Let the Okanagan sun shift your pace to low-key and laid-back. The region’s warm dessert climate, virtuously local cuisine and many wine trails and craft distilleries will have you unwound before you can say “gamay.”
stay: Originally built in 1926, the historic Hotel Eldorado is ample with serene spaces to idle. Take a stroll on the marina or recline in the “Hamptons-esque” lounge, which adjoins the bar. Be sure to ask for a room in the historic wing, where each suite is uniquely decorated with charming antiques. Hotel Eldorado, 500 Cook Rd., Kelowna, 250-763-7500, www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com
start: Whether you’re part of the Italian-style coffee camp or prefer a West Coast profile, both GioBean Coffee and Bean Scene Coffee Works have an impressive passion for quality, with brews that will ease you, very deliciously, into a leisurely day.
savour: For the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of imbibing, stop in for lunch at the Salted Brick where chef Jason Leizert creates his own charcuterie and features a daily menu based on local and seasonal ingredients. While judging the recent Devour Kelowna, it was a single bite from Mission Hill that transformed my notions of Okanagan cuisine. I can only imagine an entire dining experience at the acclaimed winery. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery, 1730 Mission Hill Rd., West Kelowna, 250-768-7611, www.missionhillwinery.com
sip: With wineries, craft breweries and distilleries, you can create your own Kelowna adventure. Tantalus Vineyards is an artistic blend of precise wines and sustainable farming while Tree Brewing’s beer institute serves tank to tap, using hops grown right on the rooftop. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery offers tastings of pure and fresh fruit liqueurs, like a fresh basket of summer raspberries in a glass. Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, 267 Bernard Ave., Kelowna, 778-484-5174, www.okanaganspirits.com
sweets & eats: I was totally taken aback when I walked into a Parisian pâtisserie in the heart of Kelowna. Sandrine French Pastry’s display of macarons, croissants and classic Mille Feuille (an original Parisian recipe) brought back sweet memories. For comforting breads, Okanagan Grocery bakes some of the best artisan loaves in B.C. using old, natural starters affectionately named Naomi and Arnold. Okanagan Grocery Artisan Breads Bakery, 2355 Gordon Dr., Kelowna, 250-862-2811, www.okanagangrocery.com
stroll: Approaching Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm, I was overwhelmed by calming scents drifting through the air. Walk rows of purple lavender (charmingly similar to the fields of Provence) and feel any last layers of bustling city life fall away. Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm, 4380 Takla Rd., Kelowna, 250-764-7795, www.okanaganlavender.com
shop: Olive & Elle curates all versions of local and international “domestic therapy.” To prolong the tranquil feeling, check out a line of Vancouver-based small-batch aromatherapy sprays called Happy Spritz that can be packed in your suitcase for home. Olive & Elle, 1585 Pandosy St., Kelowna, 250-862-2778, oliveandelle.com
Enjoy, imbibe and unwind! —Jackie Kai Ellis
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