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The Okanagan

Cheap Eats Kelowna
Sep18

The Best Cheap Eats in Kelowna

Blog, Kelowna, The Okanagan 0 comments

The Best Cheap Eats in Kelowna

 

Ever wondered where you should grab lunch in Kelowna?  Perhaps you’re passing through town and need to satisfy your hunger.   Or maybe you need to pick up some takeaway items for a picnic. From turkey sandwiches to laksa soups,  Kelowna has some hidden gems when it comes to casual eateries.  Check out our recommendations below.

 

  1. Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop

You only have to read the reviews on Tripadvisor to realise that this little soup and sandwich shop is a winner.  Known for its customer service as well as its freshly made meals, Little Hobo sits up there as the Number 1 recommended cheap eat in Kelowna.  Try their tasty perogies, homemade signature soup or holiday turkey sandwich –  you won’t be disappointed.

 

  1. Dosa Crepe Café

How does Indian Dosa paired with French crepes, sound to you?  This little South Indian eatery offers savoury Indian Dosa all day long and is the perfect place for a late lunch or afternoon snack.  If you fancy something sweet, try their French crepes.   There are so many delicious options on the menu, we wouldn’t even know where to start…

 

  1. Mad Mango Café

If you fancy some casual Asian treats then you should head down to Mad Mango Café.  With a menu full of Vietnamese Pho, Thai spring rolls and an All-day breakfast, there is definitely something here for everyone.  We’ve even heard that customers regularly go back for seconds of Mad Mango’s Laksa Soup!

 

  1. Woodfire Bakery

This little German bakery is no place to go for sweet pastries.  However if you’re looking for a hearty meal that will warm you up when it’s chilly outside, then by all means this should be your first pick.  Choose your meat –  Roast Beef, Smoked Beef or Veloute Chicken – and they’ll stick it on a beautiful Kaiser roll.  Some of the sandwiches sell out by lunch time, so be sure to get there early if you want first pick!

 

Yum – don’t they all sound scrumptious?  Let us know where you end up or if you have a different local favourite!  We would love to hear what your go-to lunch spot is.

 

Cheap Eats Kelowna

Written by Hannah Poaros

 

 

 

Sep11

Big White

Blog, The Okanagan, Uncategorized 0 comments

While the Okanagan is known for it’s gorgeous summer weather, there is plenty to do on your Okanagan Vacation during the snowy winter months!

Big White Resort is a one stop destination for everything winter on your Okanagan vacation! With outdoor skating rinks, 118 runs, ski and snowboard rentals, and tubes. Want to try snow shoeing, or maybe you’ve always wanted to go cross country skiing? Or maybe you just want to spend the afternoon having lunch at the village, or enjoy some hot cocoa after an exciting day of winter fun!

With tours and classes that range from dog sledding, horse drawn carriage rides to ice climbing, snowmobiling, terrain biking, heliskiing and more! Big White Kelowna has something for everyone in the family.

Pamper yourself and spend the afternoon relaxing at their spa, or sign up for a complete tour of several of the 150 wineries located in the Okanagan!

Sep04

Fall Fashion

Blog, The Okanagan, Uncategorized 0 comments

Even although no one is ever happy about trading in their favourite swimsuit for their business causal get up, and giving up long days of lounge in the sun for endless hours stuck in the office, somehow most of us still love fall. And fall in the Okanagan is nothing short of spectacular. Here’s how the fashion experts suggest you make the most of the crisp autumn weather.

  1. Suede: boots, jackets, cardigans, suede is coming back in a big way from booties to t-shirts, the soft, matte fabric has made it’s way from a utilitarian cloth used by the First Nations in the early 1900’2 to keep warm to a modern day trend for day to day wear.
  2. Leather: contrary to popular belief, leather jackets are not only for burly men on Harley Davidsons. The little leather jacket is perfect for that in between fall weather for men and women alike.
  3. Denim: it’s simple. Everyone loves jeans. We all have our favourite pair of denim jeans. With many cuts and styles from bootlegged to distressed to denim shorts and jackets, it goes with everything and its guaranteed to keep you arm in the crisp fall air.
  4. Plaid: when you think fall fashion almost everyone thinks plaid. From scarves to button downs to flannel jackets, plaid is a quick and easy way to tie together your fall look. And the colours scream ‘hay ride and pumpkin carving’.
  5. Sportswear: go ahead, rock your lulus and hoodie to the mall. It’s fall, comfort and warmth are the key components to staying in style while preparing for the incoming snow season.
september events okanagan wine
Aug28

Events in the Okanagan – September

Blog, British Columbia, Kelowna, La Casa Cottage Resort, The Okanagan 0 comments

Events in the Okanagan – September

Feeling blue about the end of summer?  Don’t worry, the Okanagan is still lively throughout autumn. There’s plenty of events to get you excited this September, perfect for an end-of-summer holiday.

Wine Festivals

Most of the vineyards and wineries are participating in Wine Festivals this month, so why not add an evening of fine dining to your calendar?

  • For starters, we have Mission Hill Family Estate who have the last night of their Long Table Dinner  event on September 2nd.  This event starts at 6 pm  and provides you with a three course dinner, a selection of wines and a stroll through the rolling hills of the estate.  For $129 a person, this evening is sure to be an elegant affair – don’t miss out on tickets, purchase them now!
  • If that doesn’t take your fancy, then how about attending Under the Half Barrel Dinner series at Cedar Creek Winery on September 8th.   From $95 you can treat yourself to a wonderful meal paired with some beautiful wines whilst looking over at Lake Okanagan.  What’s more picturesque than that?
  • The end of September brings about another couple of vineyard events such as St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery Lunch.  This long table lunch aims to celebrate the start of the harvest and is set to be a lovely afternoon on September 30th.  Also on this date, is the Starry Plates Winemakers Dinner  – another Okanagan Wine Festival! Do you see a trend here?  This one is also at Cedar Creek Winery and they welcome you to a starlight sky and delicious canapes.  We recommend checking out these events to get the most out of your Okanagan stay – these are one-off occasions that you can’t experience on a wine tour!

Get Active

  • Besides the wine, the Okanagan has a range of other activities happening during this month.  Celebrate the beginning of the fall by participating or attending the Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon on September 3rd. There’s nothing like team spirit, and a pair of running shoes!
  • Maybe you’re not a fan of running, in which case why not look into the Okanagan Grape Escape – MS Bike event.  This is a two-day bike riding event on the 9th and 10th of September.  This event is one of the biggest fundraising biking events in North America and has been happening since 1989! Join other cyclists and participate in this exciting opportunity to explore the Okanagan region.  If it’s too late for you to sign up, then follow the route (which takes you around a LOT of vineyards) and wave to the riders as they pass you.

The Quirky ones 

We’ve rounded up the random, the weird and the one-off’s in the below list of events.  Whatever you choose to do in September, we’re sure you’ll have a blast!

  • Ever wanted to try out five different types of ribs?  Attend Ribfest Kelowna between September 15th & 17th for your chance to taste some mouth-watering meats.
  • On the subject of meat, why not pop along to the Great Canadian Bacon Chase on September 24th. Somewhat contradictory, this event is all about eating unlimited bacon but also participating in a 5km run! There’s also a way to get out of the running, if you’re more interested in the bacon… Check out their website for more details!
  • For those of you into reading tarot cards and natural health care, then we suggest you check out the Holistic Market and Psychic Fair on September 17th at the Laurel Packinghouse.  With over 50 exhibitors, this is sure to be a wonderful day and you’ll likely come home with some new knowledge of naturopath techniques.
  • And lastly for the art wizards, take a look at the Art in the Park – Vineyard Trails series.  On September 24th, Quail’s Gate Winery is hosting this presentation of local artwork.  This will be the closing day of this travelling art series, so we hope you’ll make an effort to attend.  Let us know your favourite artist or art piece!

september events okanagan wine

That’s all for now.  We hope you enjoy the beginning of Autumn – let’s hope it’s a bright and colourful one.

Written by Hannah Poaros

Okanagan Vineyard
Aug21

The Okanagan’s Top 10 Most Instagrammed Sites

Blog, British Columbia, Kelowna, The Okanagan 0 comments

The Okanagan’s Top 10 Most Instagrammed Sites

The Okanagan region has some wonderful views and gorgeous vineyards.  We’ve done some research and created this list of the area’s most instagrammed sites (not including Kelowna or Vernon). If you’re a regular to La Casa Cottage Resort, you might just want to try something different this year! Take a look at our round-up – which one sparks your interest?

  1. Mt. Boucherie

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery has 4 vineyard locations in the Okanagan.  Take a trip to the winery in West Kelowna where you can sign up for a vineyard tour or pop into their shop to purchase bottles of their signature collection.  This vineyard has a stunning mountain backdrop – perhaps this is what makes it so Instagram worthy.  That, and the glasses of wine you will be consuming!

  1. Osooyos

We’ve already mentioned in our 5 things to do article just how great Osooyos is.  It makes an interesting day trip – you’ll hardly feel like you’re in Canada once you step foot in this desert space.  Go grab some fresh cherries and Instagram those beautiful colours.

  1. Christie Falls

Why not take a trip to Christie Falls? This excellent waterfall is well worth the hike to and is just outside Kelowna.  It’s practically in fashion  to take a selfie under the waterfall, so what’s your reason not to?  There is even talk of there being a rope swing available – time to be adventurous!

  1. Tinhorn Creek

It’s not a surprise that Tinhorn Creek is on our list – this vineyard is another favourite with locals and tourists alike.  There Miradoro Restaurant has panoramic views of the valley below with a Mediterranean style menu, using locally sourced produce.  What makes Tinhorn Creek so brilliant is that the winery is neighbours to an access point for the Golden Mile Trail! Set off on a hike, enjoy breaking a sweat then return to the vineyard for a tour and wine tasting.  Perfection.

  1. Gray Monk

Head down to the 3rd winery on our list – Gray Monk Estate Winery! Try their Odyssey Tasting sessions – these give you the opportunity to taste their top tier wines.   Their restaurant, The Grapevine, offers wine and cheese sittings as well as lunch and dinner.

  1. Monashee

Monashee Provinical Park is located in the Monashee Mountain Ranges in North Okanagan.  Visitors can hike, fish, climb and horseback ride on these beautiful wild trails. You will discover lakes, waterfalls, rocky outcrops and plenty of wildlife! We would love to hear what trail you decide to hit up.

  1. Quail’s Gate

Quail’s Gate is a gorgeous winery where you can dine and stay overnight as well as taste their wines! This is the perfect place for a wedding or family reunion – check out their website and you’re sure to see why this rates high on Instagram!

  1. Lake Okanagan

Lake Okanagan is the reason many people venture out to Kelowna and Vernon.    The lake is spreads across 135km so no wonder it is so popular! Grab your kayak, paddleboard, boat or swimmers and get out on the water!  We know that one of the reasons many of you choose to stay with us at La Casa Cottage Resort is for this reason since we have lake access at the bottom of the resort.  Contact us now if you would like to hear more about our rentals services which are available as an add-on to your cottage rental.

  1. Knox Mountain

Situated in downtown Kelowna is Knox Mountain Park. Perfect for a walk or a hike, this trail leads you uphill to wonderful views of the city.   Since you don’t have to go far away from town, this is an extremely popular place to hangout!  Grab a picnic, your hiking boots, and your swimmers and enjoy a day in Kelowna’s large 766-acre park.

  1. Mission Hill

Mission Hill Winery, in West Kelowna, has superb architecture, an award-winning restaurant, a wine boutique and an Amphitheatre.  This picturesque estate is perfect for spending an afternoon in the sun or an evening under the stars.  They hold summer concerts, offer wine tastings and tours, and outdoor dining.  No wonder this is the top of the Instagram list for the Okanagan region – we can’t wait to check it out! Just have a look at that gorgeous courtyard and the 12-storey bell tower…

 

 

Written by Hannah Poaros