The East Shore is made up of eight quaint artistic communities Riondel, Kootenay Bay, Crawford Bay, Gray Creek, Boswell, Sirdar, Sanca, and Kuskanook that wind along the shores of Kootenay Lake.
Explore Art & Culture of the East Shore
The East Shore is home to an abundance of artisans of various mediums throughout the Kootenay Lake communities. In Crawford Bay, watch handcrafted brooms being made at North Woven Broom by Luke Lewis and his staff. The brooms are carefully weaved using antique broom-making equipment producing beautiful and practical corn brooms. Choose from thousands of brooms hanging from the rafter in the old log barn.
Watch the sparks fly as blacksmiths forge hot iron into timeless creations for the home at Kootenay Forge. Kootenay Forge was started in 1981 by John Smith and his wife. The forge has now passed onto the capable hands of John’s daughter Gina and her husband Cory. Upstairs you will find FireWorks Copper Enamel Studio where an unusual union of molten glass and metal is featured in jewellery.
Walk into a working studio and gallery made of straw at Barefoot Handweaving Studio/Gallery. Watch artisans weave with bare feet on wooden looms.
Explore Food & Wine on the East Shore
In Kootenay Bay stop by Boccalino Restaurant if you get hungry. Boccalino features wood-fired oven pizza Swiss-Italian fine cuisine and homemade in-house desserts and ice creams made daily from fresh and local ingredients.
In the midst of East Shores artisan activity, Black Salt Cafe features a patio and offers eclectic dinner and lunch menus, a finely tuned wine and beer list, a luscious and lavish dessert selection and the best espresso drinks around.
Nature & Recreation on the East Shore
The East Shore provides beautiful trails for hiking and biking detailed maps can be found online at The East Shore Trail and Bike Association and Trails for Creston Valley Society.
Recreation highlights include Kokanee Spring Golf Resort; a magnificent golf course and resort designed by golf course architect Norman Wood. The Resort’s 750 acres includes over a mile of lakefront on Kootenay Lake and winds along the base of the Purcell and Selkirk Mountain Ranges providing an unparalleled golfing experience with stunning views. GolfAdvisor.com ranked Kokanee Springs in the Top 10 Most Scenic Courses in Canada in 2015. In addition to golf, the resort features The Woods' Pumphouse Grill for great meals and bicycle, kayak, and paddleboard rentals at the Adventure Centre.
Experience Health & Wellness on the East Shore
Want a little quiet time on your visit to the Creston Valley be sure to look into Tara Shanti - Sustainable Retreat Centre and Bed and Breakfast. The retreat centre is situated on 5 acres overlooking Kootenay Lake with stunning views of Kokanee Glacier. The Tara Shanti Retreat Centre offers an array of recreational activities including Hatha yoga classes and multi-day retreats in the spring and fall. Tara Shanti focuses on sourced locally and organic foods whenever possible or purchased through farmers co-ops and fair trade organizations.
Looking for a peace and tranquility visit Yashodhara Ashram and Study Centre. The Yasodhara Ashram is a yoga retreat and study centre founded by Swami Sivananda Radha in 1963, Today, more than 50 years after it was established, Yasodhara Ashram is an enduring and vibrant spiritual community. The Ashram offers a wide range of yoga programs year round, private retreats, teacher certifications and introductions to yoga. An onsite gift shop features a range of local and fair trade items, spiritual books, yoga supplies and jewelry. Tour the beautifully tended grounds, organic gardens, beaches and meditation spaces. Day visitors welcome year-round.
Must see Attractions
Take a drive on Hwy 3A to visit the infamous Glass House aka “The Showplace of Kootenay Lake” Take a tour and enjoy the scenery, flowers, and history of this unique site. The Glass House, located 25 miles north of Creston, was started in 1952 by David H. Brown. David H. Brown worked in the funeral business for 35 years and when he retired he decided that there should be a use for the empty embalming fluid bottles which were discarded. After acquiring 500,000 square shaped bottles, weighing 250 tons in all, the Glass House was finally built. This impressive house contains 1,200 feet of floor space with 2-floor levels.
Forgot something on your trip be sure to stop by the historic Gray Creek General Store Kootenay Lake’s oldest general store established in 1913. From history books to propane, fishing licenses to lumber, coffee to outdoor gear the Gray Creek General Store is a must see.
