Taste, Explore, Indulge, Live – Welcome to the Okanagan
In front of you on a slate-grey plate sits a ribbon of walnut crusted, ice wine smoked salmon, with fresh goats cheese and asparagus carefully placed alongside it. Beside your appetizer that could pass for a piece of artwork sits a glass of wine, small beads of condensation forming on its exterior from the peaceful afternoon heat. As you lift the glass up to your nose, you detect honeycomb and lime peel and when the liquid finds your mouth, you wonder if you are sampling a taste of heaven.
The view of your dining experience almost takes your breath away at every glimpse, a vast expanse of vines, lakes and mountains. You can’t help but smile as you recall the spontaneous yoga class you and your friends held at the top of Knox mountain after an incredible hike this morning. It will be tough to top that tomorrow, but you will try with a round of golf scheduled at sunrise, and a date with the beach in the afternoon.
Is this a dream? A fictional paradise?
No, this is the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia; Canada’s own paradise.
Taste
When you come to the Okanagan Valley you will soon realize that all these amazing wines, restaurants, and activities are not just entertainment, they are the way of life. The people of the Kelowna live days full of excitement and creativity, inspired by the beautiful surrounding landscape.
That landscape happens to be the perfect environment to grow a wide variety of grapes, with almost 9,000 acres planted across the Valley. There are over 170 licensed wineries in the Okanagan that consistently produce world class wines that hold their own at international competitions. The winemakers of the Valley are true artisans, producing wines with unique attributes and qualities that will have your palate wanting more.
What pairs best with an incredible glass of wine? Mouth watering, local and organic menus created by some of the best chefs in Canada. According to Opentable, year after year, about 10 of the best restaurants in Canada can be found in the Okanagan. Although the food is spectacular, the views are almost superior with most restaurants overlooking endless seas of vineyards interrupted only by fresh water lakes, beautifully constructed Okanagan homes and ancient mountains.
Explore
Everyday is a new adventure in the Okanagan with endless ways to find excitement. Hike up Mount Boucherie for one of the best views in Canada, or schedule a round of golf at a world class club such as Predator Ridge. Take to the lakes to practice your water sports and fishing, and look to the mountains if you want to climb, bike, zip-line or even paraglide.
Prefer the indoors you say? Perhaps you can find your adrenaline rush at the slot machines and poker tables of the Lake City Casinos. They conveniently have locations in both Vernon and Kelowna, but if you don’t feel like gambling, you can head over to the H2O Adventure and Fitness centre to practice your surfing on the indoor wave simulator, Flowrider.
Indulge
After conquering a mountain or hiking through vineyards all day, it’s time to relax. Head over to the KurSpa at the Sparkling Hill Resort. The KurSpa is one of the largest luxury spas in Canada, and recognized as one of the most unique spas in the world. After the spa, further your relaxation with a Vinyasa flow yoga class outdoors in Kelowna Mountain Park.
You can also satisfy your inner artist by checking out one of the many art galleries and museums of the Valley. You can appreciate the little details of life at the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad which is home to a population of 26,000 tiny people, or support the local artists at the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market.
Live
The Okanagan Valley is amazing destination for a vacation, but imagine what your life would be like if you called this beautiful location home.
Kelowna is full of homes for sale just as spectacular as the surrounding scenery. If you are a BC resident who is worn down by the real estate market and city lifestyle of Vancouver, you may be pleasantly surprised when you discover the affordability of Kelowna and the surrounding region in comparison.
Now is an ideal time to purchase a home in Kelowna area, giving buyers an opportunity to invest in the market where the homes are affordable in comparison to metropolitan centers, especially for a first time buyers or young families. Kelowna offers so many unique neighbourhoods to choose from making it difficult to know where to start your search. There are many new developments springing up but one in particular has captured our hearts.
The Stonegate residence at Big White is about an hour east from downtown Kelowna and offers all the best qualities of the Okanagan in one location. Big White is one of Canada’s highest rated ski resorts that brings much more than amazing hills to the table, with full amenities that include an indoor pool and full spa. Of course you would have world class skiing at your doorstep all winter long, while during the warmer months you could spend your time on the endless miles of biking trails.
Whether you are looking to make the Okanagan the location of your next dream home, or you are looking to sell an existing home in Kelowna, we would love to help you through the process.
What are you waiting for? Canadian paradise awaits.
Sean Skuter Realtor
RE/MAX Kelowna #100 – 1553 Harvey Avenue
Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y6G1
C (250) 801-3654 O (250) 717-5000
E sean@seanskuter.com