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Oh dear

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Invermere, Hot Springs
Find more information about Invermere - Hot Springs

Six years ago I drove through the Kootenay Rockies during an extended vacation, stopping at hot, hot springs along the way. Soaking my way to Saskatchewan, I liked to say. Well, I finally found my way back to the east Kootenays and once again found myself slipping into bliss at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

This was the view from my room just after I checked into the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

Need I say more?

I will anyways! Here is the little tip. I didn't know this six years ago, but if you actually stay at the resort, you get access to a smaller, more private pool that you can access via a "tunnel" from the hallways in the lodge. Peaceful and relaxing...

 

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:56 PM

Best deal this side of the Rockies

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Radium Hot Springs, Hot Springs
Find more information about Radium Hot Springs - Hot Springs

Okay, really, it's the best deal IN the Rockies, literally.

I was recently in Radium Hot Springs (the hot water, not the resort) and managed to sneak a dip with one of the staff. As she walked out of the changeroom, I was thrown back in time. She was wearing an old fashioned bathing suit! Which I think looks pretty hip, even now.

For only $1.95 anyone can rent a bathing suit, which makes the excuse of leaving your suit behind, history.

(I think you can buy them too, but at a price a bit more than $1.95.)

 

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:46 PM

Bean there, done that

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Kimberley, Dining
Find more information about Kimberley - Dining

I love my chai! And wherever I travel, I love to find the best cup there is to be had. Turns out, if you climb the steps of The Bean Tree, a local cafe in Kimberly, you can get the best cup of chai and a cozy, funky, friendly place to chill out, or warm up, from a day of skiing or shopping the platzl.  

Ok, I admit it, I was shopping... so here's another tip - The Perfect Present, a kitchen shop in the platzl, sells a wicked pumpkin fudge!

 

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:37 PM

Basa & Frites

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Invermere, Culinary Tours & Schools

I love this! While eating at the new restaurant at the Eagle Ranch Golf Resort in Invermere I was immediately drawn to this menu item: Crusted Basa, Tarragon Lemon Aioli & Frites - or, as us regular folks might call it, fish & chips with a dallop of tarter sauce. Whatever you call it, my tummy was more than happy at the end of the meal.

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:29 PM

Head Banger Tour

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Radium Hot Springs, Wildlife Tours
Find more information about Radium Hot Springs - Wildlife Tours

Every fall the city of Radium Hot Springs host Head Banger Tours. And no, you don’t have to be a groupie of Iron Maiden, Metallica, or Cinderella to join! This tour consists of getting in a car, finding the bighorn sheep, and watching them bash their heads and horns together.

Unfortunately, the tour wasn’t being offered the night I was in town, but after my stay at Bighorn Meadows Resort (see the blog entry), I imagine the evening would be educational and exciting. For more information contact info@RadiumHotSprings.com.

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:26 PM

Springs, Sheep, Spa

November 23, 2007 | Tips from Us > Radium Hot Springs, Wildlife Tours
Find more information about Radium Hot Springs - Wildlife Tours

 

After a sweet soak beside the rock cliff splattered with fabulous fall colours, and after Misty’s fantastic deep-tissue m"aaaaaaaah"ssage at the new Radium Hot Springs spa, I packed up my newly mineralized bathing suit and headed back to our van. As we drove away slowly, a group of bighorn sheep stopped us on the street, wandered aimlessly across the highway to the hot springs, jumped onto the concrete wall by the sidewalk and literally jumped over into the pool. Or so it looked to us.

Actually, there is a grassy patch between the wall and the pool, and after eating their fill, the sheep peaked their heads back over the wall, hopped over, and then scampered away back across the highway. I loved it!

That night, we stayed at Bighorn Meadows Resort, where we were greeted by a herd of about 70 bighorn sheep, with some of them having very, very big horns, and none of them looking like they just had a relaxing spa experience! And even though it seemed a bit unnatural to see the sheep grazing on the golf fairway, it was an incredible experience to see them so close up, just hanging out, doing what sheep do – EAT.

Every year, many sheep are killed by travellers travelling too fast. Please drive slowly through Kootenay National Park and all wildlife areas.

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Posted by Susan Rybar, Vancouver at 03:23 PM