Canada - Penticton & Osoyoos

We rounded off last week with a visit to Summerland in South Western British Columbia so we pick up continuing down Route 97 and hit the city of Penticton. It's quite a large city with a buzz in the summer months due to the unusual geographic position of sitting between two lakes. Lake Okanagan lies to the North and Lake Skaha to the South so there's no need to worry about rushing to the beach to grab the best spots as there's two of them!

I spent a couple of nights in Penticton and I have to admit it was my Canadian 'summer holiday' as it almost felt like being on the Spanish coast. I remember on arrival we pulled up to make a short walk across the car park of the ice hockey arena to tourist information and the heat was almost unbearable so I had to enter the ice hockey arena to cool down! If you want sun this is the place to be during the summer months of June to August.

So picture it, a desert like atmosphere, cloudless skies with intense sun and two lakes with beaches packed full of tourists, not to mention the lake front being lined with bars and clubs which keeps the party going after the suns sinks below the lakes. But what differentiates this beauty spot to the Spanish coast is that it's very family orientated and is the perfect place to relax and unwind if your passing through on your travels like myself.

The tapas bars are excellent and of reasonable price not to mention the bars on the lake front which offer quality family entertainment all night. The best bars I found were the ones that are part of resorts, 'The Barking Parrot Bar' just inches off the Okanagan Lake have a great sun soaked atmosphere where you could comfortably spend a night without making a dent in the pocket. Accommodation on the lake front is fairly expensive for obvious reasons so I'd advice to stay inland where it's a lot cheaper.

If you continue down Route 97 you'll reach Osoyoos on the Osoyoos Lake, another place to kick back and enjoy the rays. I only spent half a day there but from what I encountered it was a smaller less lively destination where you can just enjoy the views with a glass of wine. Osoyoos is covered in vineyards and claims to have the 'warmest freshwater lake in Canada', it really is a place for the loved up couples and older generation to take a second to appreciate what’s around them. Travelling just East of the town you'll drive up a steep hillside past the plentiful vineyards to a lookout spot.

What a view.

The sparkling lake amongst the desert surroundings is easy on the eye and in the same view you'll see the Northern hills of another country.. the United States of America which lies just 2 kilometres to the South.

You've lapped up the best Canada can offer when it comes to the perfect summer holiday but now your stuck with a choice, turn left on Route 3 to Vancouver or right following the border back to Alberta which we chose.

Next Week: Grand Forks & Trail.