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At the centre of the Kootenays on Highway 3, Creston is an attractive tourist destination. From outdoor adventures to quiet getaways, Creston offers a range of facilities and activities to entice any visitor.

Accommodation facilities currently provide fourteen hotels and motels, and seven campgrounds and RV parks. Creston has many interesting and unique bed & breakfast operations. Some are within close vicinity to downtown shops and eateries and others offer more secluded retreats in natural settings.

There are numerous eating establishments in Creston. Gourmet coffee shops, bakeries, delis, family restaurants, ethnic foods and chain restaurants dot the streets of downtown Creston. Many exceptional restaurants along Highway 3A to Kootenay Bay add to the variety of dining experiences available in our area.

Creston is renowned for its thriving fruit industry and tourists can purchase fruit at the fruit stands on Highway 3. Stroll along the main street amid the beautiful murals for interesting local shops and galleries. Enjoy the expanding strip mall for convenient one-stop shopping.

ATTRACTIONS

While touring Creston, there are many attractions to visit. Take a tour of the Creston & District Museum and Archives and let the mannequins relate the history of the Creston Valley in story and song. Cresteramics provides tours of a ceramic's workshop staffed by disabled citizens of Creston. Visit their gift shop for quality handcrafted ceramic products.

Kootenay Candles offers tours of their candle factory. Visitors can watch the honey-lite candles being dipped and spun into their finished product displayed in the on-site gift shop. On five beautifully maintained acres, Wayside Gardens and Arboretum provide the perfect setting for a leisurely lunch amid the shrubs and trees from all over the world. The Columbia Brewing Company, home to Kokanee Beer, offers tours in the summer months to interested visitors.

During your visit to Creston, do not miss the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and Interpretive Centre. On 7,000 hectares of wetlands, this internationally recognized area is home to 250 species of birds (including 30 species of waterfowl), 30 reptile and amphibian species, 50 species of mammal, several thousand invertebrate species and several hundred species of plants. The interpretive centre offers a display hall with interactive displays, dioramas, a gift shop, a cafeteria and a theatre. Naturalists give guided walking tours and canoe tours through the marshes. Southern Purcell Adventures, based at the Wildlife Centre, guides visitors on a cycling tour of the wildlife area while providing a history of this unique region.

WILDERNESS SCENERY AND RECREATION

Spectacular mountain views, large expanses of wilderness areas and Kootenay Lake are readily accessible and combine to create an ideal setting for a range of outdoor activities, from fishing to hiking and camping.

Creston is an excellent base for outdoor adventure. From Summit Creek Campground and Recreation Area, hikers have access to an original section of the Dewdney Trail. The Balancing Rock Trail on Mount Creston, the Lady Slipper Trail on Goat Mountain, and others provide for scenic hikes in the area.

Mountain bikers and canoeists will find that Creston is an ideal location for their sport. From Goat Mountain, hangliders can take off, and the Rec. Centre field makes for a good landing area. Fishing is popular in the Valley and visitors should take the opportunity to spend some time on Kootenay and Duck Lakes.