Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019 Issue

and tourists from around the world, who
come for its wineries, fruit orchards,
mountain activities and Lake Okanagan.
At 135 kilometers in length and over 232
metres deep, this glacial lake has long
been a natural playground, known for its
fishing, beaches and famous cottagers.
Celebrities, like Elton John and Arnold
Schwarzenegger --not to mention a slew
of NHLers, own vacation homes in the
region can be spotted at the restaurants
and golf courses, too.
After visiting Vernon, one of the three
main hubs around the lake along with
Penticton and Kelowna, we now understood
the region’s magnetic appeal. And
we know why so many visit to play in the
lakes, romp in the mountains and taste
the bounty of the fertile land. Here were
some of the highlights:
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars
One of the newest winery and culinary
destinations in the region, O’Rourke’s
Peak Cellars prides itself on its aromatic
whites and pinot noir The wines tasted
even better paired with the expansive
views of the orchards, vineyards, mountains
and Lake Okanagan. Much of the
food served was hyper-local. “Here you
could almost call it the five-mile diet,” said
our waiter, noting the meat on our charcuterie
board was from the farm down the
road and the vegetables in our salad
grown in their vine-side garden. I was
impressed, but apparently this is not
uncommon in the Okanagan, which has
879 farms, 430 orchards and 200+
wineries. But one of the most popular
menu items had a little farther to travel.
Lobster pizza is a best-seller and rightly
so, delicious paired with the riesling.
Downtown Vernon
To DREAM is to see BEYOND the horizon
and to know that we are CAPABLE of anything
our hearts DESIRE.
This quote that hangs on the wall of Hot
Bread Shoppe in downtown Vernon was
the inspiration for owner Carolyn Grant,
who at age 60, despite no previous experience,
decided to open a bakery.
“It something I wanted to do for 40
years,” Carolyn told us. A dream come
true for her and a treat for any customer
that walks through the door, and luckily,
that was us. The aroma of freshly baked
bread was heavenly as were the
baguettes, sourdough bread, cinnamon
buns, and croissants.
Other independent businesses we came
across on our downtown stroll included
toy stores, candy stores, antique and consignment
shops, ethnic restaurants and an
historic 1929 movie theatre.
More Culinary Highlights
Unique venues were not limited to downtown,
and we had some tasty Vernon bites
in eateries like Intermezzo Restaurant.
Though known for Mediterranean classics,
seafood and steaks, the menu has continued
to expand over the years. A new signature
dish is the Moroccan lamb made
with a combination of 21 different spices
and housemade mint jelly. Delicious. And
instead of an after dinner candy mint, we
were presented with chocolate-covered
fresh mint leaves, which was a lovely finishing
touch to our fine meal.
Ask any Vernonite to recommend a breakfast
spot, and chances are they’ll name
Diner at Six. Some come early to fuel up
for a day on the slopes and others later to
chillax with a newspaper, but always to
enjoy hearty portions of breakfast classics
served up quickly.
Another local fave is Ratio Coffee & Pastry,
especially on Fridays, which is donut day.
Customers line up early to nab concoctions
like chocolate espresso filled donuts,
gluten free white chocolate macaroon and
apple cranberry fritters to name just a few.
Indulgence of a different kind can be
imbibed at Okanagan Spirits, a craft distillery
that has won numerous international
awards, including the gold medal at
the World Spirits Awards for its single
malt whiskey. Liqueurs are also a
specialty, which was somewhat of a surprize
to owner, Tyler Dyck, who works
along side his father in this family-run
business.
“I hated liqueurs,” said Tyler. “Most were
cloyingly sweet and artificial tasting.” But
inspired by the orchards that surrounded
them, they endeavoured to create ones
that “tasted like fruit”. It’s been a huge
success for the business, and they now sell
more unusual varieties, like Huckleberry
and Sea Buckthorn, as well as the more
traditional raspberry and cherry.
Resort Retreat
Hard-core adventure or soft-robe relaxation?
Hiking or biking? Fine dining or
pub grub? How you want to stay and play
at Silver Star Resort is totally up to you.
But if you’re like me, you’ll be sneaking
peeks at real estate listings and vowing to
come back. Though most well- known for
its ski slopes and abundance of champagne
powder snow, the resort with its
colourful village in the midst of the mountains,
shines in all seasons.
It was a treat to hit the slopes in the
spring, wearing just a sweater (a few
hearty souls were even wearing shorts!).
Summer and fall brings mountain bikers
careening down the mountain and families
taking scenic chairlift rides.
Festival events at Silver Star include the
Snowed In Comedy Tour, Wine and Music
Festival and the all-new SEISMIC Mountain
Festival, which we had the pleasure of
attending this year. The spring party
brought the community to the mountain
for a fabulous lineup of competitions, chef
dinners, wine tastings and art events.
www.tourismvernon.com
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Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019