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The first time I stayed in the town of Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, bordering Kootenay National Park and within easy driving distance of Banff and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, I encountered several bighorn sheep.
These animals with large curved horns frequently come down from the mountains into the town. I saw two grazing on the local golf course and several more outside the natural hot springs that give the town its name.
On my most recent trip through Radium Hot Springs, I didn’t manage to spot any of the bighorns. But I did stay at a comfortable family-friendly condo-hotel that takes its name from the local sheep: Bighorn Meadows Resort.
Here’s the scoop:
Facilities and Services
Bordering the golf course in Radium Hot Springs, a short drive from the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre and from the park’s popular hot springs, Bighorn Meadows Resort is a collection of studio and one-, two-, or three-bedroom condominiums in eight different buildings.
While the units are all individually owned and furnished somewhat differently, all have kitchen facilities, and the condos can be combined in various configurations to accommodate families or other groups.
Many owners and guests come from Calgary, a 2.5-hour drive away. Others are visitors touring the Kootenay-Rockies region.
The complex has an outdoor pool with two hot tubs, as well as a small playground for the kids. Inside the “Welcome Centre” building, where guests check in, is a basic fitness facility, as well as a “living room” where guests can congregate or play board games, which are provided. Bikes are available to rent.
Guest Rooms and Amenities
Larger than most standard hotel rooms, the entry-level units at Bighorn Meadows are studio-style guest rooms with kitchenettes and modern bathrooms.
Moving up the scale, you can choose from units with one or more bedrooms, some designed as lofts or townhouses with space across more than one level. Except for the standard guest rooms, all units are equipped with full kitchens, as well as a washer-dryer.
There’s free parking in front of all the buildings. Note that if you don’t want to haul your luggage up the stairs, choose a room in the 700 or 800 blocks, as both of these buildings have elevators. Also note that the resort’s units don’t typically include daily housekeeping, although you can arrange this service for a supplemental fee.
My accommodations, a one-bedroom unit in the 600 building, had a contemporary well-equipped kitchen — where I could easily have prepared and served meals for a family — which opened onto a bright living area with a sleep sofa and overstuffed chairs.
To access the spacious bathroom, you could enter either from the comfortable bedroom or from the hallway.
Many units have patios or terraces with views of the nearby golf course and the mountains beyond.
And who knows? You might even spot a bighorn sheep or two.
Rates
Nightly room rates at Bighorn Meadows Resort start at CAD$160, including Wi-Fi, for standard guest rooms. One-bedroom units, which typically sleep four, start at CAD$294, two-bedroom suites (sleeping six) at CAD$445.
You can book online, where discounts are often available at the resort’s website. If you’re interested in particular room configurations or amenities, staff suggest phoning first for more information. You can check for deals on Travelocity, Expedia or other OTAs.
Hotel feature by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Bighorn Meadows Resort arranged my stay for review purposes.
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