quintessential / family skiing Big White kelowna, bc canada

feature article courtesy of s-magazine Photo credit: Big White Ski Resort quintessential / family skiing all in the

no MaTTeR THe aGe, bIG wHITe conTInUeS To FInd a waY To GeT FaMIlIeS’ wInTeR GRooVe on Family

by gordie bowles

photographs by kirsten skarsgard

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At this very moment someone is laughing at Big White. Some- one else is skating. Someone is party- ing. Ice climbing, horse-sleigh riding, tubing, parading, snowmobiling, cotton-candying, big-bear hugging. Playing.

Someone else is shopping, eating, drinking. Hot-tubbing, bon-firing, ice wine sipping. Others are getting their groove on. Oh right, did I mention skiing? Big White is a family ski vacation mecca. Its brilliant blend of activities leave nothing to chance. Bad weather, no problem, flip open that fat resort activity rolodex. Kid meltdown? No worries, big white By the numbers a gazillion turn-that-frown-upside-down things to do. Vertical Terrain There’s no question that Big White, with its small village 777 metres 118 named runs character and intimate size, is all about catering to the the Skiable Acreage Beginner 18% multi-faceted, complex world of family travel, helping man- 7,355 acres Intermediate 54% Elevation Advanced 22% age expectations and interest levels that come with the varied Summit 2,319 meters Expert 6% generational interests.

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The irony is that even though skiing and learning to ski is this Looking for Romance? Try a sleigh ride resort’s If you’ve chosen Big White to romance a new flame, or reignite an existing one, try a romantic specialty, horse-drawn sleigh ride (private rides can be ar- ranged) with champagne and chocolate-covered the après strawberries before dinner at the Kettle Valley Steakhouse. Big White also offers a champagne and activity gondola ride, a nice touch if you’re making your offerings way around the the multi-leveled Village. are vast.

Talkin’ ‘bout my generation Big White has always been a family stop, but the resort has matured significantly in the last two decades since it was just a place to drive to, ski for a while, drive back. On the mountain today, you’ll find 16 lifts that whizz you upwards to access 7,355 acres (the equivalent of 7,000 foot- ball fields) of skiable terrain, over 118 designated trails and an annual snowfall of over 20 feet. You’ll find a village with accommodation to suite everything from economy to luxury and 18 on-mountain restaurants, cafés, pubs and nightclubs. You’ll likely be experiencing weather in the minus 5 celcius White Spirit Lodge range. You’ll find a terrain park that is so big that it has its own The White a “hospitable the structure weather system. Spirit Lodge, castle”, with is massive and You’ll also find creativity for learn to ski programs, no matter located atop a orientation that awesome, we the age or skill level. Mom, Dad and Me, a unique learn-to-ski small plateau offers both also strived program, allows the more anxious children (around age 3-6) a in the middle of sunrise and to create a private lesson with parents in tow. On the opposite end of the the Big White sunset views. natural, com- age spectrum, “mature” skiers (seniors) have special desig- Resort, is the The place- forting feel- nated zones on the mountain which that are carefully monitored dream home ment of the ing with the to ensure speed is kept to a comfortable crawl, ensuring of Calgar- old growth red way we used elder skiers, as well as families with small children, the ians Sherry cedar log posts, natural materi- chance to comfortably explore more than just the green runs and George most of them a als and ori- on the mountain. Schluessel. metre in diame- ented things,” Inspired to build ter and distinc- Schluessel Appies: Fancy schmancy a family get- tively natural, says. “Yes, it’s or Simple Joe away, George and each with massive, but The irony is that even though skiing and learning to ski is this calls the its own random, I believe it’s resort’s specialty, the après and activity offerings are vast. The 10,000-square- gnarled char- also warm

playground mecca headquarters are located at the base of the foot work of art acter. “While and cozy.” Resort Big White courtesy page: photo Opposite

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napa of the north WINTER The only thing better than pair- ing fine wine and fine powder is fine local wine and champagne powder. B.C.’s wine country, which is growing up faster as Big White TASTES Resort, is gaining in popularity lo- cally and abroad. Like California’s Napa Valley, the wine country in B.C. runs north-south (from Osoyoos to Kelowna) in an arid basin that BETTER features several distinct growing regions. Some of the notable local wineries – Cedar Creek, Quail’s Gate, (renowned for pinot AT BIG noirs) Mission Hill (ice wine, a specialty) and Sumac Ridge – are a short drive from the ski resort. Suggest: Start your wine après at Globe for limited-edition WHITE. local wines paired with artisanal charcuterie and cheeses. From here, it’s 45 minutes to the winer- TASTY TREATS TO WINE ies. Or, to stay on the mountain, plan your trip around the Big Reds TASTING. WARM UP OR at Big White event, where over 30 Okanagan wineries team up with CHILL OUT. the finest chefs at Big White for a night of sensory delights ($50 per WE HAVE IT ALL. person, bigwhite.com). When you go, Fly into keloWna; there are non- stops From vancouver, calgary, seattle and others. BigWhite.com

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SMILES LAST LONGER AT BIG WHITE. SNOWSHOEING, TUBING, SKATING, DOG SLEDDING

& SO MUCH MORE. ski area at the aptly named Happy Valley, which is surrounded Santé Grille has five different styles of eggs benedict. by skating rinks (quality outdoor ice!), snow tubing, horse- The skiing is as diverse as the village. From the chal- ACTIVITIES TO KEEP drawn sleighs, snowmobile rides, snow biking, and a really lenging, albeit short, glades off the Falcon Chair, like Flag challenging 60-foot ice-climbing wall towering over it all. And Pole and Corkscrew, to the more cruisey runs off the Bullet THE FAMILY not to be missed: the belgian-waffles-to-die-for kiosk in the Express, there is no wind-in-your-face shortage on these hills lower floor of Happy Valley Lodge. (speaking of wind in your face, the Black Forest side of the The activities at Big White appeal to most ages, including mountain is secluded enough for an escape on windy days). GRINNING MORNING the oft-neglected parents. The quaint village, which caters Guests are often surprised at the quality of snow. Said one primarily to a ski-in crowd, features several dining and night- guest on, “After living in Whistler for 12 years I was a little TO NIGHT. life options, from the intimate 6 Degrees Bistro at the base of skeptical of Big White but not anymore, 25 cms of dry OK the Stonebridge Lodge to great burgers at Johnnie Canuck’s champagne powder has made me a fan; we had fun all over to the more extravagant Kettle Valley Steakhouse and Wine the mountain, 40 runs wide at the base is no joke either.” Bar. In the morning, Beano’s coffee house is a terrific stop Yes, no joke about it, Big White is the real deal, with the before you hit the slopes, or for more stick-with-you power the snow and smiles to prove it.

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