NaBloPoMo Day 5 - Weekend Getaway Kelowna BC

Weekend Getaway Kelowna BC and Quails Gate Winery Restaurant

NaBloPoMo 2017 Day 5

Every year I have an annual girls weekend where we choose a place for Vancity Girlfriends to enjoy a weekend away from Vancity and to relax without any duties of home.  This year we planned a year in advance and saved up enough Air Miles so we could fly to Kelowna for a weekend in October.  

We stayed at the Sandman Hotel which has a beautiful indoor swimming pool and hot tub (we were too busy drinking, eating and shopping to use it) but it was still calming to walk by the pools everyday and see the serenity of the pool.  We stayed on the business floor and the room had all the amenities such as a shower and bathtub, mini-fridge, coffee maker, TV, and two queen sized beds.  It is conveniently located across the street from Orchard Park Shopping Centre, a BC Liquor Store and close to several restaurants such as The Keg, Milestones and Moxies.  

The first night we made reservations at the Quails Gate Winery Restaurant called The Old Vines Restaurant to get the weekend started right.  I would highly recommend The Old Vines restaurant for any special occasion.  We started with a wine flight and then ordered our main meals.  I had the bison and Vancity Girlfriend Carolyn had the salmon which was served with popcorn.  That may seem like an unusual pairing but it was absolutely amazing.  Dessert is a must.  The names on the menu does not describe the unity of flavors on the dessert plate.  It's a subtle dance on the tastebuds for each bite.  The desserts that are featured below are the Iced Peanut Butter Parfait and the Milk Delice.  I'll never forget the experience of dining at the Old Vines Restaurant at the Quails Gate Winery.  They were unforgettable culinary journey in Kelowna BC.   

Old Vines Restaurant at Quails Gate Winery

Red Wine Flight at Quails Gate Winery

Free Range Bison at Quails Gate Winery

Dessert Plates at the Quails Gate Winery

Salmon at the Quails Gate Winery

Travel Tuesday - Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos, BC

I love being a tourist in my own city or province and so does Vancity Girlfriend Carolyn.  Perhaps the fact that her family lives in British Columbia gives her an excuse to stop and explore some new towns in BC.  This summer Carolyn and her family stopped by Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, BC on her summer holiday.  

Now I know that Watermark Beach Resort is not Iberostar in Mexico, but let's take a look at the Vancity Girlfriends Watermark Beach Resort vlog to see the spacious one bedroom suite, lakeview and resort pool.  The resort room had a balcony and it looks like Toby gives it a two thumbs up.  

They only stayed one night but the in-suite laundry and full kitchen makes it comfortable for a longer stay for sure.  

Find out more about the resort here:  https://www.watermarkbeachresort.com/

We had another friend who ended up at the Watermark Beach Resort for her Yoga and Wine Holidays and that's now on my wish list.  It's a two in one where you can stay the at the resort and have it all packaged up with yoga.   

#AtoZChallenge - C is for Como Lake

C is for Como Lake Park located in Coquitlam, BC.  It was a spontaneous day and I ended up at Coquitlam Center and I never knew how close everything was when you drive in Coquitlam instead of take the bus.  My friend still had a bit of free time so I asked to get some exercise and go for a walk.  We found that Como Lake Park was only a 10 minute drive away.  Of course that is only when you don't go down the wrong residential streets and get U-turns at the end of the lane instead of the park parking lots.  With being so close to Como Lake and being able to see the lake, it was frustrating to be within reach but still had to drive around to find the real parking lot.  

When we did I was happy to have finally arrived at Como Lake Park.  It was a small lake to walk around and since it was a sunny day there were others walking that day.  A few with their dogs and what was more popular was the lake itself for some people.  It's because people can go fishing in Como Lake.  I saw someone in full fly fisherman gear in the lake fly fishing.  Others were on the pier.  Como Lake Park had beautiful views and reflections on a sunny day.
  

#AtoZChallenge - B is for Beautiful British Columbia

Beautiful British Columbia - I live in British Columbia and I am amazed every day of the beauty that this province has to offer.  Explore B.C. to see all the natural scenery that surrounds us and all the beautiful cities and towns in B.C.  Here's a short list of different places that are a walk down memory lane for me.

Smithers, BC is childhood.  This quaint little town in Northen BC is a small tourist town with one Hudson Bay Mountain for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.  The population is still around 5,000 which is perfect for getting to know others in the community.  Even though I don't live there anymore, I love returning to the natural surroundings and beautiful scenery.

Victoria, BC is university life.  Victoria is where the students and seniors collide.  It is a small city of 80,000 people and has the University of Victoria.  Victoria is British Columbia's capital city where the Legislature Buildings are.  It has British heritage and the famous Empress Hotel in the Inner Harbour where you can have a cup of tea.  The Inner Harbour is bustling in the summer with buskers and activity.  

Victoria BC - The Legislature Building

Victoria BC - The Empress Hotel

  
Vancouver, BC is adulthood.  Vancouver and the Greater Lower Mainland has a population density of close to 2.5 million.  Vancouver is dense and full of activity.  It has the mountains and the water and beauty that surrounds it.  Even though I live in the city, I am still amazed every time I bring visitors around Vancouver to explore Gastown or walk along Coal Harbour.  There is always something new to explore.  

Vancouver BC - Vancouver Convention Center

Vancouver BC - Steamclock in Gastown

Travel Tuesday - Deer Lake Park

I love being a tourist in my own town and exploring nature in the city.  In Burnaby there are beautiful parks and Deer Lake Park is one of them.  

Deer Lake Park in the summer has boat rentals where people can rent kayaks, canoes, or peddle boats to scoot around the small lake.  Deer Lake has a beautiful walking trail around the lake with a wooden boardwalk that cuts across one end of the lake.  There are ducks around surprising few mosquitoes as it is not as large as Burnaby Lake.  It is easy to walk around Deer Lake Park in less than an hour.  

Even in the summer, we were able to enjoy an evening stroll before dinner.  I was happy we were walking instead of running.  Save the running for the cool fall weather.  Enjoy the views of the lake on a summer day!