Oliver / Osoyoos
Before becoming a celebrated wine region, Oliver and Osoyoos were legendary for orchard fruit. In fact, they still are. If you like stone fruit — peaches and cherries — the South Okanagan is your candy store. And if your idea of a real tomato is one kissed by the sun until bursting with ripe juice, you’ll find love at roadside fruitstands and on the patios of the many restaurants that highlight the products of local farms.
Summers are famously hot and dry here in Canada’s only desert. Be prepared for temperatures that might hit 38C on a July afternoon. Pack your swimsuit and a picnic, and take a dip in Osoyoos Lake. Although it’s likely Canada’s warmest lake, the water feels pleasantly refreshing on a scorcher of a day.
This is a delicate eco-system, but one you can safely explore by walking the boardwalk at Osoyoos Desert Centre (desert.org). Or get up early to beat the heat and hike up to the lookout atop Anarchist Mountain.
Black Hills Estate Winery
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Culmina Family Estate Winery
Lakeside Cellars
Nk'Mip Cellars
Tinhorn Creek
