From winemaking and crafted cheeses to walks along the Okanagan Rail Trail, Outlook Recommends the best places to visit in the Thompson Okanagan region.
Eat:
FOR SAVOURING FLAVOURS…
Upper Bench Winery & Creamery is passionate about minimalist winemaking and hand-crafted, textured cheese. On a 9.5-acre estate, award-winning bold red and crisp dry white wines await tasting in an intimate space. Vineyards surround the covered patio and can accommodate up to eight people. The Oven Restaurant serves handmade Neapolitan-style pizza cooked in a custom-made Forno Bravo oven, whilst artisanal cheeses are available to take home from the shop and are purposefully crafted from locally-sourced Canadian cow’s milk to pair with the wines.
Do:
FOR SEEING NATURAL WONDERS…
The Okanagan Rail Trail is an intermittent journey consisting of several different routes. Options include the shores of Kalamalka or Wood Lake and vibrant urban sections in Kelowna. Regardless of where the trail takes you, it will be an experience. Walking, dogs on leashes, cycling, rollerblading, and push scooters are all permitted, as well as regulated electric or motor-assisted bikes.
FOR NURTURING THE SPIRIT…
Nestled on top of a granite ridge overlooking Okanagan Lake is the Sparkling Hills Resort. The wellness retreat is a European health spa boasting a cryo cold chamber, which involves spending up to three minutes in a room set at minus 110 degrees Celsius, consequently improving the nervous and circulatory systems. In addition to offering the usual spa treatments, Sparkling Hills Resort has fine dining and plush rooms and suites.
Sleep:
FOR AN ALPINE STAY…
Sun Peaks is the ultimate accommodation, offering an all-round experience with activities ranging from Nordic skiing, biking, and hiking to golf and a spa. There is plenty to keep families occupied, including outdoor live music, whether it’s summer or winter. A seemingly endless array of cafés, diners, restaurants, and bars ensure that guests are well-nourished after a day on the mountain or shopping in the many on-site stores. Lodging at Sun Peaks comes in the shape of village centre hotels, vacation homes and condominiums, or RVs and camping. The resort is truly the whole package for a mountain resort stay.
FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…
Greenwood, Canada’s smallest community, was once a thriving mining town in the 1800s. The city invites visitors to stay in its roadside Boundary Creek Motel and learn about its history as a 1940s internment camp for over 1,000 displaced Japanese people. It may be small, but it is mighty with the peaceful Jewel Lake, hiking and biking trails, Jubilee Mountain with breathtaking views of the forested valley below, and the Greenwood Museum.
