Things to Do in FERNIE, BC 🌲🌻 Ultimate Fernie Travel Guide for Summer in British Columbia, Canada!

Things to Do in FERNIE, BC 🌲🌻 Ultimate Fernie Travel Guide for Summer in British Columbia, Canada!

All righty, friends. We are coming 
to you from Fernie, BC. This week, we are exploring this beautiful mountain 
town here in the Canadian Rockies. Couldn’t be happier to be back in my home province of 
British Columbia and exploring one of the most iconic small towns (Fernie British Columbia) you 
can visit in the entire province. We’ve wanted to come here for a long time. We finally made it 
happen and we couldn’t be more excited. There’s going to be so many fun things to do here. Even 
the baby’s excited. Even baby’s excited. We’re going to show you what you can do in the town 
and how you can enjoy nature as well. Exactly. You can think of this as your mini little Fernie 
travel guide. All righty, guys. Freshly arrived here in Fernie. We got here right at lunchtime. 
So, we found a restaurant right away. We were so hungry. We opted for Mexican. This place is called 
Luchador and they had burritos. Baby is having her fruit puree. Very happy about it. And yes, we are 
just going to chow down before we start exploring. I’ve arrived in my home province with an appetite. 
Yes. So, I ended up going for the beef. Take a look at that. Absolutely loaded. Oh, yeah. That is 
good. Delicious beef. And it comes also with rice, cabbage, really nice texture, really tasty. And 
um yeah, this is the fuel that’s going to allow me to explore downtown Fernie this afternoon. 
I got the fish one. They had so many different options. It was really hard to choose. But well, 
fish and beans looks pretty good to me. It’s cod, fried cod. That’s really nice. That would make 
really good fish and chips as well. Getting the ground running. Just basically parked the 
vehicle. Let’s go eat, then let’s go sightsee. Okay, so we just finished visiting the museum 
here in Fernie, British Columbia. This is a must visit spot if you want to learn a little bit 
about the history of the town, the origins of the town most importantly. So Sam and I went around 
reading the different info boards they have. And I actually took notes on my phone because I 
found the history fascinating. They’ve had so many different tragedies in Fernie and they’ve had to 
reinvent themselves over and over again. It’s kind of shocking how resilient they’ve had to be. So, 
let me just read you some of the bullet points of like the things that stood out to me. So, first, 
1902, they had a coal mining disaster that killed 130 people. This was a big mining town. Then, just 
2 years later in 1904, they have a huge fire that burns down 65 buildings in the town at a cost of 
half a million dollars, which was huge money back then. Then a few years later, 1908, the great fire 
destroys the entire town in just 90 minutes. Like in an hour and a half, everything was burnt down. 
They had to rebuild everything here. Then 1923, the Home Bank of Canada was involved in some 
rather fishy illegal activities. So again, people lost huge amounts of money. And then we 
fast forward to 1986 when the last underground mine was closed. Um, so many people depended 
from the mining industry, their main source of income. So that was quite devastating. And then 
in the 1990s, Fernie decided to reinvent itself as a tourism destination. So I mean, the place 
is spectacular. You are surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests. They’ve now got resorts and ski 
hills, that sort of thing. So it’s a big tourist destination here in BC and they have continued 
with the mining but modern mining and that started up in 2013 I believe. So yeah that’s just 
a little bit of history of what Fernie is about its origins what they’re up to today. And we found 
the museum really fascinating. Sam’s also going to share some of his thoughts. Well I thought 
Audrey’s history lesson was very complete. So, I don’t have that much to add. One thing that I’ll 
say is that the admission was by donation. So, it can be free or as much as you’d like to donate. 
I love that type of system. Just allows anyone to visit. Another interesting little tidbit of 
history about Fernie is that it was an ideal rumrunner location nearby the Alberta border and 
also the US border during the prohibition era. So, all kinds of history here. And unlike the town I 
grew up in BC in the 90s where when the industry left the town was devastated, Fernie has picked up 
the ball and is now one of the premier locations in this part of British Columbia, Canada for 
skiing, for bicycling, for hiking, for basically everything outdoors. And uh kudos to them for 
being this resilient and forward thinking as well. babies enjoying the the flowers 
and the butterflies. Look at this. [Music] All righty. So, first up, we’ve just enjoyed the 
loveliest walk here around City Hall. The gardens are in bloom. It is full of bees, butterflies, 
vibrant colors. It was really, really nice. And aside from that, I also wanted to show you guys I 
picked up a brochure while we were at the museum. This is a Fernie Heritage Walk. And if you open 
up the brochure, they’ve got 16 different historic buildings that are scattered across town that you 
can visit. So far, we’ve hit up the library. We’ve seen the city hall. We’ve walked down the miner’s 
path. And there’s a cathedral just up ahead. This little town is just charming so far. So walkable, 
so family friendly, and baby’s liking it, too. She’s being rocked as to sleep at the moment. 
I think she’s going to fall asleep any minute. Yeah. But so far, first impressions of Fernie 
are very favorable. We’re loving being here. We’re loving the laidback, chill BC, small town 
vibe, and that is a very unique thing, friends. Good morning. Well, good morning. Welcome to day 
two of our trip to Fernie. So, yeah, yesterday was all about kind of getting orientated in the in 
the town, walking around on foot, checking out the historic buildings. Today’s going to be a 
very different day. We’re going to be exploring the nature side of Fernie. And I think that’s what 
most people come here to do. They come here to get on the trails, to explore the lakes, to see all 
the natural beauty that this place has to offer. So, we’re going to be doing that. But first off, 
we need to eat. So, we are going to an absolute institution of a place here. It’s a special bagel 
shop, Big Bang Bagels. They have a huge selection of bagels. Yes, we did research this place. We’re 
going to go over and have a gourmet breakfast. Well, we got banged, as the locals would say, 
at the at that bagel shop. Big bang bagel. We had bagels for breakfast, guys. It was good. It 
was good. I got the Avalanche which had avocado, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, red onions, and 
also like a herb and I think it was a herb and mayo added to the mix. So really, really nice. 
Really filling. What did you get? I got the smoked salmon variety with some red onions, cream cheese, 
alfalfa. It was really tasty, really filling. One thing I’ll mention about the place, it had good 
indoor and outdoor seating, and we also noticed a lot of people just grabbing coffees and bagels 
to go. So, lots of options in terms of how you want to have it. So, yeah, really good. And 
let’s go. Let’s go do something now. [Music] Well, we are ready to tackle Creek. We bought 
this backpack for the baby for this exact type of occasion. We’re going to go see waterfalls 
and it’s just gorgeous outside today. We have the sun coming through. Yesterday it was 
so hazy. It was so hard to see anything. Today we’ve got a little more visibility 
of the mountains. Perfect temperature, beautiful weather. Girl’s got her sun hat on. 
Yes, she does. She’s ready to go. So am I. So, let’s go. Uh let’s go see what this trail is all 
about. We are officially on the trail. We parked the car at the visitor center and we are doing 
Fairy Creek Falls. We’ve got Baby Relly in the hiking backpack, so we’ll see how long it actually 
takes. It says 1 to 2 hours, but we are carrying a a heavy little chunky monkey. I just wanted 
to say how good of an information center that place is. Very clean and spacious bathrooms, nice 
interactive displays, and really friendly staff. Yesterday when we arrived into town, we picked 
up a map about all the trails here in Fernie. So, it’s a great place to stop when you’re first 
coming into town as well and also the best place to stop when you’re going to do this hike. 
Indeed. Indeed. Well, lead away, my friend. Oh, also I was concerned about bear activity since 
we do have the baby with us this time around, but they said that no bears have been spotted in a 
couple of weeks. We should be okay. We’re going to make plenty of noise. There’s also a lot of people 
on the trail today. Lots of vehicles parked here, meaning that um we’re not the only people out 
here. We’re going to spook them. Yeah, we’ll keep our voices loud and uh yeah, we we didn’t 
bring bear spray, but uh we’re not hoping to meet one. Hi. Hello. How’s our cutie pie doing? Oh, I’m 
getting tickle tickle tickle tickle tickle tickle. [Music] This is Sam’s workout today. baby on a 
backpack. That’s right. And she’s sleeping. She’s enjoying the sedan ride. And here I am 
sweating like a mule. So, let’s keep going. Avalanche terrain. [Music] Look who woke up 
just in time for the waterfall. For the fairy, the fairy creek falls. [Music] 
Woo! So cute, baby. [Music] [Applause] Nothing. No. [Music] Oh, learning about 
plants that look like raspberries, girl. We’re learning about our natural environment out here 
in the wilderness of British Columbia. Does it get any better than this girl? Papa’s home province, 
I think. So, hola. Hello, out India. Wow. Welcome to Fernie Brewing Company. Yes, 
France. Did we ever earn that beer after our hike this morning? We sure did. So, 
yeah, I got the Ridgewalk Red Ale and um I’m so thirsty after that hike. It sure got 
hot near the end. So, awesome beer here. This is great. We for some reason thought we were 
going to be able to grab food here as well, but it is just a place to grab a pint and 
some snacks. They have things like potato chips and pretzels. So, this is an appetizer 
before our lunch, but um a very welcome stop. [Music] Wow, look at this. [Music] Look at the Look at the Look at the view. Look 
at the chairs. Look at Look at the chairs down there. Look at the Look at the Look at the the 
whole day. There are chairs down at the lake. So, we are at Island Lake Lodge. Unbelievable place. 
Unbelievable. The highlight of the day. The highlight of the trip. Honestly, I I didn’t 
even know that you could stay here. There’s accommodations here at the Island Lake Lodge. 
We completely missed out. Next time we will be coming back. Oh yeah, but yeah, we just enjoyed 
lunch at their beastro. I believe it’s called the Bear Beastro. I had the most unbelievable bowl of 
ramen. It was like traveling back to Japan. Yeah. And Sam’s burger. And my burger was fantastic. It 
felt like Shake Shack inspired. I felt like I was getting the Double Smoke Shack or something. It 
was so good. So good. Just like just gourmet bun, just beautiful patties, the smashed burger, the 
two smashed burgers, so much cheese. And the food was so good. We got dessert. I got an ice 
cream sandwich. Yeah. Salted caramel ice cream, chocolate chip cookies. I I got the Jo Louie, 
which was kind of like a decadent chocolate cake with a bit of marshmallow filling. Yeah. Um, so 
good. We actually shared everything. We’re like, “Oh my gosh, you got to try this.” It’s like we 
were like competing to uh we were we were both competing to try each other’s thing, but we were 
also very happy to share with one another. Yeah. So, yeah, just a phenomenal meal. And the nicest 
thing about being here at the lodge, taking the effort to drive here. It was 30 minutes, right? 
Yeah. So, we spent 30 minutes to drive here. Now, we have some beautiful hiking trails. So, we’ve 
already done quite a bit of hiking. We’re not going to do a lot, but there’s a path down here 
to the lake. Down to the lake. We’re going to do a bit of the lake trail. Also, baby did amazing. 
She slept the whole time we were eating. So, we had a really nice, quiet, peaceful meal. 
And now she’s awake, ready to hike. Baby is like the ultimate traveler. I know you 
shouldn’t brag too much about your own kids, but like she’s just been so good on this 
trip. It’s been so so amazing. So, thank you, baby. Wow. And here we are. Lead us there. 
Lead us down this beautiful path. Yeah, many [Music] [Music] Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Girl, that a healthy dose of 
wow. I’ll also mention you can go canoeing here. It’s a little bit late in the day, so sun’s going 
down. We don’t have enough time to make it happen this time around. But next time we come back 
here because we have to come back here maybe, I don’t know, summer, autumn, I would love to 
take a canoe out on the lake and in winter. I’d love to come here after a snowstorm and just 
get stuck here for like, you know, 3 days. Look, we need to plan it. You know, drive out here 
right before a big dump. Whoops. Oops. Whoops. We’ll be we’ll be requiring accommodations a 
few nights longer. Yes. Willing to do dishes. So, we are ending our day here at Island 
Lake Lodge. It is time to drive back to our accommodations. Tomorrow, we continue with our 
road trip. So, how about some final thoughts? Oh, man. Fernie Fernie really exceeded my 
expectations. I knew it was a popular small town in BC. I’ve heard this is a place 
that Kiwis and Aussies flock to to work at both during the summer and in the winter for the 
ski season. But it’s just incredible. There are so many trails here. There’s so much natural 
beauty that with just 2 days, we really, really, really just barely scratched the surface. 
Even Baby thinks that, too. She’s like, “Baby wants to come back.” So, we don’t live 
far from here. So, this will not be our last time coming here. Not by a long shot. I think 
this is what this is what BC is all about. This is what the most beautiful province in 
Canada is all about. Small towns like this that just have so much to offer in terms of outdoor 
adventures, in terms of really nice hospitality and good tourism. Doesn’t feel overwhelming here. 
Doesn’t feel run over. Like this is not B. This is a a much quieter alternative than than going 
to somewhere like Banff. So if you’re if you’re road tripping in BC or you’re near the Alberta 
border in the southern part of the province, head over to BC. Head over to Fernie, British 
Columbia and you’re going to have a great time. [Music]

Join us as we explore the charming mountain town of Fernie, BC — a hidden gem tucked away in the Canadian Rockies! In this Fernie travel guide, we’ll take you through some of the best things to do, places to eat, and beautiful outdoor spots you won’t want to miss on your visit.

We kicked off our trip to Fernie with lunch at Luchadora, a cozy Mexican eatery serving up delicious burritos. That was followed by a deep dive into Fernie’s history with a visit to the Fernie Museum, which covers the town’s evolution from mining to tourism. We later enjoyed the Fernie Heritage Walk, which highlights some of the town’s heritage buildings.

The next morning, we stopped at Big Bang Bagels for their legendary bagel sandwiches — a local favourite and the perfect fuel before a day of exploring. That morning, we went for a peaceful stroll around Maiden Lake, and then hiked to Fairy Creek Falls, before cooling down with craft beer and kombucha at Fernie Brewing Co.

Finally, we drove up to Island Lake Lodge for lunch. This is an alpine lodge surrounded by towering peaks and old-growth forest — the perfect spot to soak in mountain views and end your Fernie trip on a high note.

Whether you’re coming for outdoor adventures, small-town charm, or just a relaxing weekend getaway, Fernie has something for everyone. We loved our time in Fernie, and we’ll definitely be back!

🌲 Things to Do in Fernie, BC 🌲
00:36 – Lunch at Luchadora
01:41 – Fernie Museum
04:46 – Fernie Heritage Walk
06:32 – Breakfast at Big Bang Bagels
08:02 – Maiden Lake
08:42 – Fairy Creek Falls
12:05 – Fernie Brewing Co
12:53 – Island Lake Lodge

Have you been to Fernie? Tell us your favourite spot in the comments!

#fernie #britishcolumbia

Fernie, BC Travel Guide: Fairy Creek Falls, Island Lake Lodge, Best Eats & Family Hikes 🇨🇦

Fresh off the road in Fernie, British Columbia, we kick off a mini travel guide to this iconic small town in the Canadian Rockies—my home province! Baby’s excited too. Expect a mix of downtown exploring and nature time as we show you what to do, where to eat, and how to make the most of a quick visit.

🌮 First Bites: Luchador Mexican 🍽️😋

Landing right at lunch, we beeline to Luchador: a beef burrito loaded with rice, cabbage and flavour for him, fried cod + beans for her, and fruit purée for baby. Fuel secured—time to sightsee.

🏛️ Fernie Museum & Wild History 🏺📚

A must-visit for context: admission by donation and packed with stories of resilience. Highlights we noted: 1902 coal disaster (130 lives); 1904 fire (65 buildings, huge loss); 1908 Great Fire (town gone in 90 minutes); 1923 Home Bank scandal; 1986 last underground mine closed; 1990s reinvention via tourism; modern mining from 2013. Bonus tidbit: Prohibition-era rumrunning near the Alberta and U.S. borders. Today Fernie thrives as a hub for skiing, biking, hiking—everything outdoors.

🌸 City Hall Gardens & Heritage Walk 🌿🏛️

We stroll City Hall’s blooming gardens buzzing with bees and butterflies, then grab the Fernie Heritage Walk brochure—16 historic buildings to spot. So far: library, city hall, miner’s path, and a cathedral up ahead. First impressions: walkable, family-friendly, laid-back small-town BC.

🌅 Day Two: Breakfast at Big Bang Bagels 🥯☕

Local institution alert. We “get banged”: the Avalanche (avocado, cheddar, cream cheese, red onion, herby mayo) and a smoked salmon stack (alfalfa, red onion, cream cheese). Indoor/outdoor seating plus lots of takeaway action—perfect trail fuel.

🥾 Fairy Creek Falls Hike 👶🗺️

With baby in the hiking backpack, we start from the Visitor Centre (clean washrooms, interactive displays, friendly staff, great trail maps). Trail time: 1–2 hours, but we’re carrying a “chunky monkey.” Baby naps while Sam sweats; avalanche terrain signage appears; she wakes right at the waterfall—timing perfection.

🍺 Fernie Brewing Company 🍻🥨

Post-hike thirst = Ridgewalk Red Ale. Note: it’s pints + snacks (chips, pretzels), not full meals—think appie stop before lunch.

🏞️ Island Lake Lodge: Lunch & Lakeside Trails 🍜🍔🍨

Highlight of the trip. A scenic 30-minute drive leads to Island Lake Lodge (yes, you can stay overnight—we’re planning a future visit!). Lunch at the Bear Bistro is next-level: ramen that whisks us back to Japan, a smashed-patty burger with Shake Shack vibes, plus desserts—salted caramel ice-cream sandwich (choc-chip cookies) and a Jos-Louis-style cake with marshmallow. Baby sleeps through the feast (legend), then wakes for a gentle lakeside hike. We’re dreaming of summer paddles and a snowed-in winter escape.

🧭 Final Thoughts: Why Fernie Wins 🌄❤️

Fernie exceeded expectations. In just two days we barely scratched the surface—so many trails, so much scenery, and warm hospitality without the crush of crowds. It’s a quieter alternative to Banff, perfect for BC road trips or anyone near the Alberta border. Even baby says, “let’s come back.” We don’t live far—we will.

Music We Use: http://bit.ly/SamAudreyMusic