With its lush valleys and deep turquoise lakes, the Thompson Okanagan region is one of British Columbia's most beautiful areas for self guided road touring. Accommodations are readily available in all price ranges, and road signs denote the most major farms, orchards, markets, and vineyards.
Ripened on the tree or vine is what makes Okanagan fruits exceptional but this also makes them seasonal.
Plan your trip through the region to coincide with the picking season of your favourite fruits:
- June: cherries
- July: apricots, peaches, tomatoes
- August: tomatoes, pears, plums, apples, cucumbers, corn
- September: apples, plums, squash
Some places to start:
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Experience the magnificent orchards - the heart and soul of the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. Pick your own ripe fruit and taste the difference that genuine freshness makes.
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Watch jams, preserves and syrups being made, thick with fruit and natural sweeteners at Summerland Sweets.
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Sate your sweet tooth at Planet Bee Honey Farm in Vernon. Taste the distinct honey flavours that result as nectar is collected from different kinds of fruit blossoms.
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Observe as master cheese artisans craft superb cheeses; Carmelis Goat Cheese near Kelowna, Gort's Gouda Farm in Salmon Arm are just two of the many cheese businesses to visit.
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Stroll through fields of exquisite lavender.
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Experience the natural healing properties of ginseng .
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Take the kids to Chickadee Ridge Miniatures, a miniature horse farm.
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Harvest festivals throughout the region celebrate the area's bounty, ranging from the five-day Penticton Peach Festival, now in its 61st year, to smaller celebrations such as the one-day Festival of the Tomato in Oliver.
Tours
Distinctly Kelowna Tours offers a variety of wine and agri-tours, including a half-day Orchard, Cheese & Cider Tour with stops at Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan overlooking spectacular Okanagan Lake, followed by an orchard tour at Kelowna Land & Orchard, and a refreshing cider tasting at the farm's Raven Ridge Cidery.
Be sure to check with individual farms and businesses for details about their tour programs.