Experience our Okanagan Delights in Vernon BC
As the owners of a wellness centre in Vernon, BC, well-being, and self-care are super important to us. And, luckily, we happen to live in an area that provides both in abundance! Here are a few of our favourite delights to enjoy in this beautiful valley we call home.
Kalamalka Provincial Park
This 3218-hectare park offers beautiful forested hiking and cycling trails, plus access to Kalamalka Lake for swimming, boating, and paddleboarding. Many visitors marvel at this legendary lake’s distinctive range of blues and greens—from emerald to turquoise and everything in between! These spectacular colours are caused by limestone deposits that crystallize as the water warms up in the summer months.
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) has really taken off in Vernon, and Kalamalka Lake is the perfect place to venture out for a peaceful paddle. If you don’t own a board, you can rent all of your gear from the Kalavida Surf Shop right beside Kal Beach.
Okanagan Rail Trail
This stunning trail is a discontinued CN rail corridor that runs all the way from Vernon to Kelowna, with a significant portion of it following along lakeshore. Its level surface allows all ages and abilities to walk or cycle (either the old-fashioned way or with the latest craze, electric bikes) and then pop down to the water’s edge for a picnic or a quick dip in Kalamalka Lake. A portion of the trail isn’t quite finished yet, so fundraising is still underway. When completed, the total trail length will be 52 km long!
Wineries near Vernon
After a morning full of activity and adventure, nothing beats a stop at one of the many local wineries around Lake Country. There are so many to choose from! Stop in for a tasting, then choose your favourite wine and savour it on a patio overlooking the lake or vineyards. Some wineries include bistros or restaurants and even live music. A fun idea is to gather a few friends, find a designated driver (or join a wine tour!) and visit several different wineries in one go. One of our favourites is Arrowleaf Cellars for its delicious wines and stunning views sweeping down over the vineyards toward Lake Okanagan.
Fruits of the Valley
The Okanagan Valley is bursting with tons of other goodies besides wine. Visit one of several u-picks in the area to load up on raspberries, saskatoons, strawberries and cherries. In the fall, visit Davison Orchards for their apples, pumpkins, and other harvest fare. With a petting zoo, play areas, and tractor rides, it’s also a great place to take the kids. Right next door to
Davison’s you will find Planet Bee, offering delectable honey and honey products, and even mead—an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water. And let’s not forget the ultimate place to sample the fruits of the Okanagan Valley—the Vernon Farmer’s Market.
We feel so blessed to call the Vernon “home”. Whether you live here or are just passing through, these Vernon delights are sure to please!