Two hundred miles to the east of Vancouver, one of Canada’s best kept secrets is quickly being discovered. The warm and lovely Okanagan Valley, an arid stretch of landscape perfect for growing grapes and ranchland, is little known to those outside of Canada. Yet as “Canada’s wine country” grows more renowned by the year, Okanagan blossoms with the attention. At last count more than 50 wineries were earning high praise, many winning top industry awards. Fruit orchards flourishing here for half a century leave a bountiful choice for summer visitors at highway fruit stands. Lake Okanagan lures freshwater-sports enthusiasts who come for boating, water-skiing, sportfishing and windsurfing.

The valley’s largest town, Kelowna, has miles of lakeside beaches and a world of festivals including the annual Kelowna Regatta in summer and Okanagan Wine Festival in the fall. In winter there’s world class skiing in the Okanagan mountains at Big White and Crystal Mountain.

For more information go to: www.beautifulbc.net or www.gocanada.com.