Picture a quintessential ski village—the kind that you’d find in a snowglobe or a Hallmark movie—and the image in your mind will probably look a lot like Sun Peaks. This adorable mountain resort is quaint and quiet and cute, with a small but bustling village equipped with everything you need for a picturesque ski holiday.

Even as Sun Peaks continues to expand and develop, it never loses its small-town vibe, complete with the same business owners who you’ll see year after year and plenty of expats who genuinely seem to be in awe of the fact that they get to live in this place. Located in British Columbia’s Interior, just 45 minutes northeast from Kamloops, Sun Peaks boasts Canada’s second-largest ski area. True to its name, it’s often sunny here, and it has all of the trappings of a world-class ski hill—magically, without the crowds.

WHERE TO STAY

Modest but comfortable accommodations can be found at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge. For those in the know, yes, it is in fact *that* Nancy Greene: the ski racer who won three US championship titles and 17 Canadian ones; who won silver in slalom and gold in giant slalom at the 1968 Olympics; who won two overall World Cup ski racing titles; and who was named Canadian Athlete of the Year—twice. Greene is an ambassador for Sun Peaks, and served as its director of skiing for many years. She was also instrumental in the creation of the resort, ensuring that all of its runs are groomed every day, resulting in great terrain regardless of whether or not there’s fresh snow on the ground. But back to the Cahilty Lodge: the halls are dotted with framed photos of Greene throughout her career, and her Olympic medals are on display in the lobby, for any ski nerds who want to go pay respects. The rooms are small but well equipped, especially the suites that come with kitchenettes—perfect if you don’t want to eat out for every meal. The hotel also boasts two hot tubs—one indoor, one outdoor.

WHAT TO DO

Of course, the main thing to do at Sun Peaks is ski or snowboard, and the resort has three mountains—and a total of 4,270 acres—to explore. For advanced folks, there are steep black runs; for beginners, there are plenty of greens and blues (tip: if you’re looking to improve your skills, book a private lesson and ask for Scottish Doug. He will not disappoint).

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If you’re lucky, you may even spot Greene herself on the mountain. It’s still clearly the thing that makes her happiest, as evidenced by the giant grin that will grow across her face as soon as she is strapped into her skis. Her favourite part of the activity, she told Go Canada, is “the feeling of freedom as you glide down the mountain.” Hard to argue that, especially when it comes from one of the fastest women in Canadian history—who estimates that even at 81, she could still ski the entirety of Sun Peaks’ Five Mile green run (named, obviously, for its length) in five minutes flat.

Aside from the chairlift activities, there’s also a tube park, snowshoeing tours, and snowmobiling tours—the last of which will take you up into the backcountry, offering some gobsmacking views of the BC’s interior mountain ranges. It’s a truly great way to see the sights, and to have them all to yourself. There are also plenty of shops in the village to browse, including a Patagonia (seemingly the only name-brand establishment in the town) and Lone Wolf art gallery. If a little R&R is in order, Sun Peaks Spa offers an array of relaxing treatments. Indulge in the Pure Forest Special, which includes dry brushing, a sugar scrub, a hot stone massage, a facial, and a scalp massage. It’s 75 minutes of bliss.

WHERE TO EAT

The village has lots of great options to suit every palate. For coffee, there’s Bolacco Caffe and Vertical Cafe, both of which are excellent; for pizza, there’s Mountain High; for German food, there’s Powder Hounds (the schnitzel is a must); for meat and potatoes, there’s the Steakhouse (order a dirty martini to go with your beef—you won’t regret it); for pub food, there’s Cahilty Creek Kitchen (get the green curry or the burger) and Bottoms (a word to the wise: tempting as it may be, don’t ring the bell above the bar unless you want to buy a round of drinks for the entire place); and for treats, there’s Baby Doh’s mini donuts and Rocky Mountain Chocolate (a Canadian ski hill staple!). And just outside of the village, there’s Ohana Deli for a great local selection of meats, cheeses, and premade meals.

GETTING THERE

From Vancouver, it’s a breathtaking four-and-a-half-hour drive through the mountains to Sun Peaks. Be sure to stop in Kamloops for coffees from Amplified Cafe, tasty meats from Gary’s European Sausages, and delicious treats at Cutting Board Bistro & Bakery. After all, you’ll need to fuel up for all of your Hallmark-perfect adventuring.