bulliver / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

by Carol Atkins

Ed and I packed up the boys and Sadie, our faithful Labrador retriever, and set off to take a road trip from Kelowna to Victoria.

We began by checking into our hotel in Kelowna. One of the reasons we went with themis because it is a small, friendly, family owned hotel chain with a reputation for being family oriented. Plus there was storage for our mountain bikes. We were pleasantly surprised with a corner suite with a kitchenette and a separate bedroom. It was comfortable and homey. The inn is not that far from the lake and close to shopping and restaurants. It was the perfect place to base out of while we toured Kelowna, and the parking was free too.

ulendo / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

We began with a half day cycling trip in Myra Canyon. Sadie looked a bit sad as we left her behind at the hotel, but we knew she would be in good hands at the pet friendly hotel. Myra Canyon is part of the Trans Canada Trail. It only took us 2 hours (11km each way) to cover 18 trestles, so all of us handled it together with no problem. These have been totally restored since the 2003 fire that wiped out 15 of the trestles. The boys were thrilled to see the remains of train stations, and rock ovens used by the men who built the railway. We packed some cold beverages and sat on a bench halfway through our ride and took in the view of the valley. It was a memory our family will never forget.

bulliver / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Next stop was Lake Okanagan, which Sadie enjoyed, because she was able to tag along with us. It’s an 82 mile long lake with tons of things to do: swimming, boating, parasailing and all types of water sports. The boys rented Kayaks from a shop owner who warned us that Lake Okanagan has a tendency to become choppy very quickly. To combat this, they stayed away from the middle of the lake, and paddled parallel to shore. Sadie and I visited one of the many wonderful beaches that extend from one end of Lake Okanagan to the other. We did our best to spot Ogopogo, the legendary lake monster said to inhabit these waters, but no such luck. Guess our family will have to make headline news another way.

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Mission Hill Family Estate Winery: Since Ed and I had so much fun wine tasting in Austria together; we decided to take a day trip to the Mission Hill Winery. We opted for the $20 tour and it was well worth it. The spectacular grounds were an indication we were in for a wonderful experience inside. Our guide shared the family legacy and wine making story with enthusiasm. The brief film, demonstration vineyard and cellar tour was fascinating and the private tasting rooms made us feel like VIPs. I was surprised and delighted by the private art collection placed conspicuously throughout the estate. Even non-paying guests can still enjoy the grounds and the wine/gift shop. After briefly shopping through reasonably priced wine gifts and gadgets in the store, we made our way to the tasting bar. The view from this property is spectacular, and we found the wines to be delicious and well priced. I made sure to pick up a couple of cabernets to take back home with us.

and has been traveling the world for much of her life. She enjoys of all types of travel adventures including island hopping, cruising, cycling and being lazy on the beach :).