Sun Peaks is about 50 kilometres north of Kamloops, British Columbia. It’s a quick and easy drive up to the ski hill formally known only as Tod Mountain to the main Burfield lodge that has been there since 1961. Before 1993 when Nippon Cable bought the area, only the locals knew about the fantastic powder skiing. Now Sun Peaks caters to thousands of people in all seasons on three different mountains including Tod Mountain, Sundance Mountain and Mt. Morrisey.

With over 3, 500 acres of ski area, Sun Peaks boasts 12 lifts and some 121 runs over the three mountains. There are hundreds of different kinds of accommodation for all walks of life ranging from hotel rooms and condos, chalets, bed and breakfasts to entire house rentals. The Sun Peaks village has over 30 eateries including pubs, restaurants and night clubs.

If shopping is your thing, Sun Peaks has everything from souvenirs, clothing, ski/snowboard rentals and sales, to art galleries and fine wine. There is even a Chocolate Factory. You can even store up for the week’s groceries at the chalet at the local grocer.

If it is possible to get bored of the fabulous skiing, there are many other things to do at Sun Peaks. Tobogganing at the Tube Time park is a big hit with the kids. Or you could take the family snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice skating, snowmobiling, or even snow biking (with skis instead of wheels). And don’t forget the sleigh rides!

For a fun and affordable family ski vacation, Sun Peaks is not only easily accessible but features award winning accommodations and dining. The second larges ski area in British Columbia and the third largest in Canada is but a 4.25 hour drive north of Vancouver with daily flights from Kamloops and Kelowna. Enjoy BC’s finest powder (over 220” per year) for yourself at Sun Peaks Resort.

Although Victoria BC has so many wonderful features to share with the world, many people are simply unaware of where it is because of its location on the south tip of Vancouver Island, and just over an hour from Vancouver by ferry.  And, the people who do come to see Vancouver sometimes won’t go to Victoria BC because of how far they have to travel; however, they are really missing out on a lovely city that is safe enough to explore by walking.  And getting there is not as bad as it seems.  The three typical ways: if you are coming in by plane then fly to the International Airport, if you coming from Vancouver or Tsawwassen then take the BC Ferry, or if you are coming up from Washington State then take the Coho Ferry at Port Angeles.  Both the BC Ferry and the Coho Ferry take approximately and hour to cross over the Strait of Georgia.

170 years ago, Canada and America were fighting over their common border.  James Douglas from Hudson’s Bay Company knew that they would call the dividing line at the 49th parallel, so he leased an area of land belonging to the British government.  His main purpose was to keep this land from falling into America’s hands.  He called this place: Fort Victoria, and since Fort Victoria was underneath the 49th parallel, it remained the property of British Columbia.

Then, Victoria’s 1850’s Goldrush brought 25,000 hopefuls to the area, but like most goldrushes, the gold soon ran out and so did the people.  After that happened, the area, now called Free Port of Victoria, saw a rise in population to 20,000 around the year 1900.  The town’s industries began to boom:  mining, lumber, and fishing, and also brewing and shipbuilding.  And when you do visit Victoria BC and see The Empress Hotel and British Columbia’s Parliament Buildings, remember that this was the time period in which they were built.

Now that you have arrived in Victoria BC and know a little background information, where should you go?  A couple major attractions are the Inner Harbour, Emily Carr House, and the Village of Oak Bay.  There are gardens and parks such as the Butchart Gardens and Thunderbird Park.  And do not forget the museums full of native art, artifacts, and history: the Royal British Columbia Museum and the  Maritime Museum of British Columbia.  If you are interested in adding some of Victoria BC’s native art to your collection, there are many shops and galleries ready to cater to you.  And, when you have finished up with all that shopping, stop in at a microbrewery, restaurant, or bistro to people watch and drink up the atmosphere.

Would you like some more details?  Let’s start with the Inner Harbour and the Fisherman’s Wharf, both popular tourist destinations.  You will obviously have an endless supply of fresh fish from the commercial dock close by, but you might be too busy to notice because you are looking at all the restored historic boats.  Or, maybe you are more interested in the buskers and skilled craftsmen who are entertaining and building.  As you can see, there are numerous things to do on the harbour.

Victoria BC’s Chinatown, the first in Canada, is a great place to go too.  Because it is only two blocks, it is not difficult to travel through by foot.  But, do not let its small size fool you.  There are so many shops, studios, and restaurants.  And when you come to Chinatown, take notice of the red and gold archway with two stone lions.  This is called the Gate of Harmonious Interest, and you will find the tile and stonework absolutely breathtaking.

Now, you definitely do not want to leave without seeing Victoria BC’s Butchart Gardens.  This is one of the main things people come for, and it is only about 13 miles away by highway.  For senior citizens, Via Rail and other tour companies offer discounts.  The location of this place will shock you.  It is actually a sunken garden in an abandoned quarry.  It took Jeanette Butchart 9 whole years to create from start to finish, and every year, 60 gardeners have to plant around 250,000 flower just to maintain its beauty.  And, the lights and fountains really add something special to the atmosphere.

After all that running around town, you will need somewhere relaxing to rest your head.  Well, Victoria BC has no shortage of options.  There are low priced budget hotels, tons of bed and breakfasts, and several luxury resorts: Fairmont Empress Hotel, Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa, The Westin Bear Mountain Resort, and the Inn at Laurel Point.  But, if you want to research further then go to Travel BC’s website.  No matter what time of year you plan to visit Victoria BC, you will enjoy your stay.

Ski season is in full effect until early April so try out the North Shore slopes while you are there. The Whistler-Blackcomb site will be the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can catch a preview by staying in Cypress, the largest of the North Shore ski resorts. Cypress Mountain is full of activities for visitors of all ages. In addition to downhill skiing, there is a cross-country area, snow tubing and other activities during the evening.

Grouse Mountain is another of the North Shore slopes. This ski resort has 20 runs and a terrain park. You can take a gondola ride up to the top of the hill without having to ski back down. Seymour Mountain makes the third of the slopes. It has a variety of winter sports like tubing, tobogganing and dog sledding.

Interior British Columbia offers some of the greatest powder skiing in the province. You can start at Big White in Kelowna, BC, travel less than an hour to Pentiction, BC and Apex Ski Resort, then on to Silver Star in Vernon, BC. But don’t stop there, you absoultely can’t forget Sun Peaks Resort, just a 45 min drive from Kamloops, BC.

While there are many great spring skiing locations in British Columbia, it depends on what you are looking for to find the best experience for you and your family. If it’s hard core powder hound skiing you seek, try Big White and Sun Peaks. Perhaps it’s more a family outing you are looking for – in that case, Silver Star and Sun Peaks have lovely city villages that aren’t too commercialized. Or go for the more remote locations like the Fernie Alpine Resort in Fernie, BC, or Kicking Horse Mountain near Golden, BC. No matter where you go in Beautiful British Columbia, there are fantastic ski resorts.

Here’s a great video showing Sun Peaks Resort

Finding accommodation for a large group in Whistler isn’t always easy if you all want to stay together. Sure, there are plenty of hotel rooms and you can book a block, but would you prefer to share a fabulously spacious ski chalet instead?

If you’d chose the chalet, Cedar Creek might be just what you’re looking for.

Slopeside Location in Whistler

Like the hotels in Whistler, Cedar Creek occupies some of the most desirable Whistler real estate. Not only is it located directly slopeside on Blackcomb Mountain, but it’s only a short free shuttle ride or 10 minute walk to the Village attractions.

This development is truly ski in/out. Skiers and snowboarders will walk out the door, strap on their gear and be gliding down to the Wizard Express high-speed quad chair lift in less than a minute.

Because Cedar Creek is a little ways up the mountain and away from shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs it tends to be quieter and more peaceful which is great for getting a good night’s sleep. If you do want to venture into the hustle and bustle though, you’re still within striking distance by free shuttle, cheap taxi or good old fashion walking.

Why you Might Not Choose Cedar Creek

If your ski holiday isn’t complete without a soak in the hot tub, or dip in the pool then you’ll want to look elsewhere for accommodation. Cedar Creek is loved for it’s location, space and conveniences like in-suite laundry and fully-equipped kitchens – not overflowing hotel-like amenities.

If your group includes someone with mobility restrictions, Cedar Creek will not be accessible. Each unit has stairs separating bedrooms from the common areas. A single-level unit will be more appropriate.

Who Adores Cedar Creek the Most?

Large groups and families love staying at Cedar Creek in Whistler. If your family or group includes small children, you’ll love it even more because you won’t hear any whining about the trek to the lifts or lugging gear.

Die-hard skiers can’t get enough of this development for its quiet slopeside location so they can wake up rested and hit the slopes at dawn.

People who like getting the most bang for their buck also enjoy Cedar Creek because they’ve likely rented their townhouse directly from the owner meaning they’ve saved on middle agent fees.

Are you looking for a great summer or winter vacation at a better price than Whistler or Banff? A well kept secret in British Columbia’s Okanagan valley is worth a look. Sun Peaks is new resort village created by developers offering hotel accommodations, golf, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, kids camps, shopping and health spas. As a family vacation, there are few spots that can rival Sun Peaks.

If you’ve never heard of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, you’ll be surprised to know how warm the weather gets in the summer and how much snow falls during the winter. Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Coast Mountains to the west, the Okanagan is a weather protected valley. Its summer temperatures can rise well above 100 degrees or 36C degrees. I’ve ridden on my bicycle through the Okanagan valley during the summer where it was above 42 degrees Celsius. That heat and the dry humidity is ideal for growing many types of fruit crops including grapes for wine.

If wine tours and festivals interest you, there are plenty to keep you happy and tasting.
The Okanagan Summer Wine Festival is held every second weekend in August at Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon and Sun Peaks Resort holds the Ice Wine Festival every year in mid January.

The Okanagan is a favorite destination of tourists from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. It is a unique Canadian vacation spot unlike anything else. At the south end near the US border are desert like conditions complete with huge sand dunes. Okanagan Lake is a 50 mile long lake in the middle of the valley and here you’ll find tourists who flow to the area for the watersports and casual lifestyle. Schuswap lake is another favourite destination of cottagers and houseboaters.

Close to the Okanagan

Sun Peaks Resort is just a 20 minute drive from Shushwap Lake, 100 miles northwest of Okanagan lake, and a 50 minute drive from the city of Kamloops. It is nestled in between Tod Mountain and Mt. Morissey. The terrain of the region is mountainous but much more accessible to hikers and mountain bikers. This isn’t the rocky mountains with huge inaccessible cliffs dominating the land. The highest altitude in the area is 7000 feet. The lack of height is more than compensated by the volume of snow for visitors creating perfect powdery snow for skiers and snowboarders. The Olympic ski team has chosen Sun Peaks as their training facility for the Vancouver Olympic games.

For hotel accommodations in the area, you might choose from several large hotel resorts and from a number of chalets in nearby areas. Since Sun Peaks is relatively young resort, the plentiful (7000+ beds) accommodations are newer and some of the resorts have a 4 diamond rating. The hotel room prices can be very affordable and given the range of recreational opportunities in this resort areas, it really is a bargain holiday of a lifetime for the whole family.

The village at Sun Peaks is designed for visitors with all the amenities you’ll need during your vacation. Restaurants, boutiques, restaurants, health centre, and food stores are close at hand.

Sun Peaks for Skiiers

It is British Columbia’s second largest ski resort area and for good reason. With 122 ski runs and an annual snowfall of over 22 feet, it is a skiers and snowboarders dream. It has 3,678 acres of skiable terrain, the third largest in Canada and the longest run is 5 miles. It’s not called Sun Peaks for marketing reasons. Residents here enjoy over 2,000 hours of sunshine each year. That’s an average 6 hours per day.

In summer, mountain biking is the popular sport here and the lifts have been upgraded to handle even more bikes. The Sun Peaks mountain bike park offers the use of the Sunburst Express Chairlift to get access to 37 biking trails for a distance of 70km.

If you have children, the Kids Adventure Camps offer an exciting mix of summer adventure including canoeing, horseback riding, tennis to mountain biking and hiking. The local Sports Centre features a year round heated outdoor pool, hot tub, kid’s pool, and two tennis courts.

If you check and compare the prices of Sun Peaks to other top BC resorts areas, you’ll discover how affordable it is. ]]> http://www.travel-blog.ca/sun-peaks-in-summer-or-winter/feed/ 0