Nelson is a small city tucked into the Selkirk Mountains on the west arm of Kootenay Lake, and it has an outsized cultural life for a place of 10,000 people. The town was built on silver mining in the 1890s and retains more than 350 heritage buildings from that era — the restored Baker Street downtown, with its brick facades, awnings, and independent shops, is one of the most attractive main streets in British Columbia.
The town drew draft dodgers in the 1960s, back-to-the-landers in the 1970s, and artists and outdoor enthusiasts ever since. The result is an unusual mix: organic bakeries, yoga studios, and craft breweries sit alongside old-school diners and hardware stores. Nelson takes its food seriously and has a surprising number of good restaurants for its size.
The setting is the other half of the appeal. Kootenay Lake stretches northeast into the mountains, the free Kootenay Lake ferry crosses to the east shore, and the skiing at Whitewater, 20 minutes south of town, is some of the best powder skiing in BC with far smaller crowds than the big resorts. In summer, the lake offers swimming, kayaking, and sailing, and the trails in the surrounding mountains are largely uncrowded.