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The Okanagan

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

okanagan fruit
Aug07

Where to pick your own Okanagan fruit

Blog, British Columbia, The Okanagan 0 comments

Where to pick your own Okanagan fruit 

Everyone knows that the Okanagan region throws up some delicious fresh fruits.  Why wouldn’t it? With all its hours of sunshine, it’s got the perfect climate for fruit to grow.  The season generally begins in June and ends around September with the ripening of the apples.  Instead of grabbing the local produce from the grocery store, why not make a day of it and take the family out to a Pick-your-own farm?

Here’s a round-up of the best places to do this across the region:

  • Kempf Orchards – This is a beautiful family-friendly cherry-picking orchard. Be sure to check on their website which fruits are currently available as some varieties sell out fast. If you’re tired of picking cherries, they also sell pre-picked apricots and peaches – all ready to go in that fruit salad you’re making…
  • Caldwell Heritage Farm – Caldwell Heritage Farm is a favourite among all ages. Why not make friends with the animals, pick some fruit, help grow vegetables and then take a stroll past tractors, trucks and other historical agricultural items? What a perfect afternoon in the countryside.
  • Sun City Cherries Ltd. – Your go-to for fresh fruits, homemade jams and honey! They specialize in cherries though, so be sure to swing by and try some.
  • Paynters Fruit Market – What a gem this fruit market is! You have the option to pick your own cherries, apricots, peaches, plums and pears. There’s nothing like eating a peach straight off the tree; biting into the juicy flesh whilst baking in the Okanagan sun.   Enjoy the fruit picking experience and treat yourself to an ice cream at the end.
  • Arndt Orchards – Another gorgeous cherry-picking farm in Kelowna! They also accept cherry picking orders for pick-up if you’re on a time limit and don’t have time to do the work yourself.

You also might want to check out:

  • Function Junction Fruit Stand – Open 7 days a week in the summer, Function Junction Fruit Stand is a must-do. They are known for their plump blackberries – they’ll be great on their own, as a conserve or as a cheesecake topping! Not only this but Function Junction also produces 100% pure apple juice as well as four fruit iced ciders. You can taste these in the tasting room just beside the fruit stand… Let us know which one is your favourite.  Will it be the Fuji Iced Cider or the Pear Iced Cider? It’s a hard call!
  • Gambell Farms – Gambell Farms is all for the healthy lifestyle and encourages you to try their high-quality produce. There is a large variety of fresh goods grown here, so you’ll probably be able to find all the veggies on your shopping list.  Try one of their fruit pies – sure to be extra tasty.
  • Duggan Farms – This local farm has a wide range of fruit AND vegetables that you can pick. Culinary herbs are also available seasonally.  Get all your salad ingredients here!

 okanagan fruit

Remember:  Contact the farms first before planning a visit – sometimes they sell out of fruit, or harvests of certain varieties are delayed! 

 

Written by Hannah Poaros

Jul31

Summer Events in the Okanagan – August

Blog, British Columbia, Kelowna, The Okanagan 0 comments

Summer Events in the Okanagan – August

Wondering what’s happening this August in the Okanagan? As always, there’s lots of events and activities to keep you occupied on your summer break.  For those of you visiting us over the August long weekend, we’ve also got you covered in the events listed below.

Festivals

There’s plenty of festivals coming up, so why not plan your visit around one of these?

  • Do you love arts, crafts, food and music?  If the answer is yes, then check out the Lumby Art & Music Festival which is happening August 11th to August 13th. This is a free 3 day festival that features local musicians, artists and over 200 vendors. There will be homemade jams, fresh baked goods, recycled art and a range of other interesting treats.  On Friday night, they are selling tickets for a Wild Dance Party – families are encouraged to attend – featuring a funky bluegrass and folk band named Blackberry Wood.  Their music encompasses a bit of everything so get on your dancing shoes, snag some tickets (only $20 for a family of 4) and prepare for a high-energy event!

 

  • If you’re in the Okanagan between August 12th & August 19th, then be sure to join in the Okanagan Pride Festival.  This is the 10th anniversary of Okanagan Pride so it’s going to be full of celebration.  They have a lot of fun, quirky events scheduled such as an 18-Carat Golf Tournament on August 14th and Kelowna’s Next Drag Superstar on August 18th.  Don’t miss the Pride March & Festival in the Park though – this one’s going to be epic! The theme this year is ‘Shine Bright’ so get out the glitter, gemstones and diamonds. We hope to see you there!

 

  • On August 26th & 27th, Kelowna is putting on their annual Dragon Boat Festival.  The festival is taking place at Tugboat Bay in Waterfront Park, Kelowna. There are quite a few teams registered to compete this year, so why not pop down to the bay and see the action?  If anything, this makes for an awesome photo opportunity and if you’ve never seen Dragon Boat racing – now is your chance! Pick your team and cheer them on. It’ll be great fun all round.

Farms, Wines & Museums

Everyone knows that the Okanagan is Wine Country.  Let’s take a look at the upcoming events happening at local Farms & Vineyards.

  • Are the kids a bit restless? Tired of sitting at the pool?  Well, we’ve got just the thing.  Take them down to the Kelowna Orchard & Wine Museum on August 9th or August 11th between 10:00am and 14:00pm and they can learn all about pollination with the Bee an Okanagan Pollinator Protector event.  This educational, family activity runs each week with no registration required.  What a great opportunity to get the young ones interested in saving the bees and the butterflies!

 

  • On August 13th, it is the 9th Annual Okanagan Feast of Fields. This is a three hour event that takes guests around Caldwell Heritage Farm on the hunt for local gourmet food.  You’ll get to taste yummy plates whislst wandering through a beautiful farm – there is also live music!  This is sure to be an event worth buying tickets too.  Don’t miss out on trying all sorts of creations sourced from BC’s top chefs, bakers, brewers and more!  Perhaps the most lovely aspect of this festival is that all proceeds fundraised go to support FarmFolk CityFolk’s work to sustain local food systems.   Tickets are likely to sell fast so reserve your place here (and then, tell us all about it!).

 

  • Every Wednesday and Friday night during August, Blind Tiger Vineyards are putting on a Live in the Vineyard event.  Join them for wood fired pizzas, music and wine of course.  This vineyard is in Lake Country (around an hour away from La Casa Cottage Resort) but enjoy the beautiful drive around Lake Okanagan and reward yourself with a refreshing glass of pinot when you arrive at the Vineyard.  They even offer a brilliant dessert pizza with cream cheese icing – if that’s not enough reason to brace the one hour drive, then what is?!

Something Different?

Looking for something a bit out of the ordinary to complete the perfect holiday itinerary?  Here are our favourite upcoming special events.

  • On August 5th & August 6th you can participate in Big White Ski Resort’s GEO Hiking.  This is the perfect excuse to get the whole family out on the mountain.  There are prizes to be won and hidden treasures to find – an adventure for all ages! The hiking trails on Big White offer gorgeous views of nature so be sure to take your camera.  If you want to take part in this exciting event, just register at the Concierge Desk in the Village Centre Mall and pick up your GPS system.

 

  • What about watching an opera?  This summer Opera Kelowna are putting on Puccini’s La Boheme, one of the most popular operas in the world.  Looking to be a stunning production about art and love, with a storyline that is relevant even now, this will be a night out you won’t regret.  Performance are on August 18th & August 19th at the Kelowna Community Theatre.  If you’re not sure whether opera is your thing but want to give it a try, you could attend Opera in the Park on August 2nd, 3rd & 4th. This is a summer concert series – the perfect introduction to classical music!  Bring the family, grab a picnic spot in one of Kelowna’s parks (different locations depending on the date) and relax under the stars.

 

  • Every Friday you have the chance to watch The Cowboy Dinner Show at O’Keefe Ranch in Vernon.  O’Keefe Ranch is a historic attraction which tells stories of BC ranching.  Journey to Canada’s wild west with song, music, re-enactments and more! The evening includes a traditional cowboy dinner of juicy steak and a campfire finale. Interested?  We thought so.

 

And that’s all for now! We’re excited – are you?  Looks like August is going to treat us to awesome weather, delicious food and action-packed day trips.  We can’t wait to hear what you get up to!

Click here to see our other suggestions of things to do in the Okanagan.

summer okanagan august

Written by Hannah Poaros

Feb20

Chocolate PB Banana Protein Shake for Your Vacation in the Okanagan

Blog, Smoothies 0 comments

Cool down and fuel up with this creamy and delicious shake!

Need a healthy, satisfying boost to make it till the next meal, want a dessert you don’t need to feel guilty about or just craving a little chocolate in your day? This thick and creamy smoothie is bursting with healthy fats, omega 3s and potassium. Tip, want more protein or don’t have any cacao handy? Try a scoop of vegan or whey chocolate protein powder! Continue reading