Hot Springs, Lavender Farms and Wineries - A Few Of My Favorite Things

Lac Le Jeune, BC (52 degrees high, 35 degrees low, chilly, rain)

"I simply remember my favorite things

and then I don't feel so bad"

Julie Andrews - Sound of Music

Lavender Farm

The drive to Harrison Hot Springs was delightful as we wandered along rivers, lakes and mountain ranges. We had stopped at this place because of our love of hot springs and there was a pool near our campground.  I really didn't know much else so it was a pleasant surprise to find a really pretty lakeside town as well. 

Our campground, Hot Springs RV Park, was sort of sad and run down. However, the owners were friendly  and gave us lots of information about the area and it was right across the street from a public hot spring indoor pool. We were told this is the only privately owned hot spring in British Columbia. The large indoor pool was feed by a hot spring some distance away and was very nice.  You can buy an unlimited daily pass for about $12.  John took full advantage and went back three times. 

We met a local man who gave us a great tip for a scenic drive the next day along the eastern shoreline. It is not very crowded yet and we enjoyed a short hike at  Hicks Lake.

Sasquatch Lak

Our next stop was Okaanagan Provincial Park South in Summerland. At last some warm weather was found. Vineyards and wineries can be seen in all directions. Okanagan Lake is huge and spans several cities. There are two campgrounds here and the south one is more big rig friendly. The camp host said it best -  "welcome to our little slice of heaven". There are lake view sites available for smaller rigs and like most Provincial Parks there are not any hook ups. Our site was larger than most and really nice (S-44). Reservations in advance are necessary.

We had a lot of fun trying some wine tastings at a few places. There are over 120 wineries in this area. Wow!  So much to try...so little time. One winery explained that on this side of the lake (north) the wines are mostly white and dry. On the south side the wines are red due to the afternoon sun. Most of the wines were relatively reasonable, especially for Canada. Wine tasting were only $5/person and no charge if you bought a bottle. No problem there!

Sumac Ridge Winery (very reasonable wines)

Fitzpatrick Winery

Great lunch with Barry and Jann at Fitspatrick

Picnic Lunch

The second day our friends Bob and Becky joined our group (seated in the back of photo). They will be traveling with us from now on. We had met them through Cuatro Estados, a FMCA group. It was so good to see them and so it only seemed fitting to celebrate their arrival by going to a couple more wineries.

Doing some "wash" at the laundry

In Summerland we found our favorite winery, Dirty Laundry, just in time for a picnic lunch. The winery was quite large and named after a laundry/brothel which was once in the area. It's a fun place, You can pick up a picnic basket and purchase a wide selection of cheeses, salami and of coarse a bottle of wine to take it out to a pretty table over looking the lake. Life is good!

Dirty Laundry Winery

Dirty Laundry Winery

Concrete barrels at Okanagan Crush Pad

Before Bob and Becky arrived we also visited a Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm in Kelowna, about a 45 minute drive from our campground. It's has beautiful gardens with over 60 varieties. They distill the lavender and make a variety of products which are sold there and online. We were a little early for the bloom so we didn't pay the $10 fee to walk the gardens. But, it inspired us to return sometime in late June or early July to see the gardens in all their splendor.

Another fun stop was Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisans.  You can sample up to four different kinds of goat cheese for free which is made on the premises or all eleven for $2. The ones we tried were delicious and we bought a dish of goat cheese galato too.  It was pretty tasty stuff.

So how do we find all these cool places.  The Lonely Planet Guide to Brithish Columbia and the Canadian Rockies has been invaluable guide along with material picked up at Visitor Centers and of coarse, word of mouth from locals.

I hope you enjoyed visiting some of my favorite things today. Stop back soon as we travel further north towards Alaska. 

Butchart Gardens - A Visit To One Woman's Vision and Passion

Butchart Gardens, BC (58 degrees, splendid day)

"When you take a flower

 in your hand

and really look at it,

it's your world for the moment"

Georgia O'Keefe

The main reason I wanted to go over to Vancouver Island was to be able to return to Butchart Gardens. I had seen it many years ago with my friend Grace and have never forgotten it's beauty. 

I was over the moon when John, Jann, and I walked up to the entrance. Being able to see it in spring time was delightful. 

The gardens were begun in a worked out quary by Jennie Butchart over a hundred years ago. They are still family owned and over 55 acres. Click here for more history of the gardens and photos of how it looked originally.

So, without further ado...here are a "few" of my favorite gardens. Which one is your favorite?

"Blue thou art, 

intensely blue,

Flower whence came thy dazzling hue?"

James Montgomery

"The Earth Laughs In Flowers"      Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change" Buddha

"A flowers blossoms for it's own joy"

Oscar Wilde

"Flowers are the music of the ground.

From Earth's lips spoken

with sound"

Edwim Curran

"Use Your Tulips To Kiss Winter Goodbye"

Lilly Pultizer

Jann and me - friends forever

Friends Are Flowers Which Never Fade!

"Tiptoe Through The Tulips With Me!"

Al Dubin

At the end of our visit Jann and I shared a delicious afternoon tea service at the restaurant which is in the Butchart's original residence. It was a nice treat and we are so glad we shared it. 

I hope you enjoyed the tour today. Wasn't it delightful!!!