Earlier this month, Brody & I took a quick road trip over to Kelowna, BC.
The trip & wine tour were a Christmas present from Brody ā¤ļø
We had such an amazing time and would like to share our experiences with everyone incase it is helpful for your upcoming trips
Our Route
With the fires in Jasper at the time (our thoughts are with the residents for a speedy recovery), we took the south route through Banff, Golden, and Revelstoke on our way there.Ā
On our way home we took a leisurely path through Penticton& Osoyoos, before following the road near the boarder with the US through Trail, FruitvaleĀ & Creston.
If you have the time to do this drive, we highly recommend it as it is very scenic and a little off the main path so there is less traffic compared to the routes through Banff and Jasper. However it did add 4 hours of driving to our return trip. For us, it was worth it 100%
Plus you can't beat the fresh local fruit stands along the way
Meet Me On Bernard
One thing we had no idea about, and highly recommend for visitors is this summer event.
What this is, is that from May 19thĀ to September 4th, they close down Bernard Avenue located in Downtown Kelowna and turn it into a pedestrian street. This goes all the way down to the shores of Okanagan lake!
They extend the existing patios and add more, plus performances, farmers/craft markets, programs, art installations and more! During the day this is a family friendly haven of activities for all ages. And in the evening hours (especially Friday/Saturday nights) it is a spread out and exciting scene with performances, acts, and delicious food / beverages at the patios.Ā
Also, if you are anything like we are and love water (lakes / rivers / ocean) make sure you visit the beaches. They are lovely. We ended up not having enough time to go swimming, but were definitely jealous of those in the water. Additionally, we at one point wandered across this war memorial that was humbling amidst all the activity and joy in the area.
As this is a summer & a city event there is plenty of security, and from what we experienced everyone was friendly / in a great mood. Plus! This is a huge boost to the local economy
Come support local in Kelowna this summer.
Wineries
The Okanagan Valley is world renowned for its wineries and stunning countryside. Brody chose Quails Gate Winery for our very first wine tasting. And while we are by no means wine connoisseurs it was a fun and pleasant experience. The staff was cheerful and very informative. Plus because we had reserved the reserve collection tasting option, we were on the deck overlooking the vineyard and lake. Honestly, was the perfect day for this.Ā
We ended up trying 8 different wines. And while we didn't love them all (once again not wine connoisseurs over here) the ones that we did love we bought bottles of to bring home for ourselves and some as gifts.Ā
Now I will be the first person to admit that I have a lower alcohol tolerance than Brody, especially when it comes to wine. And it was early afternoon by this point, so we took the opportunity to pop into the restaurant at the winery for a light lunch.Ā
Old Vines RestaurantĀ is 100% in the picturesque location overlooking both the vineyard and the lake with floor to ceiling windows, impeccably designed interior and an absolutely romantic patio. We arrived at the start of their happy hour, so the main menu was not available to try. The happy hour menu was still delicious and was a lovely atmosphere to chat and enjoy our vacation.
Fun fact: They also host weddings, and the photos are stunning
Photography
The other reason for this trip was to have professional photos taken so that we had some to hang on our admittedly barren walls at home.
& for once it wasn't the lady in the relationship bringing up professional photoshoots, it was Brody's idea and I loved it!
This was a first-time experience for us both, so we weren't sure what to expect.Ā After reviewing many portfolios of photographers in the area, we reached out to Tara Pena with Primer, Rust, and Roses Photography.Ā Tara was quick to respond and honestly made the process so easy for us. We met up at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park in the evening. If anyone is looking for a photographer in the Okanagan we recommend checking out Tara's portfolio, she is down to earth, fun & easy going, and gives great directions. With us being awkward people naturally, and complete novices at having photos taken like this, she made us feel 100% comfortable to just be ourselves, laugh and goof off. She is 100% devoted to her craft.
We've seen a couple sneak peaks so far, and are excited to see the rest ā¤ļø
Restaurants
For those who know us, Brody & I are definitely quality food people --- although I don't think we are quite at the "foodie" designation yet.Ā So when we travel, we tend to splurge a bit and try to always choose local businesses to support and experience.Ā
Some of the experiences we would like to share with you are here
Gulfstream at Four Points Sheraton
By the time we arrived in Kelowna on our first night there, we were tired and needed a break from driving. Luckily Gulfstream is located in the hotel and was a nice place to decompress and have a nice meal.Ā
The food and service were good, the restaurant was comfortable and all around no complaints on the service.Ā
The only thing I will say is that for what you get, the price is a bit steep. I had a small soup and salad, while Brody had a pasta with 1 drink and it was over $100. Yes, we should have paid attention to prices when we ordered but both of us were just tired at that point. That being said, we aren't against spending more on a really good higher quality meal. It's just....this wasn't that. It wasn't a bad meal, just not worth the price in our opinion.Ā
The Jammery
Hands down, a great wholesome experience. The whole atmosphere reminds you of visiting Grandma's house, full of light and coziness.Ā Ā
Service was wonderful, our waitresses and the greeter were cheerful, engaged, and it was clearly not just lip-service.Ā
The food was excellent. We even came back the next morning for breakfast again because we both enjoyed it that much.
For those who enjoy eggs benedict, you need to try their Besto Pesto Eggs Bennedict. Yes. A pesto hollandaise sauce. I wasn't sure about it when I ordered it, but this was hands down the best I had ever tried. Brody didn't want any because it included grilled tomato's (lol anti-tomato guy).Ā
Their French toast was slightly addicting as well. There is a reason that The Jammery was featured on "You Gotta Eat Here"
Also: they have a gift shop with some adorable and quirky (in a good way) items. Plus teas & house made jams available to bring home
Salt & Brick
After our photo session with Tara we were looking for somewhere for a late dinner. This is also how we discovered the night life of "Meet Me On Bernard" haha. After a bit of walking we came across Salt & Brick and decided to give it a try.Ā
Once again, excellent customer service, very personable and engaged.Ā
But remember when I mentioned that Brody & I enjoy food but aren't exactly foodies? This was at the end of a long but very enjoyable day, and was about 9:30 at night (the area was still operating at a 10/10 with summertime festivities), so I may not have been paying as much attention as I should have again.
Salt & Brick specializes on sharable small plates, so you can try a variety of items. A really neat aspect of their restaurant is that their menu changes EVERY day. And their chef is wonderfully creative. They ran out of a couple ingredients for two of their dishes, so he came up with a new Taki dish (apologies, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called) and Brody loved it. The thing was though that we were the first ones to order it and the chef came out personally to bring us the food and introduce the dish. He was just tickled pink sincerely and that honestly made my night.
I love brussel sprouts normally, so when I saw it on the menu I ordered it automatically.....without reading the rest of the description. So imagine my surprise when a brussel sprout dish appears covered in a whipped cream/beer/cheese sauce, grapes, and.....popcorn. Yup popcorn. I was confused at first and had to double / triple check the menu. 110% I ordered a dish with popcorn on top. Haha definitely should pay more attention. But at the same time it was really good! Different, yes, but good.Ā
If you are looking to try something fun and new and have a good casual time with friends, hit up Salt & Brick
Kangaroo Creek Farm
Last year Brody's sister & hubby visited Kangaroo Creek Farm and brought it to our attention. Kangaroo Creek Farm started off as a rescue more than 20 years ago. They are focused on education, realism, and providing the facts in a safe learning environment. When I say "Safe" I mean for the animals and then for the humans.Ā
This is their home, they are not domesticated animals, nor are they pets. We are only guests here, and the guides will show you how to behave (what to and not to do) to make sure everyone has a good time.
Now here's the thing, when it comes to kid orientated tours / events that sound touristy such as a "petting zoo that you can see kangaroos at" generally this steers Brody & I away as they typically aren't activities we enjoy by ourselves. But Kangaroo's had our interest peaked. And we were wrong.
Kangaroo Creek isn't a fantasy land, things are not sugar coated. Nor do they have their hands out at every turn asking for money for this and that and oh don't forget the souvenir shop that you must Ā visit. *insert eye roll here* That sort of stuff is a big turn off for us and really takes away from experiences. Kangaroo Creek is nothing like that, and that is a breath of fresh air.Ā
This isn't to say that there isn't an entrance fee, there is, and we happily paid $30 each as we went during the high season. But the money goes to upkeep of the property, food, special diets, vet bills, medicines (if needed), and of course paying the staff, all year long.Ā
The entrance fee was worth every penny of the experience and then some.
We spent an easy two hours there meeting and visiting with the animals. And where the guides said we could, (and the animals allowed) we petted and fed treats to them.Ā
When we arrived a show was about to start and a crowd gathered, we decided to stick around and see what it was going to be on. And like the rest of the farm, the show was excellent. The two speakers were engaging and funny. They brought out a handful of different animals, reptiles, and birds to introduce to the crowd (and some performed a couple talents).Ā For each, they would explain a story about them and facts about diet / raising them and their species.Ā
One part in particular that I very much appreciate is how they bluntly explained why each animal should not be thought of as a pet, nor kept as a pet. And they laid out clear and realistic facts to support each.Ā Ā
The animals we had the privilege to see and interact with:
Red Kangaroos
Wallaroos
Wallabies (including a few albino ones)
Sugar Gliders ā¤ļø
Pot Bellied Pigs
Goats
Parrots
Peacocks
Fancy Chickens
Emu's
CAPYBARAS
Turkeys
Tortoises
And there are more to! š
All in all it truly is a great place to experience for all ages.
All in all we had a great time in Kelowna, and recommend it to anyone looking for a road trip in the area
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