FERNIE IS THE TRUE HEART OF THE ELK VALLEYand offers endless opportunities for adventure, sport, relaxation and business. Make the Snow Valley Motel your base during your stay and enjoy knowledgeable staff, a central location and easy access to all that Fernie and the surrounding area has to offer.
Ice fishing is one of the more unique activities available!
Fernie Year Round
Fernie may have gained it's reputation as a great vacation destination on the merits of our snowfall, but we have an exciting range of activities and events all year round to tempt you back time and again.
For year round fun and adventure check out the following:
The Arts Station. Offering fun classes for all ages and skills, concerts, movies, drama and art exhibitions. There's always something on at the Arts Station!
Fernie Aquatic Centre. A large lap pool, children's pool, waterslide, rope swing, giant foam toys, huge wheelchair accessible hot-tub, steam rooms and party/meeting room make this a great venue for all the family year round. Large windows have view of the surrounding mountains.
Fernie Memorial Arena. Offering skating, hockey and home to the 2008 league champions, The Fernie Ghostriders. Make sure you don't miss a game!
Fernie Museum and Tourist Information Centre. Fernie has an exciting history full of legends and intrigue. Don't miss the opportunity to discover Fernie's amazing history through artifacts, displays, photos and local tales. Knowledgeable staff and volunteers are on hand to walk you through all of Fernie's activities, locations and events to help you make the most of your stay.
Fernie Heritage Library. Offering a wide selection of media on two floors in one of Fernie's most beautiful historical buildings. Long opening hours, regular children's activities and occasional guest readings.
Downtown Fernie. Historical 2nd Avenue is home to a wide range of eclectic shopping and cafes including the Fernie Arts Co-op and a smorgasbord of mountain activity supply stores and clothing boutiques. Stroll along our tree-lined boulevard and pick up a souvenir or enjoy an organic espresso or hand made bagel. Tell us what you need and we'll tell you where to find it.
Fernie Chamber of Commerce and Fernie Nature Centre. Offering climactic, geographical and historical information on the area and displays and exhibits of Fernie's natural world. Children's discovery Centre with special activities.
Vogue Theatre. Our 2 screen movie cinema offers twice nightly screenings of top films plus special events such as the monthly Indie Films Fernie screening, Reel Canadian Film Festival and Touring Banff Film Festival.
Fernie Brewing Company. Stop by to tour the new facility and sample some of FBC's award winning brews.
Fernie Community Centre. Available for group rentals for your family reunion or event, also home to Fernie's regular Craft Fairs and activities for the little ones.
Coffee Shops, Restaurants, Bars and Nightlife. Fernie is home to a great selection of eateries and watering holes. See the separate section below for more information.
Massage and Esthetics. Fernie has many great therapists who will work out those knots after a day in the mountains. Ask us for a recommendation.
Walking. From our downtown historical walking tour and easy trails along the Elk River to full mountain hikes, Fernie has walking tours covered. Trails are open year round and are great for snowshoeing in winter. Fernie is home to many well trained guides and naturalists, so if you're nervous about heading into the backcountry or want to learn more about the environment, go with a guide and get the most out of your walk.
A day on the slopes is a must for any winter visit
Fernie in Winter
Fernie is world renowned for the powder snow at Fernie Alpine Resort and great downtown nightlife. What you might not know is that we have some fantastic alternatives to help you enjoy our average of 29ft of snow per year.
Activities in Fernie during our winter months (November - April:)
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Dogsledding
Ice Fishing
Backcountry skiing/boarding
Quinzee & igloo building
Winter wildlife tours
Christmas Shopping and Craft Markets
Fondue at Cincott Gardens Market Coffee or Raclette at Birch Meadows Lodge
Cat Skiing
Fernie Alpine Resort for Alpine/Downhill skiing, Telemark skiing, Snowboarding plus lessons, groups and demos
Fernie Nordic Society for cross country skiing & lessons
Ghostriders Hockey home games from September to February, playoffs Feb- April
Annual Winter events in Fernie: (see homepage for this month's events)
Fernie Alpine Resort open mid December - mid April
Christmas - December 24th & 25th
New Year's Eve - December 31st and the nearest weekend
Cardboard Derby - January
Fernie Mountain Film Festival - February
Griz Days - our annual Mountain Festival - March
Reel Canadian Film Festival - March
Easter - April
Fernie has a network of over 100 dedicated mountain bike trails
Fernie in Spring, Summer and Fall
Fernie offers endless opportunities for summer fun and excitement, or just lazing around on our endless hot summer days. Fernie's locals regularly vote May and September as their favorite months. Join us in the 'off season' and you'll see why.
Activities in Fernie during our spring, summer and fall months (May - October:)
Fly fishing on the Elk River for Salmon and Trout
Fernie Golf and Country Club
Fernie Alpine Resort for downhill and cross country mountain biking/ hiking and scenic chairlift rides
Summer Wildlife Tours
Husky Scooter Tours and husky puppy walks
Rafting/Floating on the Elk River
Whitewater Rafting
Kayaking and Canoeing
Quading and dirt biking
Bike touring
Mountain Biking
Hiking
James White Park for Tennis, Bocce, Horseshoes and Disc Golf
Nearby Lake Koocanusa for boating, kayaking and swimming
Nearby Silver Springs for cliff jumping and swimming
Annual Spring, Summer and Fall events in Fernie: (see homepage for this month's events)
Relay for Life - June
PDGA Fernie Lizard Range Disc Golf Tournament - June
Fernie Alpine Resort opens - June
Canada Day - July
Fernie Writer's Conference - July
Highline 100 road bike race - July
TransRockies mountain bike race - August
Project 9 mountain bike race- September
Soapbox Derby - September
Fall Harvest Farmers Market - October
Christmas Craft Fair - November
Restaurants, Bars and Coffee Shops
Here's a selection of our favorites:
Located within a few blocks of the Snow Valley Motel:
Cincott Gardens Coffee, entirely organic and natural menu- full breakfast, lunch and dinner options or coffee and muffins
The Curry Bowl - Enlightened Asian
Red Tree Restaurant - full breakfast, lunch, tapas and dinner menu in a bistro style setting
Yamagoya - Fernie's favorite restaurant offering authentic Japanese food including sushi & sake
Park Place Lodge - Great pub food in the sports bar and fine dining at Max's
El Guapo - funky casual Mexican diner, boardshop and indoor skate park (yes, all in one building!)
Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe - take out/delivery only. Fernie's best entirely homemade pizza
Other Favourites in the Fernie area:
Coffee shops, breakfast & lunch on 2nd Ave - Freshies, Tea & Coffee House, Mugshots, The Blue Toque, Beanpod, Big Bang Bagels
The Brickhouse - great homemade burgers in a trendy bar setting
The Corner Pocket Brasserie - new location at Fernie Alpine Resort, cool & casual lunch, tapas and dinner
The Clubhouse at the Fernie Golf and Country Club - bistro lunch and dinner and the best views in town
Island Lake Lodge - (summer only for dinner) very fine dining in a very special setting
Picnic - fine dining with a modern twist, elegant dark interior and an emphasis on friends and fun
Shopping and services
Some of our favourites include:
Activity supplies - The Guides Hut, Ski/Bike Base, Straightline, Boardstiff
