Events in Greater Nelson

Historical Tours
Nelson has 350 heritage homes and buildings, whose architectural style even during construction was 20 to 30 years behind the times. Mainly influenced by north-south trends in architecture, many buildings are more typical of those in San Francisco, Seattle and Spokane than in Eastern Canada. The restoration of these buildings is a great source of pride for Nelson and has earned the city a reputation as one of the finest heritage cities in Canada. The movie Roxanne used the beautifully restored Nelson Fire Hall to great effect, so make sure you stop by for a picture. Two heritage tours have been developed for visitors: the walking tour and the driving tour. You can pick up details and maps of these tours from the Nelson & Area Visitor Centre, located at 91 Baker Street.

Baker Street
Baker Street has long defined the essence of Nelson. The eclectic mix of retail stores, restaurants and heritage buildings provides visitors with a tremendous sense of the region’s diversity and sophistication. It’s what downtowns are meant to be: the lively heart of the city. A visit to Nelson isn’t complete until you’ve seen Baker Street.

Lakeside Park
With a beautiful sandy beach, restaurant, children’s playground, tennis courts, labyrinth, basketball court, walking trails and picnic area, this idyllic spot is the perfect setting for a day on the lake. Take a stroll along the waterfront pathway – an ongoing community project – the goal of which is to create a waterfront pathway from one end of Nelson to the other, along the water.

Streetcar 23
This fully restored streetcar was orginally built in 1906 and ran untill 1949 when it was suspended and replaced by buses. Present day, it takes you on a tour that starts from Lakeside Park and follows the West Arm of Kootenay Lake, past the Chahko Mika Mall to the Prestige Inn, and back. A great way to visit the past, and a real treat for young and old alike.

Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Changing exhibitions of Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery offers a diversity of topics and themes that reflect the broad interests and capabilities of people living in the region. It connects the area creative energy and rich history. Also hosting The Shawn Lamb Archives, it collects, preserves and protects on-site access to textual, cartographic, visual and audio records of the Nelson region.

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort
Ainsworth Hot Springs is a truly unique destination. This world class facility offers soothing mineral waters, with an average temperature of 42 C/114 F in sauna-like caves. The mineral waters fall from the cave’s roof and forms into a pool about waste deep, providing a natural steam bath. The main lounging pool temperatures average 35 C/96 F, and a stream-fed cold plunge which temperature varies with the seasons.

S.S. Moyie
The S.S. Moyie is the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler and is now located against stunning mountain scenery in the town of Kaslo. It began its service in 1898, carrying passengers and freight on the lake for 59 years. The S.S. Moyie awaits all who want to step back in time and experience life at the turn of the last century. The sights, sounds and smells have all been recreated aboard this grand vessel.

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park
Another great place for a picnic and day on the lake. With more than a kilometre of sandy beaches, camping and a children’s playground, it’s a great choice for tourists coming to the West Kootenay. If you’re visiting in the middle to end of August, you can witness thousands of Kokanee salmon as they head up the spawning channels. The park also offers 9.5 kilometres of hiking from easy to difficult, as well as winter activities.

The Doukhobor Village Museum
The year 1908 marks the arrival of the first members of the Doukhobor community immigrating to Canada. It displays more than 1,000 artifacts representing the pioneering, arts, crafts, customs and religion of the Doukhobor settlers and brilliantly illustrates Castlegar’s cultural history.

Creston Valley Wildlife Area
A uniquely preserved area of 17,000 acre wetland habitat. There are more than 32 kilometers of dyke trails to explore. Enjoy hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing and a little peace and quiet. In the winter enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

Cody Caves Provincial Park
Discover a wondrous and fragile underground world. A natural limestone cave system sculpted by a glacier-fed stream, featuring soda straws, stalactite and other calcite features unique to the underground. Located 2 kilometres north of Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, there are a variety of tours from introductory caving to adventurous for the more curious caver.