A Weekend in Nelson

Kind of on a whim, I packed up some warm hiking clothes, threw some books in my car, grabbed my passport, and started driving north. 

After my sign language class I decided to go to Nelson, BC, Canada.

It’s this cute, small mountain town about 4 hours north of CDA. 

I had been once before with my mom, and we had an absolute blast! Decided to go solo this time and see what other cool treasures I could find.

These are my recommendations to make a stellar long weekend in Nelson, BC. 

Coffee:

Oso Negro

Oso Negro: This coffee shop brews their own coffee, and most of the other coffee shops in town use it too, but per a local, no one brews it better than the originals. The shop itself is absolutely stunning. The outside has a sort of oasis of gardens, waterfalls, benches, and trees, with a massive arch entry. The inside is more of a modern cabin feeling. Everything is made of wood and dark metal, and you’re surrounded by the smell of coffee and pastries. I didn’t get anything fancy here, just a drip coffee, but it was delightful. Filled with flavors, and smooth. 

Sidewinders: This coffee shop is right downtown (Baker Street). It’s super cute and has a giant picnic table for community seating right in the middle. I got a delicious latte here that was perfectly made. I also got a massive breakfast bagel with egg, cheese, sprouts, avocado, tomato, cucumber, and lettuce. It was the ultimate post-hike feast.

Food: 

Busaba Thai Cafe: Such a unique cultural treat in Nelson! The ambiance is cozy and the decorations are perfect for a delicious Thai restaurant. I got the Pad Thai with tofu and it was amazing! Great service and fresh food.

Main Street Diner: Food here was nothing to write home about, but the covered outside patio with blankets and heaters was so fun! Sat here in the pouring rain, but cozy enjoying a burger and fries. 

For Fun:

Ainsworth Hot Springs: A bit overpriced for the size (although I am unfairly comparing it to the many Colorado hot springs), but still a gorgeous and fun activity. There is a warm pool, a cold pool, and a hot pool that actually goes into caves in the mountain. I would say that swimming through the caves are the most unique and fun aspect of these hot springs. 

Baker Street: This is Nelson’s downtown street. It is filled with fun shops from clothes, to outdoor gear, to bookstores, candy shops, and more! It is bustling with people, and you can almost always find some sort of event going on to observe. I came during a Saturday Farmer’s Market, which had crafts, food, produce, and other businesses promoting themselves. It was by far, the best market I’ve been to, and it’s open throughout the summer, ending in October. 

Pulpit Rock to Flag Post Hike: This is a shockingly difficult 5-mile hike on the outskirts of Nelson. My AllTrails App labeled this hike as moderate, and as I have been hiking most days of the week, I figured I would be able to do it just fine. I completed it, but it was extremely challenging! The hike was straight up and then straight down. But the views and friendly people made up for the challenge. I would definitely recommend continuing the hike to the flag post and not stopping at the rock. The rock is beautiful, but nothing compares to the almost 360 views at the flag pole.

To Stay:

Alpine Inn and Suites: This is a cute cottage-looking hotel in Nelson. The rooms were clean, and the location was driving distance to downtown. Staff was friendly and helpful in finding fun places to go and see. A bit on the pricier side if you’re traveling alone.

Dancing Bear Inn: This is a hostel right in downtown Nelson. It is very cozy, cheap, clean, and friendly. I stayed in the dorm rooms for $30/night. The dorms were clean and came with free storage for your bags, but don’t forget your own lock! The shared bathrooms were also clean, and although there weren’t very many, I never had a problem finding an open one. On the main floor was a communal sitting space with big, comfy couches and a warm fireplace. I would recommend staying here even if you get a private room! It was so fun meeting other travelers from all over the world. 

Overall, Nelson is the ultimate mountain town in British Colombia. Friendly Canadian people are always willing to give suggestions for the best places around, and there seems to be an endless stream of things to do. 

I would definitely add this cute town to your travel bucket list!

Happy traveling,

Rach