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. 

Wrap Up of Vancouver Island and Onto Whistler BC

Whistler, BC 56 degrees, chilly, cloudy)

Brown's Bay RV Park - Campbell River

Up the steep grade again from Tofino and across Vancouver Island we went to spent two nights at Little Qualicum  Falls Provincial Park .

Little Qualicum Falls

It was a pretty park with no hookups and a relaxing place to hang out. From here we traveled north to Campbell River and our destination for three nights was a place our campground book (Mike and Terri Church) said was one of the nicest campgrounds in North America. They were so right.

Brown's Bay Resort  has stunning sites overlooking the ocean from two levels. It's quiet and peaceful with full hook ups. We pulled out our lawn chairs and after a somewhat hectic two months of traveling just chilled out. It was delightful. The birding was great and there was an excellent indoor hot tub which John really enjoyed. Jann got out her hummingbird feeder and within minutes  some visitors arrived to our delight.

Anna's Hummingbird

Prothonotary Warbler

This little warbler sang it's heart out the whole time we were there. He loved the views too.

Western Kingbird stopped by for a brief visit

From here we went back south to the ferry port called Departure Bay after an overnight in Qualicum Beach.

The hour and half ferry ride landed at Horseshoe Bay and our next stop was Alice Lake Provincial Park in Squamish. The highway to our campground is called Sea to Sky and it was so spectacular.

Coming in to dock at Horseshoe Bay 

Whistler

Our main destination here was Whistler about a 45 minute drive further north.  It's a pretty touristy ski town with high end accommodations and restaurants. We spent most of our time checking out the waterfalls and scenic overlooks. We enjoyed the  beautiful evergreen forests, steep mountain ranges and tranquil lakes.

Brandywine Falls

Shannon Falls

Coffee and croissant break at Pemberton

A clerk at the Visitor Center suggested we  buy a combination ticket to two museums. The Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Center had displays of two First Nation Tribes. There are tours at the beginning of each hour which start with a native drumming. movie and then a guided tour of the museum with a tribe member. Outside you can also see a traditional longhouse, The handmade canoe was a masterpiece.

Our ticket also included the Audain Art Museum. The building itself is a piece of art. There was a special exhibit of Beau Dick which we found fascinating. Some of the masks were kind of scarey but really well done. A docent tour of the rest of the British Columbia artists collection was included.  It is well worth the admission. I especially liked the Emily Carre works.

And the highlight for all of us was the Peak to Peak gondola ride which links Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. The views and heights in the gondola were jaw dropping. It's an engineering marvel with the longest unsupported span in the world. Gulp!  When we got to that part it took our breath away. The ski season had just ended and there was still plenty of snow at the top. You can even take your bike on this lift and ride part of the way down on special trails.

Barry and Jann 

Me and John

This was an Olympic site in the past

Check back soon to read about our next stop in Harrison Hot Springs.We also will soon meet up in the Okanagan Lake area with Bob and Becky, another couple who will be joining this adventure.