The Okanagan ski resort that feels like Europe—without the price tag

Whether it was the FOMO from hearing friends brag about fresh tracks or just the overwhelming feeling of “not taking advantage” of our West Coast winters if you aren’t hitting the slopes, I decided to learn to ski at age 40. And after bunny hill lessons, it was Silver Star in the Okanagan Valley where I did my first “real” ski trip. Hooked on the short lift lines, expansive terrain (with nearly 23 feet of natural snow each season) and downright charming European village vibes, I’m now taking my kids to this resort so they can learn to ski too, and I have the feeling we’ll all be ski bumming here for years to come. Here’s why Silver Star should be on your B.C. winter-time bucket list.

Small town feel

The tiny, vibrant and super charming village at Silver Star gives small, pioneer-town vibes, with brightly painted businesses bursting with character and local products. Locals and visitors alike here brag that the storybook-feel village is what Whistler was like 30 years ago—a.k.a. before it was inundated with tourism and international chains. Instead of Starbucks, you’ll find people in ski gear sipping coffee at Bugaboos, the Dutch-inspired bakery that’s been serving up house-roasted beans and picture-perfect cream puffs for the past 25 years. The pace is relaxed. Most eateries are family-friendly (don’t sleep on the Thai-Indonesian fare at the Bulldog Grand Cafe) and no trip is complete without a visit to the Goody Box, a tiny candy store packed with scrumptious sweets and throwback treats.

Thrills for all ages

Beyond lift access to 3,200-plus acres of terrain, the resort also offers outdoor ice skating, fat biking, expansive snowshoe trails, Tube Town—a downhill snow tube park—and 105 kilometres of Nordic skiing that make up the largest daily groomed cross-country trail network in the country. The biggest hit with our six-year-old was the mini sled experience, where kiddos can rip around (safely) on Arctic Firecats on a kid-sized snowmobile track. He could not get the smile off his face, and neither could I.

European fairy tale accommodation

A full ski holiday with three generations of family (including five children under the age of seven, no less) can make it a challenge to put heads in beds, but we found paradise at the ski in/ski out Bookend Mountain Retreat. This private rental, which sleeps 20 and overlooks the mountains, has a sauna and two hot tubs to soak in after a day on the slopes, a kitted out chef’s kitchen, arcade games and foosball and a plethora of board games and books (although we never really found the time to sit still and read one). Most on-resort accommodation, including ours, is walking distance to the village and there’s a free and frequent shuttle to get you back from the slopes.

Family-friendly events

The ski season at Silver Star is packed with events geared for families, starting with Light Up, which features fireworks, fire dancers and an artisanal market to kick off the holiday season. The second-largest winter festival in North America, Vernon Winter Carnival is held every February and includes ice sculpture competitions and a fat bike/snowshoe race at Sovereign Lake. The Family Day weekend includes free family photos atop the mountain and complimentary hot cocoa.

Ski in/ski out high tea

B.C.’s only ski in/ski out high tea outside of Whistler, the afternoon tea ($60 per person) that launched last season at D’Argento (which turns into a hand-cut pasta joint at night) is a once-a-month event where diners can sashay in from the slopes to enjoy an elevated array of afternoon nibbles. Finger sandwiches, scones and handmade pastries are on offer, paired with loose-leaf teas served in fine china, or perhaps an amaro or other aperitif if you fancy a warm up.