Kelowna and Kamloops

June 30 - July 2, 2007
AC197 YYZ-YUL, AC196 YUL-YYZ

With the July 4th trip pushed back to the following week, we had a free long weekend, and since our last trip to Kelowna was short, we decided to go back.  The flights were direct from Toronto, and easy.  The main purpose of the trip was to visit wineries and we visited a number.  We also had some nice fresh-picked cherries, found time for a couple of nice meals in the valley and had some great wine while we were there.  We even stumbled on some BC Zinfandel from Inniskilin and brought back some good red blends from Blasted Church and Inniskilin.  We also ordered a case of Merlot from Burrowing Owl to be delivered back to Toronto.  The drive to Kamloops was beautiful, and other than the industry, was quite scenic.  Kelowna was very busy for Canada Day and surprisingly filled with lots of young people, rather than the older generations we were expecting.  In Kelowna, we stayed right on the waterfront in the town, in the middle of the Canada Day festivities.    

July 2
Arrived early the morning of July 2.  Kelowna to Kamloops

Train on the Kamloops Heritage Railway, Kamloops

Quail’s Gate vineyard, after a nice lunch at the winery, Westbank

Kamloops River from riverfront park

What we can only assume is a train-track snowplow, near the Kamloops Heritage Railway

Railway bridge across the Kamloops River, Kamloops

Scenic view of the Kamloops River.  Ignore the industry behind you.

This pulp mill would be the industry behind you.  They were at least kind enough to put the stack on the hill.

July 3
Kamloops to Kelowna

Heading back to Kelowna; scenic view of Lake Okanagan near Vernon.

Lake Okanagan behind vineyards, at Gray Monk winery, Lake Country.

Lake Okanagan

Vineyards in the hills near Okanagan Falls

Vineyards in the hills near Okanagan Falls

View back down the hill as we head east from Osoyoos

July 4
Kelowna, and fly home to Toronto

Kelowna’s marina on Lake Okanagan, seen from our hotel

Private waterway complex in Kelowna, seen from our hotel

Dolphin Fountain, Kelowna waterfront

Spirit of Sail sculpture, Kelowna waterfront