You can see it all in Creston - tree-covered hills, craggy, snow-covered mountain peaks, with the Skimmerhorn Range directly east of Creston, deep clear lakes, rippling mountain streams and wide open spaces. The Creston Valley is a wide deltaic formation of the Kootenay River at the entrance to Kootenay Lake, making it a very fertile agricultural area.

 Waving fields of grains and roadside fruit stands attest to the long, lush growing season of the Creston Valley. Fruit has been grown here since the turn of the century and visitors are still pleasantly surprised to find orchards that offer an abundance of mountain-ripened delights. While cherries are now the primary crop, many other soft fruits and vegetables are also grown here, including asparagus,  corn, apricots, peaches, plums, pears and strawberries among many others. The Creston Valley is second only to the Okanagan in fruit production. There are several fruit stands featuring this local produce along Highway 3 east of Creston. Make sure you stop and have a taste of this bountiful and wonderful produce. A unique stop is Sproules Farm a with pick your own blueberry patch and the Strawberry Pavilion featuring a unique state-of-the art hydroponic greenhouse.  Creston celebrates its agricultural heritage starting with the Blossom Festival at the end of May, Goat Style Bike Jam in July and the annual Creston Valley Fall Fair showcasing the crops.

Wildlife abounds in the wilderness around town

A four-season playground sheltered by the Selkirk and Purcell ranges, the Creston Valley offers year-round activities in its challenging alpine mountains and plentiful lakes. There are opportunities for cross-country skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, golfing, swimming, and bird watching plus many special interest activities. Look for the 18-hole Creston Golf Course turn-off south of town for some excellent golf at this championship course. The mild climate in the Creston Valley means a golf season starting in mid-March with great weather lasting until the end of October. Within two hours of Creston you can enjoy another seventeen golf courses.

If you want to tour the Creston Valley and orchards at a slower pace, there are six paved cycling routes from 15 km to 32 km in length. For more information on these routes with downloadable maps click here.

Because the Creston Valley is such a lush, ideal climate for fruit and vegetable growing there is a self-guided farm tour available with up to 15 stops.  You'll experience hands on cheese making at a local dairy, cherry picking, wine tasting or just marveling at the wide variety of produce produced in this fertile valley.  Click here for a downloadable brochure and map.

The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area north of town

includes an abundance of nature trails. This world-renowned bird sanctuary is located on 17,000 acres of protected wetlands and boasts more than 265 species of nesting and migrating birds. You might also spot the occasional elk, deer or moose taking a stroll through the area. Guided tours by canoe are offered and an excellent interpretive center and gift shop provide educational information on wetlands.

Creston is home to the “Glacier Brewery of the Kootenays” where Cool Crisp Kokanee Beer is made. Columbia Brewery offers free tours on weekdays, mid-May to mid-September. The tour ends in the Kokanee Beer Gear Store where you'll sample the product and have a chance to shop.

In Creston's vibrant downtown district you will see some buildings in the Edwardian style, but the Art Deco style of the 1930s is most prevalent. While there are no skyscrapers there are two landmark grain elevators. The elevators are the last in BC and the last in a Canadian downtown center. In the middle of downtown Creston you can discover the “Mural Wall Tour.” Initiated by a local artist in the late 1980's, the idea was to express different facets of life and history in the Creston Valley with murals on various local businesses. Take time to explore the many galleries scattered around town featuring exceptional local talent or take the 45-minute 7 Studio's Tour circuit.

The Creston Valley Music Fest, an entertainment extravagance held at Mountain Park Resort in Creston this coming July, features the annual Battle of the Bands, games, food and activities.

For more in-depth history of the area visit the Stone House Museum, regarded as one of the finest small museums in BC. Authentic historic buildings and unique and fascinating artefacts can be found from Creston's past.

For some local flavour the “Orchards Galore Super Side Trip” is just east of Creston on Hwy 3.

For more information on the area visit the Creston Valley Visitor Information Centre located on 121 N.W. Blvd  or visit the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce website.