When it comes to family fun in BC, Kimberley Alpine Resort, near Cranbrook, sets a beguiling scene both on and off the slopes.
To start, little ones can point their tips along Kimberley’s Kids Trail, a cool way for pint-sized powderhounds to make their own tracks through the woods.
Be advised: adults encouraged to follow along would do well to maintain a tuck position or risk knocking their helmets on overhanging branches. (No parent wants to join the ranks of the “Dummies in the Trees,” a.k.a. festive “characters” hidden throughout the resort that, when discovered, elicit a gleeful shriek from Kimberley’s smallest skiers and snowboarders.)
For family exploration of a different sort, gather the gang and check out the new on-mountain Mines and History of BC tour. As one of the few resorts to have mapped out its history from the days when its slopes first housed a pioneer town and mine site, this tour promises an on-the-skis, up-close look at various historic features, including an old tramway, complete with mine shafts (you can peek inside).
Off slope offers no less with Kimberley’s Kids Learning Area adjacent ski-in/ski-out accommodations and slopeside hot tubs, ensuring that parents can watch their kids ski while soaking up the mountain ambience.
And come nightfall, the resort’s village skating pond will illuminate an evening of spins and jumps, topped off with a crackling bonfire perfect for marshmallow roasts.
For more family info on Kimberley: www.skikimberley.com
