First things first — Fairmont Hot Springs Resort has absolutely nothing to do with the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand. The name comes from the community it sits in, not the luxury hotel chain, so don't arrive expecting the Chateau Lake Louise experience. What you will find is something entirely different — a sprawling, unpretentious, family-oriented resort that has been a Columbia Valley institution since the early 1900s.

The main draw is Canada's largest natural mineral hot springs, a series of pools ranging from a warm 32°C public swimming pool to a deeply relaxing 39°C soaking pool, fed by mineral-rich geothermal water that has been drawing visitors to this corner of the Kootenay Rockies for well over a century. Day passes are available to non-guests at very reasonable rates, making it an easy and affordable stop on any Columbia Valley road trip.

Beyond the pools, the resort also offers a small ski hill, three golf courses, an RV park, a campground, and a full-service spa. The accommodation ranges from lodge rooms to private cabins and is comfortable and well-situated if modest in finish. Reviews in recent years have been mixed — it's a resort that lives and dies by its ownership and management philosophy — so temper expectations accordingly and focus on what it does best: the hot springs, the mountain views, and the unhurried pace of the Columbia Valley. It's really a getaway for locals from Alberta and B.C. rather than an international destination.