Windermere
Windermere explodes with life in the summer months. The picturesque community is primarily cottage country with the majority of the population made up of residents who have second or weekend homes. A short five minute drive south of Invermere, the primary marketplace in the area, the community offers everything for the visiting vacationer.
Windermere has become a popular spot for fishing, sailboarding, hang-gliding, swimming, waterskiing and golf. There are numerous options for dinner out and entertainment for the kids, like bowling at Valley Alley, and for the larger kids, a challenging round of golf can be had at the beautiful 18-hole Windermere Valley Golf Course. Those looking to play a shorter round of golf can play the renowned three hole golf course at the White House Hotel. One of the first families to live in the community brought their home with them when they moved to Windermere. The building was operated as the White House Hotel for a number of years and while the present owners have preserved the original name and character, it now operates solely as a pub and funky three hole golf course, where thirsty visitors can take a seat on the verandah and enjoy a cool beverage. Windermere Beach is the perfect location for a picnic as the soothing sound of the lake washes the sandy beach in the warm afternoon sun. Kids can expend their energy in the playground if swimming is not to their liking as parents watch from the treed shoreline. A leisurely but enjoyable afternoon can be had at Creekside Flower Gardens where visitors can wander through a series of 20 spectacular gardens established over two acres. Perhaps the character and vibrancy of the residents are a direct reflection of the historical character of the community.
The first commercial buildings in the valley were constructed as early as 1887 and some remain today. The Stolen Church, with its bright white exterior and red roof, came to Windermere after Rufus Kimpton, then owner of the White House Hotel, "stole it" from Donald when they moved to the then-burgeoning community. With the help of friends, Kimpton engineered plans that saw the building dismantled at its former location 180 km northwest and moved and resurrected at the site it currently occupies. Also, be sure to stop by artisans corner at the only four-way stop in the community.
