JEN BROSSEAU
 Revelstoke's definition of a bluebird day. JEN BROSSEAU/SnowSeekers |
REVELSTOKE, BC – If I had a dollar for every time I heard “Oh … that was unexpected” during my recent trip through the North Kootenays, I could buy Revelstoke twice over and settle down permanently. By the end of the weekend trip our crew had adopted the motto “expect the unexpected,” and it was two days worth of surprises that got us there.
Half of our crew was out of Edmonton, while the other half was from Calgary. Driving with the Edmonton crew, we met up with the Calgarians in Golden before making a pact to follow the snow, no matter where it took us. Without much of a debate the commitment was made, and we were on our way to Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Our Calgary travellers had actually never been to Revelstoke, feeling that it was “just too far” to travel. To which us Edmontonians replied, “suck it up.” The snow was just too good not to make the trip from Golden to “Revy,” so we stood our ground.
A heavenly surprise
Our first “unexpected” moment came within minutes of arriving in Revelstoke. “Oh, that drive wasn’t bad at all,” stated a confident Ken, the most senior traveller of our group. “That was unexpected.” And just then, like a gift from heaven, the snow began to fall. It didn’t let up until morning.
Our second “unexpected” moment was when we walked into Revelstoke’s newest hotel, the Best Western Plus. Not only is it the town’s tallest hotel, it’s also the most impressive. Unlike certain Best Western hotels, this one had 20 ft. vaulted ceilings, soft leather couches, and beautiful rock fireplaces. The “Plus” was evident. Even the hallways were luxurious, being extra wide and fitted with cedar beams and finely detailed doors.
 From the presentation, to the beds, to the breakfasts, Best Western Revelstoke shattered expectations. JEN BROSSEAU/SnowSeekers |
Was this really a Best Western?
The beds were possibly the most comfortable I’ve stayed in, the bathrooms were well lit and impeccably clean (very important for females), and the rooms were tastefully decorated. Again, it was all very unexpected.
Getting the most out of a powder day
After a delightful sleep, and an overnight dump of 14 cm, breakfast brought yet another surprise. Instead of a standard continental breakfast, our complimentary breakfast included freshly cooked eggs, an assortment of juices, bacon/ham, cereal, muffins, fruit, and fresh, made-to-order waffles, cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. I was in heaven and it wasn’t even 7 o’clock in the morning!
Our breakfast attendant, Becky, was not only a wealth of information on places to ski, but showed genuine interest in how she could help each of us enjoy our vacation, whether we were skiers, snowboarders, or snowmobilers. The entire staff, In fact, was most helpful, friendly,and showed genuine interest in how they could help us get the most out of our powder day.
It was amazing to see our Calgary companions go from being Revy-opposed to never wanting to ski anywhere else again in their entire lives. Not only did the accommodations surpass any and all expectations, but the mountain conditions were unbelievable.
Lark, the person most against travelling to Revy, actually said that he would definitely be travelling back on his next trip.
Okay, so that wasn’t so unexpected.
Those who know, go.
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