Okanagan Valley

Introducing Okanagan Valley

It is hard to know which harvest is growing faster in this fertile and beautiful valley: tourists or fruit. Certainly bounty abounds in this ever-more popular lovely swath midway between Vancouver and Alberta. The moniker ‘Canada’s Napa Valley’ (applied by one too many travel writers at loss for a metaphor) is oft repeated and actually somewhat apt. The 180km-long Okanagan Valley is home to dozens of excellent wineries, whose vines spread across the terraced hills, soaking up some of Canada’s sunniest weather.

This emphasis on highbrow refreshments contrasts with the valley’s traditional role as a summertime escape for generations of Canadians, who frolic in the string of lakes linking the Okanagan’s towns. And while retirees mature slowly in the sun, so do orchards of peaches, apricots and other fruits that may not have the cachet of grapes but which give the air a perfumery redolence at the peak of summer.

Near the US border, Osoyoos is almost arid but things soon become greener heading north through attractive places like Oliver, Penticton and Vernon. Near the center, Kelowna is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. It’s a heady mix of culture, lakeside beauty and fun. It’s also often a center for traffic, lots of traffic. In fact in July and August the entire valley can seem as overburdened as a grapevine right before the harvest. For many, the best time to visit is late spring and early fall, when the weather shines and the crowds are manageable.

Last updated: Jul 22, 2009