Celebrating the Wonders of Winter
Winter's arrival transforms the Thompson Okanagan into a snow-capped wonderland, where families and friends can enjoy adventures, food, and beverages.
Sun Peaks Resort by Destination BC/Ryan Creary
Visitors see some of the best views in the Thompson Okanagan while celebrating one of the “coolest” seasons the region offers - winter. Winter blankets the region in frost-covered trails and snow-capped mountains while unlocking a variety of things to do while you stay a while in the Thompson Okanagan.
Fat Bike along the Snowy Trails
The snow-covered trails invite you to try a different type of biking: fat biking. Using a bike with oversized tires will allow you to bike through the snowiest conditions, so you don't have to hang up your helmet just yet! Check out the winter trails and let your fat bike take you around the beautiful Thompson Okanagan.
Fat Biking through a tunnel in Myra Canyon, Kelowna by Thompson Okanagan/Matthew Clark
Ice Fishing
Wintertime in the Thompson Okanagan doesn’t mean the end of fishing season for the dedicated angler. With warm socks, mittens, toques, and a bit of patience, you can catch a fish even during the coldest season of the year. Spend the day with Elevated Fishing Adventures and experience a fully guided fishing tour at Sun Peaks.
Mountain Resorts
There are seven mountain resorts for you to enjoy during your stay in the Thompson Okanagan. Each mountain offers a different view and landscape for you to traverse, regardless of whether you choose to snowboard or ski. Maybe you want to slow it down a bit during your stay? The mountain resorts in the region offer more than just snowboarding and skiing. Enjoy family fun activities like tubing, skating, and snowshoeing.
Snowboarding at Apex Mountain Resort by Destination BC/Ben Giesbrecht
Local Flavours for Après-ski (or Anytime this Winter)
Traditionally, après-ski or after skiing involves celebrating a successful day of skiing with a glass of champagne while enjoying great food and even better company at the ski lodge. However, the Thompson Okanagan offers a wide variety of local flavours for you to enjoy after any winter activity.
Farm-to-Table
Farms, orchards, and other local growers may have long finished their growing season while you are celebrating winter in the Thompson Okanagan. However, there is no shortage of local restaurants offering dishes made with regional produce.
Wineries
Although the vines have long stopped growing and the trees have lost their leaves, many tasting rooms around the region are open during the winter. Regardless of which area you decide to visit, there are wine trails throughout the region with plenty of varietals for you to try and enjoy.
District Wine Village
The wonder of the Thompson Okanagan winter has made its way further south into Oliver this year with District Wine Village’s new synthetic ice rink. Visitors can enjoy an afternoon of typical winter wonder skating on CAN-ICE, tasting delicious BC wines, or pair the two with skiing or snowboarding at Mount Baldy with their “Chill and Thrill” offer.
About the author
Nadia is a proud former Thompson Okanagan tourist who now lives in beautiful Kelowna, BC. She hopes to tell the stories of the region’s beauty and hidden treasures while rediscovering the destination she spent enjoying on family vacations.
Touring Okanagan Wine Country: Where to stop, what to expect
The Okanagan is teeming with vineyards, wine shops, and restaurants ready to pair Okanagan grown food with a glass of wine. The Valley has eleven sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climates, or what the French call terroir. Find wines unlike any other popular wine destination. In the Okanagan you can find natural sparkling wine like Pét-Nat or traditional sparkling wine, to Frosé, big bold reds, orange wine, and everything in between. Here's a guide and suggestions to trying the best wine that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
The Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan is teeming with vineyards, wine shops, and restaurants ready to pair Okanagan grown food with a glass of VQA (vintners quality alliance) British Columbia wine. The Valley has eleven sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climates, or what the French call terroir.
Because the Okanagan wine industry is so young, you will find wines unlike any other popular wine destination. In the Okanagan you can find natural sparkling wine like Pét-Nat or traditional sparkling wine, to Frosé, big bold reds, orange wine, and everything in between. Every winery is unique with their own take on what their wine should taste and how it should be made.
With so many wines to try, ways to drink it, and places to go, how can you possibly decide where to start? Here's a guide and suggestions to trying the best wine that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
Photo by Destination BC/Andrew Strain
The Central Okanagan
In the Central Okanagan you can enjoy wines with high acidity that are crisp and refreshing. Grapes grown here are usually white, sweet, off-dry or dry, and maintain a refreshing, light, flavour. However, as you continue South the bigger, bolder wines will surface. Many wineries in the Central Okanagan will grow their white and lighter red grapes on property, and source reds and bolder wines from the South Okanagan.
Lake Country
Specializing in white wine, the dominant varietals here are Riesling and Pinot Gris. Lake Country is a great place to try crisp, high acidity, dry white wines, as well as some Pinot Noir.
A Must Stop: A winery worth checking out in Lake country is 50th Parallel Estate Winery. Their 61-acre property highlights white wines and Pinot Noir. 50th Parallel’s wine and dining experience is one to remember. The endless lake views and exceptional service experience will keep you coming back for more.
Photo by @50thparallelwine and @jonadrian
Some other notable wineries in Lake Country
Kelowna and West Kelowna
The Kelowna wine region is home to some of the first families who established the wine industry in the Central Okanagan. The region is made up of more than 900 acres of vines with old and young vineyards offering a wide range of styles.
A Must Stop: While in Kelowna, add tasting at Summerhill Pyramid Winery to your list. As one of the oldest wineries in Kelowna, Summerhill has maintained their commitment to growing organic grapes and encouraging biodiversity since the beginning. So, take in the view of the lake and try their world-famous traditional method sparkling wine.
Photo by @summerhillwine
Some notable wineries in Kelowna and West Kelowna
Peachland and Summerland
This older region is known for its fruit production, especially peaches. If you can grow peaches, you can definitely grow grapes, and Peachland as well as Summerland is covered in over 300 acres of vines. Delicious blends and rosés can come from these regions!
A Must Stop: Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards winery is embedded in the rich Peachland history. Ross and Gordon Fitzpatrick, the founder of CedarCreek and Fitzpatrick winery, first tried peaches on the well-known Greata Ranch property decades ago and fell in love. Now, years later, in replace of the peaches, they have 25-year-old vines that comprise their traditional method sparkling planted.
Photo by @fitzwine
Some other notable wineries in Peachland and Summerland
The South Okanagan
In the South Okanagan you can enjoy wines that are rich and bold with lots of red grapes and classic blends. Grapes grown here are usually deeper red, rich, dry, and maintain a savoury, oaked, flavour. Many wineries in the South Okanagan grow white and red grapes, and have lots of French inspired blends.
Naramata and Penticton
Bordering on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, Naramata and Penticton are the perfect places to grow grapes. Nowhere else in the Okanagan will you find so many wineries packed into one place with over 600 acres of vines.
A Must Stop: Poplar Grove Winery continues to create great wines as a staple of the Naramata Bench. They alone own over 100 acres of vines planted in Naramata, and feature eight key varietals from bright whites to deep reds.
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Other notable wineries in Naramata and Penticton
Okanagan Falls
Located on the southern tip of Skaha Lake, Okanagan Falls is a unique place to taste wine. The versatility and location of Okanagan Falls produces award-winning wines from rich white wines and bright acidity whites, to juicy Pinot Noirs and complex Syrahs with almost 400 acres of vineyards.
A Must Stop: Try wine the way it was intended, with food pairings at Liquidity Wines. Here, you can taste estate grown grapes alongside locally grown food and herbs from their herb garden. All while looking out over their vineyards.
Photo by @liquiditywines
Other notable wineries in Okanagan Falls
Oliver
As Canada’s Wine Capital, Oliver is home to the Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Road where half of British Columbia vines are grown. This rich area is ideal for red varietals and savoury whites. Oliver has over 40 wineries to stop and taste at, with some providing one-in-a-life-time accommodations.
A Must Stop: This winery is known for traditional French winemaking in the Okanagan. With an eye towards sustainability Le Vieux Pin offers elegantly crafted wines. Considered by the national wine industry to be a leading Syrah producer, Le Vieux Pin creates unforgettable, beautiful wines.
Photo by Thompson Okanagan/ @meghan_reading
Other notable wineries in Oliver
Osoyoos
As one of the warmest areas of Western Canada, the Osoyoos region’s wineries are full of bold red wines – this is Canada’s red wine country. With 1,500 acres of vines in this region, Osoyoos has no shortage of grapes to provide different styles, influences, and flavours to impress their guests with.
A Must Stop: As the first winery in Osoyoos, Nk’mip Cellars holds a unique understanding of the land. Nk’mip Cellars is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America and has been maintaining a standard of winemaking that is award winning. With a world-class restaurant offering locally sourced food, Nk’mip Cellars an all-encompassing experience.
Photo by @nkmipcellars
Other notable wineries in Osoyoos
For more wineries option in the Thompson Okanagan check out TOTA’s Biosphere committed wineries:
Written by Caroline Peterson
A BC local who went from the lower mainland to the Okanagan. A student with a passion for tourism, she aims to highlight the Thompson Okanagan experience with a fresh, adventurous perspective.
Fall Harvest Wine Tour Throughout the Okanagan Valley
Fall in the Okanagan Valley is one of the best times to explore the region. The leaves are changing colour, the air is crisp, and the sky is clear with the sun shining bright. Fall is also one of the best times for wine touring in the valley and offers a front row seat to the fall harvest.
Fall in the Okanagan Valley is one of the best times to explore the region. The leaves are changing colour, the air is crisp, and the sky is clear with the sun shining bright. Fall is also one of the best times for wine touring in the valley as it offers a front row seat to the fall harvest.
During harvest, grapes are collected, separated, and crushed to begin the wine making process. The excitement of harvest fills the wineries as everyone works hard to begin the creation of the year’s wines. What was once a valley of volcanoes now offers a one of a kind terroir perfect for housing more than 200 wineries throughout, each offering cohesive sections to tour at once.
Wherever you are in the Okanagan Valley or within the other wine regions of the Thompson Okanagan, Thompson Valley, and Similkameen Valley, most wineries are still open and ready to welcome visitors. Grab your favourite sweater, sip on a pumpkin spice latte and begin your fall harvest wine tour via biking, walking, carpooling, or with an excellent tour company.
Photo by Destination BC/@vancouverfoodie
Lake Country
50th Parallel
Located on the beautiful hillside of Lake Country overlooking the Okanagan Lake, 50th Parallel is a winery experience like no other. Even though it is a short drive from Kelowna, it offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the views of the vineyards, mountainsides, and lake while you sip on delicious varietals. This winery is the furthest north of the Okanagan valley then any other winery in this blog. Enjoy an excellent Pinot Noir as the only red varietal produced at the winery accompanied by multiple aromatic white wines, the flagship Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay, and sparkling wine. Lake Country’s wine trail is quickly growing and offers a great way to spend a fall day exploring it.
When planning to visit the winery reservations are recommended, but not required.
Photo by @50thparallelwine
Photo by @50thparallelwine
Kelowna
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery is located on Lakeshore drive in Kelowna and is known for its exceptional organic wine and stunning views. With their passion to live in harmony with the earth and naturally produce delicious varietals and high-quality food ingredients for their restaurant on their property, you do not want to miss this winery. One of the many unique features of the property is a pyramid that is home to the wine cellar where the wine sits to age and where yoga programs are occasionally offered. Summerhill Pyramid Winery was the first certified organic winery in the Okanagan and continues to find new ways to further its efforts in sustainability still to this day.
Reservations are not necessary to do a wine tasting at the winery.
Photo by @ishe_travels
Photo by @panxphotography
CedarCreek
Seven minutes down the road from Summerhill Pyramid Winery you will find the magnificent CedarCreek Estate Winery. Nestled on a hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake and surrounded by Vineyards, the views will take your breath away. Home Block restaurant is their resident bistro that offers fresh farm-to-table dishes sourced from the garden on the property and surrounding farms. The waste from the restaurant and winery is composted and fed to the resident chickens when possible.
Being situated in the northern part of the Okanagan Valley, it allows for the winery’s grapes to slowly age on the vines and develop their flavours longer, creating award-winning wine. Reservations are required to take part in a wine tasting.
Continue to more wineries on the Kelowna wine trail and enjoy being chauffeured around with a guided tour.
Photo by Destination BC/@vancouverfoodie
Photo by Destination BC/Andrew Strain
West Kelowna
Quails’ Gate Winery
Quails’ Gate Winery was founded by the Stewart family who first came to the Okanagan and began planting on the land in 1908. In 1961, they planted their first vines and were one of the first properties to enter the wine-making industry in the valley when the winery was founded in 1989. To this day it is still a family owned and operated business.
Here, enjoy high quality wines and stunning views of the vineyards and the Okanagan Lake from the West side overlooking Kettle Valley in Kelowna. If you are hungry during your tour and looking for a locally sourced snack, the Market at Quails’ Gate offers a selection of sandwiches, baking, and woodstove pizza to enjoy in their picnic area. Along with their decadent restaurant with stunning views and market, they offer dinner in the vineyards throughout the summer and into the fall. Reservations are required to enjoy an incredible indoor or outdoor wine tasting.
The Westside Wine Trail, in West Kelowna, is ever growing and is composed of different style wineries that are perfect to break up your day on a guided wine tour or your own.
Photo by Destination BC/@vancouverfoodie
Photo by Jenna Labossiere
Peachland
Fitzpatrick Winery
As you continue South through the Okanagan Valley you will find Fitzpatrick Winery located on the famous Greata Ranch off Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland. Greata Ranch was once one of the Okanagan’s main peach and cherry producers shipping these fruits up throughout the valley via the steam ferry that used to travel up and down the lake. Over the years it has been passed through many hands and now is owned by the Fitzpatrick family who remembered the incredible property from visits in the early 1900’s. Fitzpatrick Winery is an extraordinary winery that specializes in sparkling wine along with other varietals and offers stunning views up and down the Okanagan valley. Reservations are recommended to ensure a spot for wine tasting.
Fitzpatrick is an excellent halfway stop during your travels to the other Peachland winery and Summerland wineries during your tour.
Penticton
Play Estate Winery offers a diverse selection of wines, including sparkling wine along with a divine Italian restaurant experience. The name “Play” was inspired by the theater and highlights the winery’s pursuit and overall expression of the Arts.
Play has the newly created Sonetto Italian Restaurant that promises to make you want to return over and over again. Enjoy stunning views of Skaha Lake and surrounding mountains while sipping on Play’s wines. Reservations are not required to enjoy a wine tasting, except for larger groups, but are recommended to dine at their restaurant.
Photo by Destination BC/Gabriel Cabrera
TIME Family of Wines
TIME Winery is owned and operated by the McWatters family, a legacy family of the Okanagan valley who has created more than 50 vintages of wine in the Okanagan Valley. TIME Winery and Restaurant is home to multiple collections of wine, the McWatters family legacy brand the McWatters Collection, Evolve Cellars, TIME Winery, and our newest label addition, Chronos.
Located in Penticton, this restaurant and winery offers multiple tastings and delicious food. Reservations are recommended to enjoy this establishment.
Multiple wineries are spread throughout Penticton and offer an opportunity to explore the views of both Okanagan and Skaha lake on guided tours.
Photo by Travel Penticton/Nathan Penner
Naramata
Poplar Grove
Poplar Grove is one of the original five wineries on the Naramata Bench, founded in 1993. Recognized for their expert wine making, they thrive and succeed at creating distinctive wines that reflect the Okanagan. The winery is home to 140 acres of estate vineyards featuring eight key varietals of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Sustainability is very important to Poplar Grove and many efforts, including solar panels on the roof of all their buildings, are being made to reduce their impact on this earth.
Along with their wine, they are home to a restaurant that makes for an excellent stop to enjoy lunch or dinner during your wine tour. Reservations are highly recommended to ensure you have a spot in the tasting room when you arrive.
The Naramata Bench is famous for it’s endless wineries. Looking for a way to explore the Bench without having to drive? Rent a bike or book a wine tour to enjoy your day.
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Photo by Destination BC/Kari Medig
Hillside Winery
What was originally an apricot orchard became a sloping 3.5 acre vineyard on the Naramata Bench that would become Hillside Winery. From the winery’s origin story of being one of the first vineyards to lobby for the Farmgate Winery Policy, a policy that would allow small vineyards of five acres or less to produce and sell on their premise. To the unique architecture of a 72 foot tower, designed by Robert MacKenzie back in 1997, you will enjoy learning about this winery's story just as much as you enjoy trying their multiple varietals of wine.
Here you can enjoy wines from a large selection of reds and whites that are driven by the unique terroir of the Naramata Bench. Stop at The Bistro at Hillside Winery for lunch as they offer small dishes packed with flavour sourced from local ingredients allowing for a sharing styled meal. It is recommended to book a wine tasting prior to arriving to enjoy an indoor and outdoor tasting.
Photo by @donna_canadese
Photo by Destination BC/@vancouverfoodie
Oliver
Covert Farms Family Estate
Covert Farm Family Estate is a 650-acre regenerative farm and winery that offers an oasis for you to enjoy the Oliver landscape and unique varietals of wine. Covert Farm is one of the most family friendly wineries in the valley with a yard full of activities for kids and adults, including a slip-and-slide for the hot summer days. Enjoy a wine tasting along with a harvest tractor tour of the property where you can pick your own pumpkin, and the option to roast smokies and s’mores at the communal firepit.
With three different vineyard blocks throughout the valley, Covert Farms puts viticulture as the main focus in their production and is constantly looking for new ways to be more sustainable and resilient against climate change. Reservations are required to book a tour and wine tasting.
Photo by @geebird11
Photo by @covertfarmsfamilyestate
District Wine Village
The District Wine Village is home to 13 wineries, one brewery, one distillery, an eatery, and a Multi-Purpose Amphitheater with 610 person capacity, all in one location for your convenience and pleasure. This beautiful facility offers wine from all over the valley and the Thompson Okanagan region. Here, you can spend your afternoon sipping on wine on the many terraces of the wineries. During the fall, the District Wine Village hosts multiple events like fall harvest and Oktoberfest.
The village is the first ever winery cluster in the Thompson Okanagan that offers a unique facility for existing wineries and beginning wineries to showcase their best varietals. Reservations are not required at the wine village.
Explore the many Oliver wineries located within short distances of each other via local wine tours.
Photo by District Wine Village
Photo by District Wine Village
Osoyoos
Phantom Creek Estates
Phantom Creek Estates will take your breath away from the first moment you see it on the hillside from the highway. Built to inspire and amaze, this winery has ensured it is just as appealing to the eye as it is to your taste buds. Their organically certified vineyards sit on the Black Sage Bench and on the Golden Mile Bench.
Enjoy stunning views of the valley and the beautiful architecture and art while enjoying flavorful wine and delicious food. Book a tasting and a private tour and explore the beautiful property.
There are many hidden gems of wineries to enjoy in Osoyoos along with multiple wine tour operators.
Photo by Jenna Labossiere
Written by Jenna Labossiere
Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna loves being able to be a tourist in her own backyard. She hopes to be able to showcase the Thompson Okanagan’s local businesses and natural attractions in order to encourage others to take the opportunity to enjoy them as much as she does.
Accessible Scenic Sips Wine Tour
Sonja takes you along on a Scenic Sips Tour including four of Lake Country’s beautiful wineries, highlighting accessibility features so you can plan ahead and enjoy this scenic Okanagan wine route to the fullest.
There’s nothing quite like wine touring along a scenic route on a sunny Okanagan day with your closest friends, catching up and enjoying the spectacular vistas that each winery has to offer. Read on for some Staycation inspiration featuring four of Lake Country’s beautiful wineries with great accessibility features.
“Accessibility can mean many different things to people with accessible requirements and our aging population. When businesses take simple action in designing space, services, products and experiences that are usable by people of any age, size or ability - inclusion and enjoyment by all becomes possible! ☺”
ARROWLEAF CELLARS
Start your day enjoying your packed Charcuterie picnic on the patio overlooking Okanagan Lake at Arrowleaf Cellars, or purchase your ingredients here. Relax, unwind and sip on any one of their fabulous white wines, the perfect pairing for conversations on a sunny afternoon.
Accessible Features:
Paved level parking lot
Two large accessible parking spaces
Wide main entrance
Great wheelchair accessible washroom
No-step level patio
Open concept tasting room
Friendly and accommodating staff
Level grass picnic area
GRAY MONK ESTATE WINERY
Photo by Sharla Pike
Experience the European ambiance and find some of your favorite gifts in the fabulous wine and gift shop at Gray Monk Estate Winery. Gray Monk's name comes from one of the first grape varieties they produced, Pinot Gris or “Grauer Mönch” in German, hence the translation to Gray Monk.
Accessible Features:
Paved parking lot - slightly sloped
Accessible parking space
Level main entrance
Good wheelchair accessible washroom
Large open tasting room - lower tasting counter available
Restaurant and patio - elevator access
O’ROURKE’S PEAK CELLARS
Next stop is O’Rourkes Peak Cellars. Request to experience your wine tasting at one of the bistro tables out on the vineyard-side patio as you take in another breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding orchards and rolling mountains. This is the perfect place to compare notes on some of the favorite wines you have tasted thus far!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot
Accessible parking stalls
Level main entrance
Good accessible washroom - heavy door
Open concept tasting room
Accessible tables for tasting experience
Accessible restaurant & outdoor patio area.
50TH PARALLEL ESTATE Winery
Photos by Jon Adrian
Be WOWED as you approach 50th Parallel Estate Winery, an architecturally designed winery second to none! Experience your tasting in their large open spaced tasting room at a lowered tasting bar if you choose. This is a great place to wrap up a fabulous day with dinner at their open air restaurant. Consider anyone of their delicious menu options, perhaps a Forno Oven Wood Fire pizza paired with their award winning Pinot Noir and more great conversation to finish off!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot - north entrance
One accessible parking space
Level paved sidewalk from parking stall to main entrance
Wide main level entrance to restaurant and wine tasting room
Tasting room - two lower tasting bars
Great accessible washroom
Restaurant - lower & higher height tables
… Enjoy! ☺
This tour can be done independently or you can book an accessible tour with our friends at Cheers Okanagan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3x Paralympic Gold Medalist and World Champion. She lives in Vernon with her golf-obsessed husband Dan and two adult children Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region!
IG @sonjagaudet
Unique & Sustainable Accommodations in the Thompson Okanagan
The Thompson Okanagan is rapidly becoming an ecotourism hotspot. In this post we high a handful of leaders in the industry who are using environmental, social and cultural factors to drive their business decisions.
Overnight in Style and Feel Good About Your Choice
The Thompson Okanagan is rapidly becoming an ecotourism hotspot, with the creation of an electric highway, sustainability support from the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and businesses that are committed to sustainably improving their performance.
In this post, I’m highlighting a handful of leaders in the industry who are using environmental, social, and cultural factors to drive their business decisions.
Feel good about booking a holiday with these unique and sustainable accommodations.
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Oliver
Credit: Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Burrowing Owl donates 100% of their tasting fees to their namesake Owl Conservation Society to benefit this endangered species. The commitment to the Burrowing Owl is only one of the many environmental practices that are inherent in the day-to-day operation at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. They have also implemented solar and geothermal heating, heat exchangers, and gravity flow winemaking processes to reduce external impacts. The Guest House at Burrowing Owl features 10 exclusive, spacious rooms right above the vineyard.
Spirit Ridge at Nk’Mip Resort, Osoyoos
Credit: Destination British Columbia
Celebrate the land and rich culture of the Syilx people by staying at Spirit Ridge at Nk’Mip Resort in Osoyoos. This award winning accommodation celebrates authenticity and a long-standing commitment to the land and remarkable history of the local people. While staying at the Resort you’ll be within walking distance of Nk’Mip Cellars and the Desert Cultural Centre where you can learn about the Osoyoos Indian Band through interactive exhibits.
Myra Canyon Ranch, Kelowna
Credit: Myra Canyon Ranch
Myra Canyon Ranch sits right at the entrance of Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park, 500 meters above Kelowna. The ranch has its own story, winning multiple prizes for Wood Design, including 1 Gold and 3 Silver Tommie Builder Awards. Owners Rolf and Kathrin Von Andrian strive to ensure their guests don’t have to purchase plastic water bottles by supplying fresh on-site well water and eco-friendly totes. They also have committed to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association’s Biosphere Commitment Program, which helps them meet sustainable goals in their operations. This unique lodging is the perfect jumping-off point for the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, one of the most historic and scenic paths throughout the Thompson Okanagan.
Credit: Meghan Reading (Photo 1), Quaaout Lodge (Photo 2)
Quaaout Lodge serves as a wonderful homebase for an adventure in the Shuswap, but the resort also features a rich Secwepemc Indigenous history. This waterfront resort is owned by the Little Shuswap First Nation and celebrates their people through local art, cultural tours, and events. The Kekuli Winter House, for example, is used for storytelling and lessons on cooking bannock over an open flame. There are guided hikes that will take guests into the surrounding landscape to learn about the traditional flora and fauna that grow in this area.
Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Jesmond
Credit: Echo Valley Ranch and Spa
Echo Valley Ranch and Spa is approximately a 3 hour drive outside of Kamloops located in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast. This accommodation has earned a Gold Certification from Green Tourism Canada for their ongoing commitment to sustainability. They have achieved this through many ways including being active stewards of the land, making environmental and socially aware choices in their day-to-day operations, working towards carbon neutrality, and practicing a zero-waste philosophy in their food acquisition and production. The ranch sits amid hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine mountains, lush valleys, pine forests, and desert canyons - the perfect getaway for those looking to escape.
Orofino Winery, Cawston
Credit: Orofino Winery
Orofino Winery is located in the Similkameen Valley wine region. It’s unique straw bale construction means that it is naturally cool in the hot desert summer and retains heat well in the winter. Since construction, Orofino has also invested in a significant solar power system and a set of luxurious suites to stay in - all of which are green certified.
I hope that these leading businesses serve as some inspiration for your next trip to the Thompson Okanagan. Head over to bookdifferent.com for the greenest, most sustainable accommodation choices for your trip. If you have any questions about visiting, reach out to the team on social media and use #ThompsonOkanagan to share your journey.
To find more Thompson Okanagan businesses that are committed to implementing sustainable practices into their daily operations visit the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association’s Biosphere Committed Businesses page.
To Pledge your own commitment to living and travelling throughout the region in a sustainable and mindful way, take the 7 Affirmations Pledge. What we do today to the land will impact up to seven generations to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meghan Reading is a Canadian travel photographer. She grew up in the rocky mountains of Alberta but now calls British Columbia home. While she looks forward to continuing to explore the world with her camera, her favourite destination will always be her own backyard.