Category Archives: 146-Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.

146-Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C., View from Front door

View from our front door of the Canadian Rockies

While staying at Fairmont Hot Springs we had a gorgeous view of the southern end of the Canadian Rockies right out our front door.  When we arrived it was very smoky in the area due to the huge fires seemingly all over British Columbia so we didn’t have such a great view the first few days.  But on the last day we were here the smoke cleared and the mountains showed much better.

Here are two pictures – one when it was smoky and one when clear. WOW!

146-Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.

A beautiful area in Fairmont Hot Springs

We’ve been here in Fairmont Hot Springs for a few days.  We did go on one drive to see the countryside, but it’s been very smoky here and you can’t see much.  And, the smoke has been thick and you can feel it when you breath.  I’ve been leaving the trailer closed up with the air on to avoid getting a lot of smoke inside.

The hot springs are a real popular destination here in B.C.  The RV park is at the hot springs, with a hotel, spa, restaurants, zipline rides, bouncy things for the kids, horse rides and of course…the hot springs.

There’s a huge pool that is heated with water from the hot springs, and a very pretty waterfall a little away from the resort where there are natural pools that you can rest in like a hot tub.  We’re right up against the southern end of the Canadian Rockies and the view out of our front door is spectacular!  But, until the last day we couldn’t really see it.  See my post for two pictures of the same view – on a smoky day and a clear day.

Here are pictures of the waterfall and pools:

146-Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.

Crossing the border into Canada

We crossed into Canada today; I was really nervous about it based on the info I had been reading and stories online from other folks who crossed the border with an RV.  There are restrictions such as no fresh fruit or veges, no raw meat or meat products, no dairy, very small amounts of spices and herbs, a small amount of ONE kind of liqour (beer or wine or hard liquor), no dog food that isn’t in an UNOPENED bag and not more than 20KG.  No live plants and no soil.  Only an amount of prescription medicine that you’ll need for the length of time in the country (what?!?)  And, no guns!
So, we rented a small mini-storage unit and put the guns and ammo in that which means we have to come back to Kalispell, MT when we’re done in Canada and we hadn’t planned to.  We ate up all the meat and veges and fruit and did without for the last few days.  We drank up the milk and yogurts.  We did have more liquor than was allowed.  My plant wasn’t doing very well so I threw it out.  Jeff still had his little cactus and wouldn’t get rid of it.
I envisioned us getting pulled over for secondary inspection and having border agents go through our whole rig.  I read stories of that happening, going through cupboards and drawers and leaving everything a big mess.  UGH!  I envisioned forgetting about something or having them find the liquor and/or cactus and getting a big fine.  I even read one person who wrote that since they were from Texas the border agents wouldn’t believe they didn’t have a lot of guns and tore the whole RV apart looking for weapons.  YIPES!
So, when we pulled up to the border I tried real hard to be calm and relaxed.  It must have worked cause we got no hassles and just a few questions.  The man did ask what liquor we had, so Jeff said less than a fifth of whiskey, one bottle of wine and one beer.  He laughed and said “just one beer”? I think the border agent was able to pull up a file on each of us using our passports cause he asked our occupation and when we both said retired, he said what were you before retirement?  Then, he asked if we had any protection like guns, mace, etc.  We said “no”, so he asked if we usually traveled with protection.  We answered that we had 2 guns but had put them into a storage facility.  He asked for the receipt and I had it on my phone.  Then, he said “Have a nice time in Canada”.  Whew!
My advice to anyone travelling from the U.S. to Canada with an RV (or even for tent camping where you are bringing supplies) is to read the official website from the Canadian border on what you can and cannot bring, and be careful to adhere to that as well as you can.  Then, don’t stress and have fun!