A vine-filled view
near Penticton
Right: Liquidity’s
modern winery
ton
Exploring B.C.’s coolest small town and the
southern half of the booming Okanagan
By Jennifer Cockrall-King
with files from Allison Markin
TRAVEL + LEISURE MAGAZINE LISTED it
among its best places to travel in 2016. It’s
recently been named the number one wine
region in the world by the Huffington Post.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine listed it as one
of the 10 best wine travel destinations. And
USA Today ranked it the second best wine
region to visit.
Clearly, word is out about B.C.’s flavourfilled Okanagan.
And what’s not to love about the wineand food-filled valley? The 250-kilometre
stretch of rolling orchards and farmland is
just a half-day’s drive from Calgary. You’ll
find clear, deep lakes in British Columbia’s
fertile interior, 136 (and counting) wineries, a community of immensely talented
farm-to-table chefs and a jaw-dropping
recreation paradise. Oh, and it’s now a fullfledged four-season destination.
But with so much to do, so many tasty
things to eat and drink, where do you
start? How do you choose? And where do
you end up?
Much of the buzz about the Okanagan
comes from the trail-blazing wineries of
the Naramata Bench, unique new winery
experiences in Okanagan Falls, agritourism in Oliver and First Nations cultural
enterprises in Osoyoos.
The southern third of the valley has
recently emerged with such rich and eclectic experiences—while somehow maintaining its laid-back charm, which can be a
welcome break from the crowds in
Kelowna. And Penticton makes an ideal
home base for a South Okanagan adventure. The beachside city of 32,000 boasts
a mom-and-pop shop-filled Main Street
and a chill beach vibe, along with luxurious
creature comforts for visitors. »
AMA INSIDER
SPRING 2016
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