— A Wine Tour by Car and by Bike The Okanagan Valley is a long north-south valley located in the south central portion of BC, Canada, just north of the US border. is is a wonderful area for a self guided car and bike tour that can easily double as a wine tasting tour. is is my kind of adventure travel! e Okanagan is known for its sunny, dry climate with hot summers and cold winters. e arid landscape is punctuated with lakes and patches of green. It has become one of Canada’s premier wine producing areas. ere are upwards of 100 wineries, along the bluffs bordering the lakes, running the length of the valley from Vernon to Osoyoos. Winer - ies run the gamut from small, family oriented ones run from the back of a trailer to large estates with commanding views like Mission Hill and Burrowing Owl. ere are plenty of year round outdoor ac - tivities which are a big draw for tourists and retirees alike. In the summer, you can look forward to boating on Okanagan, Skaha and Osoyoos Lakes. A highlight for many is tub - ing on the Okanagan River Channel with a cold drink in hand. ere is also fantastic road and trail biking and lots of hiking. Bird watching and wildlife viewing are becoming
1 HIIGHLIIGHTS popular tourist draws too. In winter, loads of dry located on the hills above Okanagan Lake. Perhaps snow ensures a long season of downhill and cross time your tasting with an early dinner at either the • Beautiful vineyards country skiing at a number of top notch resorts. Mission Hill or Quails Gate Restaurants. • Fun wine tasting experience You will find that cycling the Kettle Valley Rail - way (KVR), an abandoned rail bed which weaves Day 2 • Fantastic, scenic sections of the Kettle Take a one day ride with Monashee Tours on the Valley Railroad (KVR) trail to hike and bike its way through the Okanagan- Similkameen re - Kettle Valley Railroad. Decide between the 20 kilo - gion, to be a first class experience. The entire trail meter ride over trestles through Myra Canyon or the • Tubing on the Okanagan River Channel of more than 800 kms can be considered for the 75 kilometre tour that takes 8-9 hours and delivers • Fine dining options at some wineries very adventuresome and short sections are suit - you in Naramata. Shuttle back to Kelowna where able for families. The Okanagan is a superb des - you can enjoy a fine meal at the end of the day. • Interesting accommodation choices tination for a weekend or a week. Between cycling, wine tasting and exploring your days will • Lake swimming on hot summer days Day 3 be filled. Aer a leisurely breakfast head south towards • Old fashioned milkshakes in Okanagan Naramata. Rent an inner tube and have fun on a Falls Suggested Itinerary peaceful 2 hour float down the Okanagan River • Excellent birding and wildlife viewing I recommend renting both a car and a bike to allow Channel. Catch lunch at one of the Naramata the ultimate in flexibility. is can be done in Bench wineries and spend the rest of the aernoon Kelowna. wine tasting and relaxing. I recommend an evening meal at the Hillside Winery. at the wineries. Have dinner in Penticton or at the Day 1 Naramata Inn. Arrive in Kelowna and settle in to your accommo - Day 4 dations. Try a walk along the Kelowna waterfront If you didn't do the full day tour on Day 2, then ride Day 5 or head out and taste some wines at the nearby Mis - or have Ambrosia Tours shuttle you up to Chute Drive to Oliver, about 40 minutes south of Nara - sion Hill, Mt. Boucherie and Quails’ Gate Wineries, Lake. Ride the KVR downhill back to Naramata or mata. Along the way you could visit the Vaseux Penticton high above Okanagan Lake. An out and Lake Bird Sanctuary. In Oliver there are several op - back ride as far as Chute Lake will take the better tions. Try one of the numerous hikes in the area or part of the day but you’ll only need a few hours if if you haven’t tired of biking then hop on and do a take the shuttle. Spend what’s le of the day tasting circular loop that visits some of the best wineries in the Okanagan. Finish with a dinner at the Bur - rowing Owl Restaurant.
2 Getting to the Okanagan Area LAKEFRONT SPORTS CENTER Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan with a www.lakefrontsports.com/ population of about 120,000. It is located 400 kms 1310 Water Street, Kelowna Ph: 250 -862-2469 east of Vancouver, 600 kms west of Calgary and just Mountain bike rentals are $39 per day. 90 kms north of the US border. It is very accessible FREEDOM, THE BIKE SHOP by car or bus via Highway 1, 3 or 5. Bus service is www.freedombikeshop.com/ via Greyhound ( www.greyhound.ca ). 533 Main Street, Penticton Ph: 250-493-0686 ey offer front suspension mountain bikes for $40 Kelowna, Penticton, Naramata, Oliver and Osoy - per day. e rate drops to $25 per day for multiple oos are all within a 90 minute drive of each other. days. e KVR isn’t far from the shop. Be prepared for potentially challenging driving over mountain passes in the late fall and winter DOUBLE O BIKES months. www.doubleobikes.com Kelowna’s airport is the 10th busiest in Canada Ph: 250-498-8348 in Oliver and 250-495-3312 in Osoyoos with direct flights from Vancouver, Victoria, Ed - Rentals can include a helmet, lock and front and monton, Calgary, Toronto, Prince George and rear panniers. One day rates are $30. Seattle. Air Canada, Westjet, Central Mountain Air and Air Alaska service the city. Detailed Itinerary, starting in CAR RENTAL COMPANIES Kelowna Choose from National www.nationalcar.com/ or Day 1: Kelowna Hertz www.hertz.com/ in town though five com - Arrive in Kelowna and settle into your accommo - Lavender panies offer rentals out of the Kelowna airport. dation. If you have a car (or take a taxi) then waste ey include Avis, Enterprise, Budget, National no time getting to the wineries in the Westbank Day 6 Your next destination is Osoyoos. is is Canada’s and Hertz. area of Kelowna. only true desert. Visit the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural BIKE RENTAL COMPANIES I recommend heading to Mission Hill Family Es - Center to learn and experience the traditions and tate Winery ; the winery enjoys sweeping views history of the Okanagan people. Also include a OUTBOUND CYCLE from its perch above the lake. Buildings were de - visit to Nk’Mip Cellars Winery owned by the Os - www.outboundcycle.com/ signed by Seattle architect Tom Kundig and in - 203 Rutland Road North, Kelowna Ph: 250-765-1146 oyoos Indian Band. Dining at Campo Marino, an clude a bell tower and amphitheatre which hosts or 3011 Louie Street, West Kelowna Ph: 250- 768-0799 Italian restaurant is a pleasant way to end your trip. ey offer mountain bike and downhill bike rentals plays, productions and readings in the summer. e starting at $39.99 for a one day price. restaurant has a wonderful ambience about it and
3 Creek Greenway Trail. Rates start at $165 per Kelowna Restaurants night in the spring and fall and rise to $270 per night in the summer. ey also own the less expen - LA BOULANGERIE GOURMET CAFÉ sive Lakeshore Inn www.lakeshoreinn.com/ next 100-3149 Lakeshore Road Ph: 250-763-3466 A great place to grab breakfast and lunch. door which has been recently upgraded. Rates there start at $129 per night in the spring and fall BOUCHONS BISTRO and $189 per night in the summer. www.bouchonsbistro.com/ 105-1180 Sunset Drive Ph: 250-861-7170 HOTEL ELDORADO is is a classic French bistro. www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com/ 500 Cook Road Ph: 866-608-7500 or 250-763-7500 OLD VINES RESTAURANT & PATIO e hotel sits by the lake and enjoys a range of ac - Tunnel on the KVR Trail www.quailsgate.com/ commodation styles from heritage rooms to luxury 3303 Boucherie Road enjoys a fine reputation, though it’s on the pricey suites. A patio restaurant is located by the water. Ph: 800-420-9463 or 250-769-2500 You can try lunch, dinner or small bites and wine side. ey serve lunch and dinner. ree wine tours Rates start at $119 per night in the spring, $179 per flights at this beautifully appointed restaurant. are offered as well as wine tastings. You could eas - night in the summer and $169 per night in the fall. ily spend a few hours here. CASA LOMA LAKESHORE RESORT MISSION HILL WINERY TERRACE Quail’s Gate Winery is also known for its excellent www.casaloma.com/ RESTAURANT restaurant in addition to its well organized tours. 2777 Casa Loma Road Ph: 800-771-5253 or 250-769- www.missionhillwinery.com/ Ph: 250-768-6467 is is a fun winery to visit with knowledgeable 4630 ey offer condos, villas and townhouses with full e Mission Hill restaurant is considered to be one staff. If you have time squeeze in a visit to Mt. cooking facilities. ey are a 5 minute drive from of the top winery restaurants in the world. Boucherie, just down the road from Quail’s Gate. downtown Kelowna. Swim in the pool or in the It‘s one of the few wineries that makes a decent WATERFRONT RESTAURANT AND WINE lake. Contact them for rates which are particularly Semillon. BAR good for extended stays in the off season. www.waterfrontrestaurant.ca/ If wine tours and tastings haven’t tired you 104-1180 Sunset Drive Ph: 250-979-1222 out, then how about a walk on the 17 kilometre BEACH HOUSE B&B e restaurant is a cross between casual and so - Mission Creek Greenway trail www.beach-house.ca/ phisticated and offers wine with seasonal Okana - 188 Beach Avenue Ph: 250-763-2321 gan food. (www.greenway.kelowna.bc.ca/index.html ). You Rates are $149 to $225 per night. is waterfront can pick it up near the Mateo Resort on Lakeshore situated B&B is walking distance to restaurants, THE GREEN ROOM RESTAURANT Road and take it for as long as time permits. bistros... www.greenroomrestaurant.com/ 101-1360 Ellis Street Ph: 250-869-0193 Kelowna Accommodation MILL CREEK MANOR B&B e Green Room offers soups, salads, pizza, wraps www.millcreekmanor.ca and a few meat dishes. It has a tree canopied patio MANTEO RESORT 2008 Ethel Street Ph: 877-626-2008 and sits next door to the theatre. Described as a www.manteo.com e home was built in 1924 and is located in the ‘charming eatery’ by EAT Magazine. 3762 Lakeshore Road heart of the city. Rates are $149 per night in the Ph: 800-445-5255 or 250-860-1031 summer. You’ll find nice views of Okanagan Lake and you’re GUISCHICAN HOUSE RESTAURANT www.worldclasscatering.com/ only a few minutes to the 17 kilometer Mission AN ENGLISH ROSE GARDEN B&B 1060 Cameron Avenue Ph: 250-862-9368 www.anenglishrosegarden.com e restaurant occupies a beautiful heritage house 305 Stellar Drive Ph: 877-604-6259 or 250-764-5231 and garden. ey are open for lunch and dinner. e rates are $100-$110 per night.
4 SUMMERHILL PYRAMID beach are all noble pursuits. is is a particularly www.summerhill.bc.ca scenic section of the Okanagan Valley. Ph: 250-764-8000 On your way to Naramata, especially if it’s a hot TANTALUS day, take a few hours to float the Okanagan River www.tantalus.ca Channel. You can rent inner tubes and ras and Ph: 250-764-0078 take up to 2 hours to float the 7 kilometer length. Contact Coyote Cruises at www.coyotecruises.ca . Day 2: Kelowna For $10 they offer a tube and a return bus ride be - A stay in Kelowna provides the easiest access to the ginning the third week in June. Myra Canyon sectionof the KVR. Reserve a tour ahead of time with Monashee Tours (look at the Get lunch in Penticton or if it’s not too late end of the guide for tour info) who will also act as try the patio at Lake Breeze Vineyards your shuttle service. You can choose a tour of vary - (www.lakebreeze.ca ). It’s a lovely setting and the ing length — 12, 20 or 75 kilometers and if you’re food is excellent. Spend the rest of the aernoon uncomfortable doing it on your own, choose the wine tasting at some of the superb Naramata Bench guided option. wineries... or relax and lie on the beach. If you’re Osoyoos Lake vineyard staying in the Naramata area I recommend dinner e Myra Canyon was the scene of the 2003 fire at Hillside Estates Winery. Wineries in the Westbank Area of that destroyed the famous wooden trestles. ey Kelowna were rebuilt and this part of the trail reopened in 2008. It is definitely one of the scenic highlights of Naramata Accommodation MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE the entire KVR trail, especially as it features 18 tres - APPLE D’OR GUESTHOUSE www.missionhillwinery.com tles and 2 tunnels. www.appledor.ca/ Ph: 250-768-6498 2587 Naramata Road Ph: 250-496-4045 Aer biking I recommend sampling some of the is is the only 5 star accommodation east of the QUAIL’S GATE delicious wines at one of the restaurants noted www.quailsgate.com/ lower mainland in BC with the attendant prices. above. Ph: 250-769-4451 Rates are $300-$350 a night with two night mini - mums. MT. BOUCHERIE Day 3: Naramata www.mtboucheriewinery.com/ Naramata, a small village of 800 residents, sits on NARAMATA HERITAGE INN & SPA Ph: 250-769-8803 the east side of Okanagan Lake and is only accessi - www.naramatainn.com/ ble from the south via Penticton, 9 kms away. It’s 3625 1st Street Ph: 866-617-1188 or 250-496-6808 e original inn was built in 1908 and extensively Kelowna Area Wineries famous for its Naramata Bench wineries, of which restored in 2001. ere are 12 rooms and an onsite CEDAR CREEK there are now about 23. For a small spot there is a restaurant. High season rates are $187 per night www.cedarcreek.bc.ca significant choice in accommodation and activities. and up. Ph: 250-764-8866 Biking, hiking, wine tasting and lounging on a
5 SANDY BEACH LODGE AND RESORT Naramata Restaurants Summerland Accommodation www.sandybeachresort.com Ph: 250-496-5765 Summerland sits on the west side of Okanagan Lake ey are located on 400 feet of private beachfront COBBLESTONE WINE BAR AND and is only about 10 minutes north of Penticton. It on Lake Okanagan. ey have B&B rooms and RESTAURANT offers lots of accommodation and restaurant choices modern log cabins. B&B rates are $185-$205 per www.naramatainn.com/dining.php as an alternative to Naramata. Many of the B&B of - night depending on the month. Ph: 866-617-1188 or 250-496-6808 is heritage inn offers fine dining with an outside ferings are quite reasonably priced too. option in season. THE TREE HOUSE AT ELEPHANT ISLAND LA PUNTA NORTE BED & BREAKFAST www.elephantislandwine.com/treehouse-rentalinfo.php BARREL ROOM BISTRO AT HILLSIDE www.lapuntanorte.com Ph: 250-496-5522 Rent a room with a view above the winery's tasting ESTATES WINERY 365 Highway 97 North www.hillsideestate.com Ph: 877-527-8682 or 250-494-4456 room and look aer some of your own meals. ere Adobe style B&B with a seasonal swimming pool. 1350 Naramata Road Ph: 250-493-6274 are 3 night minimums in the summer and rates are ey offer a lunch and dinner menu in a beautiful Rates are $165 to $325 per night. $130-$150 per night. setting. SUMMERLAND WATERFRONT RESORT D’VINE DREAMS B&B THE PATIO AT LAKE BREEZE www.summerlandresorthotel.com www.dvinedreams.com/ www.lakebreeze.ca 13011 Lakeshore Drive Ph: 250-494-8180 e resort is located right on the lake. Amenities 720 Ellis Avenue Ph: 877-496-4055 or 250-496-4055 930 Sammet Road Ph: 250-496-5619 Rates are $150-$175 per night with a 2 night min - Enjoy delicious lunches on a patio in a truly lovely include a pool, hot tub, steam room and fitness imum. setting from May through mid October. Lunch is center. Rates for a one bedroom unit start at $109 served daily from 11:30 to 3:30. It gets busy! per night in the spring and rise to $209 per night in the summer. THEOE www.eatsquid.com APPLES-N-WINE B&B 687 Main Street, Penticton Ph: 250-492-4019. www.applesnwine.com/ Greek food in a fun atmosphere. 5860 Hespeler Road Ph: 877-630-3089 or 250-404-0503 A two suited B&B with panoramic views. Rates are NARAMATA PUB $100-$169 per night. Camp Creek Station, 985 Robinson Ph: 250-496-5655 Offering pub fare, pool tables and darts. GLENOKA FARM B&B RED ROOSTER WINERY PATIO www.glenoka.com www.redroosterwinery.com 6702 Beggs Street Ph: 250-494-9891 e B&B is located behind the Adams Bird Sanc - Ph: 250-492-2424 A light lunch with a view is served on the patio tuary. Rooms are well appointed. Rates are $110 to from June through August on Wednesday to Sun - $140 per night. day from 11am until 4pm. APPLES & QUAILS B&B VILLAGE GROUNDS COFFEE SHOP www.applesandquails.com/ www.villagegrounds.ca 12014 Trayler Place Ph: 250-494-6445 ree well appointed guest rooms enjoy great 340 Robinson Avenue Ph: 250-496-4334 A wonderful spot for excellent coffee, delicious views. Rates vary between $139 and $169 per baked treats and unusually good sandwiches. night.
6 VANILLA POD Road until you reach the Chute Lake Road. Turn www.thevanillapod.ca right and follow it all the way to Chute Lake. e 9917 Main Street Ph: 250-494-8222 initial ride along North Naramata Road is very sce - A tapas and wine bar style restaurant open Tuesday nic with excellent views over the lake. e ride up through Sunday. Chute Lake Road is steeper at times and not as sce - nic. e total distance form Naramata Village to VICTORIA ROAD DELI AND BISTRO Chute Lake is approximately 16.6 kilometres (10 www.victoriard.com miles) one way. Count on at least 1000 metres 108-13615 Victoria Road North Ph: 250-583-9343 You can eat lunch at the bistro or takeout from the (3000 feet) of climbing to get to Chute Lake. Re - deli. Dinner is offered from ursday through Sat - turn via the KVR trail. e return is a fast, fun ride. urday. Look for fresh, local foods in an upscale but Keep your eye out for wildlife. We were lucky casual dining environment. enough to see a black bear.
Day 4: Naramata Naramata Area Wineries Today is a day for more biking and wine tasting but is is a small sampling of the wineries in this area. Duck what you decide to do is going to depend on your Opening times vary so check their websites before energy level. A shuttle with Ambrosia Tours out of you go if you’re planning morning tastings. Summerland Restaurants Penticton can get you up to Chute Lake high above the Naramata Bench. en it’s a leisurely downhill JOIE WINES COZY BAY SEAFOOD CAFE run along the Kettle Valley Railway all the way to www.joie.ca 13220 Victoria Road North Ph: 250-494-8711 Penticton; continuing to Okanagan Falls is also Ph: 250-496-0093 Look for fresh seafood in a casual and fun cafe set - well worth doing since it’s a particularly scenic ride NICHOL VINEYARD ting. Open Monday to Saturday. Reasonably priced. along the western edge of Skaha Lake. Once in www.nicholvineyard.com Okanagan Falls try the old fashioned milkshakes Ph: 250-496-5962 CELLAR DOOR BISTRO available at Lollies Falls Restaurant at 1030 Main www.sumacridge.com RED ROOSTER Street. 17403 Highway 97 Ph: 250-494-0451 www.redroosterwinery.com Let your server be your guide to an enjoyable food If you feel more ambitious then you could forgo Ph: 250-492-2424 and wine pairing. the shuttle and ride up to Chute Lake. is can be LA FRENZ LOCAL LOUNGE AND GRILL done by cycling up and back on the Kettle Valley www.lafrenzwinery.com Railway itself, accessed off of Arawana Road or 12817 Lakeshore Drive South Ph: 250-494-8855 Ph: 250-492-6690 is is one of the Okanagan’s newest restaurants. Smethurst Road on the outskirts of Naramata Vil - Look for a patio, upscale lounge and grill over - lage. is option is a longer option and you’ll end LAUGHING STOCK looking Lake Okanagan. Casual dining with local up cycling 29 kilometres (18 miles) one way. Your www.laughingstock.ca flavours. other option is to head north on North Naramata Ph: 250-493-8466
7 INTERESTIING WIINE FACTS Okanagan Falls Area Wineries Day 5: Oliver • Several rare grape varieties are grown in Oliver is a small community, south of Penticton the Okanagan including Baco Noir, BLUE MOUNTAIN and north of Osoyoos. A river winds through town Michurinetz from Russia, Ehrenfelser, www.bluemountainwinery.com and sage covered hills ensure stunning vistas. e Siegerrebe and Sovereign Opal which is Ph: 250-497-8244 town is known for its Golden Mile of world class found only in the Okanagan wineries. Orchards of cherry, apricot, peach, plum, SEE YA LATER RANCH pear and apple complement the wineries. is is a • Look for fruit wines in the Okanagan in - www.sylranch.com cluding a cherry wine from Elephant Is - Ph: 250-497-8267 rural community with a friendly, laidback charm. land Orchard Wines and a red plum wine You won’t go wrong wine tasting in this area. Com - from Forbidden Fruit Winery BLASTED CHURCH www.blastedchurch.com bine it with a bike ride and you’ll have a delightful • The biggest Vineyard owner in the Okana - Ph: 250-497-1125 day. Rent a bike in town if necessary and then head gan is the Osoyoos Indian Band ...and they lease much of their land to Vincor, one of the biggest wine producers in North America • 1 ton of grapes = 149 gallons of wine or 744 bottles of wine • 1 acre of mature vineyard provides 2-8 tons of grapes • 1 barrel = 25 cases of wine • Bottle sizes are important because they influence the speed of aging. Magnums (the equivalent of 2-750l ml bottles) are considered to be the perfect size for age - ing. • The biggest bottle is called a Goliath/Pri - mat and can hold 3 cases of wine – 27 litres in total!! • A corked wine is affected by TCA (trichloroanisole) and the telltale odour is that of wet socks or wet newspaper. • Leaving wine unprotected in a hot car on a hot day can ‘cook’ the wine in only 30 minutes making it undrinkable or turning it into a lesser wine
8 18 kilometers from the McAlpine Bridge. Aer THE VILLA AT HESTER CREEK lunch continue a short distance on Black Sage www.hestercreek.com/villa/ Road. Cross over the river on 296th Avenue. Head Road #8, South of Oliver north along the bike trail immediately aer cross - Ph: 866-498-4435 or 250-498-4435 ing the bridge. It will return you to Oliver, 13 kilo - ey have Tuscan inspired suites with breakfast in - meters away. e total loop isn’t difficult- it’s only cluded at $295 per night. about 36 (22 miles) mostly flat to mildly hilly kilo - meters. It’s just too bad you’ll have to carry your wine purchases. If you elect to forgo biking and wine tasting then try one of the numerous, accessible hiking trails listed under other activities on page 11 of this guide.
Oliver Accommodation
Inside NkMip Winery GUESTHOUSE AT BURROWING OWL www.bovwine.ca/guest_house.html north from the tourist information building Black Sage Road Ph: 877-498-0620 or 250-498-0620 You can look forward to well appointed rooms (36250 93rd Street) along the Okanagan River. with private balconies offering very pleasing views. Cross east over the river on the McAlpine Bridge Rates vary from $225-$295 per night in the spring, aer about 5 kilometers. Turn right (south) and summer and fall. Swimmers will be happy with a cycle along Tuc-el-nuit Drive. It becomes Black 25m outdoor pool. Sage Road and this is where you’ll find many out - standing wineries. Take your time through here but aim for lunch at the Burrowing Owl Winery, about
9 MORBROOK FARMS FAIRVIEW MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE www.bbcanada.com/3639.html www.fairviewmountain.com 9521-374th Avenue Ph: 250-498-0268 13105 334th Avenue Ph: 866-534-7264 or 250-498-6050 Set in a working orchard just 2 kms north of Oliver. Choose between barbequed food with a great view You can enjoy a saltwater swimming pool. Rates are at the Diamondback Grill & Patio or head to the $135 per night. clubhouse and lounge for appetizers, burgers and fine dining. LINDALE FARM GUEST HOUSE www.bbcanada.com/2433.html Oliver Area Wineries 10932 337 Avenue Ph: 250-498-4196 Close to Oliver with rooms from $100 to $150 per LE VIEUX PIN night. www.enotecca.ca Ph: 250-498-8388 Oliver Restaurants BLACK HILLS www.blackhillswinery.com Ph: 250-487-2347 CRUSH PAD BISTRO BURROWING OWL 35681-97th Street Ph: 250-498-3842 Look for a world fusion menu. www.bovwine.com Ph: 250-498-0620 Free water sign on the KVR Day 6: Osoyoos THE FIREHALL BISTRO Osoyoos is the only city in Canada that was built in visitors every summer. Check out the other Okana - 34881 97thStreet Ph: 250-498-4867 a desert. It lies on the border with the US at the gan activities and make sure to include a visit to the Located in the old firehall; serves lunch and dinner southern end of the Okanagan Valley. ere are Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Center while you’re here. with a good selection of local wines. roughly 5000 full time residents including many Take advantage of the farm fresh fruit too; you’ll from the Osoyoos Indian Band. e Osoyoos Na - find fruit stalls scattered along the roads leading SONORA tives have lived in the area for thousands of years into and out of Osoyoos. www.bovwine.ca/the_restaurant.html and own the Nk’Mip Winery (pronounced Ink-a – Between hiking, wine tasting and a visit to the Cul - Black Sage Road at The Burrowing Owl Estate meep) which is well worth visiting. Ph: 877-498-0620 or 250-498-0620 tural Centre your day will be full. Finish with an Serves beautifully presented food in a lovely setting. A one night stay should give you a sense of the Italian meal at the best restaurant in town – Campo area...unless you love boating. Osoyoos Lake is the Marino. warmest lake in Canada and draws thousands of
10 Osoyoos Area Accommodation Osoyoos Restaurants Other Okanagan Activities
OBSERVATORY B&B CAMPO MARINA ITALIAN RESTAURANT • Take a 2 hour trip on the Kettle Valley Steam www.jacknewton.com/ www.campomarina.com Railway www.kettlevalleyrail.org /. You’ll see 1270 Highway 3 East, Osoyoos Ph: 250-495-6745 5907 Main Street, Osoyoos Ph: 250-495-7650 orchards, vineyards and an incredible view from A stay at this B&B includes a very informative Serves excellent Italian food in a nice atmosphere. the top of the Trout Creek Trestle Bridge. Call evening and a look at the night sky with famous 877-494-8424 to make a reservation. amateur astronomer Jack Newton. It is located east Osoyoos Area Wineries of town high on the ridge. Rates are $129-$169 per • Walk the Sunset Strip promenade at the south TWISTED TREE night. end of Lake Okanagan in Penticton, aer eating www.twistedtree.ca at one of the beachfront restaurants. SPIRIT RIDGE VINEYARD RESORT & SPA Ph: 250-495-5161 www.spiritridge.ca NK’MIP 1200 Rancher Creek Road, Osoyoos Ph: 250-495-5445 • Rent a boat from the Skaha Lake marina or Look for condo style accommodation with rates www.nkmipcellars.com launch a kayak, windsurfer or kitesurfer from starting at $175 per night in the spring and $275 Ph: 250-495-2985 Sudbury Beach. per night in the summer.
11 OKANAGAN FUN & W EIIRD FACTS of Penticton. Challenging climbs will be re - • Visit the Naramata Heritage Museum at • Canadian species found only in the warded with quick descents and amazing views. Robinson and Second in Naramata. ey have Okanagan include the Pallid bat, Night historical photo displays and artifacts from the snake, 14 species of wasps and 10 • Try some horseback riding with one of the fol - region. Ph: 250-496-5597. species of spiders. lowing outfitters: • Visit Vaseux Lake Bird Sanctuary . e north • The southern end of the Okanagan is a end of the lake draws birders from all over the ARAWANA CREEK OUTFITTERS desert and temperatures are upwards of continent. You may hear canyon wrens or 40C (105F) in the summer. Ph: 250-496-4007 chukar partridges and look up occasionally so • The western diamond back rattle snake is WOLF CREEK TRAIL RIDES you don’t miss the soaring golden eagles. e common. Ph: 250-498-3259 area is home to a herd of bighorn sheep too.
• Look for free roaming wild horses (feral SOUTHERN PINES STABLE • Visit the Okanagan Observatory horses) in the Okanagan. They are mostly Ph: 250-498-2399 www.okanaganobservatory.ca/ 4 kms up Big found near Oliver, Penticton and West - White Road from Hwy 33. Ph: 250-300-8759. bank. NK’MP TRAIL RIDES Free observing nights each Friday. Ph: 250-495-7555 • More than 300 species of birds are found • Check out the sockeye salmon run on the in the Okanagan including 200 breeding • Take a trip to the Nk’Mp Desert Cultural Cen - Okanagan River near Oliver. Every fall close to species. ter www.nkmipdesert.com 1000 Rancher 30,000 sockeye and Chinook are expected to Creek Road, Osoyoos Ph: 250-495-7901. Take migrate and spawn. Visit www.syilx.org for a self guided tour and learn about the land and more information. • Hike or mountain bike e ree Blind Mice the Okanagan Native people. Of note is their Trail , located at the top of Arawana Road, north rattlesnake research program. Rates for adults • Visit the Osoyoos Desert Center are $12 per person. www.desert.org Ph: 250-495-2470. A 1.5 kilo - meter boardwalk takes you through the desert ecosystem.
12 Hike any one of the following areas: • Lake Osoyoos oxbows at the north end of Lake Osoyoos. Excellent bird watching area. • Mount Kobau trail network – there is a 5km Testalinden Trail with superb views of both the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Access is via Highway 3, 11 kilometers west of Osoyoos and then 17 kilometers along a dirt access road which is NOT suitable for low clearance vehi - cles. • A 10 kilometer hike through the Tinhorn Creek vineyard. is is known as the Golden Mile Trail as it takes you past the Tinhorn Creek gold mine ruins. Access is via the winery. • e Ripley and Madden Lake Trails offer 5 kilometers along the Madden Lake shoreline. Turn north on 350th Road out of Oliver and then right at the Rippley/Madden Lake junc - tion. Stay on that road for 5 kilometers to reach Madden Lake. • Hike 4 kilometers on Sandy Hill which is the backside of Oliver Mountain. You’ll get excel - lent views of the town of Oliver as you hike across grasslands and along old mining roads. Access the trail off of 350th Road by turning right onto 107th Street. Park at the corner of 107th Street and 354th Avenue. • A 4 kilometer hike will take you up to the sum - mit of Oliver Mountain e trailhead is located at the base of the water tower on the west side of Oliver. Take 350th Avenue and turn right onto 107th Street. • Pick up maps at the visitor center in town and then try either of these hikes outside of Oliver. Choose the 4 kilometer hike to Burnell (Sawmill lake) or a 7 kilometer hike on the McIntyre Bluffs though you need permission for the bluffs hike.
13 Wine Tours SPRING WINE FESTIVAL - phased out in 1973 and in 1990 the last of the rail - Always around the beginning of May over a 10 day way lines was abandoned. Fortunately the railway OKANAGAN WINE COUNTRY TOURS period. line was converted to trail and now 600 kilometers www.okwinetours.com/ (360 miles) are open for backcountry use. Ph: 866-689-9463 or 250-868-9463. OKANAGAN SUMMER WINE FESTIVAL Held the second weekend in August at the Silver e KVR trail is true wilderness. It winds through GREAT ESTATES OF THE OKANAGAN Star Resort in Vernon the backcountry of southern BC passing through TOUR a range of environments including vineyards, or - www.greatestatesokanagan.com/ Ph: 877-433-0451 OKANAGAN FALL WINE FESTIVAL ey will arrange an all day tour of five major is is a big event that occurs over the first 10 days chards, forests, lakes, deserts and mountains. Small wineries. of October every year with all sorts of tastings, centers are connected via the trail –places like vineyard tours, lunches and dinners. Beaverdell, McCulloch, Chute Lake, Coalmont, DESTINATION TOURS and Brookmere which are mere dots on the WINTER WINE FESTIVAL www.destinationsnow.com/dtour_index.html A January weekend at Sun Peaks Resort includes map and at most have a few places to stay. Ph: 877-507-5596 or 604-532-1088 Tunnels, bridges, wild animals, rat - Choose from the Naramata or Kelowna wine tour. educational seminars, wine master dinners and a progressive tasting. tlesnakes, extreme heat and thun - derstorms are some of the Wine Festivals hazards one might en - Visit www.thewinefestivals.com / for detailed in - Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) counter. formation. e Kettle Valley Railway’s history dates back to the early 1900’s when silver was discovered near Nelson, It appears that there is something for all seasons, British Columbia. Years of surveying and building but the fall festival is the biggest celebration. It‘s culminated in an official rail opening in 1915. In very popular and reservations are recommended. later years, as cars and planes became common, the economic importance of the railway line decreased. Some sections or subdivisions as they are called were
14 Short sections can be hiked but every summer MONASHEE ADVENTURE TOURS more and more mountain bikers are discovering www.monasheeadventuretours.com the joys of this trail. It’s possible to cycle one day Ph: 250-762-9253 sections near some of the bigger centers like Pen - ey offer guided and self guided tours in one day ticton and Kelowna and to make a three to five day to multi day formats, with or without a bike rental. loop out of others. Allow at least two weeks if you Wine tasting and a trestle/tunnel combination on want to explore the full length. In a few years you’ll the Kettle Valley railway are two of the possibili - find a detailed guide once I’ve found time to ride ties. Prices start at $80 per person for a one day self the entire route. In the meantime check out Cycling guided tour. National Geographic calls their 3 day the Kettle Valley Trail written by Dan & Sandra trip one of ‘25 best new trips in the world in 2010.’ Langford. ey provide route notes and lots of helpful information though their layout is confus - GREAT HORNED OWL ECO TOURS ing. www.okanaganecotours.com/ Ph: 877-495-0695 or 250-496-0695 A bird lover’s tour, gold mine tour and an ecosys - Tour Companies tem tour are offered. As an alternate to doing a self guided trip you may Scarecrow prefer to have someone else do the detailed organ - GREAT EXPLORATIONS izing and you might want to enjoy the company of www.great-explorations.com/ others. Try one of these companies that operate Ph: 800-242-1825 or 604-730-1247 FREEWHEELING ADVENTURES tours in the area. A 6 night/7 day cycling trip is $995 and a 3 night/4 www.freewheeling.ca day trip is $495. ey offer 3 different stages of the Ph: 800-672-0775 or 902-857-3600 ey offer a 7night/8 day guided trip for $3595 AMBROSIA TOURS Kettle Valley Railway which can be linked together and a self guided option for $3395. www.ambrosiatours.ca/ to cover off the majority of the route. is is a Ph: 250-492-1095 camping style trip. ey offer several options: a KVR bike shuttle from MJO TOURS Penticton to Chute Lake daily at 9:30am for $25 LAKEFRONT SPORTS CENTER www.mjotours.com Ph: 877-726-6548 per person; a seven to eight hour tour through www.lakefrontsports.com/ Mary-Jo O’Keefe offers a variety of tours. Look for Myra Canyon, the tunnel and past the rock ovens. Ph: 250 -862-2469 or 250-765-6178 in the off season ey offer a one day Kettle Valley Railway tour – a pontoon ride down Okanagan Lake, wine tours For that you’ll need at least 4 people at $50 per per - or tea and a tour of Mackie Lake House. son. It leaves Penticton at 7am; or take a shuttle up 12 kms in total with an optional ride back to along the Naramata Bench and ride past the Nara - Kelowna. e ride covers two tunnels and 18 tres - mata Vineyards back to Penticton. at one leaves tles. at 11:30 am for $20 per person.
15 Useful Information Recommended Books
KELOWNA WEATHER Okanagan Wine Tour Guide www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CABC0149 by John Schreiner ( 2010) .
TOURISM KELOWNA Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan: www.tourismkelowna.com/ A Guide to British Columbia’s Wine Country DESTINATION OSOYOOS by Richard Cannings (2009) www.destinationosoyoos.com/ Smile of Manitou: e History of Naramata DISCOVER NARAMATA by Don Salting (Skookum Publications, 1982) www.discovernaramata.com Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway OLIVER TOURISM by Don and Sandra Langford (2002) www.oliver.travel.bc.ca/
PENTICTON INFO CENTRE www.penticton.org Ph: 800-663-5052.
CURRENCY CONVERTER www.xe.com
MILEAGE CONVERTER www.metric-conversions.org 1 kilometre = 0.621371192 miles
Published in 2010. Prices are accurate at time of publishing but confirm before booking.
16