If Whistler is the blingy, brawny brother of B.C.’s ski and snowboard scene, then Nelson is the wild, bohemian and beautiful little sister. This West Kootenay small town has everything you could ever want in a winter ski weekend: a hill stacked with champagne powder, a walkable downtown and a reputation for strong coffee and a fun club scene, with sweet spots to shop, relax and sleep to (ski) boot.
ski: Whitewater Ski Resort is one of B.C.’s best-kept secrets, with an average snowfall of 12 metres, a vertical drop of 623 metres and runs for intermediate and expert snow bunnies. The best part? Sleeping in is an option, thanks to the mountain’s close proximity (20 minutes by car) to accommodations in downtown Nelson. www.skiwhitewater.com
stay: Rebranded in mid-2014, the Adventure Hotel‘s 40 rooms vibrate with bright colours (think canary yellow and tangerine orange doors), wood walls and exposed brick. A stay in the king deluxe suite includes access to the hotel’s rooftop infared sauna, while those with wee ones can book an economy room with a dangling bunk and queen-sized bed. Either way, a funky common space on the second floor acts as a (free) coffee shop and a great place to watch the game. Adventure Hotel, 616 Vernon St., Nelson, 250-352-7211, www.adventurehotel.ca
sup: Nelson has more delicious eateries per capita than many small towns. Perk up prior to hitting the slopes with a cup of java from Kootenay coffee king Oso Negro, then dig into one of the Full Circle Cafe‘s highly sought-after eggs benny offerings (our faves: Nanny’s Benny or the West Coast). Mid-snow day, break for lunch at Whitewater’s award-winning Fresh Tracks Cafe (of cookbook fame); refuel apres with a burger and local Nelson Brewing Co. taps at Rel-ish on Nelson’s downtown Baker Street. For a more intimate meal, book a romantic table for two at the All Seasons Cafe, tucked away in a cosy alleyway half a block north of Baker. All Seasons Cafe, 620 Herridge Lane, Nelson, 250-352-0101, www.allseasonscafe.com
spa: After a full day of pow, head to Mountain Waters Spa for an Inspiration Treatment—a 45-minute soak in a jetted mud bath and 60-minute massage to work out all those knots. Mountain Waters Spa, 205 Victoria St., Nelson, 250-352-3280, www.relaxationredefined.com
shop: Small town or not, Baker Street is a fantastic place to break from skiing for an afternoon of retail therapy. Stop by Tara Davis Studio Boutique to peruse Canadian-made jewelry from Winnipeg’s Dconstruct, Nelson’s Clever Fawn and Vancouver’s Black Drop Designs. For warm and sexy—yes, really—leg warmers by Grace & Lace and buckets of locally picked vintage household goodies, head to Birch’n’Burlap. Feel like checking out a DJ at the Spirit Bar but only remembered to pack snow attire? Bia Boro Boutique carries the cutest dresses for a grooving night.
To the mountains! —Miranda Post
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