Silver Star, North Okanagan

Who cares about snowmaking machines when daytime temperatures in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley – home to Silver Star Resort – stays at -3 Celsius (27 Fahrenheit) and keeps light, powder snow under those slats and boards. It's all natural here.You'll find what you are looking for, regardless of your ability. Do your skiing or riding thing across 3,000 acres from groomed cruisers to the Putnam Creek steeps and into the Silver Woods glades.Silver Star’s village is reminiscent of a typical 19th century British Columbian mining town era with Victorian architecture. Boarded sidewalks and brightly colored shop fronts add a unique western flavor. Accommodations are ski-in, ski-out with condos and hotels. The Snowbird Lodge is luxurious and you also can enjoy some unique Victorian-style vacation homes.Silver Star averages more than 700 cm of snow annually (23 feet). There are 12 lifts, including a six-pack, four quads, a double, four surface lifts and two tube lifts. You'll ski or ride on 115 marked trails, the majority intermediate, but with plenty of beginner and advanced action.Enjoy cross-country skiing? Well, members of numerous national teams, including Canada and the U.S., will tell you Big White's Nordic trails are among their favorites.The resort is 22 km (12 miles) from Vernon. Easiest bet from there is to take the Vernon Airporter to the mountain. Driving? Connect with Highway 97 to Vernon and follow 48th Ave. to Silver Star Road directly to the resort. Airlines will bring you to Kelowna from across Canada and from Seattle.ActivitiesSnowboarding: Progressive Terrain Park, Half-Pipe, Family Fun Race Center, Aerial Training Site, Mogul Course, and new Boarder/Skier Cross course - some of Canada's elite-level freeskiers and snowboarders regularly train here. Rentals, lessons, and additional information available at the village. Expanded terrain park, rail garden, and new Boarder/Skier Cross course - some of Canada's elite-level freeskiers and snowboarders regularly train here.Cross Country Profile: 60 km of trails groomed and track set daily. Four km lit track for night skiing. Optional lift-access to upper trails. Two fully certified biathlon ranges. 6.5 kilometres of new Nordic trails, and a new mid-mountain cabin, heated by a wood stove and offering expansive views of the Monashee Mountains.LodgingSilver Star's Snowbird Lodge offers luxury slopeside accommodation with one, two, and three bedroom condos, all with their own private hot tub. The project is in unquestionably the best ski in ski out location on the mountain and affords guests great views of the Monashee Mountains. It is also also outfitted with a 24-seat Snowbird Theatre, fitness room, kids play room, and a family lounge with billiards. Eight hotels and over 100 vacation homes are also available at Silver Star. There are more than 3,300 beds on-mountain. Additional motels, hotels, inns, and lodges are available in nearby towns.Winter RecreationCross country, tubing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, dog sled tours, fitness center, snowshoeing, ice skating, movies, climbing wall all available on-site. There are two shopping centers, other retail shops, casino, movie theatres, restaurants, clubs, and more in town.