W
inter in the Okanagan means fat fl uffy snowfl akes and some of the most desirable family friendly ski and snowboard adventures you can experience anywhere in the world. A number of quality destinations exist within two hours of Kelowna International Airport that will satisfy all demands for vertical pleasure.
Big White Ski Resort, recently voted the fourth best family resort in the world and just 55 minutes away, is Canada’s largest totally ski-in, ski-out resort. It boasts 118 runs spread over 2,765 acres serviced by 16 lifts (6 high-speed). Annual snowfall averages over 700 centimetres (24.5 feet) of what locals like to refer to as ‘champagne powder’. Groomed runs are rated among the best anywhere.
“Our goal is to provide our guests with the most complete winter experience possible,” states Big White Senior Vice President Michael J. Ballingall. “We have terrain for every level of skier or snow- boarder, a halfpipe with 18 foot walls that is a centrepiece to our Telus Terrain Park, 25 km (15.5 miles) of cross-country ski trails, the Megan Snow Coaster tube park, Canada’s highest outdoor skating/hockey rink, snowmobile, snowshoeing and dog- sled tours, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.”
Big White Village provides plenty of après ski fun with numerous restaurants, pubs, day spas, shopping and even family movie nights to compliment the 17,000 beds and accommodation on the mountain. “We can offer everything from a budget studio for $55 a night up to resort luxury that is thousands of dollars,” adds Ballingall. “Our focus is on families though and our ski-and-stay packages refl ect that.”
A 55 minute drive north of the airport brings you to Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon. The skiable area is 3,065 acres with 115 marked runs and the six lifts (5 high-speed). “Silver Star has two distinctive sides,” notes Ballingall, who is also Senior Vice-President there. “The front side (Vance Creek) is very family friendly with an abundance of intermediate terrain. The back side (Putnam Creek) provides you with some of the best fall line expert level terrain anywhere.”
Big White Ski Resort, Kelowna
Silver Star also offers a myriad of other activities for the whole family like a terrain park, a tube park, skating rink, snowmobile and snowshoe tours and sleigh rides, but its 100 kilometres of Nordic Trails are its other claim to fame. They are world class in stature and many national teams including Canada are training there leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The quaint village has a Victorian theme and provides all the amenities you may want and every level of accommodation to fi t every pocketbook.
“Our slogan at Silver Star is “My Mountain”, said Ballingall. “We want to make our destination guests and all visitors feel like they are part of the resort. In summer, we open one of the best mountain bike parks in BC here with 1600 vertical feet of terrain.”
Coming up January 29 to February 7, the BC Snow & Ice Sculpture Championships take place at Silver Star. It is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Vernon Winter Carnival this year.
Now Accepting Reservations Opening March 2010
Whole body Uncompromised
wellness. beauty.
Astonishing. To describe Sparkling Hill— The Okanagan’s newest and most unique resort and wellness hotel—no other word seems adequate. Sparkling Hill will forever change how people think about destination spas.
F Lavish 152-room hotel overlooking Okanagan Lake and Predator Ridge Resort
F Over 100 spa treatment options, including North America’s first ‘cold sauna’ -110º
C
F Stunning architecture and design inspired and infused by Swarovski Crystal elements
Visit
www.sparklinghill.com to make a reservation or call 1.877.275.1556
Silver Star Mountain Resort, Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia WINTER 2010 11
Silver Star Mountain Resort
Big White Ski Resort
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