| Nelson BC is located in the West Kootenays region | | | | banks on Baker if you need to access cash. Looking |
| of British Columbia, Canada. If you look at a map of | | | | to buy property or a house in Nelson? There are |
| British Columbia, the Kootenays are located in the | | | | three real estate storefronts on Baker Street where |
| southeast area of the province. Nelson is | | | | you can peruse photos of Nelson and area realty. |
| approximately midway between Vancouver and | | | | Need some ideas of things to do in Nelson? You |
| Calgary. If you are coming from the US, Nelson is | | | | could spend some time down at Lakeside Park. There |
| approximately a three-hour scenic drive from | | | | is a sandy beach for swimming or sun tanning, lots of |
| Spokane, Washington (including time for the border | | | | grassy areas for picnics, a children's playground, and |
| crossing). | | | | soccer and baseball fields. There is also a heritage |
| The city of Nelson was established on the southern | | | | streetcar ride that travels between Lakeside Park |
| shores of Kootenay Lake in the late 1800's. | | | | and the Prestige Inn. You can go swimming indoors |
| Commerce originally centered around mining, forestry | | | | at the Aquatic center, which has a full pool, kids pool, |
| and trade. In the early 1980's, the main sawmill in | | | | sauna, steam room and hot pool. The Aquatic center |
| town closed down and the economy of the city | | | | is located in the newly constructed recreation center, |
| suffered. Since then, Nelson has become more | | | | which hosts Nelson's new hockey arena. |
| diversified, and along with forestry the area is now | | | | Outside of Nelson, you can travel up highway 31 to |
| well known for it's arts, culture, tourism, and | | | | Ainsworth Hot Springs (approximately 45 km north) |
| outdoors opportunities. | | | | for a day in the natural warm spring waters and |
| If you are planning a visit to Nelson, there are a | | | | caves. The hot springs are directly adjacent to a |
| number of hotels and motels to choose from. The | | | | hotel and restaurant. You can also take the longest |
| main hotels include the Prestige Inn, the Hume Hotel, | | | | free ferry ride at Balfour (35 km north of Nelson) |
| the Best Western, the New Grand hotel, and the | | | | across Kootenay Lake to Crawford Bay. If you |
| Alpine motel. If you would like to stay right | | | | prefer mountain biking, park off-highway at the start |
| downtown, your best bets are the Hume, New | | | | of any forest road and spend a day exploring on the |
| Grand, or Best Western. These three hotels all have | | | | mountains. Wildlife you may see include deer, elk, |
| their own restaurants. The Prestige Inn is located | | | | moose, cougar and black bears. The highway turn off |
| right on the shore of Kootenay Lake, if you like to | | | | to the Whitewater ski hill is 10 km south of Nelson. If |
| be near the water. If you are traveling by RV, there | | | | you park at the highway turn off, you will find the |
| is a Walmart at the main mall in town. RV's can often | | | | Nelson Nordic ski club cross-country ski trails. Other |
| be seen spending the night in the Walmart parking lot. | | | | towns you may want to visit within an easy day's |
| The main street in Nelson is called Baker Street. Here | | | | drive include Kaslo, Ymir, Salmo, Castlegar, Trail, |
| you will find a diversified assortment of stores and | | | | Rossland, and Slocan City. |
| cafes to browse, including fine coffee houses, | | | | Travel to Nelson continues to increase, and most of |
| restaurants, outdoor outfitters, ski and snowboard | | | | it comes through 'word of mouth' advertising. Some |
| stores, bike stores, gifts, arts and crafts, and | | | | who thought they were coming for a visit ended up |
| bookstores. If you're a coffee lover, a stay in Nelson | | | | relocating here, saying they have never seen any |
| wouldn't be complete without a taste of locally made | | | | other place quite like Nelson. So whether you're |
| Oso Negro coffee. If biking is your thing, you'll have | | | | looking for some relaxation, an adventure, or a |
| to make a stop at the Sacred Ride bike shop at the | | | | chance to be revitalized, the odds are you will find it |
| west end of Baker Street. There are three major | | | | in Nelson. |