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Those of us who don't live in the Okanagan
Similkameen are often envious of those who do -
after all, this is where a lot of us go to
vacation. The area's lakes are warm in the
summer; there's fresh fruit ripe off the tree
and there are numerous award-winning local
wineries to sample. What's more, the Coquihalla
Highway connector means the
Okanagan Similkameen is only four hours by car
from
Vancouver. If you're interested in wines, have a
young family, or are just looking for the ideal
place to relax in the sunshine, this is the spot
for you. |
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Life's a beach.
It certainly is on Okanagan Lake, with its seven
provincial beach parks. Just south of this very
large lake is smaller Skaha Lake, a great spot
to catch kokanee salmon. You could also try
windsurfing or waterskiing in Canada's warmest
fresh water lake - Osoyoos. For a family picnic,
come to Kalamalka Lake between Kelowna and
Vernon; the lake is known for its beautiful blue
waters. |
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Family entertainment
The water park concept has made a big
splash in the Okanagan. There are slides
at
Kelowna, Osoyoos, Westbank
and
Penticton,
with exciting runs like the Trickster,
Banzai Run and River Riot. The local
theme parks are also a hit with
families. Westbank has Old MacDonald's
Farm. If you want more exotic critters,
watch for the Loch Ness monster's
distant relative, the legendary "Ogopogo",
in Okanagan Lake. |
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How to have very fruitful vacation
Be sure to come in time for the harvest
at our orchards and vineyards.
Twenty-two of British Columbia's
twenty-five wineries are found in the
Okanagan Valley, and the wines |
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produced here are gaining an international
reputation. This region is one of the major
fruit baskets in North America, and juicy, fresh
fruit is sold at roadside stands in places like Keremeos, Peachland and Summerland. |
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Be a part of local history and art
At Princeton's Pioneer Museum, you can get a
glimpse of the mining days in Granite Creek,
while at Kelowna's Centennial Museum, McDougal's
1861 Trading Post is open once again. At the
museum in Oliver, the jailhouse from the old
town of Fairview still holds its own, even
though it doesn't hold prisoners anymore. At
Keremeos, a great deal of time and effort has
gone into the restoration of the Grist Mill,
which operated in the 1870s. If you're in the
area of
Vernon,
see the Historic O'Keefe Ranch, one of British
Columbia's biggest ranches at the turn of the
century. In Kelowna, see bronze, stoneware and
mixed media sculpted abstract figures at the
Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens. |
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The Okanagan Wine Festival
This international-caliber event culminates in a
public wine-tasting on the last weekend of the
festival, when over 1000 people turn up to
sample dozens of wines. Other things to watch
for: the popular Winemasters Dinner and the
charming "farmgate" wineries. Tours and tastings
are available at wineries year-round. |
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Treasure hunts.
Follow the Similkameen River along
Highway 3 to the historic mining
operations at Hedley's Nickel Plate
Mountain. You'll also be following the
route of the Dewdney Trail, one of the
main routes through the province in the
1800s. There are still semi-precious
finds in the hills above Keremeos -
Jasper, agate and opal. Another
treasure awaits nature lovers in Vaseux
Lake Provincial Park; it's the home of a
fascinating "pocket desert", complete
with cactuses, horned lizards and
burrowing owls. Cathedral Provincial
Park is valued for its sheer beauty. |
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