W. Canada 2000
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This page last updated on August 7, 2000
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Could have stayed at Nelson for weeks but the site was fully booked
and we had to move on after 4 days, on July 13, 2000. Sandy had wanted
to go to Europe and/or go on a cruise for our 15th Anniversary, so we compromised
and selected a route to Vernon that included
a free ferry ride! Stopped off along the way at Nakusp for lunch
on the patio by Slocan Lake, and then booked into Swan Lake Resort in Vernon,
BC. Nelson is in the Kootenays and Vernon in the Okanagan Valley
- it's much warmer here and the temperatures in summer are often in the
30's, but fortunately it's not humid like Toronto. Vernon is at the
north end of Lake Okanagan but is also on Kalamalka Lake and Swan Lake
- it's a beautiful region with great drives and views wherever you go.
We booked in for 4 days but changed it after two days to stay for a month!
Kelowna is only 45 mins away and has all the shopping conveniences we are
used to (Costco, Chapters, Wal-Mart, etc) but Vernon has a really nice
small town feel and is surrounded by first class facilities. Silver
Star Mountain is 15 minutes away (World Cup Mountain Biking, skiing), Predator
Ridge GC is 15 mins (The Skins Game with Couples, Mickelson, etc is on
Aug 8,9), and Kalamalka Lake/Beach/Park is in town - this place has lots
to offer, especially as real estate is a bargain compared to Toronto.
We could easily get a beautiful waterfront property for less than the cost
of our home. Plan to explore the area and visit towns like Kelowna,
Penticton, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, etc while golfing and MTB'ing locally
- fortunately the golf is still inexpensive here.
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The Anniversary Cruise!
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Nakusp lakefront
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Lake Kalamalka, Vernon - $115,000
for lot
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Silver Star Mountain Resort
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Dodge Viper time trials at
Silver Star
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MTB trail and alpine flowers
at Silver Star
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Armstrong golf ($27 and 10
mins away)
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Shaswup Lake, Salmon Arm
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Took a trip to Mabel Lake and stopped off
at Shuswap Falls where there is a BC Hydro Generating Station with some
pretty dramatic scenery. Mabel Lake is popular for swimming and fishing
and there's not much else there except for Cascade Falls.
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Shuswap Falls
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Mabel Lake
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Cascade Falls
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We've had several visits to Kelowna to
check out the facilities, housing, etc as this is one of our prime places
to consider moving to for a year or two. There's a really nice development
at Gallagher's Canyon with beautiful bungalow homes on the golf course,
along with a great residents' clubhouse ( pool, exercise, woodwork shop,
pottery room, etc. ). Kelowna is right on Lake Okanagan and has lots
of facilities (good stores, theatre, hospitals, etc - pretty similar to
Oakville in size and facilities).
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Typical Bungalow at Gallagher's
Canyon
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1st hole at Gallagher's Canyon
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Resident's clubhouse grounds
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Kelowna from Knox Mountain
Park
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Kelowna waterfront, Grand Hotel
and Casino
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Waterfront condo's
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Silver Star Mountain is just a minutes
away from Vernon (22 Km and a few thousand feet vertically) and has mountain
biking and hiking in the summer as well as being a major ski destination.
It's usually about 10C cooler up there so it's a pleasant place to hike
- especially during the Mountain Wildflower Festival on the August long
weekend.
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Downhill racing at Silver Star
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Resting at the top
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Wildflowers on Silver Star
Mtn
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Looking towards Vernon
(we could see it!)
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