Revelstoke has that magnetism--an alpine pull that grabs hold of travelers, especially the young…read moreand the restless.
Some come to ski, some to ride, some just to breathe in that mountain air--and a few, it seems, never leave. VRGE is one of those places that captures that energy and bottles it, serving it back to weary bodies that have either driven too long, or partied on beyond the hours - I'm the former.
VRGE... It's hip, without being smug about it. There's a hot tub bubbling in the back for tired legs, a communal BBQ for spontaneous feasts, and a gear shed stocked with everything from snowshoes to bikes--some to rent, some just to borrow because that's the kind of place this is.
The staff? Young, sunburnt, and unmistakably from Down Under. The kind of folks who came for a season, fell in love with the mountains, and never found a reason to go home. They're easy going, genuinely friendly, and make you feel less like a guest and more like you just wandered into a house party that's been going since last winter - just kidding, or am I? hmm...
Inside, there's a cozy fireplace that doubles as the heart of the bar and lounge--where conversations can stretch late and stories may grow taller with every round.
The restaurant seating is intimate, the kind of tight squeeze that makes you talk to your neighbours and maybe moreythan IG handles are exchanged. Insert winky-emoji here.
Rooms are clean, modern, and thoughtfully done. The bathrooms feel fresh and new, and the mattresses--mercifully--are actually comfortable, a rarity in mountain towns. You sleep well here, and you wake up wanting to chase something--powder, trails, or powdered jelly doughnuts - I'm the latter.
Sure, come peak season the rates will probably soar like everything else in this town--but if they stay within reason, VRGE is worth coming back to.
CHEERS!