Looking around VernonFebruary 18, 2008
The view from my deck
Vernon. My hometown. The place I’ve lived by WHOLE life. It’s a beautiful, small city in the Okanagan Valley, which is situated in BC’s interior. The population is about 37,000 people. It’s the North Okanagan’s largest city and is located on three lakes, Okanagan, Kalamalka, and Swan, and surrounded by golf courses and Silver Star Mountain (the local ski hill). About 450 kms West is Vancouver, 600 kms East is Calgary, and 150 kms South is the U.S. border.
Vernon is accessible by car, via Highways 1, 3, 5, 6, and 97, by bus, and by air. Vernon has a small airport where small, private planes are able to take-off and land, however, 25 minutes South, on Highway 97, is Kelowna International Airport.
Vernon has four distinct season. Summers are quite warm (Usually in the high 20’s or low 30’s C).
The view from my deck
Every summer brings a heat wave with temperatures reaching he high 30’s C. Summer wear consists of sandals, shorts, t-shirts or tank tops, and sundresses. Don’t forget you bathing suit!
Winters are usually quite mild with temperatures hovering anywhere from 0 to -5. Sometimes it gets warmer than that, and of course, cold snaps bring temperatures colder than that - anywhere to -20 (it doesn’t last long, though). There is always a lot of snow in the hills, and quite often on the ground in the city, but city crews usually do a good job at plowing the roads to keep them clear. You’re best bet for dressing warmly are sweaters, vest, fleece clothing, and warm jackets. A scarf, toque, and gloves are good to have, too. Spring can be rainy, but is very mild, with temperatures rising every day.
The view from my deck
Fall is usually cool in the morning, then warming up in the day, so it can be hard to know how to dress.
Vernon has all the amenities of a big city, however there isn’t a lot variety. It has big box stores and privately owned boutiques and businesses, but if you’re looking for a cool pair of shoes, you’ll be lucky to find it (unless you want runners). However, about 35-40 minutes down Highway 97 is Kelowna, and it is the largest city in the Okanagan (and one of the largest in BC). Shopping-wise, it has much more than Vernon, so sometimes a trip South is in order when looking for new clothes or shoes. Vernon has a community college, and there’s also one in Kelowna, but in Kelowna, there is a university, so students don’t have to go too far from home.
Something unique to Vernon are all the murals found around the city.
The view from my driveway
There are 26 in all, and are found painted on downtown buildings, ranging in size from 300 ft. long and 40 ft. high. There are guided tours available, but it’s more fun on a self-guided tour. Maps on where the murals are found can be obtained at the Tourist Information Booth. I’ve tried finding them all and still haven’t, so have fun!
Vernon is a very sports oriented town, with sports for every season and all being quite popular. Spring and summer sees all the local soccer fields and baseball diamonds full of people playing. In the summer, beaches are full of swimmers and volley ball players. Once the snow melts, ball hockey, lacrosse, football, rugby, biking, rollerblading, golf, skateboarding, hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, water sports, and ultimate Frisbee begin.
The view from my driveway
In the winter, some of these things still occur, but winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, curling, show shoeing, ringette, ice skating, snowmobiling, and ice fishing take over. And of course, seeing as it’s Canada, hockey is ‘THE BIG ONE’. Many people, young and old, play hockey, and Vernon is the home of the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers jr. A hockey team.
Some things found in Vernon are:
Attractions: O’Keefe Ranch, Allan Brooks Nature Centre, Planet Bee Honey Farm, Kin Race Track, Sun Valley Motor Speedway, Atlantis Waterslides, Okanagan Science Centre, Vernon Art Gallery, Vernon Museum, BX Falls, Okanagan Opals, Powerhouse Theatre, Performing Arts Centre, Murals
Ski Hill: Silver Star
Events/Festivals: Funtastic Slow-Pitch Tournament, Vernon Winter Carnival, Sunshine Festival, Creative Chaos, Okanagan Wine Festival, Interior Provincial Exhibition (in Armstrong)
Golf Courses: Hillview Golf Club, Vernon Golf and Country Club, Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club, and Predator Ridge
Beaches- Ellison Park, Paddlewheel Park, Kin Beach, Juniper Bay, Jade Bay, and Kal Beach
Parks: Kalamalka Provincial Park, Ellison Park, Polson Park
Markets & Produce: Davison Orchards, Aberdeen Farm Market, Bella Vista Farm Market, Friesen’s Country Tyme Gardens, Pleasant Valley Fruit and Garden Centre, Swan Lake Fruit Market and Garden Centre, and Vernon Farmers Markets
Wineries: Hunting Hawk Vineyards
Nearby lakes good for fishing: Echo, Keefer, Sugar, Woods, Pinaus, Jimmy, Wood, Nugget, and Square, and Mabel, along with Okanagan, Kalamalka, and Swan
To Note: It’s easy to do day trips from Vernon.
The view from my driveway
Places such as Kelowna, Kamloops, Armstrong, Enderby, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Oliver, Osoyoos, and Revelstoke are easily within driving distance, so trips to different attractions are available. These include different lakes, beaches, hiking trails, wineries, ski hills, parks, golf courses, drive-ins, etc.
I love Vernon because it’s comfortable. It’s what I know, and it’s where my family and friends are. It’s home.
* As I find more pictures, I'll post them
The view from my deck
The view from my deck
The view from my deck
The view from my driveway
The view from my driveway
The view from my driveway
The view from my driveway
The Polson Park fountain. Someo ...
The view from my deck
Flowers around town
The view from my driveway
Polson Park is found right in the city, and is the scene of school track meets, lawn bowling, water park activities, great photo opportunites (such as graduation), and weddings, among other things. Here, you'll be able to walk along Vernon Creek, and look at the pond that is home to swans and ducks. A little further down the road that runs through the park, you will find gardens of flowers and shrubs.
The park has a big parking lot with plenty of room for many cars, or RV's. There are two tennis courts that are fenced in, so need to worry about losing your tennis balls. There are public washrooms, which can sometimes attract questionable patrons, but for the most part, there is no need to worry.
Sharing the park parking lot is the Okanangan Science Centre, which perfectly suits the park, hat with its old, red brick facade.
In the summer, there is quite a lot of entertainment, both in the band shelter, and just on any section of the big, grassy area. You are guaranteed to see all-day entertainment on Canada, and be able to hear it all over town. On any summer evening, you will find different bands practicing under the trees.
First thing in the morning, before it gets too hot, is a good time to do laps around the big, flat open field. You will definately not be the only person doing it.
Polson Park is a great place to check out, and while you're there, you can run across the road to Tim Hortons for a donut and drink!
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park
Polson Park clock
The Canada Day long weekend (July 1) is the best time to be in Vernon, I believe. Funtastic started out as a slow pitch softball tournament about 20 years ago, but it has gotten so big and popular that it now includes beach volleyball, sailing, lawn bowling, and soccer. The softball part alone has over 300 teams participating! However, it’s what happens at night that is the fun part. On every night of the tournament, there is live music in the beer gardens. There is always a mixture of music, one which there is usually 2-3 old, classic rock Canadian bands, and then tribute bands, also. In the past, we’ve seen bands such as Chilliwack, Prism, Streetheart, April Wine, Trooper, Honeymoon Suite, Harlequin, Tal Bachman, and The Northern Pikes, among others. There has also been Tragically Hip tribute bands, AC/DC tribute bands, Queen tribute bands, The Beatles tribute bands, Elton John tribute acts, Rod Stewart tribute acts, and Neil Diamond tribute acts. It is an absolute blast. The whole weekend we drink and dance and meet people and have fun. Everybody loves it and loves each other. It’s so popular that if you were to go into the city, it would be a ghost town, as everybody is at the Funtastic beer gardens. I get a huge smile on my face just thinking about it.
Located on Okanagan Lake, this is my favourite beach. It’s located in a provincial campsite, so you have to pay for parking, but it is a lovely beach. There is a trail you have to walk down from the parking lot to the beaches, but it is surrounded by trees, so it’s not too hot. When getting to the bottom, there is a choice between two beaches. One is sandy, one is rocky. I prefer the rocky beach. The water is beautiful. It’s quite shallow, but then gets deep quickly. Then, it drops off. After the drop-off, the water gets very weedy, and there are fish swimming around. That’s why I always take my air mattress. In the water, there’s a big rock to play on, and stand on, and jump off. On one side of the beach is a big rock cliff that you can jump off into the water. It’s not uncommon to see deer on the beach, as it is in a forested area. The edge of the beach is lined with picnic tables, and there are outhouses. The beach can be busy, as campers in the campground use these beaches for swimming. There are also hiking trails around the area, so if you don’t want to spend your whole in the water, there are other options.
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
Ellison Park
On Okanagan Lake, this is a great beach. There’s a big sandy beach with trees for shade (if you want it) and there’s a big grassy area with a playground. The beaches floor (when in the water) is a sandy and rocky mixture, with not too much seaweed. It’s a family friendly beach with lots of free parking.
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Visitors at Paddlewheel Park in ...
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Paddlewheel Park in the Fall
Located on Kal Lake, there is two beaches at Juniper Bay, and both are nice. One is a sandy beach, one is a rocky beach. The water is beautiful, and there isn’t much seaweed here, either. The beach is very busy, as it’s a great place to spend the day. There is a park area that has lush green grass and picnic tables. One of the big problems is that it is quite a long walk down hill from the pay parking lot to the beach. So, when it’s time to go home, you have to walk up the steep, cement trail to the parking lot. When you get to the top, you’re so hot all you want to do is go back down to the beach and go swimming again.
This is the busiest beach in Vernon (it’s actually in Coldstream). It’s on Kalamalka (Kal) Lake, which means that the water is warmer than Okanagan Lake because it’s smaller, and not as deep, however, because of this, it is a much busier lake. There’s not as much room on the lake than there is on Okanagan Lake. Kal Beach has a nice dock that goes out into the water, but it also has a lot of birds there. There is hardly any trees there, so there’s not much shade. There isn’t much seaweed in the water, and the beach is quite long, and wide. One of the big problems about it is that the parking lot is across a busy road, and is a paid parking lot that has a tendency to attract thieves, as there are many cars broken into.
Of all the beaches in Vernon, this is my least favourite. It is very close to the road, there is quite a bit of seaweed in the water, there are a lot of birds (which means there’s a good chance of getting swimmers itch), boats are able to come right up to shore in some parts, there are hardly any trees, which means there’s not much shade, and dogs are allowed in some parts. This makes for a possibly disgusting beach visit. There are several redeeming qualities, though. It is on Okanagan Lake, which I like better than Kalamalka Lake. It is not a far drive, as it is in city limits. Also, it has a nice park, Kin Park, that is right beside it. The beach in front of Kin Park is much nicer than the beach by the road.
One Saturday every June, all the downtown merchants get together and put on the Sunshine Festival. Main Street is closed to traffic, and it becomes a great big sidewalk sale, complete with live entertainment at both ends of the street, and barbeques, and games. Now, it’s not very often that you will find really good deals from any of the stores, but it is fun to be there, as you’re bound to meet people you haven’t seen in a long time, and sometimes the musicians that are playing are really good. Also, there are loads of people walking up and down the street, as it seems that everybody in Vernon comes out for the event. The weather usually turns out to be quite nice, but in the event that the weather is miserable, the festival will be cancelled, in hopes that it can be rescheduled for another Saturday in the future.
Creative Chaos occurs on one weekend, usually in June, every year. It’s a big arts and crafts fair where vendors set up tables to sell their wares. It takes up three different buildings, and usually includes live entertainment in an outdoor food court. This is a good place to find home-made baking and snacks, hand made clothes, books, jewellery, beauty products, wooden furniture, and art. It’s usually really hot in the buildings, though, so I suggest going first thing in the morning.
*It's free to get in, however, the price of the products vary.
During the first week of every February, Vernon celebrates winter carnival. It’s made up of all kinds of activities, most of which are family-friendly. Parades, ice sculpting, air shows, ski competitions, fishing derbies, dances, curling bonspiels, banquets, talent show, hot air balloon rides, and more are events happening throughout the whole week. Many of the cities businesses get involved, which makes it a huge event for the community. Most people find something to participate in.
Found on the way up to Silver Star Mountain, BX Falls is hiking trails and waterfalls. The trail to the waterfall is not gruelling, although there is one section, leading down to the falls, that is a steep set of steps. In cooler weather, these can get very icy, and every once in a while a new story comes out about someone falling off the edge of the steps and seriously injuring themselves. The steps have a steep drop-off cliff on one side of them, so it is extremely important to be careful on your way down, and up, too. Because these steps are quite steep, the journey back up can be a little tiring.
Getting to the bottom of the steps, though, is well worth the trek down. The waterfall, although not big, is very nice. It collects in a pool at the bottom, where you can walk around, or through. The area is surrounded in trees, and is a very peaceful spot. I’ve never continued on the trails past the falls, but I plan to come spring/summer, when the snow is melted.
Welcome to BC Falls
Into the forest we go
Down, down, down
They don't look too steep...
The falls
The pools and creek
The falls
The creek
The creek
Silver Star is the local ski hill, and it takes about 20 minutes to drive there. If you don’t have a car, you can stand in one of the pullouts at the start of Silver Star road and will have no problem hitching a ride to the top. The village at Silver Star is a quaint, little place with brightly coloured buildings and houses. There are hotels, saloons, restaurants, the town hall (cafeteria), candy shops, internet café, and rental shops- everything you need at a ski hill. Most of the people that work in these places, along with employees working the lifts, are Australians who have come over for the ski season.
The hill gets lots of snow which suits the 20 runs and 3 ski lifts just fine. No worries though, as you don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy the hill in the winter. There is a pond that is great for ice skating on, and there is also Tube Town, which is incredibly fun.
On the way up to Silver Star is Sovereign Lake, the cross country hill. It’s is incredibly popular and is a great place to ski, so much so that the Canadian cross country ski team practices here before the competitive season starts!
During the summer, the hill is just as lovely. The little cafes and restaurants, etc., stay open for all the summer visitors. The hills are great for hiking, walking, and mountain biking. Of course, it’s not as busy as it is during the winter, but it’s still a great place to go if you have a day off. Also, the views on the way up and down are pretty incredible.
Silver Star
Silver Star
Silver Star
Silver Star on New Year's Eve
This is a good place to visit, but only once. Much of it is like a play land for kids, with giant blocks and lego to play with, however, there are some educational displays that are quite interesting. The staff that work here are really great with the visitors, and when they do a science experiment, they really engage the children. I’m glad I went, but it’s not something I’d do on a regular basis. Once or twice a year the have a special exhibition that is worth going to, so I’ll wait for those occasions to go again.
There’s no escaping the murals, no matter where in Vernon you go. There are 26 of them that are painted on different downtown buildings. Some are very obvious, some are hidden, so you’ll have to keep on lookout for them. Remember to look up, too. Also, they are all different sizes, some upwards of 300 ft. long and 40 ft. high. The murals are all paintings that represent Vernon’s history, in some way.
*I do have pictures of all the murals, I just can't find them right now. Once I do, I'll post them.
Fun for the whole family. Best know for selling fresh fruits and vegetables, they also have a bakery that has the greatest apple pie. There is also a little gift shop at the orchards, in which books and ornaments are sold. Every year the owner seem to add attractions to the orchard, so in recent years there has been a small animal farm added, as well as a tractor pull and a nice gazebo/picnic area. Visiting Davison Orchards will give you a great view of part of the valley. It’s a great little spot that everyone in Vernon knows about, so it’s almost guaranteed that when you visit, especially if it’s on the weekend, it will be busy.
Welcome to Davison Orchards!
a Davison Orchards greeter
An orchard employee
a few shops
A few shops
An animal farm
Being a kid again
Welcome
The Davisons
We were there a couple weeks bef ...
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