Fernie's Hotel & Motels
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Fernie, British Columbia.
Fernie is a place of contrasts. Tucked away in the southeast corner of British Columbia, what once was primarily a mining town has become one driven by tourism. As such, it enjoys a healthy dose of visitors from Europe and Down Under, but it does so in a quiet, sleepy sort of way when compared to its more famous counterparts of Banff and Jasper. So while visitors who turn up on a Saturday in winter will find a ski town in the throes of all things powder, those same streets in summer (usually high season for many resort towns) portray instead a local population enjoying dozy summer afternoons. Its attributes—namely ski slopes, mountain bike trails and fly-fishing waters—draw die-hard outdoor enthusiasts to its doorstep yet there are equal numbers of local residents who have never experienced even one of these pursuits.
Its hotel scene is no less surprising. This seemingly small mountain town boasts an extensive amount of accommodation and while most is low-key like Fernie itself, some properties offer exclusive dining and lodging. The majority of hotels are located in one of two places—along Highway 3, which runs through the town, or on the nearby ski mountain, which is located 7.5 km (4.6 mi) from town and is home to Fernie's star attraction—Fernie Alpine Resort. What follows is an overview of Fernie's hotel scene but visitors can also opt for high-end mountain lodges, friendly bed and breakfasts or scenic campsites.
LUXURY LODGING
Fernie's luxury hotels proffer distinctive surroundings, albeit with rustic, alpine characteristics such as log beams rather than marble entrances and stone fireplaces in place of urban chic.
The most exclusive rooms and suites can arguably be found at the Lizard Creek Lodge. Situated at the base of the ski slopes, the upscale lodge features a great central room with spectacular views of the Lizard Range, the requisite on-site boutique and spa that such a four-star property requires and deluxe amenities such as pre-arrival grocery delivery, gourmet dining and fireplaces in every suite.
Just metres away, the Snow Creek Lodge offers similar accommodation and makes it into the high-end category with features like an outdoor heated pool alongside the ski slopes, private and public hot tubs, underground heated parking and a centerpiece stone fireplace. Although the property and its suites might be considered comfortable more than luxurious, its cosy, honeymoon-esque atmosphere distinguishes it from Fernie's more mid-range hotels.
MID-RANGE HOTELS
Visitors who prefer lower price tags needn't miss out on all the extras. Fernie enjoys a bevy of mid-range hotels, and even the town's economically priced, chain-brand properties boast indoor swimming pools and hot tubs, wireless Internet, ski lockers and units with kitchenettes. The majority of these are scattered along Highway 3 in town and offer easy access to the town's shops, fly-fishing outfitters and restaurants. The Park Place Lodge and the Best Western Fernie Mountain Lodge indubitably top the list and are situated at opposite ends of town. The former is within a few minutes' walk from Fernie's historic main street, while the latter is next to Fernie's picturesque golf course. Both offer rooms that range from luxury suites with fireplaces to standard queen rooms.
Another notable is the Stanford Resort, located midway between Fernie and the mountain. The hotel enjoys patios overlooking the Elk River, adjacent vacation chalets and a long list of amenities, but its distinctive feature is undoubtedly its huge indoor waterslide. The slide is one of Canada's largest and is visible to passing traffic through the pool complex's wall of glass windows.
Mid-range lodging can also be found on the mountain, one of which—the Cornerstone Lodge—sits directly on the main plaza of Fernie Alpine Resort. A small mountain grocery store and a shuttle service to town mean guests opting for scenery immediately out the hotel door don't have to suffer inconvenience.
BUDGET ROOMS
Most of Fernie's inexpensive accommodation can be found downtown and what these properties lack in amenities, they make up for in their locations along or near the town's picturesque Victoria Avenue. The heart of downtown also happens to be home to many of Fernie's lively bars and trendy shops, which means visitors on a budget can enjoy private guest rooms in historic brick buildings while being steps away from pitchers and pints, nightly music and snazzy snowboard gear.
One such hotel, the Fernie Hotel and Pub, also offers dorm rooms and is especially popular with young travellers. The downstairs pub features big-screen TVs for the ever-present hockey scene and serves traditional English-style fare like fish and chips. Additional dorm beds and brews can be found at the town's official hostel, which is only a few blocks from Victoria Avenue and includes the likes of free daily breakfasts, a sauna and a theatre-style movie room.
IN A NUTSHELL
Wherever visitors choose to stay, Fernie's compact size makes it easy to explore on foot or on any number of wheels, and its small population belies its varied choice of restaurants. Guests can dine on unconventional mountain fare such as sushi, Thai and Indian cuisine by night, while exploring hiking trails, cat-skiing slopes and white-water rapids by day.
Its hotel scene is no less surprising. This seemingly small mountain town boasts an extensive amount of accommodation and while most is low-key like Fernie itself, some properties offer exclusive dining and lodging. The majority of hotels are located in one of two places—along Highway 3, which runs through the town, or on the nearby ski mountain, which is located 7.5 km (4.6 mi) from town and is home to Fernie's star attraction—Fernie Alpine Resort. What follows is an overview of Fernie's hotel scene but visitors can also opt for high-end mountain lodges, friendly bed and breakfasts or scenic campsites.
LUXURY LODGING
Fernie's luxury hotels proffer distinctive surroundings, albeit with rustic, alpine characteristics such as log beams rather than marble entrances and stone fireplaces in place of urban chic.
The most exclusive rooms and suites can arguably be found at the Lizard Creek Lodge. Situated at the base of the ski slopes, the upscale lodge features a great central room with spectacular views of the Lizard Range, the requisite on-site boutique and spa that such a four-star property requires and deluxe amenities such as pre-arrival grocery delivery, gourmet dining and fireplaces in every suite.
Just metres away, the Snow Creek Lodge offers similar accommodation and makes it into the high-end category with features like an outdoor heated pool alongside the ski slopes, private and public hot tubs, underground heated parking and a centerpiece stone fireplace. Although the property and its suites might be considered comfortable more than luxurious, its cosy, honeymoon-esque atmosphere distinguishes it from Fernie's more mid-range hotels.
MID-RANGE HOTELS
Visitors who prefer lower price tags needn't miss out on all the extras. Fernie enjoys a bevy of mid-range hotels, and even the town's economically priced, chain-brand properties boast indoor swimming pools and hot tubs, wireless Internet, ski lockers and units with kitchenettes. The majority of these are scattered along Highway 3 in town and offer easy access to the town's shops, fly-fishing outfitters and restaurants. The Park Place Lodge and the Best Western Fernie Mountain Lodge indubitably top the list and are situated at opposite ends of town. The former is within a few minutes' walk from Fernie's historic main street, while the latter is next to Fernie's picturesque golf course. Both offer rooms that range from luxury suites with fireplaces to standard queen rooms.
Another notable is the Stanford Resort, located midway between Fernie and the mountain. The hotel enjoys patios overlooking the Elk River, adjacent vacation chalets and a long list of amenities, but its distinctive feature is undoubtedly its huge indoor waterslide. The slide is one of Canada's largest and is visible to passing traffic through the pool complex's wall of glass windows.
Mid-range lodging can also be found on the mountain, one of which—the Cornerstone Lodge—sits directly on the main plaza of Fernie Alpine Resort. A small mountain grocery store and a shuttle service to town mean guests opting for scenery immediately out the hotel door don't have to suffer inconvenience.
BUDGET ROOMS
Most of Fernie's inexpensive accommodation can be found downtown and what these properties lack in amenities, they make up for in their locations along or near the town's picturesque Victoria Avenue. The heart of downtown also happens to be home to many of Fernie's lively bars and trendy shops, which means visitors on a budget can enjoy private guest rooms in historic brick buildings while being steps away from pitchers and pints, nightly music and snazzy snowboard gear.
One such hotel, the Fernie Hotel and Pub, also offers dorm rooms and is especially popular with young travellers. The downstairs pub features big-screen TVs for the ever-present hockey scene and serves traditional English-style fare like fish and chips. Additional dorm beds and brews can be found at the town's official hostel, which is only a few blocks from Victoria Avenue and includes the likes of free daily breakfasts, a sauna and a theatre-style movie room.
IN A NUTSHELL
Wherever visitors choose to stay, Fernie's compact size makes it easy to explore on foot or on any number of wheels, and its small population belies its varied choice of restaurants. Guests can dine on unconventional mountain fare such as sushi, Thai and Indian cuisine by night, while exploring hiking trails, cat-skiing slopes and white-water rapids by day.
Fernie Alpine Hotel
Pet Friendly
Fernie Stanford Resort
This riverside lodge is nestled between mountains and boasts unparalleled views!
Sauna/Pool/Hot Tub
Indoor Atrium Pool
Secluded Setting
Island Lake Lodge
in Fernie, BC
Offering luxurious accommodation, fine dining, a full-service spa, hiking, weddings and catskiing!
