lame overzealous marketers, that self-righteous carpe diem crowd or the over-thetop X Games, but for well over a decade now a holiday to a mountain resort has come to mean an endless stream of exhausting and extreme activities more in keeping with a boot camp than a relaxing retreat.

Quiet strolls through the woods are today "eco-treks"; leisurely bike rides through mountain forests are now tests of metal or similar testosterone-fuelled odyssey; and even the pastoral game has been bastardized by misguided fitness zealots who play "speed golf." (The very notion of which no doubt has my own forebears, the inventors of the beautiful game, spinning in their Highland graves.)

As far as I can see, the only winners in these pursuits of perspiration are the ubiquitous gear and clothing suppliers that cater to our inner-triathlete, the makers of ibuprofen and the chiropractic industry.

These days, many weekend warriors return to work on a Monday morning not chilled out, but recovering from spills.

But that needn't be the case with a road trip to Sun Peaks, the four-season resort just north of Kamloops.

In an effort to acknowledge many travellers aren't in search of the extreme, Sun Peaks Tourism is pushing a more bucolic getaway vibe this summer, perfectly expressed in a recent press release entitled "A Gentle Ride for Leisurely Travellers."

It reads: "Sun Peaks is the perfect destination for Gentle Explorers and No-Hassle Travellers who are looking to experience the destination without extreme exertion. From June through September, avoid the sweat and pain of hiking from the valley into the sub-alpine with a ride up the Sunburst chairlift that deposits you steps from fields of colourful alpine blossoms that blanket the slopes."

Hands up if avoiding sweat and pain sounds like your kind of road trip getaway, oh gentle explorer.

And if mountains aren't your thing, Sun Peaks also offers a number of lakes and creeks ideal for whiling away hot summer days in a relatively cool environment.

Heffley Lake, McGillivray Lake, Adams River, Tod Lake and McGillivray Creek are great settings for a picnic lunch and a lazy canoe paddle.

Or you can make a day trip out of it and take in the Salmon Run at nearby Adams River.

If catching fish is your thing -or at least trying to -pick up a rod and tackle at the Sun Peaks Adventure Centre and you're ready to go. Be sure to buy a B.C. fishing licence before you do, available at the resort's Guest Services offices or online (www.fishing.gov.bc.ca).

Other family oriented and low-impact activities include bike riding (there are plenty of rental shops in the village), golf and swimming, the latter at one of the resort hotel pools or at the public recreation centre, which includes a massive hot tub and fitness centre.

Speaking of hotels, there are plenty of accommodation options in the village, from a backpacker's hostel all the way up to five-star luxury.

Restaurants also abound, and after a long relaxing day not working up a sweat, there isn't a better feeling than an evening meal and beverage on a patio in the cool, mountain air.

If it's a family road trip you're planning, check out the Delta Residences at Sun Peaks, which features roomy suites to house the horde and full kitchens to feed it.

Being able to cook your own food is made even better thanks to the fresh and local produce available at the Farmer's Market every Sunday throughout the summer. The Delta also boasts a heated outdoor pool with a million dollar view of the mountains and village, three outdoor hot tubs, sauna and first-rate exercise room.

And if your day of "avoiding sweat and pain" has left you a little sore, book an appointment with one the Delta's on-site registered massage therapists.

Now that's the life of a leisurely traveller.

(For more information about Sun Peaks visit www.sunpeaksresort.com)

amccredie@sunprovince.com

2011 EVENT CALENDAR

June 3

Golf course opens for season

June 12

Sunday Farmer's Market begins

June 30

Sunburst chairlift opens

July 2-3

Summer kickoff weekend July 9-10

Canadian Enduro Championship

July 15-17

4th Annual Wine & Cultural Fest

July 15-Aug. 14

Alpine Blossom Season

July 23-24

Seek the Peaks Geocaching Wknd.

July 30-31

Alpine Blossom Festival

Aug. 6-7

Music in the Mountains

Aug. 13-14

Retro Concert Weekend

Aug. 19

Nancy Greene Raine Golf Benefit

Sept. 3-4

Labourless Weekend

Sept. 10

Quilting in the Mountains

Sept. 23-25

Classic Car Gathering