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This B.C. village looks like Switzerland and has the world's oldest passenger sternwheeler

Surrounded by soaring mountain ranges and breathtaking lakeside views, it isn't hard to fathom why Kaslo was dubbed the "Little Switzerland of B.C."
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert

maruskafilipu / maruskafilipu / Instagram

Surrounded by soaring mountain ranges, it isn't hard to fathom why Kaslo was dubbed the "Little Switzerland of B.C."

The West Kootenay village offers stunning alpine vistas and breathtaking lakeside views, as well as a multitude of things to see and do. Not only does the area have sublime natural panoramas, but its streets are also lined with charming storefronts and historic architecture.

For example, Kaslo's city hall, constructed in 1898, is the oldest remaining town hall in Mainland B.C. According to the village's website, the beautiful building, "symbolized the foresight of its founder’s optimism and aspirations of Kaslo and its future generations to come."

Kaslo's mountainous terrain is ideal for downhill skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. In the summer months, the mountains provide opportunities for hiking and mountain-biking. Further, the lake is ideal for a number of water sports such as kayaking, boating, fishing, and canoeing.

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KASLO-OCT.16: Sternwheeler SS Moyie, the most famous paddle steamer in British Columbia, worked on the Kootenay Lake from 1898 until 1957, is now moored on the shore in Kaslo. Canada, October 16, 2010KASLO-OCT.16: Sternwheeler SS Moyie, the most famous paddle steamer in British Columbia, worked on the Kootenay Lake from 1898 until 1957, is now moored on the shore in Kaslo. Canada, October 16, 2010

The charming town is also home to the the "world's oldest intact passenger sternwheeler." Named the SS Moyie, the famous sternwheeler arrived in 1898 and served over 50 years on B.C.'s southwestern lakes. The notes that the City Of Kaslo purchased the ship for $1 and, "towed it to Kaslo Bay by the tug S.S. Granthall."

Now, the proud sternwheeler sits in the heart of downtown Kaslo near the beach and many of the village's restaurants and shops. It is a historic site as well as a museum, and visitors may peek into a cabin and check out the cargo and vintage cars.

And while the SS Moyie is an impressive historical relic, the village is home to a number of other intriguing sites. For example, the which was built in the mid 1890s and opened as a hotel in 1896, provides gallery shows, theatre, concerts, films and performances, poetry and prose readings, and workshops.

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Looking for some other spectacular places to explore in British Columbia? Make sure that you visit Kimberley, which has been dubbed the "Bavarian City of the Rockies" and has the largest freestanding cuckoo clock in Canada.