Three Days in Radium
A few weeks ago Tracey and I took off for a little fall getaway to Radium BC and today I thought I’d share a few of the highlights from our stay. Radium is a small village in the Kootenays in BC and it’s a location that I’m pretty familiar with as we pass through every year when we go to visit Fairmont. Last year I wrote a post all about Fairmont and why I love it there - my family has had a timeshare in Fairmont for my whole life and to get to Fairmont, we pass through Radium. So, while I’m familiar with stopping in Radium, this was the first time I spent a few days in Radium in years! I was also really excited to visit in October because usually I visit the Kootenays in June so to visit in the fall is a whole different experience!
Radium is best known for the Hot Springs. The Radium Hot Springs are a huge attraction and are only an hour and a half away from Banff. The Hot Springs are open year round and right now the Hot Springs are undergoing a $8.1 million dollar restoration. The Hot Springs are a beautiful family friendly place to relax and unwind with a large pool and a spa!
While I’m a big fan of relaxing in the Hot Springs this trip Tracey and I actually decided to tour around and explore a few different areas so we didn’t visit the Hot Springs this trip but if you’ve never been, it should definitely be on your list!
If you’re planning a trip to the Kootenays and want to stop in Radium, here are a few of my recommendations…
To eat there are a few little cute cafes in town but Tracey and I loved the Big Horn Cafe. If you’re into European (German/Austrian style) food, Helena’s Stube Restaurant & The Old Salzburg are great spots. For a relaxed and casual spot to get a few drinks and pub style food, check out The Horsethief Creek Pub. We ate here our first night and it was the perfect walking distance from where we stayed so we could have a couple of drinks and a yummy meal with the mountains as our backdrop!
The biggest draw for me to visit the Kootenays is getting outdoors. In the area are so many trails that vary from advanced hikes to easier walking trails. You don’t have to go far to find yourself in the most beautiful scenery and in the fall, the colors were unreal! My favourite new spot that Tracey and I discovered on this trip was Sinclair Canyon. I’ve driven by this spot so many times as from the side of the road, it looks pretty unassuming. Once you get out of the car though you take a winding path that leads you down to the canyon where the scenery is stunning! Once you get down to the footbridge there are further trails you can walk along but even the short trek down takes you to the most beautiful scenery. The mountains are definitely where I feel the most grounded and calm and being in the canyon left me feeling instantly relaxed and in awe of how beautiful this area truly is. It’s a bit of a steep trek back up but if you’re looking for a quick trek, I highly recommend Sinclair Canyon.
Lastly, if you’re looking to visit Radium I can’t say enough good things about Bighorn Meadows Resort! Tracey and I pulled up on Friday afternoon and they had a welcome wine and cheese tasting (ummm yes please!!) for the guests. We were shown our condo and we felt instantly at home. Our unit had two bedrooms, a full kitchen, living and dining room, back patio with bbq and a cozy fireplace. The Bighorn Meadows Resort actually reminded me a lot of where we stay in Fairmont so I felt instantly relaxed and comfortable.
When I travel I like to stay somewhere that feels a bit more like home than a hotel and a kitchen is always a bonus in my opinion. We made ourselves a fancy breakfast with mimosas the first morning and being able to come back to relax by the fire with a bottle of wine in the evening was the best.
The property itself was also gorgeous, especially in the fall. The colors of the leaves were UNREAL. There were a ton of deer and bighorn sheep all over the property too. Bighorn Meadows Resort also has a golf course and clubhouse on the property and while we didn’t eat at the restaurant there we heard that the food is delicious but the view was incredible! I can’t say enough about how beautiful this area is.
The resort is also walking distance from the main street with the shops, restaurants and cafes which was super convenient also. The Bighorn Meadows Resort would be a fantastic getaway with friends or family and I think next time James and I head to Banff, we might tack on a few extra days and make the trip to Radium for a little bit of extra R&R!
Radium is an absolutely beautiful town that is definitely worth a visit, especially if you’ve never been! There’s something about this area that just instantly relaxes me and it’s amazing what wonders a long weekend getaway can do!
I want to say a huge thank you to Bighorn Meadows Resort for hosting Tracey and I for our long weekend getaway. The property, the amenities, our unit and the whole experience was wonderful!
I also want to send out another big thank you to Ford Canada for loaning us a Ford Escape to take on our travels. Ford has always been a huge supporter of 204 Park and it was awesome to be able to take such a comfortable vehicle on our trip to the mountains! (The nav system, adaptive cruise control and sound system were perfect for a road trip!)
Now I want to know - what’s your favourite road trip destination? Let me know in the comments below!
