THE KOOTENAYS - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 414

living in segregated villages along the valley floor. Many of their descendants still live in
the area.

Sights
Castlegar's major attraction is the Doukhobor Discovery Centre (east side of the river
along Hwy. 3A, 250/365-5327, 10am-5pm daily May-Sept., adult $10, senior $8, student
$5). The village allows a glimpse of the traditional lifestyle of these intriguing Russian im-
migrants. Admission includes a guided tour, led by Doukhobor descendants, through the
main building and the simply furnished brick dwellings and outbuildings. Along the way
you'll see some of the sect's artifacts, including handwoven clothing, crocheted bedspreads
and shawls, a barn full of antique farming implements, and carved wooden spoons and
ladles. At the Village Bistro, you can dine on simple yet hearty Doukhobor fare.
Zuckerberg Island, at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers, was the
home of Russian immigrant Alexander Zuckerberg, who came to Castlegar to teach Douk-
hobor children in 1931. Connected to the mainland by a 150-meter (492-foot) suspension
bridge, the tree-covered two-hectare (five-acre) island is interesting to explore. A one-kilo-
meter (0.6-mile) trail passes a full-scale model of a ckukuli (First Nations winter pit house),
as well as a Russian Orthodox chapel house, a cemetery, a log house, and many other Zuck-
erberg creations. To get there, turn off Highway 22 at 9th Street, turn left on 7th Avenue,
then immediately turn right.
While you're in a Russian frame of mind, visit the old Doukhobor Bridge, which
crosses the Kootenay River along Highway 3A. It was built by the Doukhobors in the 1910s
as a link from their community to Nelson; none of them had any bridge-building experi-
ence, but the 100-meter-long (328-foot-long), hand-poured concrete suspension bridge was
used until 1968, and the remains can still be seen today.

Practicalities
The comfortable and reasonably priced Cozy Pines Motel (2118 Crestview Cres., 250/
365-5613, www.cozypines.com , $75 s, $80 d) offers spotless rooms with kitchenettes and
wireless Internet. Immediately south of the Highway 3 and Highway 22 intersection is
the Sandman Hotel Castlegar (1944 Columbia Ave., 250/365-8444 or 800/726-3626,
www.sandmanhotels.ca , $135 s, $145 d), with an indoor pool, fitness room, business center,
and a light breakfast included in the rates. Campers looking for hookups should head
to Kootenay River Kampground (651 Rosedale Rd., 250/365-5604 or 877/318-0008,
www.kootenayriverrv.com , $20-34), beside the Kootenay River just north of the airport.
The setting at Syringa

Provincial Park (519/826-6850 or 800/689-9025,