Lake Okanagan is a very large lake at 135kmlong and 4-5km wide.
Many people go Kayaking in Lake Okanagan along the shorelines to get breathtaking views and to relax. The waters start warming up come July, just in time for the beautiful weather to take the kayaks out. While out kayaking, there are a few things you do not want to forget, especially with the sun shining down on you all day.
You’ll need a life jacket. If you are a great swimmer that is awesome, but if something happens and it is out of your control you’re going to want a life jacket on.
You’re going to get thirsty! Don’t forget to bring yourself a few drinks. Most kayaks have a little drink holder to hold them, if not a small travel cooler is perfect and will fit in between your feet.
You don’t want to burn, so don’t forget your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses! Most importantly you don’t want to forget your kayak and paddle.
Many people go kayaking and don’t realize the exercise you get. While kayaking, you are working your core muscles. These muscles are seldom used as many of our everyday activities don’t use these muscles. From paddling your switching off from the right side to the left, your body is twisting in the meantime causing those muscles to work. You are also using your shoulders to paddle, and your top of your back muscles. After a full day of kayaking, your muscles will feel sore the next day.
Okanagan Lake is perfect for Watersports.
More details on kayak rentals can be found on our Amenities page.
Lake Okanagan is a very large lake at 135km long and 4-5km wide.
Vernon is at the North end, Penticton in the South, with Kelowna roughly in the middle to the West and the smaller Communities of West Kelowna, Peachland and Summerland along the way on the West side. The water starts warming up around the end of June and is just warm enough to jump in around the beginning of July to cool off. Isolated beaches, quiet bays, and sheltered coves are just a few things that you will find out enjoying the day on the boat. There are tons of rental companies, yacht clubs and marinas that you will find along the shorelines in both directions. At La Casa Cottage Resort, we sell boat slips for our guests to bring their own boats. We also have a marina and a boat launch for them to use. More details on boat slips and boat rentals can be found on our Activities page.
Whether it is windy and wavy, or calm and hot, you will always find many boaters out enjoying the water. Since this is such a big lake, and so many people like to enjoy it, you have to be aware of your surroundings and of other boaters. When you’re out boating, you never want to forget the necessities like food/water, lifejackets and most importantly sun screen. The Okanagan sun is very hot and if your not wearing sunscreen for the day out on the lake you will get burnt badly. Just like any lake, there are beaches that you can only get to by boat. You can find a couple of these along the West side of the lake near Kelowna and up towards Vernon. Being out on the boat and seeing all the wildlife in their natural habitat is truly beautiful. You may have the chance to see bears, deers, moose, and big horn sheep, to name a few.
Wedding Photographer of the Month – Introducing Ivenkaye Photographics
This month we bring you some wedding inspiration! Check out these awesome images from Ivenkaye Photographics as well as an interview with the Photographer himself. We think our Guest House is a pretty beautiful location – read on to see why we’re not the only ones that think so…
So first off – how did you get into Wedding Photography & what do you love about it?
I photographed my first wedding when I was applying to photography school and needed a way to pay for my gear. My camera failed halfway through the ceremony and I finished shooting the wedding day on film. Although I loved it, it was a nerve wracking experience, and I didn’t photograph another one until three years later. I was drawn back to the Wedding Industry because of the realization that my images were making a significant difference in people’s lives.
In 2009 I began my own Wedding Photography Business, Ivenkayephotographics, and when I made the move to the Okanagan a year later, the Wedding Community here was still in it’s early stages. Now it is a huge community which really contributes to a diverse environment for people to come here and to get married. The reason I choose Wedding Photography is the people that I get to meet and the experiences are always so amazing. You are with a couple, who are in love, for a whole day, capturing their cherished memories for them, and taking part in the beginning of their lives together. Wedding days are a challenge too, very candid, very spontaneous and truthful and I really enjoy taking on that challenge to capture it all. It’s very important to be present and to be watchful and I thrive under those kind of conditions. It really brings out my creativity.
There are so many different styles of Wedding Photography. How would you explain your approach to clients?
I would describe it first as clean and storytelling. From a technical standpoint I began learning photography with film and through my editing and composition I always use that as a beginning point, to create true and beautiful photographs, capturing detail and nuance. For me, storytelling moments are the most important because they capture true emotions.Those are the photographs that will take you back to the moment because of their truthfulness. That’s why I always gift engagement sessions to my couples. It’s important to know them, to experience them in front of a camera and for them to know how I work. That way, on the big day, they can relax and be themselves and experience the day without distraction and I am able to do my very best work for them.
Living in BC, you must know that there is an array of beautiful locations in the area. Why do you think a couple should use the Okanagan – and more specifically, Kelowna – as their wedding destination?
I think that the area we live in is so diverse it would appeal to everyone. We have a beautiful lake and epic mountains, beaches and hikes, wineries and tap houses, and a host of incredible venues. Also the community here, the Wedding Industry Community, honestly is hard working and invested in making this area the very best for visiting couples. Standards here are incredibly high and we all diligently strive to meet them.
You’ve taken Wedding Photos at La Casa Guest House before. Was there anything that surprised you about the property? Anything that made you love shooting there?
It’s off the beaten track, private, and in a beautiful area. You get a true sense of the beauty of the area and the grandeur of B.C, while having all the comforts you would experience in the city limits. The drive from Kelowna to La Casa Guest House is an experience all it’s own and builds anticipation as you weave through the gorgeous scenery. You get the impression that you are traveling to somewhere truly special.
If you had to use five words to describe the venue, what would they be?
These photos you have here; what made this wedding special?
Robyn and Curtis have an incredibly supportive and joyful group of family and friends that was an honor to be a part of. I remember that taking candids at their wedding was very easy; everyone was so at ease and happy to be with each other, as if they were in the comfort of their own homes. I couldn’t help but be uplifted by the experience on a personal level, and I could honestly say I left the wedding that night, after saying my goodbyes, with a little bit of reluctance, sad to have the experience come to an end.
Do you have any advice for couples planning their wedding at La Casa?
Plan ahead with cooler supplies; mid-day beer runs are not that easy. If you are planning a summer wedding, keep an eye on the forecast, and maybe bring some parasols for the ceremony. The Okanagan can get quite warm mid-day! And the photos will look great.
And lastly, what is the best way for potential clients to get in contact with you?
Go to our Website ativenkayephoto.com and fill out a form or call us at 1-250-899-2695. Looking forward to hearing from you!
So, are you inspired to host your wedding in the Okanagan?
Do you think the Guest House at La Casa has it all?
For more information on planning your wedding at La Casa, please visit our Weddings pageor feel free to speak to us directly on our reservations line at +1 888 226 5566. Here are our 4 Reasons to have your Wedding at the Guest House… we look forward to helping you plan the Wedding of your dreams!
All of the photos featured in this post are from Robyn & Curtis’ Wedding, taken by Ivenkaye Photographics.
