Communing with the Mountains in Revelstoke BC

Revelstoke has become an annual fall trip for our family for its close proximity to Kelowna, just 2.5 hours away, and its myriad of fun, family activities.

We’ve fallen in love with the picturesque drive where deciduous trees celebrate the end of summer by turning the color of the sun before saying farewell.

With many accommodation options, we chose to stay at Revelstoke Mountain Resort to be close to the many activities offered by the Play All Day Pass.

This gave us access to the gondolas for hiking, one of the best ways to take in the glorious views of the mountains and the Columbia River.

As if to say, ‘You are now officially on vacation’, we were welcomed at the resort with a glass of Mission Hill wine, provided by friendly staff, full of recommendations for our stay, including an excellent suggestion to visit Old School Eatery for dinner.

One of my favorite feelings is that first step into a beautiful hotel lobby. I stand in the foyer, taking in the modern decor and pretty chandeliers. I appreciate the safety precautions put in place to help guests feel socially distanced and safe while still creating an atmosphere of anticipation and warmth for our weekend away.

This year, we merged our yearly trip to Revelstoke with my birthday celebration and a chance for me to check off a huge bucket list item, paragliding! Mount Mackenzie in Revelstoke, boasts the highest vertical commercial tandem paragliding launch in all of North America, the perfect place to fly off a mountain for the very first time.

Meeting at the bottom of the gondola, I was immediately drawn in by the warmth of this community of experienced pilots at Revelstoke Paragliding, and staff that seek only to commune with nature in a way that so few ever have and take others on the journey to intimately experience the mountains like never before through tandem flights.

The humor, the camaraderie, and the safety briefing were enough to ease my nerves as I realized how much knowledge this crew has about thermals, wind and sun influences, air currents and more. I stood attached to my pilot, Chris, facing the escarpment and looking down the mountain that I would run down when he told me to. Just as if Chris had some previous agreement with the wind, it lifted our kite and as we began to run, it lifted us off the ground into an aerial experience I can only explain as communing with the landscape in the most unique way possible.

Sailing through the wind, we chatted about life in the sky, the beauty of BC, and multiple day trips he’s done with only this kite and these strings, something I didn’t even know was possible. What an incredible way to see the world, as a bird surveys the earth below, we appreciated the peaks and curves of the earth, and a sense of awe for creation bubbles up in my chest, a sense of gratitude that this province is my home and I want to see it from as many perspectives as possible to a human soul.

With my feet back on solid ground, our family got back to our Play all Day Pass which includes 2 rides down the pipe mountain coaster. This is what our son will talk about all year long, he’s been riding the coaster since he was three years old. Controlling your own speed makes this an activity for all ages.

Also included in the Play All Day Pass is axe throwing, access to the aerial park and disc golf.

This trip, our family stayed in the two-bedroom, two bathrooms, family suite situated at the bottom of the gondola so we could watch the coaster riders come soaring down the mountain from our large deck.

The pools and hot tubs were open for guest use, make sure to book ahead of time as only 20 people are allowed in the pool area at a time.

Smokey skies rolled in on us on our last day in Revelstoke but we had more to experience on our autumn itinerary. We headed for Meadows in the Sky, part of Revelstoke National Park for some hiking. The smoke didn’t allow for any views of Revelstoke and we just missed the wildflower bloom that typically occurs during summer months but we made friends with Whiskey Jacks who come to visit when you hold your hand up and we nearly missed a grizzly bear meandering around.

This is an amazing hiking spot, view point, family photo shoot location, and place to learn from the info booths about the Revelstoke wildlife. We’ll have to come back when the skies are clear!

As we made our way back to Kelowna we reflected on another successful family adventure. Revelstoke makes for the perfect weekend getaway with family or friends. With so many activities and so much to experience, it might just become an annual trip for you too! If you have the time to stay longer, check out the Giant Cedars Boardwalk, Moses Creek Community Park and waterfall, Begbie Falls, and the Revelstoke Dam in summer.

Follow us on Instagram @loewenlifestyle to ‘travel with us’ on Instagram Stories and suggest places you want to see us go next! We love hearing from you! A special thank you to Abi Kent for her creative photography and adventurous spirit! @abigaileveline_

Please remember not to travel if you feel unwell. Respect the protocols put in place to keep you, your family, and others healthy and safe! Happy travels BC!