Sun Peaks – Way More Than Snow

I’ve been up to Sun Peaks a few times over the years, twice for the Wine Festival, once for a harvest dinner in the fall, another for a summer visit and recently, just before Christmas, for the Holiday Kick Off Weekend. Each time the resort gets better, with more to do and see, and with the new management at the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel and Conference Centre, the accommodation and cuisine is now top notch too.

Just before Christmas we checked in and checked out the resort and there’s was certainly a lot going on that weekend as they launched their holiday season.

As we arrived, we heard the sounds of Rusty the Ice Carver carving the ice patio and sculptures on the Mantles patio. He then went on to place second in the International Ice Sculpting Competition in Russia! It was very cool to chat with him about his self-taught carving skills and hear about the restaurant and Brew Pub he runs in Cranbrook, The Heid Out. We plan on a visit this year. On Saturday it warmed up a bit and the Ice Bar on Mantles Lounge Patio served up apple cider, mulled wine, and hosted a Martini Luge!

Speaking of brews, Sun Peaks Brew Pub, owned by BC Brewing Co. launched that weekend with two stellar beers, a cream ale and a brown ale and we’ve got the hats and growlers to prove we were there. There’s no actual brew pub (yet) in Sun Peaks, just to be clear; the beer is currently brewed in Kelowna, with all ingredients coming from British Columbia.

The Artisan Market in the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel Lower Lobby provided us the opportunity to shop for some holiday gifts and we were on hand to witness Santa arriving by sleigh at Morrisey’s Pub, where they served up complimentary coffee and hot chocolate to fend off the cold.

The Gingerbread Unveiling in the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel Upper Lobby was well attended. The creation was made by the hotel’s pastry chef, Samantha Rosen, and took a month from start to finish. There were ten houses and even she can’t count the candies. Apparently the trees were the hardest part to get correct and although I suggested perhaps she hire a helper, she commented that the symmetry might not be there with alternative hands and simply wished she had far more time to complete. Nevertheless, it was beautifully done.

Rum and Blackwell Dairy Eggnog was served up along with a delicious Christmas cake in the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel Upper Lobby and we went back for two pieces they were so good, and we usually really hate Christmas Cake!

The hospitality at the hotel is genuine and we had several stellar meals and a couple cocktail hour visits. The chicken with pita was delightful and was a perfect meal for two when served up with a side salad and flatbread and a sandwich for lunch, shared, held us both over til dinner.

Another night we dined in the restaurant at the Sun Peaks Grand and had a bit of a fancier dinner, another great locally-sourced pork chop and the surf and turf with the steak perfectly medium rare.

Breakfast could be the buffet, which we did do once, but the second day I went for the pancakes which did not disappoint!

The rooms are spacious and comfortable, our only regret was that in the minus 8-21 temperatures we were too chicken to get out and actually enjoy the mountain! Let’s hope in March, when we return for the Culinary Weekend with Vikram Vij, that it’s warmed up! Thankfully the hotels gym kept the calories burning while we were there.