Nelson BC is located in the West Kootenays region of British Columbia, Canada. If you look at a map of British Columbia, the Kootenays are located in the southeastern area of ​​the province. Nelson is roughly halfway between Vancouver and Calgary. If you are coming from the US, Nelson is about a three hour scenic drive from Spokane, Washington (including time for the border crossing).

The city of Nelson was established on the southern shore of Lake Kootenay in the late 1800s. The trade originally focused on mining, forestry, and commerce. In the early 1980s, the city’s main sawmill closed and the city’s economy suffered. Since then, Nelson has diversified further and, along with forestry, the area is now well known for its arts, culture, tourism, and outdoor opportunities.

If you are planning a visit to Nelson, there are several hotels and motels to choose from. Major hotels include the Prestige Inn, the Hume Hotel, the Best Western, the New Grand hotel, and the Alpine motel. If you want to stay in the city center, your best options are the Hume, New Grand, or Best Western. These three hotels have their own restaurants. The Prestige Inn is located right on the shore of Lake Kootenay, if you like to be near the water. If you are traveling by RV, there is a Walmart in the main shopping center in town. RVs can often be seen staying overnight in the Walmart parking lot.

Nelson’s main street is called Baker Street. Here you will find a diversified variety of shops and cafes to explore, including excellent coffee shops, restaurants, outdoor clothing vendors, ski and snowboard shops, bike shops, gifts, crafts, and bookstores. If you’re a coffee lover, a stay in Nelson wouldn’t be complete without trying locally made Black Bear coffee. If biking is your thing, you’ll have to make a stop at the Sacred Ride Bike Shop at the west end of Baker Street. There are three main banks in Baker if you need access to cash. Are you looking to buy a property or a house in Nelson? There are three real estate windows on Baker Street where you can peruse photos of Nelson and area real estate.

Need some ideas of things to do in Nelson? You could spend some time at Lakeside Park. There is a sandy beach for swimming or sunbathing, many green areas for picnics, a playground, and soccer and baseball fields. There is also a historic trolley ride that travels between Lakeside Park and the Prestige Inn. You can swim indoors at the aquatic center, which has a full pool, children’s pool, sauna, steam room, and hot pool. The Aquatic Center is located in the newly constructed Recreation Center, which houses the new Nelson Hockey Stadium.

Outside of Nelson, you can travel on Highway 31 to Ainsworth Hot Springs (approximately 45 km north) for a day in the warm natural waters and caves. The hot springs are directly next to a hotel and restaurant. You can also take the longest free ferry in Balfour (35km north of Nelson) across Lake Kootenay to Crawford Bay. If you prefer mountain biking, park off-road at the beginning of any forest road and spend a day exploring the mountains. The wildlife you may see includes deer, elk, elk, cougar, and black bears. The highway turnoff to Whitewater Ski Hill is 10 km south of Nelson. If you park at the motorway turnoff, you will find the cross country trails at the Nelson Nordic Ski Club. Other cities you might want to visit within a day’s drive include Kaslo, Ymir, Salmo, Castlegar, Trail, Rossland, and Slocan City.

Travel to Nelson continues to increase, with most of it coming from “word of mouth” advertising. Some who thought they were coming to visit ended up moving here, saying they had never seen another place like Nelson. So whether you’re looking for some relaxation, an adventure, or a chance to re-energize, chances are you’ll find it in Nelson.