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Dan Hodson photos
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Dan Hodson photos
Heading to Mount Baldy.
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Dan Hodson photos
Ice yacht on Vaseux Lake.
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Dan Hodson photos
By Perry Mack
One of the saddest sights of winter is the hundreds, actually numbering in the thousands, of RV’s parked in storage fields and driveways with a light covering of snow like a layer of dust from neglect. Especially while so many of us pine away for a vacation through the winter months, dreaming of an escape from the winter routine of home and work.
The truly surprising [remarkable, alarming,] fact is that we own a getaway, a mobile vacation property, that’s just patiently waiting for us to awaken from our winter slumber and use it – this weekend!
The south Okanagan valley, which is the western tip of the Sonoran desert, is the perfect escape for anyone within a four-hour drive or a one-hour flight. That includes all of southern and central BC and Alberta. For most Canadians, winter in the south Okanagan is like a perpetual spring/fall. Virtually no snow and temperatures that rarely drop below freezing. But unlike most of Canada, not only are classic (and epic) wintertime activities available within a two-hour drive so are many spring/fall activities and unique south Okanagan events.
Many RV Parks including Desert Gem in Oliver, BC (www.desertgemrv.com) are open all winter with low off-season rates. Oliver is the centre of the south Okanagan. For the price of a week’s family vacation down south you could enjoy a vacation property all winter in this cool, desert climate.
One of Desert Gem’s unique opportunities is storage for your RV on an RV site. You pay the storage rate when you’re not using it and the low winter rate when you are – perfect for ‘popping in’ for weekend, week or month long vacations. With staff on-site and controlled access, your RV is not only safe and secure but also available for you to use. If you’re uncertain about using your own RV this winter (see the Don’t Winterize article in this issue) or if you’d like to have non-RV friends and family join you, Desert Gem offers luxurious 5th Wheels for rent – all set-up and ready for relaxation or adventure.
On the traditional winter side of the equation, you can thrill to skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing at Apex Mountain, just west of Penticton, or travel to Mount Baldy, ½ hour east of Oliver, BC. For the cost of a few nights accommodation at a typical ski resort, you can have accommodations available for a month and enjoy snow whenever the mood strikes you.
Christmas Light-Up and Polar Bear swim events are well attended in this friendly and close knit community. Ice yachting is becoming popular on nearby Vaseaux Lake - if you’re looking for an exciting alternative winter sport.
On the less traditional winter side of the equation, here in the self-proclaimed Wine Capital of Canada, dozens of wineries are open year round offering different events like cooking classes, communal dinners, special wine tasting/food pairing evenings and more. The famous Golden Mile Trail and the paved and well maintained KVR Hike and Bike Trail, are also open year round and offer exceptional views of the valley and a unique railway history. www.trailpeak.com is a great site for hikers.
Oliver is a birdwatcher's paradise offering a variety of terrain from dry desert sagebrush to sub alpine tundra. There are many excellent areas for bird watching year round. A good resource is exploreoliverbc.com
Hankering for a little shopping south of the border? The border at Osoyoos is just an hour away and Spokane, WA, a popular US shopping destination for Okanagan residents, is another 3.5 hours from Osoyoos.
So drive your RV to an RV Park in the south Okanagan and leave it there for your ultimate winter staycation!
How to get there: The south Okanagan is easily accessible by Hwy 3 from the west or east or Hwy 97 from the north or south. You can fly into Kelowna International airport (1.5 hours drive to Oliver) or Penticton Regional Airport (serviced by Air Canada Jazz and just a ½ hour drive to Oliver).