Nelson, Kootenays, British Columbia

Cafés and galleries are everywhere, and many residents seem to be artists or crafts people. Most who pass through Nelson want to come back, many of them permanently. You may, too!

Population: 9,923

Location: Nelson is located at the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 3A, at the western tip of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake, 26 miles (41 km) northeast of Castlegar.

• Ride Streetcar 23 - born at the turn of the century out of the promise of rich mineral discoveries, one of the smallest railways in the British Empire operated in Nelson. Originally built in 1906, its streetcars carried passengers up and down some of the steepest grades of any conventional street railway, not without some spectacular accidents. Completely restored and returned to operation with the help of Selkirk College in 1992, visitors can now enjoy a waterfront ride on the electric Streetcar 23, one of the three cars which operated in Nelson from 1899 until 1949.

• Downtown Nelson, British Columbia

  Stroll back in time on a self guided Heritage Walking Tour of Nelson, a city with ornate and grandiose High Victoria style architecture introduced to Nelson by a transient population, but modified by the conservative English settler. Be guided by the excellent tour brochure available at the Visitor Info Centre.

• Armed with the self-guided Heritage Motoring Tour booklet, head out and see more of the well laid out and solidly built Uphill district of the town, the principal buildings of which are solidly constructed of brick and stone, many of which are still in a remarklable state of preservation.

• Special events in Nelson are endless. Watch teams compete for the Mid-summer Bonspiel title, when Nelson hosts the world's largest summertime Curling Bonspiel. Then there's Artwalk, a summer-long multimedia, fine art extravaganza by a hundred or so artists in 15 intimate gallery locations.

• In winter, blast out of some of Nelson's legendary 'bottomless powder' at Whitewater Ski Resort, a popular spot for snowboarders and cross-country skiers a short drive from Nelson. Nelson's community Ski Hill, Morning Mountain, also offers great family and beginners skiing. Skiing and Winter Recreation in the Kootenays.

• Picturesque lakeshore community, Nelson, BC

  Quiet on the Set! - Nelson was the location of two feature films: the popular Steve Martin comedy Roxanne, and Bill Forsythe's witty Housekeeping. Roxanne fans won't want to miss the walking tour of the film's sets and locations.

• The Nelson Brewing Company is located in the same historic building as Nelson’s original brewery was, more than 100 years ago. Tours are available.

• Touchstones Nelson celebrates the creativity, the history, the vibe that is Nelson, Canada's Best Little Art Town, or visit the interpretive mining displays and impressive mineral and ore collections at the Chamber of Mines Museum.

• The West Arm Provincial Park in the Kootenays encompasses a diverse range of habitats, from lakeshore to subalpine, high-elevation forests and alpine areas. The park protects important First Nations archaeological sites situated along the shore of Kootenay Lake, and there is an historic trail (not maintained) up Lasca Creek.

• Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is the largest campground in this part of the West Kootenays. This 235-hectare park is situated on the north shore of the west arm of Kootenay Lake on the site of an old homestead. Its huge sandy beach and delta area is backed by a gently rising upland, giving way to the forested slopes of the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains.

• The rugged mountain wilderness of the 30,000-hectare Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park offers excellent recreation in summer and winter, with some fine angling for trout in the more than 30 glacier lakes. Just a short drive away, you can embark on one of the many spectacular trails and discover breathtaking views of mountain lakes, meadows, and Kokanee Glacier. Aerial Tours of Kokanee Glacier Park and the surrounding area are also available out of Nelson.

• Take in a world-class performance at the newly restored Capitol Theatre, one of the finest theatres on the continent in 1927. It could be a local play or a touring international show. The Capitol also boasts an extensive costume museum.

• Golf: With splendid views of Kokanee Glacier, Kootenay Lake, and the mountain city of Nelson, the Granite Pointe Golf Club is a gem in the Kootenay Rockies, traversing hilly terrain and featuring a number of risk-reward holes requiring precise shot-making (18 holes, 5,180 yards). Golf courses in nearby Balfour include the magnificent Balfour Golf Course and Eagle View Golf Course. Golf Vacations in the BC Rockies.

• Although famed for its scenery, Kootenay Lake also boasts the world's largest rainbow trout, the Gerrard, which grows up to 30 pounds, and the kokanee, a landlocked salmon. Kootenay Lake rarely freezes, allowing great fishing year-round. Fishing in British Columbia.

• Dive Site: Off Lakeside Park, under the Nelson Bridge, is the sunken 77 foot steamtug from 1899, the SS YMIR. The varied terrain of the B.C. Rockies region of British Columbia accommodates every outdoor recreation known to man.

• Take the longest free Ferry Ride in the world, a 40-minute scenic crossing of Kootenay Lake, from nearby Balfour to Kootenay Bay. Click for Inland Ferry Schedules.

• For an experience under this world, visit Cody Caves Provincial Park on the eastern slopes of the Selkirk Mountains, near Ainsworth Hot Springs. The cave system features an underground stream flowing through ancient limestone formations, discovered by prospector Henry Cody in the 1890s.

• See the best of the area on The Okanagan and BC Rockies Circle Tour. Travel the sunny interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies. From Golden, head south through the Columbia Valley to Creston, and west through Boundary Country and the Southern Okanagan to complete the loop. Circle Tours in BC.