Wine and Spirits Travel

I had a glimpse of Summerland when I was at the Local Lounge & Grille dinner at the Greenhouse. Everyone seemed to know each other and acted as if they had known me just as long. The welcoming was most definitely a sign of things to come in that town. We got up early and headed out of the Ramada Inn Penticton for the short ride to Summerland. With a day starting in a place called “ Good Omen ,” we had a good feeling. That is the name of the coffee house that Lisa Jaager, General Manager of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce , met us at.  Susan had the Pour Over, a freshly made cup of an Ethiopian Blend that Good Omen is known for. I enjoyed my usual non-fat latte (with cinnamon) and a great cinnamon roll that wasn’t too sweet or sticky. We chatted for awhile about Summerland before heading to Vinegar Works at Valentine Farm . Valentine Farm has everything from vineyards to horses, but John Gordon and Kim Stansfield are best known for their vinegar. The couple has owned 10 a...

As I travel through the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia , I’m continually amazed by the food, the wine, the scenery and the people. Every town is full of quaint places to discover and everyone has made me feel welcome. That was not going to change on this day as I explored Penticton and finished the day with a most unusual (and wonderful) dinner in a greenhouse. Susan and I headed out early to Penticton, where we met Tracy Reis of the Wine Country Tourism Board.  She greeted us with a smile in her “optimistic” summer dress, ready to immediately warm the breezy day.  We headed over to Munsons Mountain for sweeping views of Lake Okanagan, at a point that is deeper than the Grand Canyon. The town is known for the lake and the mountains, and a juicy fruit that has it nicknamed the land of “peaches and beaches.”  We enjoyed coffee and treats from Bench Market before heading over to Hillside Estate Winery for lunch, tastings, and more great views. We sat down at Hil...

If someone would have shown me photos of this area and told me about Native American land – that includes everything from a winery to a cultural center -- and buildings made out of straw, I would never have guessed it was British Columbia , Canada, but it seems that every day I’m here I learn something new about the area and helping the environment. We began another sun-filled day at the Spirits Ridge Resort with a short walk down to the Nk-Mip Desert Cultural Centre . We were told to go into the theatre and watch a movie about the Osoyoos Indian band and I confess to being ready to catch up on my sleep.  I was instead riveted by the story of a young girl learning about the power this land had on her people and the importance of protecting it. By the time we got out for the tour and a short hike through one of the trails, I was on the lookout for every sign of nature and nurture, though I was glad we didn’t run into any rattlesnakes! I was unable to make it over to Hester Creek...

It was traveling day, but not before I got to fully check out my current accommodations with the Delta Grand Okanagan Director of Marketing, Heather Farris. As I walked through the resort – with terrific ocean and mountain views from just about everywhere – I wish I could stay longer and check out the spa, indoor, outdoor and rooftop pools. There’s also a casino going through an expansion while the rest of the resort gets renovations.  This place is definitely going on my “want to return to list,” but it was time to head off to the next area. Susan and I got into our rented car and headed south.  It was one of those rides where you wished you could stop constantly and take pictures of the views. We were making our way around to the other side of the lake, with the car hugging the mountains on one side and while we watched the calm waters (and the road, of course). Our first stop was at the Penticton & Wine Country Visitor’s Center . We picked up some maps and checked ou...

My first full day in Kelowna was jam packed with a lot more than wine. I got to spend some time with a few goats and step inside a pyramid for a piano recital among the barrels! After breakfast at the Delta Grand Okanagan , we were me t by Catherine Freschette, Media Relations Manager for Tourism Kelowna. She was our guide and chauffeur for the day. We learned quite a bit, including the fact that this area only gets about 12 inches of rain each year, making it a great vacation destination for those in the wetter areas of Victoria and Vancouver. It was easy to see how this area could attract visitors with the beautiful lake and picturesque mountains, providing skiing in the winter and watersports spring through fall. Kelowna, which means “grizzly bear” (and, yes, there are bears in this area) has five separate wine trails for a total of 25 wineries. We were spending the day on the Lake Trail, but our first stop was not about wine. Carmelis is a dairy owned by a couple who just cam...

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Canada and I’ve never been to British Columbia , so when I had the chance to spend a week here in conjunction with my Celebrity Cruise , I jumped at the opportunity. I have to admit that since I just returned from Washington and was clearing up work and packing for 17 days I did not spend much time researching my new destination. That has its good and bad points. On the one hand, I was pretty ignorant to the basics (such as the wine varieties and climate), but on the other hand it gave me a clean slate to soak up information everywhere. My flights have never gone smoother. While the South was getting rain soaked and hit by tornadoes, my section of the Midwest was smooth sailing (actually, flying). I left Champaign in the morning, had a quick change in Chicago and though I didn’t get the upgrade I was hoping for, I did have two seats to myself on my American Airlines flight. I met my friend Susan Krowitz in Seattle airport and we caught up f...