Kicking Horse is a world-class ski resort in Golden, BC, Canada. It almost goes without saying that this place is awesome – big mountain, runs for all levels, and tons of snow. This made it all the more heartbreaking when I was diagnosed with a concussion just three weeks before our trip, and given a minimum one month recovery time.

Undeterred, I set out to have a great long weekend. Turns out, there was plenty to keep me busy, and to satiate my adventurous spirit without putting my brain at risk. Here are my top five winter activities that are not downhill skiing or snowboarding:

1. Ride the gondola. You can get a sightseeing gondola ticket and join the skiers and snowboarders on the trip to the top. The sightseeing ticket lets you jump the line of skiers and snowboarders. Once at the top, take a walk to the lookout on the other side of the restaurant and enjoy the breathtaking view on the other side of the mountain, an impressive vista of mountain peaks and valleys.
2. Eat at Canada’s highest restaurant. At 7,700 feet, this is a truly unique dining experience. When you exit the gondola, you can see the restaurant, called Eagle’s Eye. For an extra $5, you can add a lunch option when you buy your gondola ticket. They have a nice lunch menu (didn’t see any vegan options, though), and a non-alcoholic drink and dessert are included. I sat at the bar, because it looked like the best view in the house, and it was delightful.
3. Snowshoeing. Right across from the Mountaineer Lodge parking lot at Kicking Horse is a little snowshoeing loop. Even though it is right on the resort, it is nicely wooded and you can quickly feel miles away. We brought our own snowshoes, but you can also rent them at the resort. The trail was quite packed down, but we found some nice opportunities to stray from the trail, and we found ourselves waist deep and breaking trail in no time.
4. Cross-Country Skiing. I was too concussed for this type of skiing, but a friend I was traveling with was too broke to buy a lift ticket, so opted for cross-country skiing instead. She found plenty of groomed trail to enjoy out of the nearby Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre, and was out all day. I’m definitely going to set a day aside for this next time.
5. Drink a pint of local brew at Riverview Tavern. Riverview Tavern is everything a local watering hole in a ski town should be. The walls are covered in old snowboards, almost like a museum. The clientele argues about what’s going on in town. And, most importantly, there is pizza and beer on the menu. I recommend trying whatever they have on tap from Whitetooth Brewing, which is just down the street.

If you can spend a day or two skiing or snowboarding at Kicking Horse, do it. But, if you aren’t into those sports, or want to save some cash, there is still plenty of winter recreation to be had in Golden, BC.

Leave me a comment if you have any other ideas for having fun in Golden in the winter.