Our timing was perfect. Just as the sun slipped behind the Lizard Range and a band of clouds flared with hot-red glow, we dipped our toes in the hot tub and settled in for a pre-dinner soak. The cold bevvies, the laughter, the lively conversation that covered everything from face-plants to bark tattoos; it was the perfect way to rehash the day, do some sky-gazing, and connect with the kids. Ah yes, family time and Fernie. If you ask me, it’s a match made in heaven.
Our family of eight (four boys, a yippy dog, and a sly cat) have been darting out of dodge (Calgary) and blazing a trail to the mountains (typically once a month) for nearly two decades. And, to be clear, we go all over. Any mountain town, any shack or shanty, any resort or riverside retreat, will do. But we always seem to go back to one particular place a little more often than the rest. Fernie!
Sitting snug in the Elk Valley just two-and-a-half hours southwest of Calgary in the Kootenay Rockies, Fernie is a fun-loving mountain town that just seems to tick all the boxes. It’s not overly big, it’s rarely crowded, the local folk are friendly, the ski hill is close to town (and it’s phenomenal), the trail networks for hiking and mountain biking are world-renowned, and the historic downtown is peppered with cool cafes, restaurants, craft breweries and distilleries, amazing art and architecture, funky stores, bike shops, and so much more.
Also, the outdoor adventure opportunities are easily adapted for families and kids of any age and skill level. So, in other words, expect a ton of variety when it comes to trails, ski runs, and so on. For example, when it comes to mountain biking (Fernie is often regarded as one of the best mountain biking towns in the world), you’ve got everything from double-blacks for the daredevils to easy riverside paths for people who simply want to recreate at a slow and easy pace.
Not surprisingly, whenever we head to Fernie, we typically spend a ton of time up at the Fernie Alpine Resort, which is fast becoming one of the top summer mountain resorts in Canada. (Thanks to some of the lightest and deepest powder on the planet, the winter skiing at the resort has been in the “legendary” class for decades.)
If you venture to the Fernie Alpine Resort this summer you can expect stunning new lift-accessed alpine hiking trails, machine-made mountain biking flow trails for every level, and plenty of fun, food, and festivities in the village area.
Our favourite place to hunker down in the village area is the Lizard Creek Lodge. It’s located right at the base of the Elk Chair and features classic Canadian Rockies timber-framed architecture, an amazing restaurant in the main lodge, underground parking, and, yes, a heavenly hot tub overlooking the mountains where you can relax and unwind (with you and yours!) in style.
