Best of Fernie 2018

With so many amazing local businesses, activities and events, choosing becomes tougher each year with an increasing amount of tight races in all categories. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. Remember to show your love to organizations and businesses by keeping your support and $ local!

Best Fernie Season 2018

One of the celebrated things about Fernie is its pronounced seasons, each holding a special place in our hearts.

Gold: Summer

Silver: Winter

Bronze: Fall

Honorable Mention: Spring

Best Summer Sport 2018

The number of summer activities is on the rise in this beautiful Valley, drawing numerous people to our community with a substantial increase in summer tourism year after year.

Gold: Biking

Photo Credit: Krista Turcasso

Silver: Hiking

Bronze: Running

Best Winter Sport 2018

Pretty standard, year after year although we have seen an increase in interest in nordic skiing and snowshoeing!

Gold: Skiing & Boarding

Photo Credit: Fernie Alpine Resort

Silver: Nordic Skiing

Bronze: Snowmobiling & Snowshoeing

Best Bike Trail 2018

Mountain biking has grown exponentially over the last few years, especially with the increase of events taking place in Fernie. Fortunately the Fernie Trails Alliance keeps our network up to speed, maintaining and building all summer long to keep this recreational activity at its best!

Gold: Lazy Lizard

Silver: Swine Flu

Photo Credit: Krista Turcasso

Bronze: Project 9

Photo Credit: Krista Turcasso

Best Place to Snowbike 2018

Fat Biking has become a popular sport during the winter months in Fernie, with regular snow grooming and trails upon trails to explore. Here are this year’s top three!

Gold: Montane  

Photo Credit: Troy Nixon

Silver: Lazy Lizard

Photo Credit: Troy Nixon

Bronze: Elk Valley Trail

Photo Credit: Troy Nixon

Best Hiking Trail 2018

Arriving at one of the many peaks surrounding this Valley, and taking in the awesome views is always a summer highlight. Here are your favourites from 2018.

Gold: Heiko’s Trail

Photo Credit: Kyle Hamilton Photography

Silver: Spineback

Bronze: Three Sisters

Best Area at Fernie Alpine Resort 2018

There are so many great options at the hill, but of course we all have our favourites... some secret! These three received the top votes in 2018.

Gold: Currie Bowl

Photo Credit: OnTheSnow

Silver: Cedar Bowl

Photo Credit: MoreThanSkiing

Bronze: Snake Ridge

Photo Credit: Fernie Alpine Resort

Best Place to Snowmobile 2018

More and more people are travelling to Fernie with snowmobiles in tow. For those of you into this growing sport, here were your 2018 picks!

Gold: Coal Creek

Photo Credit: Raven Eye Photography

Silver: Morrissey

Photo Credit: Raven Eye Photography

Bronze: Harvey Pass

Photo Credit: Shantelle Weir

Best Place to Nordic Ski 2018

Thanks to the Fernie Nordic Society, our classic and skate skiing options have grown over the last few years. Here are this year's picks.

Gold: Elk Valley Nordic Centre

Photo Credit: Raven Eye Photography

Silver: Montane

Photo Credit: Jesse Bell

Bronze: Golf Course

Favourite Indoor Activity 2018

On those rainy summer days or during a cold winter spell, Fernie takes its recreation indoors! Here are 2018's top three.

Gold: Yoga

Silver: Swimming

Bronze: Fitness Classes

Photo Credit: Vitality

Best Method to Maintain Balance/Cross Training 2018

With so much biking, running, golfing, skiing and the like, our bodies sometimes need a little TLC. Here are the top three ways Fernie residents and visitors maintain balance.

Gold: Gym/Crossfit

Silver: Yoga

Bronze: Meditation

Best Source of Injury Prevention/Rehab 2018

Once in a while if we're not maintaining balance, we leave ourselves open to injury. Here are the three top ways we keep this at bay or work through any injuries that occur.

Gold: Massage Therapy

Silver: Physio Therapy

Bronze: Gym

Best Place to Get Your Sweat On 2018

Whether it's raining, snowing or even nice outside, sometimes you just need to sweat it out! Here are the top three in this new category!

Gold: Evolution Health and Fitness

Silver: Essential Yoga Studio

Bronze: Soar Studios

Best Spa in Town 2018

We are so fortunate to have a plethora of options when it comes to pampering ourselves. Here are 2018's best spas!

Gold: Spa 901

Silver: Three Sisters Day Spa

Bronze: Island Lake Lodge Spa

Best Hair Salon 2018

Admit it - you only let that special hair dresser at your specific salon do your hair. We all have our favourites, here are the three that made the cut in 2018!

Gold: Sparrow Hair

Silver: ET Hair Studio

Bronze: Lysh Hair Salon

Best Go to Health Product Store 2018

Where do we pick up our vitamins, supplements and natural ingredients or products? Here are your picks for 2018.

Gold: The Good Earth

Silver: Save On Foods/Healing Hollow

Bronze: IGS Pharmacy

Best Place to Purchase Your Summer Gear 2018

The retail sector in Fernie is nothing short of amazing - you can literally find everything you need right here in this little town! Here are your picks for summer gear.

Gold: Gear Hub

Silver: Ski Base

Bronze: Straightline

Best Place to Purchase Your Winter Gear 2018

You always need great gear when exploring the backcountry, especially during the cold, wet winter months. Here's Fernie's 2018 picks for the best places to get your winter gear.

Gold: Gear Hub

Silver: Edge of the World

Bronze: Ski Base

Best Fashion Hot Spot 2018

Fernie has turned into a great shopping destination, with unique stores offering something for everyone. From mountain casual to an evening out, here are 2018's top three fashion hot spots.

Gold: Freyja

Silver: Heaven Boutique

Bronze: Salvation Army/Ghostrider Trading

Best Casual Wear Locale 2018

Most days in Fernie, you need something comfortable, built for the current weather, that is also fashionable - we call it mountain casual!

Gold: Edge of the World

Silver: Heaven Boutique

Bronze: Giver Shirt Works

Best Place for Kid's Clothing, Toys and Gifts 2018

Yes, you can find everything you need for the kids in your life in Fernie! With a growing little person population, and plenty of little people visitors, the shopping sector has really stepped up. Here are your top picks for 2018.

Gold: Grow

Silver: Polar Peek Books and Treasures

Bronze: Salvation Army

Best Accessory Hot Spot 2018

The Fernie has turned into a great shopping destination, with unique stores offering something for everyone. From mountain casual to an evening out, here are 2018's top three fashion hot spots.

Gold: Coal Town Goods

Silver: Freyja

Bronze: Giver Shirt Works

Best Place to Spruce Up Your Home 2018

With so many renovations and home building projects going on in and around Fernie, it's not surprising that we have some great options!

Gold: Green Petal

Silver: Canadian Tire

Photo Credit: Tarjan Group

Bronze: Interior Envy

Best Place to Stock The Fridge 2018

Whether visiting or living here, you need a good source of energy to keep up with your recreational pursuits. Fortunately, there is a plethora of shopping opportunities available to help keep the fridge stocked!

Gold: Save On Foods

Silver: Kevin’s Independent

Bronze: Mountain Pantry

Best Place to Stock The Liquor Cabinet 2018

You'll need something to wash all that food down with! Here are 2018's top picks for beer and liquor purchases in Fernie!

Gold: The Liquor Store

Silver: The Tipple Cold Beer and Fine Wine

Bronze: Spirits Cold Beer and Liquor

Best Place to Get Your Goodie Fix 2018

Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, it's difficult to turn down the amazing goodies offered at a variety of shops, cafes and stores in town. Check out 2018's top three!

Gold: Happy Cow

Silver: Beanpod

Bronze: Rocky Mountain Chocolate

Best Cup of Joe 2018

Finding a great cup of coffee in Fernie is far from difficult. With numerous locally run coffee shops, each with its own flavour, it's easy to find your favourite. Here are the three that received the top votes in 2018.

Gold: Mug Shots

Silver: The Valley Social

Bronze: Freshies

Best Place to Brunch 2018

A good bite to eat to start the day right! Here are Fernie's brunch picks for 2018!

Gold: Blue Toque

Silver: Big Bang Bagels

Bronze: Mug Shots

Best Burger in Town 2018

A good burger is essential, and we all have our go-to locales. These three received the most votes in 2018!

Gold: The Brickhouse

Silver: The Northern

Bronze: The Pub

Best Evening Dining Atmosphere 2018

When it comes to the evening portion of your Fernie experience there is a range of options. Many of the restaurants are known for their ambient nature, an outing in itself. Here are 2018's top three.

Gold: Nevados

Silver: Yamagoya

Bronze: Island Lake Lodge

Photo Credit: Mike McPhee

Best Wine List 2018

BC has some of the world's greatest wines, and we are lucky to have Fernie restaurants highlighting many on their wine lists. Here are the three menus that made the cut in 2018.

Gold: Island Lake Lodge

Silver: Cirque Restaurant

Photo Credit: Fernie Alpine Resort

Bronze: Yamagoya

Best Beer Selection 2018

Certain cuisines would just not taste the same without a complementary beer, and there are many restaurants and bars in town that go the extra mile to ensure this perfect match is available... sometimes making it quite a difficult choice!

Gold: The Northern

Silver: Curry Bowl

Bronze: The Pub

Best Cocktail Menu 2018

Enjoying a beverage after a day at work, with friends or apres ski, these restaurants offer a selection of choices.

Gold: Nevados

Silver: Fernie Distillers

Bronze: Island Lake Lodge

Best Venue for Live Music 2018

With a variety of entertainment opportunities, we thought it only fair to break up the categories this year especially with the growing popularity of jam nights, big bands, trios and singer/songwriters. Here are Fernie's best live music venues in 2018.

Gold: The Northern

Silver: The Arts Station

Bronze: The Royal/The Brickhouse

Best Place to Shake Your Booty 2018

It's fun to shake your booty in Fernie, and with each year the booty-shaking opportunities only get better. Check out 2018's top three.

Gold: The Northern

Silver: The Royal

Bronze: The Griz Bar

Best Ethnic Restaurant 2018

For such a small town Fernie has a surprising number and variety of ethnic restaurants. Get out and explore - here are your favourites from 2018.

Gold: Yamagoya

Silver: Himalayan Spice Bistro

Bronze: Nevados

Best Food Truck 2018

With even more culinary options available on the streets in Fernie, this new category covers those delicious street eats. Here's your top three picks for 2018.

Gold: Yama-2-Go

Silver: Chopstick Truck/Flippin’ Crepes

Bronze: Happy Cow

Best Slice of Pizza 2018

Pizza and burgers - staples in any town. These three establishments are your choice for pizza in 2018.

Gold: Elk Valley Pizza Shoppe

Silver: Fernie Pizza and Pasta

Bronze: Not Just Pizza

Best Quick Food Fix 2018

More often than not you're on the go in Fernie, whether you're on your way to your next adventure or heading to the office. Here are great options when you're short of time, 2018's people's choice.

Gold: Big Bang Bagels

Silver: Lunchbox

Bronze: Mug Shots

Best Place to Send The Family 2018

People are going to want to visit you in Fernie - period. Here are great options to send family members or those looking for somewhere cozy to spend the nights.

Gold: Park Place Lodge

Silver: Best Western

Bronze: Lizard Creek Lodge

Best Place to Send Friends on a Budget 2018

For those visitors on more of a budget, looking for someplace other than your couch, here are three options that received the most votes in 2018.

Gold: Raging Elk Hostel

Silver: Snow Valley Motel

Bronze: Powder Mountain Lodge

Best Social Event 2018

Events of all types are on the rise in Fernie, thanks to the many volunteers and organizations putting the time and effort into putting them on. Here are the hot items of 2018, that you won't want to miss in 2019!

Gold: Griz Days

Silver: Hot Dog Day

Bronze: Canada Day

Best Cultural Event 2018

The array of cultural offerings continues to expand and grow in Fernie. While all brought a little something different, these three stood out from the rest in 2018.

Gold: Wapiti

Silver: Chautauqua Fall Fair

Bronze: Wednesday Concert Series 

Best Sports Event 2018

Not surprisingly Fernie is host to numerous sport events and races, many which have put Fernie on the map for a recreational haven. Here are hot events that took place last year.

Gold: Fernie Ghostriders Games

Silver: Fernie Lion’s Club Demo Derby

Bronze: Tears and Gears

Photo Credit: Jesse Bell

Best Way to Spend $20 2018

You all had some fabulous ideas on the best way to spend $20 in Fernie. Here are the three that received the most votes.

Gold: Growler fill at FBC

Silver: Ice Cream at Happy Cow

Bronze: Big Bang Bagels

Best Place for People Watching 2018

Let's face it - people watching is a great way to pass the time... and you all have some interesting locations for viewing purposes. Here are your top three!

Gold: Main Street

Photo Credit: Raven Eye Photography

Silver: At the Ski Hill

Photo Credit: Fernie Alpine Resort

Bronze: At a Wednesday Concert Series 

Best Reason for Living in Fernie 2018

There are so many reasons for living in Fernie, but these three keep making the cut year after year.

Gold: The People

Photo Credit: Christine Thompson

Silver: The Access to the Outdoors

Photo Credit: Christine Thompson

Bronze: The Lifestyle

Photo Credit: Krista Turcasso

Best Fernie Saying 2018

There are many "isms" in Fernie that one must truly learn and get on board with... some more than others (seriously, the 20cm rule should be law). Here are your top choices for 2018.

Gold: 20cm Rule

Silver: Fernie Time

Bronze: No Friends on a Powder Day

Photo Credit: Fernie Alpine Resort (Karen Pepper)

Best First Date 2018

Love seems to bud in Fernie... maybe it's the amazing trails, or sick powder, or abundance of new faces that arrive each and every year. Regardless, here are some great ideas for that first date on the town!

Gold: Yamagoya

Silver: Bike Ride & Beer on a Patio downtown

Photo Credit: Raven Eye Photography

Bronze: Island Lake Lodge

Photo Credit: Mike McPhee

Best Place to Catch the Sunset 2018

Fernie is notorious for its magical sunsets. Here are your favourite places to catch the skies as the lights fades in 2018.

Gold: Microwave Towers

Silver: Top of Swine Flu

Photo Credit: Krista Turcasso

Bronze: Deck at the Bridge Bistro

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