. It is protected from being overrun by its relative isolation from a major city, resulting in the kind of place where locals greet each other at free nightly summer music concerts in Grizzly Plaza, or at the bustling weekend street market. A real sense of community permeates the atmosphere.Kari Medig/custom
Best known as a ski destination, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is embracing its four-season possibilities. This means world-class mountain biking and, for my bucket list, the longest alpine roller coaster in Canada. Taking the gondola up to mid-mountain, my family soaked in the stellar views of the fanning Columbia River before hopping into a yellow go-kart-like contraption connected on a narrow single rail. My wife and I each put a kid in our laps and strapped in for a thrilling 1.
Feet away from the exit point of the coaster is newly opened Aerial Adventure Park, where you can easily spend two hours navigating 50 different balance and height obstacles, rising four storeys above the ground. Graded like ski runs into green, blue and black difficulties, climbers are safely harnessed throughout the entire experience. Watching brave little kids take on swinging rings or a knee-shaking four-storey jump will make your proud parent heart swell.
River rafting is a popular summer activity in Revelstoke, with various companies offering Grade 3 runs on the reliably cool and invigorating Columbia River. With young kids in tow, however, we needed a gentler ride on the water. Wild Blue Yonder’s River Pirates Tour – complete with pirate costumes, face paint, bush battles and fun tales of– isn’t what anyone would call an “authentic” experience, but sometimes that’s not what’s important.
Downriver from the impressive hydro dam, we drifted on the glass mirror of the Columbia, listening to Captain Jack’s brogue as he recounted the myth of the man-eating moose. My daughter – made-up with face paint, bandana’d, and now known as Jolly Lips Sue – had a blast. Nobody got wet and foam sword battles continued back in our hotel suite.