Our Trip to Halcyon Hot Springs Village & Spa

For our 1st wedding anniversary at the beginning of June, we took a road trip to visit Halcyon Hot Springs! This beautiful resort is located in the B.C. Kootenay region, just outside of Nakusp, on Upper Arrow Lake. We had a wonderful time, and I wanted to share some of the highlights from our trip.

Road trips with my Tristan are one of my favourite activities. So I must admit, a big highlight for me on this trip, was the ferry ride across Upper Arrow Lake. I loved it! The fact that the ferry is free, is also a nice plus.

Upon arriving, we were immediately taken in by the beauty of the surrounding mountains. The Kootenay rockies are a real feast for the eyes.

The resort is nestled into the remote B.C. wilderness, which is exactly our cup of tea. No cell service, no problem! The resort does have wifi, which is nice for those that need a little contact with the outside world.

The cabins were cozy, and we loved the plush robes for lounging.

After we checked in, I was greeted with a lovely surprise of flowers arranged by Tristan, and the resort staff left us a very sweet note. Little things like this go a long way in my books!

The following day we enjoyed some spa treatments, and explored the resort grounds. We tried the hot spring pools, but it was 30°+ that weekend, so it was honestly too hot out for us to enjoy them during the day! That was a hilarious oversight in planning this trip. We spent most of our time in the refreshing downstairs regular pool, or at the lake.

The views of Upper Arrow Lake were spectacular.

That night, we dined in the Kingfisher restaurant, which is located in the main building of the resort.

The white sangria was to-die-for delicious! I have a penchant for white sangrias, and can almost never pass them up when I’m dining out.

We enjoyed the mussels special of the day for our appetizer, and fish and chips for the main course.

I have to give a shoutout to the chefs of the Kingfisher, because I thought the presentation of these fish and chips was absolutely stunning. The plating was gorgeous.

It tasted delicious too! We enjoyed every last bite.

The following day was our anniversary, so we did what we do best – explore!

We packed a picnic, rented a canoe courtesy of the resort, and set out on Upper Arrow Lake.

It took about 25 minutes to make it across the lake – however, Tristan is very athletic and probably rows faster than the average person (my weak attempt at rowing probably made no difference in our speed), so that might not be an accurate average estimate.

As we got close to the opposite side, we saw some large beams jutting up out of the water. Obviously we had to investigate these mysterious logs.

Our first thoughts were that it was an old boat launch or dock, however there are no roads on that side of the lake, only miles of forest. We asked the front desk later about them, and they didn’t know they existed! Friends have suggested that they could be water supply pipes, or a ferry dock, but after extensive googling, we still haven’t found any definitive answers. They may have to remain a mystery!

It didn’t look as though anyone had been on the beach in a long time. It was pristine and deserted. We left it that way, I promise!

We spent the afternoon lounging on the shore, and it was one of our best days yet. We’ve been together for 11 years, married for 1, and with each passing year, I become more and more certain that no amount of time will ever be enough with Tristan. I guess that means I have to make every day count!

That night we went back to the Kingfisher restaurant, and had a romantic, sunset dinner on the balcony. We were the last ones dining, and ended up having the balcony to ourselves for the last hour.

We ordered the seasonal mussels again, and the cheese and charcuterie board to share. Both were excellent! Our server was so lovely, and she made sure our experience was a memorable one.

The perfect end to a wonderful evening.

Back to the ferry!

Every good love story ends with a kiss.

I would definitely recommend Halcyon Hot Springs to anyone, and I would say the overall vibe of this resort is very family oriented, and welcoming. On that same note, this was our first time visiting B.C.’s Kootenay region, and we can’t wait to return. It’s not hard to see why B.C. is such a popular tourist destination. We are so lucky to live here.

xo,

Jamie