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Teepee
at Quantum Leaps Lodge 1 |
Ideally situated at the
crossroads of six national parks,
Golden is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Located just off the Trans-Canada
Highway, this easily accessible town is a resting place for tourists
wanting to explore any or all of these protected lands including Banff
and Jasper
National Parks, Kootenay
National Park, and Mount
Revelstoke National Park. With the Kicking
Horse River running through downtown Golden and the Columbia
River bordering its east and south, the mountain town offers a multitude
of outdoor attractions. Rafting,
hiking,
mountain
biking and golfing
are only a fraction of the activities that visitors may find here. Located in
Kicking Horse Country, Golden is also the place to stay for avid skiers and
snowboarders eager to hit world-class slopes.
From private and spacious
vacation
homes to traditional teepee
camping, Golden can cater to a wide range of tastes, from those looking
for the utmost in luxury and elegance to those hoping for a traditional wilderness
experience. WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
can help vacationers make informed decisions when finding suitable lodging in
the Golden area with these useful accommodation links:
- Accommodation
Directory - A complete accommodation directory containing detailed
information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, campgrounds and more. With
links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed
to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their type of trip
and their personal preferences.
- Secure
Room Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation
page allowing the user to check for room availability and then make a secure
online reservation. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the
online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful during busy peak
seasons.
- Maps
- The Golden map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only
indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation
to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
CAMPGROUNDS, TEEPEES
AND YURTS
Thoughts of the Canadian
Rocky Mountains often bring images of roughing it out in the wild and
sleeping in a cozy tent. For many, an excursion to the mountains is not complete
without a little bit of camping, whether in a comfortable RV trailer or a traditional
tent. A number of campgrounds
are located in and around Golden, all of which vary in degrees of conveniences
and amenities offered.
Found directly in the town
of Golden on Ninth Street and along the Kicking Horse River is the Golden
Municipal Campground. This waterfront spot consists of approximately
70 sites, including RV parking pads and tenting lots. Ideal for families, this
facility has town amenities nearby and is directly across the street from the
municipal swimming pool. Apart from power and water services, firewood and bathing
facilities, the campground also features numerous picnic shelters, including
one that was built by timber-framing students from the College of the Rockies.
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Inside
Great Canadian Chalets 2 |
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The Golden
Eco-Adventure Ranch, found on Highway 95, is another camping facility
that features RV and tent sites as well as yurts, tent-like structures covered
in fabric that come constructed with windows and doors. Located about 5 km (3
mi) south of Golden on the west side of the Columbia River and at the base of
Mount 7, these grounds offer a serene setting with a focus on leaving surrounding
wetland areas in the most natural state possible. With the mountains looming
overhead, this 162 ha (400 acres) property is a peaceful place to stay while
still being a short and convenient drive from Golden.
Located about 50 km (31
mi) west of Golden, just off the Trans-Canada Hiqhway, is Kinbasket
Lake Resort, an RV campground with Beaver River and Kinbasket Lake at
its core. With fishing boat rentals and an in-house fishing guide, this spot
is an ideal place to stay for the eager angler hoping to reel in a few fish.
A small store stocked with fishing supplies is available on site, as well as
a limited amount of tent sites, cabins and a bed and breakfast house.
For a unique camping experience,
Quantum Leaps
Lodge and the Goldenwood
Lodge both offer teepee housing in addition to various other accommodation
options, some of which include a lodge and cottage units. A number of traditional
teepees are available at each property, all of which include indoor central
fire pits and raised beds. Both offer the use of nearby bathing facilities.
Quantum Leaps Lodge is found 17 km (11 mi) northwest of Golden and along the
eastern bank of the Blaeberry River while Goldenwood Lodge is about 20 km (12
mi) west of the town.
CHALETS AND LODGES
Another accommodation option
that is almost synonymous with a trip to the Canadian Rockies is a stay at a
chalet
or lodge.
These rustic wooden structures add to the natural setting and atmosphere of
this untamed land while providing distinctive touches of home. Usually located
in quieter areas, many of the chalets and lodges near Golden can be found anywhere
from 15 minutes to half an hour from town.
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Atop
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort 3 |
Those wanting a true mountain
escape, secluded from all of civilization, will find several options in the
area. Many of these lodges offer comfortable accommodations while allowing guests
to immerse themselves in nature at the same time. These backcountry experiences
are usually situated on a generous portion of land and generally have an in-house
chef and an outdoor hot tub, with amazing views as part of the package.
Great
Canadian Chalets and Alpenrose
Cabins & Lodge are two properties found a few minutes west of the town.
Located just off the Trans-Canada Highway, Great Canadian Chalets provides guests
with private cottages complete with wood burning fireplaces and multiple bedrooms.
Alpenrose Cabins & Lodge is also located off the Trans-Canada Highway. Apart
from its private cabins, the property also features a four-bedroom lodge, where
each room comes equipped with private baths and wireless Internet access.
Other options include Kicking
Horse River Chalets, located about 20 minutes east of Golden; Lush
Mountain Accommodations, which overlooks the Columbia Wetlands; Glenogle
Mountain Lodge & Spa,
an intimate facility 8 km (5 mi) north of the town; and Timber
Inn Chalets, on a lot of 16 ha (40 acres) of land.
HOTELS AND MOTELS
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A
Room at Mary's Motel 4 |
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With the opening of the
Kicking
Horse Mountain Resort came an expansion and increase in tourism interest
for the town of Golden. Found just off the Trans-Canada Highway on the easternmost
reaches of the Purcell Mountains and overlooking the town, this year-round resort
is an attraction in itself, with multiple services including fine dining, such
as the Eagle's Eye Restaurant located 7,700 ft (2,347 m) above sea level, and
mountain accommodations, including the luxurious Palliser
Lodge. Located directly on the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, this lodge
was built with a ski-in, ski-out design. This allows guests to ski straight
out to the lifts, providing them with quick access to the slopes and making
it a great place to stay while on that ski getaway. All of the hotel's suites
come with full kitchens, fireplaces, and private balconies complete with mountain
vistas. While the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort focuses on world-class skiing
and snowboarding, summer activities are also in abundance with visitors often
opting to partake in mountain
biking, hiking
or horseback
riding.
Found 15 minutes from Kicking
Horse, close to downtown Golden, is the comfortable and elegant Prestige
Mountainside Resort. This alternative is on the northern end, just off
the Trans-Canada Highway and provides easy access to the resort as well as town
amenities. The hotel offers a number of lodging options including theme rooms,
deluxe and premiere suites.
Many affordable hotel options,
such as the Golden
Village Inn, the Ramada
Golden Hotel and Mary's
Motel are also found in the area. These hotels offer clean and comfortable
accommodations in addition to various extras such as high-speed Internet access
and family-size rooms. Downtown Golden is a popular location for hotels
and motels because, while being minutes from the highway, they are also
near town services, shops
and restaurants,
many of which are bars and pubs that cater to skiers and snowboarders who are
seeking a relaxing evening after a long day on the slopes. In addition, the
Kicking Horse River flows straight through downtown, offering opportunities
to view wildlife and enjoy a natural setting. Many of Golden's hotels and motels
also provide shuttle services to the mountains.
HOSTELS
For the budget traveller,
there are a few hostels
to choose from when staying in the Golden area. These dorm-like accommodations
are often shared rooms that provide a great way to meet visitors from around
the world who are willing to swap tips and share stories. Besides this however,
hostels will also offer several other choices such as private apartment rooms
or on-site camping. Hostels in Golden are found either directly in the town,
such as the Kicking
Horse Hostel, or in the surrounding area, such as the On
The Caribou Backpackers Hostel and the Applewood
Hostel.
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On
The Caribou Backpackers Hostel 5 |
The Kicking Horse Hostel
is located near downtown Golden along Station Avenue. Open year-round, this
hostel often hosts an array of international travellers. This boarding house,
which offers a total of 12 bunk-style beds and full kitchen use, allows patrons
to stay for as long as they like making it an ideal place for an extended vacation.
On The Caribou Backpackers
Hostel and Applewood Hostel are both located about 10 minutes from Golden. While
On The Caribou is northwest of the town and Applewood Hostel is to the south,
both are set against a natural setting surrounded by mountains, trees and wildlife.
Those familiar with hostelling will find the expected amenities such as fully-equipped
kitchens and shared rooms with bunk-style beds. Both hostels also have the added
bonus of an on-site campground.
OTHER
Other accommodation options
available in and around Golden include bed
and breakfasts and private
vacation homes. Golden's bed and breakfasts offer a peaceful and relaxing
stay, oftentimes amidst a mountain setting while still being a short drive from
Golden. The secluded Fairview
Bed & Breakfast found southeast of Golden and the European-style Columbia
Valley Lodge B&B, situated 23 km (14 mi) south of the town, are a few
such options. However many in-town choices, such as the historic and centrally
located Ambler
House B&B, are also available.
For an exclusively private
experience, vacation homes are fully-furnished rentals ideal for an intimate
getaway to the mountains or for family or group gatherings. Homes such as Canadian
Mountain Accommodations are spacious private retreats equipped with
fireplaces, hot tubs, and multiple rooms making them perfect for large groups.
TRANSPORTATION
Because of its location
just off the main highway, Golden is best accessed by car or coach
service, with car
rentals available in the area for those arriving by coach. The nearest
airports are the Calgary
International Airport to the east, and the Cranbrook
Regional to the south. Calgary
is located 269 km (167 mi) away with a driving distance of just under three
hours while Cranbrook
is 247 km (153 mi) away and a driving distance of about 2.5 hours. The town
is also the last stop (going west) before Rogers
Pass, a mountain crossing on the Trans-Canada Highway that is located
80 km (50 mi) from Golden and 70 km (43 mi) from Revelstoke.
While know for avalanches and landslides, this midpoint between the two towns
was designed to offer protection from these hazards in the form of five long
tunnels. Because Golden is a fairly small town, there is no public transportation
and the town is best explored on foot.
PHOTO COURTESY
- c/o Quantum
Leaps Lodge; Teepee Camping at Quantum Leaps Lodge; Golden, BC, CA
- c/o Great Canadian
Chalets; Inside Great Canadian Chalets; Golden, BC, CA
- McPhoto, c/o
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort; Atop Kicking Horse Mountain Resort; Golden,
BC, CA
- c/o Mary's Motel;
A Room at Mary's Motel; Golden, BC, CA
- c/o Caribou
Mountain Adventures; Outside Caribou Backpackers Hostel; Golden, BC,
CA
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