Stories

Kelowna, B.C. – Nearly a century ago, a new rail line connected Kelowna’s goods to the rest of the country. Today it connects communities along the Okanagan Valley on a scenic non-motorized trail. 

Oliver, B.C. – The presence of some 400 farms clustered around Oliver, B.C. have earned this South Okanagan community the title of “Wine Capital of Canada.” 

But, in addition to grapes, Oliver is also cultivating community through a unique local Christian non-profit. It’s not only Oliver’s wines that are being shipped around the world, but soup as well. 

Summerland, B.C. – It seems that everyone you meet in Summerland, in B.C.'s South Okanagan, is a historian.  

Vernon, B.C. – The story of the Okanagan Valley can be told through a natural corridor that runs along the valley; moving from the Syilx (Okanagan) band to gold-rush-era miners and turn-of-the-century rail lines. Today, the former Canadian Northern rail corridor once again connects communities from Coldstream to Kelowna, this time as the Okanagan Rail Trail. It’s a unique addition to the ever-expanding bike trail system of the Okanagan. 

Cranbrook, B.C. – I was glued to the plane’s window as it started its descent into the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook. The vistas, equally beautiful and mysterious, gave a hint of what the valley has to offer. Soon we’d be on the ground and experiencing it all for the first time. A short flight from Vancouver via Pacific Coastal Airlines was about to unleash a new world of possibilities.  

Cranbrook, B.C. – Rising to the early morning glow from outside the teepee walls, we breathed the crisp mountain air and arose from our comfortable sleeping quarters to greet the day. After spending a night nestled in a teepee at Speaking Earth in St. Eugene, part of the greater Cranbrook area, we felt refreshed and more connected to our Canadian heritage than ever.  

Sometimes the best destinations to explore can be found in unlikely places. While both the wilds of the backcountry and the thrill of big cities each carry their charm, sometimes you crave visiting a place that feels familiar and new at the same time.

It’s hard to pick just five great attractions in a city made for exploring. For too long, Lethbridge has been seen as a “drive through” city, but in recent years, it has confidently put itself on the map as a destination in its own right.

Experiencing history has never felt so hands-on and as adventurous as it does in Cranbrook, B.C. After a short, smooth and scenic flight with Pacific Coastal Air, we landed in a new kind of paradise, and eager to explore the history of the southern Rockies region, we wasted no time.

Lethbridge's Paradise Canyon Golf Resort played host for the 2018 PGA MacKenzie Tour, but it's not the only links game in town. 

Lethbridge is home to the world’s tallest and longest trestle bridge, and perhaps known for its strong Alberta winds, but it’s also home to great businesses, restaurants and attractions that make up its downtown core. It’s time to park the car, put on your walking shoes, and explore Lethbridge.

Have you thought about what life was like on Vancouver Island when things were a little more rugged, a little more remote and life moved at a slower pace? I recently experienced just that, and I didn’t have to time travel to do it.

I’ll admit that I don’t know much about Japanese garden philosophy – I thought that a “bonsai” was an actual type of tree, when it’s actually the art form of shaping a tree in a specific way. That said, I’ve always been drawn to garden spaces, but walking through the door to the Nikka Yuko Garden in Lethbridge was like strolling into a gorgeous outdoor space in Japan.

“A REAL Picasso?” That was my incredulous response after David Smith, the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery assistant curator, casually waved towards one of the gallery rooms.

As the second largest and one of the top-rated ski resorts in British Columbia, Sun Peaks Resort has long been known as one of the best winter destinations in the province. But all that skiable terrain also makes the area a premier hiking destination - only a four-hour drive from Vancouver. There are more than 18 hiking trails, from easy to challenging, and some of the most abundant wildflower blooms anywhere in B.C., making Sun Peaks a hiker’s paradise.

Decades ago, vegans, vegetarians or plant-based groupies were rare, unless you found yourself in the groovy hippie mecca of San Fran, or health-obsessed SoCal. Now, they are everywhere, and according to the food giants around the world like Nestle, this trend is here to stay.

The waves of the Salish Sea crash rhythmically along the shore of the Sunshine Coast and the seaside harbour town of Lund. Rich with history dating back thousands of years this community is on the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation.

Ah Pincher Creek. We love you! Explore the area with this incredible itinerary.

The community of Pincher Creek is within a 30 min drive of Castle Provincial Park and makes the perfect basecamp (its also that close to Castle Ski Resort for SnowSeekers)

Lethbridge is one fantastic city. Plan your trip here.