Fernie Information

Apres-ski

Fernie's international clientele mix with the laidback locals to create a great vibe at the base of the slopes at the end of the ski day, and later at the bars in town.

Griz Bar (tel: +1 250 423 2407), at the foot of the slopes, is the place to go for a drink when the slopes close, with live music during afternoons at the weekend.

In town, The Brickhouse Bar & Grill (tel: +1 250 423 0009) is a good spot for trying locally produced craft beer, while the Park Place Lodge Pub (tel: +1 250 423 6871; www.parkplacelodge.com) is another popular haunt for locals and tourists alike, with its pool tables, table football and TVs broadcasting live sport.

Eating out

Fernie now boasts more than 40 places to eat with an ever-increasing selection. Along with full-blown gourmet restaurants you'll find ice cream parlours, chocolate shops and scrumptious organic bakeries.

Next to the slopes, Kelsey's Bar and Grill (tel: +1 250 423 2444; www.kelseys.ca) serves pasta, pizza and American fare, while the Cirque Restaurant at Lizard Creek Lodge (tel: +1 250 423 2057; www.lizardcreek.com) offers gourmet dining.

In Fernie itself, Big Bang Bagels (tel: +1 250 423 7778; www.facebook.com/BigBangBagels), opens for breakfast from 0700 and continues to draw hungry punters right through to 1700; it is one of the most popular eateries in the resort. Later in the evening, The Brickhouse (tel: +1 250 423 0009; www.thebrickhousefernie.com) dishes up delicious American fare in lively surrounds.

If you're pining for some international tastes, then Yamagoya (tel: +1 250 430 0090; www.yamagoya.ca) serves some of the best sushi in British Columbia. Other cuisines include Indian and Italian offerings, as well as the Fernie Hotel and Pub (tel: +1 250 423 6444; www.thefernie.com), which, according to popular consensus, serves the best fish and chips around.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Fernie offers most of the usual winter resort activities, including 14km (9 miles) of cross-country skiing tracks, snowshoe safaris and snowmobile tours. Visitors can also try the Canadian pursuit of ice fishing, which is always a very sociable affair.

Culture vultures will enjoy the Fernie Arts Station (tel: +1 250 423 4842; www.theartsstation.com) with its events and exhibitions, Fernie Museum (tel: +1 250 423 7016) showcasing local history, and the art collective Fernie Arts Co-op (tel: +1 250 423 7044; www.fernieartscoop.com).

Those who wish to be pampered after a day on the slopes can head to one of the resort's handful of spas, while the more energetic can try curling, ice skating or climbing.

Day trips are possible to the nearby ski resort of Kimberley, which has an interesting Bavarian heritage, and features the largest area of glade skiing (thinly wooded slopes) in Canada.

Family fun

Fernie's car-free resort base area and accessible nursery slopes mean that, despite the tough image, it's actually a very family friendly facility.

A childcare service is provided throughout the ski season by the resort's Childcare Centre in the Cornerstone Lodge (tel: +1 250 423 2430; www.cornerstonelodge.ca), while child care and ski lesson combination programmes are available for children aged three and older through the Winter Sports School (tel: +1 250 423 2406).

The resort organises a range of entertainments for kids, including themed activity nights and night skiing on the beginners slope.

Retail therapy

Fernie could hardly be described as a shopper's paradise, but the town's main drag, 2nd Avenue, has a few interesting options. For ski gear, check out the Big White SkI Shgop (tel: +1 250 491 6114), in the Village Centre Mall, which specialises in ski and snowboard kit, and the Edge of the World Board Shop (421B 2nd Avenue), a trendy snow and skate store.

Options for self-caterers include the Mountain Pantry Grocery & Liquor Store, which stocks convenience items at the resort; while the Slopeside Coffee & Deli offers soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches, and is conveniently located at the base of the resort.

Splashing out

Stay in a luxury wilderness lodge at Island Lake Resort (tel: +1 888 422 8754; www.islandlakecatskiing.com), a short drive west of Fernie. Here, you can indulge in some of Canada's best snowcat skiing, experiencing 10 to 15 runs each day, before settling down to a relaxing massage or alpine foot and leg treatment in the lodge's spa.

Hotels

Fernie has some great slopeside accommodation as well as plenty of places to stay in the town itself. Among these options are a good range of hotels, catered chalets, and a number of self-catering – cheaper – options.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap