The thought of small town Canada conjures up simpler times.
Think unpretentious mom-and-pop snack shacks. A day on the lake with sun-kissed and sand-covered kids clad in brightly-coloured water wings.
Local farmers’ markets where you might encounter, like we recently did, a father and son duo singing ballads so sweetly they’ll make your heart break.
At least, these are the images that come to mind when we think of Invermere, B.C. – one of Canada’s favourite playgrounds.
So when we heard Invermere had just landed Copper Point Resort – the town’s first luxury destination – we weren’t sure what to think. Do “upscale” resorts even belong in small town Canada?
Well, we simply had to find out for ourselves. And as it turns out – after a three hour drive through the Rockies from Calgary – we were o.k. with landing in what turned out to be pretty swish digs.
Copper Point’s condo-style suites are not only sleek, stylish and gorgeous, but they hold some interesting surprises. Not the least of which are the oh-so-soft, faux-fur lined robes available to guests and a bathroom mirror that doubles as a flat screen TV.
A visit to our private balcony early the next morning revealed welcoming blue skies, a sprawling mountain vista and two exquisite swimming pools that stretched out beneath us.
Unable to resist the pools and given the soaring temperatures, we would spend several hours reading on the deck throughout the weekend – slipping in and out of the cool waters and enjoying what felt like a Palm Springs-style holiday, only without the tab.
We ventured out to the Blue Dog Cafe (best breakfast burritos ever) and wandered through the bustling local farmer’s market, buying kettle corn and home-grown cherries the size of small plums to bring home with us.
Afterwards, we spent the afternoon golfing at Panorama’s Greywolf – known in these parts as the most challenging and picturesque course around.
But to be honest, we couldn’t wait to get back to Copper Point (and its unique get-away-from-it-all vibe) for refreshing cocktails on the patio and dinner at Elements, the hotel restaurant, where we would enjoy succulent lamb followed by yummy mini-chocolate milkshakes for dessert.
Sure, these are early days for the resort – which launched officially June 28th with a live outdoor performance by The Sheepdogs, the Canadian band that just won first “unsigned band ever” to don the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
But if general manager Martain Cloutier (formerly of The Post Hotel and Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts) has his way, Copper Point Resort will fast find its place in this much-loved B.C. town.
“We want to be elegant but not overwhelming. Chic but not pretentious,” Cloutier told us. “We also want to be a place for people to stay when they go out and experience the valley. Everything is here.” —Kim Gray
*Editor’s note: Our writer was hosted by Copper Point Resort and Greywolf Golf Course. They did review or edit this story before publication.
