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Pacific
Northwest
Cities
and Towns of Thompson Okanagan
Blue River
Chase
Clearwater
Kamloops
Kelowna
Keremeos
Merritt
Osoyoos
Peachland
Penticton
Salmon Arm
Valemount
Vernon
Westbank
BC Wines and Wineries
Name
Okanagen is an Indian word meaning "rendezvous". Originally
applied to the river's head at Osoyoos Lake on the B.C.-Washington border where Indians
gathered annually to trade and hold potlatches.
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Okanagan Lake as seen from
Highway 97 looking north toward the town of Peachland.
The Thompson Okanagan,
long considered British Columbia’s
breadbasket, lies at the center of the province, surrounded on the west by
the rich farmlands of the Vancouver mainland and Fraser Valley and on the
east, by the Rocky Mountains. BC’s fruit orchards and wineries are nurtured
by the warm summers and crisp winters of the
Okanagan valley. The
temperatures are a perfect combination for the province’s favorite vacation
destination.
Home of some of the Northwest’s top winter recreation areas, the Thompson
Okanagan is easily accessible by a number of routes. Good roads and signage
connect the Vancouver
area with the region. The Coquillhalla Highway, BC’s toll road, cuts
diagonally across the state from Hope to
Kamloops and provides an easy drive to the city. From Kamloops,
excursions to the Okanagan’s ski resorts and wineries are just hours away.
For those who prefer a more picturesque route, Highway 3, which runs
west-east along the Canadian-U.S. border to
Osoyoos, or Highway 1, which follows the historic gold miners’ trail
through the Fraser Canyon to Kamloops, are well-paved, though slower
highways.
Highway 97 is the Okanagan’s main north-south corridor
and runs for several miles from the border with
Washington State north to the
towns of Osoyoos,
Penticton,
Summerland,
Peachland,
Kelowna and Vernon, all of which lie
alongside Okanagan Lake.
Lake Okanagan, at the center
of the region, is known for its miles of sandy
beaches and Southern California-style summers and is
frequented by travelers from around the world.
South of
the border, Highway 97 takes the traveler through
the towns of
Chelan, Omak and
the warm, arid lands of Washington State's own desert ranchlands. But no matter
which road is taken, an excursion to BC’s play land is worth the journey. |
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British Columbia Wine
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British Columbia Handbook:
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May 2000, Paperback, 5th edition, 430
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(non-fiction)
Covering recreation, accommodations,
food, transportation, and sights for all regions in British Columbia.
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