I personally know the value of making an activity list of “Things To Do”. One summer when my son was 11 years old and my daughter 8 years old, I pondered over what I was going to do when they became bored and got on my nerves. So I decided to be proactive and get them helping me to make a list of local and regional adventures we could partake in together. The list was made up of 35 things we could do. We then coded them for “sunny” or “rainy” days and “ ½” or “full” day activities. Each morning we would wake up to the list and pick what adventure we wanted for that day. By the end of the summer vacation we had done all but one activity. The kids were happy and full of new knowledge and I now have those memories to warm my heart.

The following list is varied for a diverse audience and activities are local. Whether you are new to the area or a seasoned resident expecting company, you will find having a list handy ensures time is not lost in trying to think of something to do on the spot. This list may inspire you to add new activities.

1. Bike the dikes (ie. access Pump House Rd, Channel Rd, Wildlife Center)
2. Take in Thompson Mountain’s spectacular view (hiking trail from view)
3. Tour Art Galleries (see ArtWalk brochure)
4. Museum visit (one of the provinces best)
5. Kokanee Brewery Tour
6. Visit Creston Valley Wildlife Center Interpretation Center and board walk
7. Take the Candle Factory tour
8. Visit the Glass House
9. Visit the Crawford Bay artisans
10. Visit Holbrook Falls
11. Picnic at the mini beaches at Kuskanook Harbour
12. Visit the Lower Kootenay Band
13. Bird watch drive along rural roads
14. Count Osprey nests from roadsides
15. Canoe and Kayak channels, rivers and Lakes (see Bicycle Loops Map for launch sites)
16. Road Bicycle Wynndel Loop (Hwy 3A and Lower Wynndel Rd)
17. Road Bicycle Arrow Creek (Hwy 3A, Lakeview Rd)
18. Road Bicycle Canyon Lister Loop (Hwy 21, Lister Rd, Hwy 3)
19. Road Bicycle West Creston Loop
20. Road Bicycle Hwy 21 Lister Loop
21. Ride your bicycle on any of the country roads found in the valley (see Cyclist’s Paradise)
22. Mountain Bike Goat Mountain trails or Dodge Creek Road trials
23. Bass Fish Duck Lake
24. Troll Kootenay Lake
25. Fly Fish Goat River and others
26. Mountain Lake fish
27. Fruit Stands and Direct Farm Sales Loop: experience fresh produce from Hwy 3 to Erickson Back Road
28. Stroll through an orchard full of blossoms
29. Discover local restaurants: from ethnic to granny’s style
30. Watch ballgames at Centennial Park, Rec Center, Canyon Park
31. Go to a Gymkhana at Canyon Park (contact Horse Club)
32. Attend a sporting event at PCSS
33. Have a laugh while cheering on the minor hockey kids
34. Skateboard at the Rec Center
35. Play Horseshoes at the Rec Center and Canyon Park
36. Play bridge almost any day of the week (Chamber of Commerce for contact information)
37. Visit the Community Garden while enjoying an ice cream cone from a neighbouring business
38. Visit the Creston Public Library and indulge in a new subject.
39. Swim at the James Ross Memorial Public Pool and the Wynndel Public Pool
40. Hike Balancing Rock Trail near Wildlife Center
41. Hike Lady Slipper Trail on Goat Mountain off Foster Road
42. Hike Ripple Ridge on the Summit
43. Huckleberry pick from late July to September (see Huckleberry Picking)
44. Try your luck at gold panning (e.g. Goat River Canyon)
45. Do the Mural Tour (link to CV.Com).
46. Do the Historical Tour (Museum for further information)
47. Walk up the shady dirt road along Duck Creek (Duck Creek Rd).
48. Drive scenic Goat River Road off Hwy 3.
49. Swim Goat River Bottom near Hwy 21 Bridge.
50. Swim the Point on Goat River
51. Golf Creston Golf Course
52. Golf Canyon Heights Golf Course (for novice)
53. Golf Kokanee Springs Golf Course
54. Golf Riondel Golf Course
55. Mountain bike trails on Goat Mountain (off Foster Road)
56. View the Creston Valley from Foster Forestry Road
57. Watch the sunset and the moon come out on top of Thompson Mountain
58. Kite fly ie. open field at the end of Channel Rd at Duck Lake.
59. Water ski Kootenay River (access from Kootenay River Rd or Channel Road)
60. Water ski Kootenay Lake (access at Kuskanook or Boswell boat launches)
61. Take a scenic drive through West Creston (include Corn Creek Rd) and Lister/Canyon and Kootenay Lake to Riondel.
62. Discover the hidden waterfall north of Sirdar just steps off of Hwy 3A (see Natural Swimming Holes and Dips)
63. Take in an event: Valentine Bonspiel, Butterfly Bonspiel, Home and Garden Show, Focus on Youth, Pow Wow, Blossom Festival, Collector Car Show, Garden Festival, Quilt Festival, Yahk Raft Race, Fall Fair, Christmas Craft Fair
64. Play Horseshoes at the Rec Center or Canyon Park
65. Take a safe night walk around town.
66. People watch at the Pubs: Kokanee Inn, Creston Hotel, Jimmy’s Pub, Hacienda Lounge, Sirdar Pub
67. Hike the Airport trails to views of the valley.
68. Walk the suspension bridge trail at Summit Creek Park
69. Find the Indian Paintings on the rock out cropping off Reclamation Rd
70. Walk under towering legendary cedar trees at Summit Creek Park
71. Take horse back riding lessons (Steve Werkland)
72. Try wake-boarding or knee-boarding on Kootenay Lake
73. Kayak along the shores of Kootenay Lake
74. Enrole in a course at the College of the Rockies
75. Make note of the dates of performances at the Auditorium
76. Paint with the Artists’ Guild
77. Visit Toastmasters on Thursday or Tuesday nights
78. Read the works of local authors: Dave Perrin, Chris Luke, Luanne Armstrong, Claudette Caron, Eleanor Thompke, Samantha Melynchuk, Tanna Paterson, Winston Rockwell, Harvey Pine, Bart Bjorkman, Rebecca Fredrickson and others available at our Public Library.
79. Learn the history of the area from gravestones at Pioneer Cemetery or Erickson Cemetery.
80. Try new recipes to process local fresh produce
81. Go to one of the valley’s Spas
82. Visit Rosewood Center
83. Visit the Ashram in Riondel
84. Motorbike along the Kootenay Lake and stop for a picnic along the way
85. View Canyon’s canyon from Canyon Lister Road Bridge.
86. Drop in and join the beginner Tia Chi class at Seniors’ Branch 28 Hall
87. Tour Antique and experienced goods stores
88. Tube down Goat River below the dam
89. Drift down the Kootenay River on a rubber raft
90. Pick Saskatoons along rural roads
91. Shop at the Gleaners and other used clothing stores
92. On the weekend tour all the garage sales
93. Select a church to visit on a Sunday
94. Valley drive to identify all the horse breeds you can see.
95. Valley drive to name all the different types of farms you can see.
96. Read the list of local organizations and associations to join.
97. Swim in Twin Bays
98. Make sand castles on the sandy beaches of Twin Bays.
99. Discover all the beaches on the other side of Kootenay Lake by boat.
100. Got spring fever? Get cured by visiting Morris Flowers’Greenhouse.
101. View the Tundra Swans during March or October (open water)
102. Hunt if so inclined.
103. Take up photography and go out on a shoot.
104. Snowmobile the Summit or Kitchener trails.
105. Take a guided snowmobile tour.
106. Back country ski on the Summit and stay over night in the cabin.
107. Skate on Duck Lake and other local ponds
108. Toboggan down the Rec Center hills
109. Snowshoe the Summit, along Duck Lake, Kitchener
110. Cross Country Ski the dikes or on the Summit.
111. Meditate at the Hwy 3A Water Fall (see Natural Swimming and Wading Pools)
112. Help organize one of the festivals
113. Walk along the many dikes.
114. Make a quilt at Quilt View Corner
115. Make jewellery at Beadazzled
116. Volunteer at the Teddy Bear Day Care and put a smile on a child’s face to match your own.
117. Find more activities to add to this list.
118. Find out what makes us tick!

Debby Johnson,
Shared by another proud resident.