Experience some of the most diverse tasting rooms, award winning restaurants, and vineyards. , . Vine living the Okanagan Valley, despite winter cold snaps, has a climate well suited for grapes. Under an invitingly blue sky, I set out on the NkMip walking trail but have second thoughts when I see the yellow warning signs: Be alert: watch for rattlesnakes.. Are you bored of your bubble? Hotel Zed (doubles from 84 room only, hotelzed.com) is a colourful new boutique hotel in downtown Kelowna with a table tennis lounge and complimentary roller skates. With talent that could easily have made him a shining light in Vancouver, van Hooydonk chose to live in the Okanagan, so he can spend more time with his family and cook food Im excited about that week.
Our guides are there to provide exceptional service, information about the local area, and an atmosphere that's personalized for you, and your occasion. Ambitious wineries such as Mission Hill and Quails Gate have been fuelled by a tech industry boom that has brought an increasing number of well-heeled millennials to the region. Feel free to let us know if you want to substitute a stop on your wine tour for one of these great hangouts: Soma Ciders - Incredible lunch stop option on our East Kelowna Tour, Truck 59 Ciderhouse - Fantastic option to change the pace of your wine tour in West Kelowna, Kettle River Brewing- One of our favourite hangouts and some sensational small batch craft beers, Red Bird Brewing- Great small craft brewery hangout, and a regular food stop for us with the much loved Surfside California Taco Food Truck. 3. Even to someone accustomed to going round wineries, Mission Hill is just jaw-dropping. 2. Kelowna is also home to Mission Hill, which makes even those accustomed to visiting Burgundy, or the Napa Valley take a breath. 3PL . They encourage you to have a seminar not just a tasting. Tours of several vineyards are an attractive option. We offer fun daily excursions to the wineries in Kelowna. Hotel Zed, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, Canada. High above the valley floor Observatory B&B (doubles from 87 B&B, jacknewton.com) in Osoyoos has its own telescope and rooftop observatory. Make your own schedule and enjoy a Kelowna wine tour crafted just for you and your entourage. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The name translated from the Okanagan native language means Grizzly Bear, hence the influence on our logo! It's now owned by the Andrew Peller Group and occupies the same building as Sandhill Wines. It doesnt get much more extravagant than a Roman amphitheater, 12 storey bell tower and over 40 commissioned fine art sculptures. okanagan fantastic ways valley experience laze sandy beach . Some of the wineries, such as Mission Hill (pictured), have a Tuscan farmhouse look. We will take you on a wine adventure to some of the most awarded wineries in the Okanagan, and arguably some of the best in the world. If you want to satisfy your thirst for knowledge, we can introduce you to the experts who enjoy telling you about their history, production, and what makes them unique. You rarely see one, my guide Darlene tells me later, only half convincingly. The 1992 Mission Hill Chardonnay, which beat the French at one of those prestigious international blind tasting competitions, was arguably the catalyst to 30 wineries in the Okanagan region becoming over 180 in just the last twenty years. Wine is booming in the Okanagan. .
ERP .
A lot of people say they like shaking hands with the person preparing the food.. makes a purchase.
A large part of this southern part of the Okanagan, Canadas only desert, is owned by First Nation Canadians, who farm some 32,000 acres around Osoyoos. (All pricing excludes 5% GST), Enjoy the serene shoreline, and home to some of the most established vineyards in the Okanagan. , [ : (, )]
The local wine washes down some exceptional food at the valleys wineries such as this platter from Quails Gate. This comparatively unspoilt part of the world seems to be particularly rich in critters, including black widow spiders (eek! MAS International Co., Ltd.
.
(SECOM)
The trip was provided by Destination British Columbia (hellobc.com), The Okanagan valley is four hours drive from Vancouver, or visitors can fly to Penticton or Kelowna and pick up a hire car. 20
wine okanagan wineries tasting columbia british country cook learning System You'll visit, charges may apply & dependent on availability*.
You'll visit Summerhill Organic Winery'sminiature duplicate of Egypt's Pyramid of Cheops, where it it is believed to help the ageing of their prestigious organic wines. Another much smaller farm, Backyard, does the farm-to-plate thing by running a chefs table and cookery school. Im not sure I ever reached the knowingness of who I was, though: theres a lot of hippy-dippy stuff in the Okanagan. ,
Wineries have always been a plaything for rich entrepreneurs like Mission Hills Anthony von Mandl but less flamboyant estates, such as LaStella and Hester Creek (which has its own chefs table and cookery school), are engaging places, some modelled on Tuscan farmhouses.
Twenty years ago, there were only 31 wineries in the region; now there are over 130. Oh, and the winemaker has a beard and tattoos. ), wild deer and bears. More information. Practically next door to Upper Bench are Poplar Grove, with a showcase tasting room, and its rocknroll sibling Monster Vineyards an allusion to the Ogopogo which has all the urban vibe of a downtown Vancouver wine bar.
It all started here when the first vines were planted in 1859 by Father Pandosy.
Authentically Okanagan (aoktours.com) and Experience Wine Tours (experiencewinetours.ca) offer organised tours of wineries up and down the valley from 75pp. Canadian Affair (canadianaffair.com) has a weeks fly-drive to Vancouver and the Okanagan valley from 496 including flights from Gatwick, and car hire. willamette valley oregon tourism yakima washington tourradar
But it makes a really rather delicious and multi-award-winning sparkling wine called Cipes brut (modestly named after the owner, Stephen Cipes), so maybe theres something in it. Experience some of the most diverse tasting rooms, award winning restaurants, and vineyards. 1. Its even reputed to have its own equivalent of the Loch Ness monster, the Ogopogo. Much of the valley, particularly around Osoyoos, is arid enough to require irrigation sprinklers. At biodynamic winery Summerhill in Kelowna, the wines are aged in a four-storey replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which apparently enhances their aroma and clarity and reveals the knowingness of eternity. Its not a cheap meal minimum spend for the dining room is C$500 (300) but it can accommodate 10 people and you can take your own wine. , From a touring point of view, theyre ideal as theyre closely spaced.
. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set. Owner Gene Covert, the fourth generation of his family to farm the property, drives us around in his pick-up truck, stopping in the vineyards for a glass of sparkling pt-nat naturally fermented ros and to cram our faces with wild blueberries straight off the bush. Save a minimum of $10/guest by joining others on our daily open public tours, Enjoy the serene shoreline, and home to some of the most established vineyards in the Okanagan. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and
, Take the tiny Upper Bench Winery & Creamery in Penticton, where UK-born Gavin Miller makes the wine and his wife, Shana, an impressive selection of cheeses. From the farm, there are hikes up the towering McIntyre Bluff, a 300-metre cliff formed during the last ice age.
The Hatching Post- Saloon style craft brewery and BBQ eatery from the same great minds who own the Hatch. You may visit one of the most prestigious wineries in Canada: Additional charges apply & dependent on availability, A knowledgable & socially aware local tour guide, Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (additional charges may apply dependent on location), 7) Delicious lunch options to suit various budgets, such as picnic, food truck, winery/restaurant lunch reservation (Full day only). Waterfront Wines (mains from 15, waterfrontrestaurant.ca) in Kelowna is a small bistro run by chef/sommelier Mark Filatow, offering great value for the high quality of food. Use tab to navigate through the menu items.
ven to someone accustomed to going round wineries, Mission Hill is just jaw-dropping. Its owned by chef Chris van Hooydonk, who walks us around the heavily laden cherry trees of his two-acre hobby orchard before cooking us a simple, impeccably sourced lunch matched with local wines. Upper Bench is just one of a number of wineries along the Naramata Bench, a 14km ridge that was once part of the lakeshore. Windy rural roads, rolling hillside, and scenic lake views await you on the westside. As you drive further south, it gets progressively hotter and drier. And Im there in the kitchen, says van Hooydonk. Spirit Ridge at NKMip Resort (doubles from 94 room only, spiritridge.ca) is First Nations owned, with villas and a couple of pools. 20, , 40 , Other spectacular wineries you may visit include: We take pride in being the catalyst to an incredibly fun, and memorable experience.
It is no wonder this city is growing at alarming speed. All the ingredients are conscientiously name-checked: fat, sweet Red Bay scallops, sustainable prawns, organic lentils, home-grown peas and peashoots.
The 40 specially commissioned sculptures, the 12-storey bell tower, the collection of ancient Greek amphorae, the Chagall tapestry this is as grand as a wine experience gets, yet its not in the Napa Valley but a thousand miles to the north in Canadas Okanagan Valley. kelowna wineries Theres an individuality to the Okanagan thats not found in Napa, or even Sonoma. . Save a minimum of $10/guest by joining others on our daily open public tours Other notable wineries you may visit include: Windy rural roads, rolling hillside, and scenic lake views await you on the westside. valley kettle trail railway okanagan falls tripadvisor columbia british More information from Tourism Kelowna (tourismkelowna.com). BCs oldest winery Calona Vineyard was established here in 1932 and can still be visited in downtown Kelowna.
Kelowna is the second most northern Okanagan wine region. An eclectic 32 wineries reside within the 3rd biggest metropolitan area in BC. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
A cheaper option is planning a self-guided tour on the OK hop on, hop off wine shuttle (six hours 38pp, okwineshuttle.ca).
6. Maybe before, rather than after, the wine tasting, I suggest. As soon as you come out here, you feel as if youre on vacation, my guide told me. Part grocery, part cafe, the Bench Market (thebenchmarket.com) is a homely Penticton institution and great for breakfast or brunch, with epic scones. These last are a particular hazard for winery owners as they can eat their own weight in grapes in one day. The 40 specially commissioned sculptures, the 12-storey bell tower, the collection of ancient Greek amphorae, the Chagall tapestry this is as grand as a wine experience gets, yet its not in the Napa Valley but a thousand miles to the north in Canadas Okanagan Valley. 1) A knowledgable & socially aware local tour guide, 2) Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (additional charges may apply dependent on location), 3) Tasting and venue fees (exceptions may apply), 4) Tastings at 5 venues (Full Day) / 4 Venues (Half Day), 6) Premium comfort luxury new vehicles, all climate controlled, 7) Delicious lunch options to suit various budgetssuch as picnic, food truck, winery/restaurant lunch reservation (Full day only). Checkout our online booking calendar for availability, and secure a public tour in a few simple clicks. Visitors enjoy a tipple at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. 3PL . You may visit one of the most prestigious wineries in Canada:Mission Hill Family Estate ($25 extra)*; *Additional charges apply & dependent on availability. Er OK. We can taste the two together, and Gavins deep pink ros is a unexpectedly good match with Shanas punchy Stilton-style King Cole blue.
A thousand miles north of Napa, an explosion of funky wineries amid glorious British Columbia scenery are producing fine tipples, along with fantastic farm-to-plate food. Miradoro, the restaurant at Tinhorn Creek winery (tinhorn.com) is one of the many classy winery restaurants in the valley offering tapas (from 7) and pizza (from 11) as well as a full restaurant menu. 4. System , , . *Additionalcharges may apply & dependent on availability*Other notable wineries you may visit include:, CedarCreek Estate Winery ($15 extra charge)*. It has a vibrant city and culinary scene, but at the same time you are only ever moments away from a winery and rural serenity.
The Okanagan, like parts of the neighbouring US states of Oregon and Washington, was until recently an undeveloped rural area, dotted with ranches and fruit farms, and this tradition can be witnessed at first hand through farm-to-plate experiences on estates such as Covert Farms sprawling 650 organic acres. This is the only place Ive been to where you can combine a tasting tour of the farm with a wine tasting. They, too, have a winery and resort called NkMip (pronounced inkameep), along with an absorbing cultural centre which traces the history of the Osoyoos people. At the other end of the valley in Summerland, a funky winery called the Okanagan Crush Pad is packed with tulip- and egg-shaped concrete tanks designed to bring out the best in the no-additive, native ferment wines made for its Haywire label and other small producers. Charcuterie platter at Miradoro restaurant, Tinhorn Creek.
kelowna wine okanagan
Rarely is too often for me. Kelowna also has some of the coolest breweries, cideries, and food trucks outside of Vancouver.
As Captain Beefheart pumps out over the sound system, a small white fluffy hearth rug in the form of a Great Pyrenees puppy called Bijou wanders around the tasting room.
, . Of course. Theres so much to do on the lake sailing, boating, kayaking or you just pull over and go for a swim.. Although not that well-known to overseas tourists, its a favourite summer holiday spot for Vancouverites and a refuge for Canadians from states such as Saskatchewan and Alberta escaping the brutal winter temperatures of the midwest. The area is dominated by the spectacularly beautiful 135km-long Okanagan lake, which runs from Vernon in the north down to the semi-desert region of Osoyoos.
Our guides are there to provide exceptional service, information about the local area, and an atmosphere that's personalized for you, and your occasion. Ambitious wineries such as Mission Hill and Quails Gate have been fuelled by a tech industry boom that has brought an increasing number of well-heeled millennials to the region. Feel free to let us know if you want to substitute a stop on your wine tour for one of these great hangouts: Soma Ciders - Incredible lunch stop option on our East Kelowna Tour, Truck 59 Ciderhouse - Fantastic option to change the pace of your wine tour in West Kelowna, Kettle River Brewing- One of our favourite hangouts and some sensational small batch craft beers, Red Bird Brewing- Great small craft brewery hangout, and a regular food stop for us with the much loved Surfside California Taco Food Truck. 3. Even to someone accustomed to going round wineries, Mission Hill is just jaw-dropping. 2. Kelowna is also home to Mission Hill, which makes even those accustomed to visiting Burgundy, or the Napa Valley take a breath. 3PL . They encourage you to have a seminar not just a tasting. Tours of several vineyards are an attractive option. We offer fun daily excursions to the wineries in Kelowna. Hotel Zed, Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, Canada. High above the valley floor Observatory B&B (doubles from 87 B&B, jacknewton.com) in Osoyoos has its own telescope and rooftop observatory. Make your own schedule and enjoy a Kelowna wine tour crafted just for you and your entourage. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The name translated from the Okanagan native language means Grizzly Bear, hence the influence on our logo! It's now owned by the Andrew Peller Group and occupies the same building as Sandhill Wines. It doesnt get much more extravagant than a Roman amphitheater, 12 storey bell tower and over 40 commissioned fine art sculptures. okanagan fantastic ways valley experience laze sandy beach . Some of the wineries, such as Mission Hill (pictured), have a Tuscan farmhouse look. We will take you on a wine adventure to some of the most awarded wineries in the Okanagan, and arguably some of the best in the world. If you want to satisfy your thirst for knowledge, we can introduce you to the experts who enjoy telling you about their history, production, and what makes them unique. You rarely see one, my guide Darlene tells me later, only half convincingly. The 1992 Mission Hill Chardonnay, which beat the French at one of those prestigious international blind tasting competitions, was arguably the catalyst to 30 wineries in the Okanagan region becoming over 180 in just the last twenty years. Wine is booming in the Okanagan. .
ERP .
A lot of people say they like shaking hands with the person preparing the food.. makes a purchase.
A large part of this southern part of the Okanagan, Canadas only desert, is owned by First Nation Canadians, who farm some 32,000 acres around Osoyoos. (All pricing excludes 5% GST), Enjoy the serene shoreline, and home to some of the most established vineyards in the Okanagan. , [ : (, )]
The local wine washes down some exceptional food at the valleys wineries such as this platter from Quails Gate. This comparatively unspoilt part of the world seems to be particularly rich in critters, including black widow spiders (eek! MAS International Co., Ltd.
.
(SECOM)
The trip was provided by Destination British Columbia (hellobc.com), The Okanagan valley is four hours drive from Vancouver, or visitors can fly to Penticton or Kelowna and pick up a hire car. 20 wine okanagan wineries tasting columbia british country cook learning System You'll visit, charges may apply & dependent on availability*.
You'll visit Summerhill Organic Winery'sminiature duplicate of Egypt's Pyramid of Cheops, where it it is believed to help the ageing of their prestigious organic wines. Another much smaller farm, Backyard, does the farm-to-plate thing by running a chefs table and cookery school. Im not sure I ever reached the knowingness of who I was, though: theres a lot of hippy-dippy stuff in the Okanagan. ,
Wineries have always been a plaything for rich entrepreneurs like Mission Hills Anthony von Mandl but less flamboyant estates, such as LaStella and Hester Creek (which has its own chefs table and cookery school), are engaging places, some modelled on Tuscan farmhouses.
Twenty years ago, there were only 31 wineries in the region; now there are over 130. Oh, and the winemaker has a beard and tattoos. ), wild deer and bears. More information. Practically next door to Upper Bench are Poplar Grove, with a showcase tasting room, and its rocknroll sibling Monster Vineyards an allusion to the Ogopogo which has all the urban vibe of a downtown Vancouver wine bar.
It all started here when the first vines were planted in 1859 by Father Pandosy.
Authentically Okanagan (aoktours.com) and Experience Wine Tours (experiencewinetours.ca) offer organised tours of wineries up and down the valley from 75pp. Canadian Affair (canadianaffair.com) has a weeks fly-drive to Vancouver and the Okanagan valley from 496 including flights from Gatwick, and car hire. willamette valley oregon tourism yakima washington tourradar
But it makes a really rather delicious and multi-award-winning sparkling wine called Cipes brut (modestly named after the owner, Stephen Cipes), so maybe theres something in it. Experience some of the most diverse tasting rooms, award winning restaurants, and vineyards. 1. Its even reputed to have its own equivalent of the Loch Ness monster, the Ogopogo. Much of the valley, particularly around Osoyoos, is arid enough to require irrigation sprinklers. At biodynamic winery Summerhill in Kelowna, the wines are aged in a four-storey replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which apparently enhances their aroma and clarity and reveals the knowingness of eternity. Its not a cheap meal minimum spend for the dining room is C$500 (300) but it can accommodate 10 people and you can take your own wine. , From a touring point of view, theyre ideal as theyre closely spaced.
. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set. Owner Gene Covert, the fourth generation of his family to farm the property, drives us around in his pick-up truck, stopping in the vineyards for a glass of sparkling pt-nat naturally fermented ros and to cram our faces with wild blueberries straight off the bush. Save a minimum of $10/guest by joining others on our daily open public tours, Enjoy the serene shoreline, and home to some of the most established vineyards in the Okanagan. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and
, Take the tiny Upper Bench Winery & Creamery in Penticton, where UK-born Gavin Miller makes the wine and his wife, Shana, an impressive selection of cheeses. From the farm, there are hikes up the towering McIntyre Bluff, a 300-metre cliff formed during the last ice age.
The Hatching Post- Saloon style craft brewery and BBQ eatery from the same great minds who own the Hatch. You may visit one of the most prestigious wineries in Canada: Additional charges apply & dependent on availability, A knowledgable & socially aware local tour guide, Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (additional charges may apply dependent on location), 7) Delicious lunch options to suit various budgets, such as picnic, food truck, winery/restaurant lunch reservation (Full day only). Waterfront Wines (mains from 15, waterfrontrestaurant.ca) in Kelowna is a small bistro run by chef/sommelier Mark Filatow, offering great value for the high quality of food. Use tab to navigate through the menu items.
ven to someone accustomed to going round wineries, Mission Hill is just jaw-dropping. Its owned by chef Chris van Hooydonk, who walks us around the heavily laden cherry trees of his two-acre hobby orchard before cooking us a simple, impeccably sourced lunch matched with local wines. Upper Bench is just one of a number of wineries along the Naramata Bench, a 14km ridge that was once part of the lakeshore. Windy rural roads, rolling hillside, and scenic lake views await you on the westside. As you drive further south, it gets progressively hotter and drier. And Im there in the kitchen, says van Hooydonk. Spirit Ridge at NKMip Resort (doubles from 94 room only, spiritridge.ca) is First Nations owned, with villas and a couple of pools. 20, , 40 , Other spectacular wineries you may visit include: We take pride in being the catalyst to an incredibly fun, and memorable experience.
It is no wonder this city is growing at alarming speed. All the ingredients are conscientiously name-checked: fat, sweet Red Bay scallops, sustainable prawns, organic lentils, home-grown peas and peashoots.
The 40 specially commissioned sculptures, the 12-storey bell tower, the collection of ancient Greek amphorae, the Chagall tapestry this is as grand as a wine experience gets, yet its not in the Napa Valley but a thousand miles to the north in Canadas Okanagan Valley. kelowna wineries Theres an individuality to the Okanagan thats not found in Napa, or even Sonoma. . Save a minimum of $10/guest by joining others on our daily open public tours Other notable wineries you may visit include: Windy rural roads, rolling hillside, and scenic lake views await you on the westside. valley kettle trail railway okanagan falls tripadvisor columbia british More information from Tourism Kelowna (tourismkelowna.com). BCs oldest winery Calona Vineyard was established here in 1932 and can still be visited in downtown Kelowna.
Kelowna is the second most northern Okanagan wine region. An eclectic 32 wineries reside within the 3rd biggest metropolitan area in BC. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
A cheaper option is planning a self-guided tour on the OK hop on, hop off wine shuttle (six hours 38pp, okwineshuttle.ca).
6. Maybe before, rather than after, the wine tasting, I suggest. As soon as you come out here, you feel as if youre on vacation, my guide told me. Part grocery, part cafe, the Bench Market (thebenchmarket.com) is a homely Penticton institution and great for breakfast or brunch, with epic scones. These last are a particular hazard for winery owners as they can eat their own weight in grapes in one day. The 40 specially commissioned sculptures, the 12-storey bell tower, the collection of ancient Greek amphorae, the Chagall tapestry this is as grand as a wine experience gets, yet its not in the Napa Valley but a thousand miles to the north in Canadas Okanagan Valley. 1) A knowledgable & socially aware local tour guide, 2) Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation (additional charges may apply dependent on location), 3) Tasting and venue fees (exceptions may apply), 4) Tastings at 5 venues (Full Day) / 4 Venues (Half Day), 6) Premium comfort luxury new vehicles, all climate controlled, 7) Delicious lunch options to suit various budgetssuch as picnic, food truck, winery/restaurant lunch reservation (Full day only). Checkout our online booking calendar for availability, and secure a public tour in a few simple clicks. Visitors enjoy a tipple at Summerhill Pyramid Winery. 3PL . You may visit one of the most prestigious wineries in Canada:Mission Hill Family Estate ($25 extra)*; *Additional charges apply & dependent on availability. Er OK. We can taste the two together, and Gavins deep pink ros is a unexpectedly good match with Shanas punchy Stilton-style King Cole blue.
A thousand miles north of Napa, an explosion of funky wineries amid glorious British Columbia scenery are producing fine tipples, along with fantastic farm-to-plate food. Miradoro, the restaurant at Tinhorn Creek winery (tinhorn.com) is one of the many classy winery restaurants in the valley offering tapas (from 7) and pizza (from 11) as well as a full restaurant menu. 4. System , , . *Additionalcharges may apply & dependent on availability*Other notable wineries you may visit include:, CedarCreek Estate Winery ($15 extra charge)*. It has a vibrant city and culinary scene, but at the same time you are only ever moments away from a winery and rural serenity.
The Okanagan, like parts of the neighbouring US states of Oregon and Washington, was until recently an undeveloped rural area, dotted with ranches and fruit farms, and this tradition can be witnessed at first hand through farm-to-plate experiences on estates such as Covert Farms sprawling 650 organic acres. This is the only place Ive been to where you can combine a tasting tour of the farm with a wine tasting. They, too, have a winery and resort called NkMip (pronounced inkameep), along with an absorbing cultural centre which traces the history of the Osoyoos people. At the other end of the valley in Summerland, a funky winery called the Okanagan Crush Pad is packed with tulip- and egg-shaped concrete tanks designed to bring out the best in the no-additive, native ferment wines made for its Haywire label and other small producers. Charcuterie platter at Miradoro restaurant, Tinhorn Creek.
kelowna wine okanagan
Rarely is too often for me. Kelowna also has some of the coolest breweries, cideries, and food trucks outside of Vancouver.
As Captain Beefheart pumps out over the sound system, a small white fluffy hearth rug in the form of a Great Pyrenees puppy called Bijou wanders around the tasting room.
, . Of course. Theres so much to do on the lake sailing, boating, kayaking or you just pull over and go for a swim.. Although not that well-known to overseas tourists, its a favourite summer holiday spot for Vancouverites and a refuge for Canadians from states such as Saskatchewan and Alberta escaping the brutal winter temperatures of the midwest. The area is dominated by the spectacularly beautiful 135km-long Okanagan lake, which runs from Vernon in the north down to the semi-desert region of Osoyoos.