Photo Credit: Contributed
I remember living in Abu Dhabi four years ago, marveling at sights I’d never seen before having lived in BC my whole life.
I loved the way the sand dunes appeared rose-gold in the sunset, I laughed while shoveling sand off my balcony after a storm instead of snow, I remember the all-consuming heat of a humid 47 degrees celsius.
But a feeling I’ll never forget, near the end of our time there, was the intense longing for my Canadian mountains.
Coming home and seeing BC mountains for the first time again was like reuniting with a long lost love. My heart was happy. It’s my love for BC peaks that drove us towards our next adventure, the West Kootenays.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Packing up the trailer for another one week tour of this amazing province, we excitedly headed for the BC town specifically known for its serene mountainscapes, Nakusp.
Kelowna to Nakusp takes under 3.5 hours by car and includes a free ferry ride across Arrow Lake, a beautiful widening of the Columbia River.
Sandwiched between the Monashee Mountains and the Selkirks, we set up camp at a recreation site just outside of town.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Mountain biking is the activity of choice here but if you’re more of the relaxing type, or you just need a good soak after a day of riding, Nakusp’s many natural hot springs will bring you back to center.
We decided to check out Halfway Hot Springs, a 24-minute drive from our campsite and 11 km down a forestry service road.
This road is not plowed so know the limitations of your transportation in winter. There are three pools to enjoy in the forest and a few further down by the river. I sat in one pool with hot, mountain water wrapped around one leg and freezing river water around the other!
Photo Credit: Contributed
After two tranquil nights, we reluctantly parted ways with this adorable town and headed down the scenic road towards Nelson. The rainy day caused our stop in Kaslo to be a short tour from the car but this delightful town is worth exploring if you have the time.
Our next three nights were spent at Kokanee Creek Provincial Campground, just 20 minutes outside of Nelson. We nestled into the trees and enjoyed the amazing beaches, nature center, and bike trails.
Photo Credit: Contributed
We spent the next day immersing ourselves in Nelson's culture.
If you take anything away from our experience it’s that you absolutely need more than one day to appreciate all that Nelson has to offer.
The beauty of this vibing town astounded me. Mountains encircle this town and not from afar, making the views and experience completely surreal.
The streets are alive with people shopping the quaint boutiques and dining on open patios.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Of the many fantastic boutiques in Nelson’s bustling center, make sure you do not miss meeting former Kelowna resident, Natasha Young at Woosahh Fashions.
Her love for this province, for Nelson, fashion, and her family of seven is inspiring. Her boutique’s story was humbling and her fashion sense is on point.
We spent hours trying everything on, giggling over trends and swapping stories. Locals here are some of the friendliest we’ve met on our travels.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Sprout Eatery, across the street from Woosah boutique, is your place for plant-based lunch. Their smoothies were thick, creamy, and flavourful.
I devoured their vegan poke bowl in one of their cute booths overlooking a wall decorated with dried flowers by a local artist. This eatery has character and is not to be missed!
Nelson has many other attractions to entice visitors, from breweries and niche shops to the local train ride by the lake and Cottonwood Falls.
If you find yourself there on a Sunday, with most stores closed, grab a coffee from one of their amazing cafes and take a walk around the town just to appreciate all of the colorful murals painted on the sides of buildings.
Thirty minutes from Kokanee Creek, towards Kaslo, Fletcher Falls is a must-see!
A short hike through the forest, down a fairly steep, but manageable hill, will take you to gorgeous falls and two rocky beaches.
The mountain and lake views here are unrivaled and the rocks are perfect for skipping competitions.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Looping back towards Kelowna, we had one more stop to make in Jewel Lake, a trip that takes you through more of BC’s cutest towns like Castlegar.
A great place to stop for a picnic lunch is at their suspension bridge!
The winding roads up the Selkirk Mountains are lined with trees so tall they seem to at once make you feel welcome and also an intruder.
There is much wildlife to come across, from big horned sheep to bears.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Jewel Lake lends itself to fantastic fishing, abandoned gold mines, and even an old ghost town. The provincial park is first come first serve and our boys loved chasing the wild rabbits around.
It provides a peaceful halfway point on your way back to Kelowna.
As we exit the Kootenay region of BC and crest HWY 33’s view of Kelowna, I’m already making plans to return, for as John Muir once said, “the mountains are calling and I must go”.
Follow us on Instagram @loewenlifestyle for our next adventure!
