THE KOOTENAYS - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 434

The flower-basket-adorned Heritage Estate Motel (362 Van Horne St., 250/426-3862,
$70 s, $75 d) is definitely the best value-for-money choice. The rooms are spacious, and
each contains complimentary tea and coffee. I'm not the only one who regards this place as
a bargain, so book ahead in summer. Continuing north, in the heart of the commercial strip,
Lazy Bear Lodge (621 Cranbrook St., 250/426-6086 or 888/808-6086, www.lazybear-
lodge.ca , $65 s, $70-75 d) is an old roadside motel snazzed up with log trim, beds of bright
flowers, and a colorful coat of paint. The rooms remain basic, but each has a coffeemaker
and some have a fridge and microwave. Out front is a small swimming pool for guest use.
North of town, the Ktunaxa nation have transformed an abandoned mission building into
the sprawling St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino (7777 Mission Rd., 250/420-2000 or 866/
292-2020, www.steugene.ca , $139-249 s or d). Surrounded by rolling farmland and with
distant views to the Canadian Rockies, it's a beautiful property, complete with a golf course,
outdoor swimming pool, casino, and a restaurant and bar.
One of the area's most attractive campgrounds is in Jimsmith Lake Provincial Park,
four kilometers (2.5 miles) off the main highway at the southern outskirts of the city. The
park has a sandy beach on a small lake (swimming, fishing) and 35 campsites (no reserva-
tions, mid-May-early Oct., $16). Downtown, Mt. Baker RV Park (14th Ave. and 1st St. S.,
250/489-0056, www.mountbakerrvpark.com , Apr.-Oct., $25-37) provides grassy tent sites,
full hookups, wireless Internet, and clean washrooms with showers.
Food
A local favorite for an inexpensive meal is Hot Shots Café (1924 8th St., 250/489-2010,
7am-8pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm Sun., lunches $12-15). Breakfast choices include
homemade granola; a Mediterranean breakfast pita; and a prosciutto, egg, and blue cheese
Panini. Asian-inspired menu choices at lunch include lemongrass and curried prawn salad,
grilled satays, and a Thai coconut noodle bowl.
Allegra (1225 Cranbrook St. N, 250/426-8812, 5pm-9pm Wed.-Sun., $14-27) is an in-
timate restaurant with a menu dominated by southern European specialties: think air-dried
beef Carpaccio for a starter and rack of lamb roasted in an olive and feta crust as a main, or
save a few bucks with one of the deliciously creative pastas. The wine list has lots of Cana-
dian choices sold by the glass or bottle, including from the nearby Skimmerhorn Winery.
Information and Services
The main Cranbrook Visitor Centre (2279 Cranbrook St. N., 250/426-5914 or 800/
222-6174, www.cranbrookchamber.com , 9am-5pm daily in summer, Mon.-Fri. only the rest
of the year) is at the northern entrance near the beginning of the strip. Lotus Books (33