The Official Osoyoos Visitors Guide 2016 BREATHTAKING VIEW, NO CHARGE
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The Official Osoyoos Visitors Guide 2016 BREATHTAKING VIEW, NO CHARGE. 2 destinationosoyoos.com BREATHTAKING VIEW, Welcome Visitors Guide 2016 NO CHARGE. I am honoured to NK’MIP Resort is the On behalf of our be the Mayor of this ultimate Aboriginal community, I would wonderful town, tourism destination like to extend a very strategically located offering world class warm welcome to in the South Okana- amenities and activi- you. I invite you to gan Valley. We offer ties. Our four-season come here to check year round resort resort offers our res- out and enjoy what facilities and activ- idents and visitors a we have to offer. We ities, while many choice of experiences are more than just a of us are fortunate including premium summer fun com- enough to live here accommodation, an munity. Having been full time. award winning win- born and raised here, ery, gourmet dining and a manicured desert golf I am likely somewhat biased, but Osoyoos is both Recognized as Canada’s only pocket desert, course. You can experience this unique environ- a wonderful place to visit and live. we enjoy hot dry summers beside the warm- ment on horseback, by helicopter, walking the est lake in Canada. Many generations of fam- trails or just relax at the full service spa. We have always been known for our hot summers ilies have spent summers camping, picking and fresh fruit, and now the local wines and food sweet ripe fruit and boating and swimming in For mobile tourists, we offer a year-round full-ser- are making a name for themselves. From golf to our lake. In 2016 Osoyoos will celebrate Can- vice campground & RV Park in the resort located weddings, great bass fishing and even a summer ada Day with our 68th annual Cherry Fiesta on the lake front. There is more than you would sockeye salmon season, you can do it all here. parade, music and fireworks. Our Farmers’ expect from this fun family campground including Market is held weekly from May to September, full amenities, water sports, lakefront bistro and I am confident you will enjoy Osoyoos! with fresh produce, artisans’ crafts, wine tast- activities for Snowbirds that come in the winter. All ing from local award-winning wineries, and this, just minutes from downtown Osoyoos in the Mark Pendergraft music featuring multi-talented Osoyoos musi- South Okanagan. cians. We recommend a variety of activities- Director Area A/Board Chair, Regional District of from biking and hiking on numerous trails, Spirit Ridge at NK’MIP Resort is a 4.5 star con- Okanagan-Similkameen playing on championship golf courses, fishing do-hotel with breathtaking vineyard or mountain for salmon, trout or bass, to learning about our views of the valley. NK’MIP Conference Centre is unique ecology at our Osoyoos Desert Center the ideal location for weddings, family reunions, or the NK’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. conferences, meetings and retreats. Managed by Spirit Ridge, the Centre has built-in audio/visual Whether you are an annual summer visitor, a options and elegant dining with catering for up to winter Snowbird residing at one of the many 250 people. The NK’MIP Cultural Centre is only motels or resorts, or attending a conference, steps away and celebrates thousands of years of a you will soon love our small town. precious Okanagan First Nations culture and habi- tation on desert lands. At the end of the day stop at On behalf of Osoyoos Town Council and staff, NK’MIP Cellars and try our award winning wines I sincerely welcome you to Osoyoos. We offer at the first Aboriginal Winery in North America. “Canada’s warmest welcome” to everyone. I send you my best wishes and invite you to come Warmest regards, to NK’MIP – for work, an action packed adventure, culture or relaxation – we offer it all at our resort! Mayor Sue McKortoff It will be our great pleasure to make your stay an unforgettable one. At NK’MIP, we don’t catch Town of Osoyoos dreams, we make them a reality. Sincerely, Chief Clarence Louie Osoyoos Indian Band and CEO, Osoyoos Indian Band Development destinationosoyoos.com 3 Table of Contents 3 Welcome course. Mayor Sue McKortoff 18 Families Chief Clarence Louie Osoyoos and families go Mark Pendergraft hand in hand. 6 Introduction to 20 Snowbirds Osoyoos We are without doubt, Introduction the Snowbird capital of Fast Facts Canada. Monthly Temperatures 22 Trails Nk’Mip Desert Cultural There’s more to a trail Centre than just a pathway to get Osoyoos Desert Centre you someplace. Osoyoos District Museum 24 Girl’s Getaway and Archives Remember when, not too Osoyoos Art Gallery and long ago, you had time to Okanagan Art Gallery do the things you wanted Haynes Ranch to do? 10 Water Enthusiasts 28 Map A lake within a desert. 30 Street Index 12 Adventure 32 Wine and Culinary Adventure in Osoyoos Visiting us without comes in many sizes and sampling the products of forms, as adventure here our wineries is like going is all in the eye of the to Holland and never beholder. sampling the cheese. 16 Active Lifestyles 38 Conference Imagine the perfect golf Venues 4 destinationosoyoos.com Visitors Guide 2016 We’re more than just a together in a place where Fruit place to have a meeting. you can indulge, feel safe Accommodations 40 Fishing and simply enjoy one Dining and Shopping Want to land that dinner- another’s interests and 52 Festivals and sized fish of your fantasies? company. Events Well, you don’t have to 44 Motorcycle Tours venture very far from your Whatever you ride on – a Osoyoos residence. Harley Road King, a Honda 42 Couples and Gold Wing, a BMW S100r, Relaxation or a Kawasaki J3000 There’s nothing quite as Scooter – we have a road pleasing as spending a that’s made for you. couple of days relaxing 46 Matrices Vegetables Destination Osoyoos 8701 Main Street, PO Box 500 Osoyoos, BC Canada V0H 1V0 1.888.OSOYOOS or 250.495.5070 ext 206 www.destinationosoyoos.com osoyoos published by imes PO Box 359, Osoyoos, B.C., V0H 1V0 www.osoyoostimes.com destinationosoyoos.com 5 Introduction to Osoyoos Introduction But, there’s more to us than just bright skies and championship golf courses, the nation’s warmest Welcome to Canada’s only true desert. Turn these wineries set against gentle sloping hills. While lake, and a wide range of cultural, intellectual and pages and immerse yourself in the valley of stun- we embrace and proudly showcase our vintner artistic experiences. ning beauty and unlimited vistas awaiting you. industry we also have sophisticated resorts, We’re a place where First Nations culture and contemporary lifestyles exist side by side and To Kelowna where our ancient traditions and modern life have International each carved out their place within a dramatic and Airport welcoming environment. Framed by sunny, blue skies, desert hills, lakes, vineyards and orchards, To Calgary we are the ultimate year-round desert destina- 124 km International tion with a climate that will allow you to luxuriate To Vancouver 77 miles Airport in our unique surroundings, taste our delicious International fresh fruit and drink our award-winning wines Airport directly at their source. Penticton m 730 k Our friendly and intimate resort town, rich in a 401 km 453 miles unique culture and colorful desert history, is also 249 miles a notable centre for business meetings, confer- ences, weddings, weekend escapes, and rec- reation. And there’s a reason for that. Osoyoos CANADA does have it all – golf, spas, beaches, wineries, orchards, culinary delights, mountains, wildlife watching, First Nations culture and eco-desert USA experiences are yours to enjoy. 467 km 307 km 290 miles We are set on a vast and rugged landscape of To Seattle, WA 191 miles hills and grasslands that invite hiking, mountain International To Spokane, WA Airport International Airport Continued on page 8 6 Fast Facts Monthly Temperatures Osoyoos and area boasts some Introduction to Osoyoos pretty unique statistics that make 45°C the area distinct from any other: • Population: 4,845 40°C • Elevation: 227 m (909 ft) 35°C • Home to Canada’s only desert 30°C environment • Home to Canada’s warmest 25°C freshwater lake: Osoyoos 20°C Lake Record High • Home to some of the warmest 15°C average temperatures in Can- 10°C ada: average summertime Average temperature is 28C (82.4F) 5°C High and the average winter tem- perature is 1.3C (34.3F) 0°C • Home to an average of 2,039 -5°C hours of sunshine annually, Average an average annual rainfall of Low less than 25 cm (9.8 inches) and an average annual snow- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec fall of 5.4 cm (2.1 inches) Rec. High 11.7 16.2 25.4 29.3 36.1 39.9 42.8 41.7 37.5 28.2 20.8 12.9 • Home to North America’s first Avg. High 2.0 6.7 12.5 18.1 23.1 26.8 31.5 31.1 25.6 16.4 7.1 2.0 aboriginal owned and operat- ed winery: Nk’Mip Cellars Avg. Low -3.8 -2.9 -0.3 3.6 7.9 11.6 14.3 13.5 8.9 3.5 -0.6 -3.5 WATERSPORTS WAKEBOARDING, WAKESURFING WATERSKIING, TUBING SUP’S, LESSONS AND MORE! (250) 498-9044 WWW.ATBWATERSPORTS.COM WE OFFER ALL INCLUSIVE WATERSPORTS PACKAGES INCLUDING GEAR & GAS! destinationosoyoos.com 7 biking and wildlife viewing within easy access to do at one of our spectacular resorts, a lakeside Osoyoos District the town.