Pepper, the Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | Budget Adventure Travel

| November 17, 2021

| Traveling with a bunny rabbit |

It can be risky traveling with a pet at times.

For Example. This is Pepper, our Canada trotting lionshead bunny.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

“If I wait here long enough, someone will come up to say hi”

This is NOT Pepper.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Black Bear lounging on Kootenay National Park. Trust me! I was FAR away when taking this photo

The key to a fun road trip with a pet in tow is being able to properly identify your pet before loading him/her in the vehicle.

After concluding our sojourn through Chinook Country, we were now on our last quadrant of our circular trip (details on that out next week). This was our first visit to Fernie and Pepper’s first time in the Province.

Things we saw on the way in to Fernie (from Alberta).

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

The Canada Pacific Railway

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. Great stop for Kids

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

The World’s Biggest Truck is an old mining truck, now retired and on display in Sparwood, just east of Fernie

In Fernie, start with a tour of the Downtown. It is only a few blocks and very pleasant to walk.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

See a miner’s face here, right.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

And now you don’t!

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

To capture to essence of Fernie and its heritage, I recommend a stop at the Fernie Museum.

Source: Fernie Museum

Source: Fernie Museum

The museum offers a number of services including – historical walking tours (phone for appointment). I recommend doing the walking tour as you get to listen to some incredible stories from the city’s early mining days (it is still a mining town).

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Fernie Museum showcasing its mining heritage and industry

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Fernie Museum showcasing its skiing heritage

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Artifacts in Fernie Museum

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Artifacts in Fernie Museum

In fact, as you walk along Downtown, you will notice unique ‘Saloon’ style heritage buildings that still stand today. Along this strip are local cafe and artisan bakeries to serve up some incredibly tasty local fare. Pepper was quite intrigued by the architecture.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

“Check for vehicles to my right before crossing”

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

“Check for vehicles to my left before crossing”

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

“Nah, think Ill just chill on this bench”

A definite stop while here, no matter how short or long the stay, is the Clawhammer Letterpress and Gallery.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

A confession first. My childhood family house had one of these printing presses that was operated by a local press company. I never paid attention to it much then, but I recall the constant clanging noise that would come from the main floor. So seeing the old letterhead press held a deeper emotional connection to me than it might to the typical visitor.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

~1916 Chandler & Price 18 x 12 inch ‘New Style’ Platen press

Mike’s Story

I asked Mike, the founder of the Clawhammer press, how he ended up getting in to the letterhead press business and develop this art over the years. It is indeed the unique vocation. In response, Mike narrated the story of his life up to this point. Mike’s life is the perfect example of what I call ‘chanced connections’. It is a subject I am currently researching for a future post, so I won’t get in to too much detail here on it, except, briefly mention that finding happiness and success in life may have more to do with serendipity than deliberate attempts to find your “passion”.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

I would like to tell you what Mike told me but that would be too easy. It’s Mike’s life and his story so why don’t you just ask him when you are there (or even when you are not there).

Mike gave us a demonstration of the typical cycle involved in preparing a print on the press. Click through the slide show below to see it.

The only other comparable place to this that I have come across (i.e. art gallery with retail business) in my travels so far is the Yvette Moore Gallery in Moose Jaw.

Next stop – the Fernie Brewery. I always make it a point to stop at local breweries. And in BC, practically every city has one.

We stayed at the Red Tree Lodge in Fernie, which is a very pet friendly hotel. They knew we were traveling with a bunny. So ->

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

“Ice cubes, tray, and carrots! Who called this party?”

Next day, during checkout, I noticed wall magnets in the hotel that were hand painted by a local artist. I bought several of those for my readers and in support for local art. I’ll be raffling these away to my readers, so stay tuned and check back on this post in a few hours when I set it up.

Our final trip back to Calgary was through the highway headed west from Fernie towards Cranbook and then north bound through the incredibly scenic Kootenay National Park.

Oh, by the way, Fernie also has some decent ski slopes during winter and golf courses during summer. Just saying.

Things to see and do on this route.

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Ancient Cottonwood Trees outside Fernie

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Kootenay Trout Hatchery

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Sinclair Canyon, Kootenay National Park

Pepper, a Calgary bunny, visits Fernie | British Columbia | Canada | Travel Adventures | Larkycanuck.com

Big Horn Sheep

For more information or planning your trip to Fernie visit the official Tourism Fernie site.

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Category: Budget Adventure Travel, Travels in British Columbia

About the Author ()

Larkycanuck is the pseudonym for the spirited, spontaneous and zestful Canadian. The Blog is focused on showcasing budget adventure travels for working families. Larkycanuck has traveled to over 15 countries, 38 cities in 10 years. He has never quit a job to do this. He travels with his wife and on some trips with the house rabbit (Pepper).

Comments (8)

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  1. Jon Ward says:

    Hello Larky,

    My name is Jon and I’m the manager of the Red Tree Lodge. Thanks for the mention! It was fun to read about your trip and your impressions of Fernie, and you got some really nice shots! It’s good to see that Pepper decided against jaywalking 😉

    I’m happy to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We are a Pet Friendly hotel and so we do try to make our furry clients feel comfortable, but I think Pepper may be the first bunny to stay with us. I’m glad the girls at the desk were able to think up a suitable treat!

    I hope we’ll see you again,

    Jon Ward
    Red Tree Lodge
    Fernie BC

    • larkycanuck says:

      yea that was an awesome gesture. it was cute too. We never saw her as active on our trips as she was in Fernie. Must be the weather and lifestyle. Heard even the humans tend to behave that way on the other side of the mountains.

  2. Heather says:

    Gorgeous photos! They especially make me want to visit Kootenay National Park. Plus, I love your travel companion—so cute!

    • larkycanuck says:

      Thanks Heather. indeed the journey holds many surprises and delights even for seasoned travelers.
      And we just have a blast with our little furry friend on these trips.

  3. Robert says:

    Great capture of the moments.