We have Interval International timeshare to use next year - probably 1st week in Oct. I think there is a wine festival going on. Since we've never been, would like some advice for our base...we can try for Kelowna, Osooyos or Vernon. We want to visit wineries, see the region that everyone raves about, visit some towns, enjoy the scenery. Judy in Calgary - I see you're still a contributor - do you have any thoughts? We would drive from Calgary and either drive back to Calgary after our week in Okanagan or drive on to Victoria to visit relatives. HELP!

If you're into the wine, then I'd go either Kelowna or Osooyoos - both are good bases for Okanagan wine tours.

I prefer the South Okanagan wines and wineries (plus I more or less grew up in Oliver which is only a few miles from Osooyoos) so I'd go Osooyoos first, however it's pretty small. If you want a good combination of a relatively lively town and proximity to the north Okanagan wineries, then Kelowna is the way to go.

I'd avoid Vernon - it's about an hour north of Kelowna which is a bit too far for the wineries - plus, I find it's a bit run-down (just my opinion).

If you have the option, Penticton is another good choice - it's at the other end of Okanagan Lake from Kelowna and is pretty much smack-dab in the middle of the wine - more or less equal drive to the north and south okanagan wineries, plus the Naramata bench is about 2 minutes away (a must-see if you're into wine). Also about half-way between the size of Kelowna and Osooyoos...

Interval has properties in Kelowna, more or less at the north end of the wine area and Osoyoos, at the south end of the wine area.
In Kelowna there is the Manteo Resort where I stayed last fall during the festival. It was very nice, right on the lake and had some events right at the hotel. Also in Kelowna is the Okanagan Grand, right downtown on the lake, adjacent to a rather pitiful casino. That hotel is also very nice.
Osoyoos is about a ninety minute to two hour drive south. We are gong to be staying at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa there in September. It look really nice.
Most of the wineries are in the south Okanagan, so at Osoyoos you would be closer to Oliver and Penticton, which have the most wineries. In the south the wineries seem to specialize in the red wines that need the hotter climate and in the north around Kelowna they are more recognized for their whites.
Vernon, being a bit north of Kelowna, isn't as close to the wine area.

Thanks for input. Lunabug - could you let me know how you like Spirit Ridge? It's one of our choices. How "big" and busy is Kelowna and do you think we would be bored staying our one week in Osoyoos?

I really think you should stay in Osoyoos. Kelowna is very very busy and traffic can be a nightmare. Osoyoos is certainly smaller but we have our summer home in Oliver so I know the area well. If you want to visit wineries and be part of the wine festival than you should definitely stay in Osoyoos. There are so many wineries between Osoyoos and Penticton you would be hard pressed to see half of them. The area is so pretty. You can certainly take a day trip up to Kelowna but I think you would be much happier in the south.

I strongly doubt that you will still be able to trade timeshares for Kelowna for the wine festival time Sept 29- Oct 8.
You may want to forego a trade and look into a beautiful new all condo hotel in Westbank. www.covelakeside.com This is the first season they are open, and they may have some great packages. There are additional pictures at www.ownthecove.com/html both sites have great links to local activities.

Hi, traveller69! I rather thought you would respond to canuckuphereathome's post about Okanagan.

canuckuphereathome -- I agree with BikerScott's preference for the wines of of the southern part of Okanagan. Mostly, our favorite wineries are between Penticton and Oliver.

I don't particularly care for Osoyoos -- IMO, it is kindof run down, and just a little bit too hot and arid. Now, I live in Orlando, Florida, but still... Kelowna strikes me as just another city, on the big side for that area. And yes, the traffic can be a nightmare, especially crossing over the bridge around rush hour.

Since you are planning on NEXT year instead of THIS year (am I correct?), I think you should have some choice. We will be visiting there in a couple of weeks, and traveller69 is the area expert. If there are any sites you are curious about, let me know. We will try to drive by and give you some feedback.

Hi again Sludick

I am glad you are addicted to our wines!! I just love the area and I have found that just since we have been back from Arizona several smaller estate wineries have popped up. So of course I will have to check them out as well. I agree with you about Osoyoos. We looked at both Osoyoos and Oliver before we bought and really like the "town" feel in Oliver. I was thinking that canuckuphere just had the option of Kelowna,Vernon or Osoyoos in which case I still stand by my recommendation for proximity to dozens of great wineries. Where are you going to stay? We are really into great weather now (although I am currently in Victoria but heading back up there next week) You will be in good time for some of the early releases. Noble Ridge has their list out now so get there quick before all the good ones are gone!!! Also, Fairview Cellars still has some wines. Their reds are great but he is usually sold out in a week or two. Let me know which wineries you visited and what you thought.

Canuckuphere - if you have any questions just ask but I can promise that you won't be disappointed with our area. You mentioned driving on to Victoria. Have you ever been? Where is home for you? If you haven't been to Victoria you really must visit. Of course I am partial as we have a home in both locations. Let us know more of your plans (Where you are coming from and are you flying etc etc)

Yes, we would be going next year (2008) and can be flexible in our timing. We thought the best time would be late Sept. or early Oct. and thought it might be fun to make our week the wine festival time but that's not really a necessity. The only place Interval offers in Osoyoos is Spririt Ridge and perhaps we would have a better chance at the rental if we were flexible on our dates. So if we don't care when we go, what weeks would you suggest we try for to ensure (as best possible!) good weather and that stuff will be open etc. If we do go say after the wine festival in October - would the weather still be good? And if that's the case, would Kelowna be less "busy" then? Our best choices in Kelowna look to be Grand Okanagan, Bellasera Tuscan and Manteo Beach Club. But again, I have no objection being in Osoyoos either.

Hi, traveller69! This time we have only a night at the Holiday Inn Express at West Bank, we're using free points. It's a stopover on a looping drive from Vancouver to Okanagan to Leavenworth (timeshare) to relatives in Everett/Marysville/Anacortes. We'll be sure to let you know where we stopped and bought wine.

canuckuphereathome -- I believe you hail from SW Ontario? If so, the desert environment of Osoyoos might be a welcome change for you. Did a quick check of Spirit Ridge and see that it is practically brand new and owned (in part, anyway) by the Osoyoos Indian Tribe (isn't it First Nations up there?). Since we do timeshare ourselves, we'll have to stop by to look, and I'll add to your post when we do (vising end of May, in about 1-1/2 weeks).

Out of curiosity -- if you do drive on to Victoria, would you be dropping the car off and flying home?

thx sludick..yes, I do hail from sw Ontario! Hadn't given the car rental much thought but my brother lives in Calgary and thought it would be nice to start there..but if we do go on to Victoria, it wouldn't make much sense to come all the way back to Calgary just to drop off car - would it?? Once I get my plans firmer, I will start to ask the car rental questions! Most of our decision to go to Victoria depends on another couple joining us..they have relatives in Victoria so we would go there. But if they don't come, we have no real reason to go there and would likely just go back to Calgary for car drop off and flight home. Out of curiousity, is it a huge premium to pick up car in Calgary and drop off in Vancouver?

HI again Canuck. I highly recommend visiting the last half of September. Our weather is just gorgeous then and wine festival week is a little crazy so you wouldn't get to spend as much time at each winery. There are lots of bus tours through then and the tasting rooms get very very crowded. Just an aside - I don't know where in SW Ontario you are from but if you did decide on the Victoria visit - Westjet has great one way fares out of YYJ to Hamilton. I will also check out Spirit Ridge for you just in case Sludick doesn't get the chance (in case she visits one too many wineries!!) Keep in touch as you make more plans and Sludick have a great visit and be sure to do the trip report.

Just a note, the person that said Osoyoos is a bit run down hasn't been there for awhile! It is a beautiful little town, and much nicer that Oliver, IMHO.

I agree with "dar" - Osoyoos is a very pretty little town with a lot of new development (last two years), BUT it can get very hot in the summer months.

As for a suggestion for accommodation in the Okanagan, we recently stayed in a very comfortable cabin/cottage in Naramata with a beautiful view to Lake Okanagan and would recommend it to anyone, especially families. Only downside is that you'll have to drive about 16 km (10 miles) south to Penticton before heading out anywhere. Mind you, there are lots of wineries on the Naramata benchlands.
Check out Sanday Beach Resort (http://www.sandybeachresort.com/).

Enjoy!!!

We just returned from Osoyoos and stayed at Spirit Ridge Lodge. Comments on SRL: this is generally a first class act, and the NK'MIP Desert Cultural Center is as well. Views from the ridge cannot be beat. The restaurant is fantastic--plan on a sunset timing there to sit outside with warm breezes and watch Osoyoos lights start to twinkle below. However, a few things to be aware of about SRL. Beach is 15 min away, walking, and is part of th NK'MIP Campgrond RV park)--with about 300 some odd RV's. So, those are at your back if you were to spend some time at their grassy park + beach area, where the marina also is. Mountain/golf course rooms on first floor face the parking lot and road, at eye level, about 30 ft away. If you book on that side, try for 2nd floor at least. Construction is starting soon on that side of the suite buildings for the new condo. Hiking is elsewhere in Osoyoos--not at SRL-- trails near SRL are associated with the Desert Cultural Centre--separate business, entrance fee.
If you can afford it, best to get lake view (top floors) or villa; curb expectations about the beach/marina.

email me for other tid bits. Loved osoyoos better than Kelowna, but it was indeed hot in August.

We just returned from Osoyoos and stayed at Spirit Ridge Lodge. Comments on SRL: this is generally a first class act, and the NK'MIP Desert Cultural Center is as well. Views from the ridge cannot be beat. The restaurant is fantastic--plan on a sunset timing there to sit outside with warm breezes and watch Osoyoos lights start to twinkle below. However, a few things to be aware of about SRL. Beach is 15 min away, walking (shuttle service via golf cart provided), and is part of th NK'MIP Campground RV park)--with about 300 some odd RV's. So, those are at your back if you were to spend some time at their grassy park + beach area, where the marina also is. Mountain/golf course rooms on first floor face the parking lot and road, at eye level, about 30 ft away. If you book on that side, try for 2nd floor at least. Construction is starting soon on that side of the suite buildings for the new condo. Hiking is elsewhere in Osoyoos--not at SRL-- trails near SRL are associated with the Desert Cultural Centre--separate business, entrance fee.
If you can & want to, best to get lake view (top floors) or villa; curb your expectations about the beach/marina.

Wineries there are great. Liked Burrowing Owl especially. Things I would've done differently: brought (or bought there) cheap folding camp chairs, and used them on Hayne's Point Provincial part--the spit of land that extends into the lake. With a bottle of wine, at sunset... Wildfire Grill downtown recommended. Knowing what I know now, I would've at least considered the Holiday Inn there, had I understood about the locations, beaches, walking & park and trail opportunities, and that HI has condo units w/kitchens. Even though I'm drawn to SRL type places, this might have been preferrable. Something to consider.

Thanks for the insight on Spirit Ridge Lodge. If you don't mind the question... did you stay as a timeshare or a regular hotel rental?

I've just joined as a member. I live between Kelowna & Vernon 2 minutes away from our local winery Gray Monk Cellars. I agree with a previous poster ...I would either stay in Kelowna or Penticton but not Vernon (not knocking Vernon - just ..if it's a wine vacation it's a bit far north). I worked at one of our local wineries for 5 yrs so I know quite a bit about the various wineries.
As far as accomodations...I have heard only great things about Manteo Beach in Kelowna. And Sandy Beach Resort in Naramate is GORGEOUS too...but it is more secluded & at the end of a VERY windy road. Gotta really pay attention driving on that Naramata Rd. !!!

Yes Kelowna & that damn bridge CAN be a nightmare at times but not likely at the time the poster is talking about coming here. Right now - mid August..yes it can be a gong show with all the high-season tourist traffic but in October...no problem.

I guess if it was ME coming to visit here for a first time - I would either stay in Kelowna (& do day trips around the valley) or stay in Penticton.

Let me know if you need any other info. about the Okanagan Valley. More than happy to try to help !

thanks for feedbacks seaside and sas! sas - do you know anything about Grand Okanagan or Bellasera Tuscan in Kelowna?

We stayed at Manteo Resort in a lakeview room three weeks ago. We found it to be very good.