Sometimes it's nice to get away from it all. Really get away. And sometimes a short three-hour drive is enough to make that happen. That's the time it takes to drive from Calgary to Radium Hot Springs.

The resort community, which is on the banks of the Columbia River, is a haven for die-hard golfers, and with good reason. The area boasts 15 championship golf courses, not to mention views of two mountain ranges (the Rocky and Purcell Mountains).

No trip to Radium is complete without a soak in the Radium Hot Springs Mineral Pools. These pools, which are the biggest hot spring pools in Canada, do one thing, really well – they make you relax! Get in for a soak and admire the natural rock walls that border the pools, and ponder how amazing it is to unwind in a naturally occurring phenomenon.

Got the kids with you? They'll love splashing around in the cooler pool, which has a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. There are slides and a diving board and lifejackets available for the smaller folk.

Take your relaxation one step further and visit the Hot Springs' day spa, where you can choose from a menu of treatments: massage, facials, body wraps – even reflexology. After your treatment, you can continue to revel in the spa experience in their steam room and plunge pool.

If you like to "earn" your soak in the hot springs (as if you haven't already), you'll find plenty of ways here. In addition to golfing and skiing, there’s hiking, white water rafting, go-carting and fishing. And no matter how you spend your daylight hours, you have abundant choices for where to dine and where to unwind at the end of the day.

Radium Hot Springs is close to several major ski resorts, including Panorama, Fairmont, and Kicking Horse.