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Top 5 Things You Must Do When Vacationing In The Okanagan

August 18th, 2010 No comments

British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is a beautiful place to visit, as it is an absolute paradise full of activities and adventure. Thousands of visitors flock here every year to spend time in one of the most popular destinations in Canada. If you really want to make the best of a vacation in Canada’s Okanagan, though, you should plan to spend at least a week here in order to get the most out of your vacation. There are so many great places to see and explore here, and you will find it to be one of the most memorable places that you will ever experience. Here are the top five things you simply must do when you vacation in the Okanagan.

A view of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbi...Image via Wikipedia

1. Atlantis Water Slides – These water slides are the definition of family fun, and were described as such in Okanangan Life magazine. This watery wonderland of excitement is located only a few miles (five kilometers in Canadian terms) north of Vernon. Families love this park due to the abundance of safe water activities for youngsters and adults. This park is home to over ten huge water slides, as well as hot tubs, a river tube ride and a plethora of gift shops and concession stands. This is a great place to be in summertime to beat the heat and the family is sure to enjoy it.

2. Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park – This is a beautiful park surrounded by some of Mother Nature’s most brilliant colors and soft summer grasslands. You and the family can spend the day lounging on one of the many beaches in the park, or perhaps relax and enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the shaded picnic/playground areas. There are also plenty of trails for the active vacationer to hike, bike and simply stroll along. The lake offers a wide variety of water activities such as wakeboarding, waterskiing, swimming, boating and much more. This park is a great place to spend an entire day, or maybe a few!

3. Ghost Tours – If you are into the supernatural then Vernon is the place to go for that. This city is not too far from Okanagan and offers a rich, full history where a ghost tour might be the best way to learn about the past. You will begin your ghost tour from the Vernon Museum and then you will head through downtown and the Lower East Side while you listen to the tales of Vernon’s spooky and haunted past. You will tour some of Vernon’s most haunted sites and buildings where there have been sightings and reports of ghosts. October is the best time to catch a glimpse of these tours as they operate October 27 through the 30th, making it the perfect Halloween trick-or-treat destination and a great place for a night of fright.

4. Downtown Murals – The Downtown Murals are one of the biggest outdoor galleries in Canada. There are over 27 gigantic murals, some as long as 300 ft., and they will astound you. The downtown area also offers an abundance of shops, restaurants and other unique specialty stores from which to choose. Every piece of art here is a representation of the history, rich culture and picturesque scenery of the Okanagan Valley.

5. Winery Tours and Wine Festival – Okanagan Valley is known for being Canada’s wine country and the wineries located here offer special guided tours that will take you through the properties and give you a chance to sample some of the succulent wines that are made right at the vineyard. There are also opportunities to purchase any of the spectacular wines that you taste, and you can dine at some fabulous restaurants located right on site. The Okanagan Summer Wine Festival that goes on during the second week of August is a great not-to-be-missed opportunity. The Summer Wine Festival is held at the prestigious Silver Star Resort. You can lavish in a weekend filled with wine tasting, art, music and wine education. The gorgeous Silver Star Resort is the perfect backdrop to this event and helps to highlight the uniquely diverse wine culture that is a part of the Okanagan culture, as well.

La Casa Cottage Resort.com in Kelowna is an ideal vacation destination for all ages, families and groups. Everyone will love the outdoor swimming pool, mini golf and private beach. La Casa has a variety of modern kelowna vacation rentals available and can accommodate groups of any size. Visit online today.

The Best Part of an Alaska Cruise Getaway

May 5th, 2009 No comments

Going on an Alaskan cruise trip is an experience you will never forget. Perhaps you have talked with relatives or good friends who have already taken cruises in Alaska; if so, the likelihood is they simply had an unforgettable time.

So just what is it that makes a cruise in Alaska such a singular and unique vacation? For one thing, the views you’ll see in the Inside Passage are astounding.

The glaciers are extraordinary, huge rivers of ice that ceaselessly break off into enormous chunks, which plunge into the waters below. Then there are the astounding mountain ranges, which range up to twenty thousand feet, some inside just miles of the shore, making for a really impressive sight.

Of course, what brings many folks to Alaska is the simply abounding wildlife. From Kodiaks and Polar bears grizzly bears and black bears, Alaska has a wonderful variety of wildlife.

Now, the chances are you will not be viewing an polar bears on your particular Alaska cruise vacation (unless you add on a pre- or post-cruise tour to the Arctic Circle), but there is a great chance you’ll see bald eagles and grizzlies, particularly if you are taking one of literally countless available shore excursions.

But the best part of all about a cruise in Alaska is the superb range of shore trips available, both during stops and before or after your cruise. You can do a huge variety of things, from white water rafting down glacial-fed streams and rivers to dog sledding high atop the huge glaciers themselves.

For folks looking for a more laid back or sedate experience, there are dazzling train rides into Yukon Gold Rush country and day trips into a bald eagle preserve. The options are virtually limitless and range between cheap and quite costly.

So there really are just so many good reasons that taking a vacation to Alaska is one holiday you’ll simply never forget. No matter what cruise you select, you are certain to have an incredibly memorable time.

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