This summer, a trip to British Columbia in Canada included a visit to the Okanagan. A series of lakes, valleys, and mountains – the result of glaciation – greeted me as I crossed the northcentral border with Washington state. The pace felt slower, more relaxed, and agricultural; just what I needed for a vacation-break.
Today, wine-makers, tourists, and retirees tread where fur traders and miners (boomtown of Fairview) once roamed. The climate, mostly semi-arid and the mildest, warmest in Canada, supports many types of orchards and grape vines. Small and medium-sized vintners abound in the valleys — on back roads, in residential neighborhoods, and on benches/terraces overlooking the suitable-for-recreation-sized lakes. Plus, First Nations cultures are displayed with significance in the area.
For a relaxing time, check it out.