THE KOOTENAYS - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 429

style used by the Gilyaki people in Russia, leading ethnologists to speculate about the pos-
sible links.
Creston is home to the Columbia Brewery (1220 Erickson St., 250/428-1238), producer
of British Columbia's popular Kokanee beer. Tours are offered in summer six times daily
Monday-Friday and four times a day on weekends. At the brewery entrance is the Kokanee
Beer Gear Store (9am-4pm Mon.-Fri. year-round).
MM Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
The 7,000-hectare (17,300-acre) Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area lies 10 kilo-
meters (6.2 miles) west of Creston (1874 Wildlife Rd., 250/402-6908, 9am-4pm Tues.-Sat.
mid-May-June, 9am-4pm daily July-Aug., 9am-4pm Wed.-Fri. Sept., free). It extends from
Kootenay Lake to the Canada-U.S. border. Protecting vital resting grounds along the Pacific
Flyway, the site provides a haven for more than 250 species of birds, including a large pop-
ulation of osprey, a flock of the rare Forester's tern, and a nesting colony of western grebe.
Start a visit at the park's wildlife center, where displays focus on the abundant birdlife, as
well as on mammals and reptiles present in the reserve. From the center, hiking trails lead
along dikes separating wetlands and ponds. Even along the boardwalk leading into the cen-
ter you may spy some local residents: turtles that sun themselves on half-submerged logs.
Special events through the year coincide with various natural cycles, such as the spring
Morning Chorus guided walk in search of songbirds (Saturdays in June).
Accommodations and Food
Nothing stands out here; you could stay right downtown at the aptly named Downtowner
Motor Inn (1218 Canyon St., 250/428-2238 or 800/665-9904,
www.downtownercreston.com , $80-120 s or d), which sports an easily recognized blue-
and-white exterior. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with wireless Internet. Scottie's
RV Park (1409 Erickson Rd., 250/428-4256 or 800/982-4256, www.scottiesrv.com ,
$22-31) enjoys a pleasant treed setting across the road from the Columbia Brewery.
The busiest place in town each morning is Creston Valley Bakery (113 10th Ave., 250/
428-2661, from 8am daily except Sun.), where you'll find plenty of tables and a large se-
lection of freshly baked cakes and pastries.
Information
Creston Visitor Centre is beside the grain elevators along the main highway through
town (121 Northwest Blvd., 250/428-4342, www.crestonbc.com , 9am-5pm daily in sum-
mer, 9am-5pm weekdays the rest of the year).