Sun Peaks Resort is a fun experience for families during all four seasons but is especially known as a winter mountain resort. I recently surprised my oldest son with a winter getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel for his birthday, and this last-minute vacation was a much-needed escape for both of us.
Sun Peaks is a quick 40-minute drive from Kamloops and it makes for an easy winter getaway for families. I chose the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel because of its location right in the middle of the village, it is steps away from the Sunburst and Sundance Chairlifts and the outdoor pool and hot tubs are a heavenly amenity for a post-ski dip with views of the mountain ski runs.
Our Winter Getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel
I woke my son up early one morning and told him that he wasn’t going to school that day and to pack a few items for an overnight trip. We grabbed our snowboarding gear, loaded our overnight bags into the truck and started the quick drive for our getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel.
We were thrilled to be welcomed back to the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, where they offer guests secure storage for their ski and snowboard equipment right in the lower lobby.
We put our snowboard gear on and walked outside and onto the Sundance chairlift. We have many favorite runs on the mountain and it was a gorgeous bluebird day. With over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, Sun Peaks Resort is blessed with many bluebird days.
Related: Sun Peaks Dog Sledding Adventure
A Day on the Slopes at Sun Peaks Resort
The first run we hit was Grannie Greens to get warmed up and also because it offers some gorgeous views of Mt Morrisey. Some of our favourite runs for families include Three Bears, Mid Life Crisis on Mt Morrisey, Blazer and Cariboo, which is a fun black diamond run. My youngest son loves doing laps on Cariboo so you will often find us there on any given day!
Another fun run is The Other Side which runs from the top of the Crystal Chairlift all the way down to the village. Lately, we have been spending more time on Mt Morrisey now that it is easily accessed by going past the new Orient Express chairlift.
Five Mile is a green run that is great for smaller kids or for exploring the mountain for the very first time. There are a few runs off of Five Mile like Home Steader which we often do because you can go in and out of the trees and there are lots of little jumps off to the side to keep the little ones entertained.
RELATED: THE TOP 25 THINGS TO DO AT SUN PEAKS RESORT IN THE WINTER
Hot Chocolate Break at Mantles Patio
Stopping for a hot chocolate break is mandatory in my family! We are more of a leisure skiing and snowboarding family, so it helps break up the day on the slopes and gives my boys a chance to rest their legs.
Our favorite spot for a hot chocolate break is at the outside patio of Mantles restaurant, located in Sun Peaks Grand Hotel. This year they debuted new outdoor tents on their patios with cozy furniture and warm blankets to keep you warm.
There are two patios to choose from; one looks out into the heart of the village and the other one looks out slope side.
Checking into Sun Peaks Grand Hotel
After a solid day on the slopes, we returned to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel and checked in. We made sure to reserve time at their outdoor pool with three hot tubs for some après-ski relaxation and then headed to our room overlooking the mountains.
The hotel had laid out matching robes for my son and I which was a very nice touch and the tiny bottle of hand sanitiser in the bathroom is such a key amenity these days. My son read in the comfy yellow chair while I snapped some photos and caught up on some emails.
Boasting ski-to-door access, this resort is centrally located in the Sun Peaks ski village.
Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Center is equipped with an outdoor heated swimming pool, three hot tubs and fitness center.
Free WiFi is provided in all guest rooms.
Outdoor Pool & Hot Tubs
A winter getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel would not be complete without some time at the pool and one of their three hot tubs. The views are spectacular and you can sit in one of the hot tubs and watch all the skiers going by.
You can reserve time at the pool and/or hot tub up to 24 hours in advance. We lucked out that we had the pool and hot tubs to ourselves for 30 minutes, so my son, of course, had to do a few cannonballs into the pool for good measure.
The busiest times will be during après-ski, so plan your day accordingly. Or do what we did and escape midweek and avoid the crowds. Our getaway so so enjoyable because it was much quieter in the village and in the mountains.
Dinner at Mantles Lounge
After a jam-packed, fun-filled day, we were tired and hungry, so we headed to the lounge at Mantles Restaurant to have dinner and watch the Leafs game on one of the many TVs.
When we stay at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, we typically like to eat at Mantles Lounge. We love the food, it has a casual atmosphere and is located in the lower lobby right outside of the elevators.
My favorite dish is the Buddha Bowl and my son always orders the sliders from the kid’s menu. The current chef has created a great menu with many amazing meals to choose from and we have dined here so many times it just feels comfortable and familiar.
Many of our dinners at Mantles end with ordering the Thai Fried Banana dessert, which my entire family recommends. It is a unique twist on the signature dish and one that is a perfect end to a family dinner.
Walking Through the Village
We took a post-dinner walk through the village of Sun Peaks which is right outside the doors of the Sun Peaks Grand. We wanted to get my other son a treat since he wasn’t with us on this trip so we headed to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
My oldest son has a nut allergy so we typically buy chocolate-dipped gummy bears or chocolate-dipped licorice. We couldn’t decide which one to get so we bought both!
We strolled through the village and checked out a few more shops before retiring to our room for the night. This winter getaway to Sun Peaks was just an overnight escape and we packed a lot into our day. We were both tired and ready to relax in our comfy beds and read our books before calling it a night.
One last look at the beautiful view from our hotel room the next morning and we went down to Mantles restaurant for breakfast before making our way home.
I personally love breakfast at Mantles, surrounded by all the big windows and looking out into the mountains. The restaurant is large so it feels like you have a lot of personal space around you and the food always hits the spot.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m on vacation, I love to just relax and enjoy my morning cups of coffee. I don’t like to rush out the door to our next activity, lazy mornings are my jam.
This winter getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel with my son was exactly what we both needed. It has been difficult to find the time to be alone with each of my children and this quick escape was the perfect opportunity to reconnect and spend some serious quality time together.
For your own local getaway to Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, use my promo code “caravan” and receive 15% off your next stay!
Now is the perfect time to plan your local escape. Go midweek like we did and enjoy fewer people on the mountain and at the pool. I promise you will be glad you did.
Casandra Karpiak is a travel writer and the co-owner of Savoteur. A Toronto native with Danish roots currently residing in British Columbia, her travel writing has been seen on The Associated Press wire, MSN, CBS, NBC, Entrepreneur, 24/7 Wall St, Times Daily, and many more.
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