tentative attempt down an icy and busy route with boarders and skiers hurtling past me, my Sun Peaks ski was such a great experience! A few of us took the nice and easy Homesteader run to start - and what a pleasure it was.
Like many of Sun Peaks’ green runs this was a wide, unpopulated, gorgeous run with great, powdery snow, and held just enough of a challenge for us real beginners as well as some more flat areas to glide on. It was a good long route, too, and for once I was able look up at the gorgeous view of the mountains and take in the whole experience, while also thoroughly enjoying the experience. The other skiers who did pass me were really cheerful as well, not like some resorts where everyone whizzes past you, slicing and dicing.
From what I heard from some of my other colleagues, they also really enjoyed the Sun Peaks’ downhill experience on those more challenging blue and black runs. I’ve skied at Whistler and Big White and while those are also both great resorts, I can honestly say that Sun Peaks offered a truly enjoyable ski experience for the absolute beginner in me. I felt great pride at making it down a big run, when I normally would have been stuck on the really baby hills!
April 16, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Revelstoke, Attractions
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I’ve never been one for touristy spots, but Three Valley Gap’s Three Valley Lake Chateau and the Heritage Ghost Town, located in Revelstoke, revealed a truly wonderful surprise, when we visited recently. Talk about a labour of love! Gordon and Ethel Bell and their large family have continued to put nearly 50 years of their time and painstaking effort and heart into running this unique heritage spot and they built it, own it and operate it themselves.
The lovely chateau actually started as a tiny motel and coffee shop, and now has more than 200 rooms, with many facing the valleys and beautiful garden. The Bells also recreated a wonderful Heritage Ghost Town village complete with replica (and some real!) historical buildings that Mr. Bell had shipped and rebuilt on his land, including a fire hall, jail, barber, cave, church, school house, hotel shops and many more nooks and crannies filled to overflowing with antiques and historical artifacts dating back more than 100 years.
Most impressive was the train yard and roundhouse – we were told that it was Mr. Bell’s last wish (sadly, he passed away in late 2007) to get this actually working so he could move his impressive collection of historical train cars around the enormous roundhouse. Amazingly, the roundhouse's floor now works, and the collection of trains, railway memorabilia and museum pieces (not to mention the stable of vintage cars, including a restored 1902 Curved Dash Olds!), are remarkable and a sight to behold. I was genuinely touched when listening to the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their family’s devotion to making TVG a truly special place, and would recommend a visit to all comers. That they have really created this on their own and without government funding, it is a truly impressive achievement. TVG is a real BC gem!