Untouched Okanagan

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Thompson Okanagan, Canada

Going through all my photos for Kelowna I was surprised at how many were so beautiful straight out of the camera. I rarely take landscape photos because they end up being masses of boring green and blues.

But wow the region is beautiful. It is technically a desert but everything is so lush and the colours are so vibrant.

While I came to the area to do a wine tour I felt if I hadn’t shared photos of the land I would have left out such an important part of why I loved my time here.

 

seven stones

Okanagan

British Colombia

spotted lake

This last image is from Spotted Lake in Osoyoos. It is part of a protected grasslands area and the minerals cause the rings. I have never seen anything like this in Canada or anywhere else. But what really drew me to this lake was that it is known as Klikuk by the First Nations people who believed in its healing properties. They were right there are high concentrations of salts, titanium, calcium, sulphates and other minerals.

I also learned that British Columbia has its own organization to promote Aboriginal tourism. Since visiting Crow Fair in Montana and contemplating what little I know of my own country I am going to try to get back here in next year. While the wine is enough reason to come I feel like there’s so much opportunity to do more here.

 

Disclosure: I was a guest of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. They did not request that I write a favourable review or start mentally planning a new trip while in the midst of my first one.

Join the Conversation

  1. Emily in Chile says:

    Love that last photo! I think it’s so interesting that different minerals can make lakes turn crazy colors or have a design like that.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      Exactly, it reminds me of something you would see in South America.

  2. That spotted lake is wild!

    It does look like a really pretty place.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      It’s a very relaxed kind of place, much different than Toronto or Montreal.

  3. I love these pics so much! You’ve whisked me back to my childhood. 🙂 I can’t count the number of times I’ve driven through and stayed in this area. Gorgeous. 🙂

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      You are very lucky. I love the East Coast and wouldn’t change growing up there but I do feel like I missed out on such a vast landscape.

  4. Escaping Abroad says:

    Every time I see a travel blog about Canada I’m always impressed with it’s outdoor beauty. I can’t wait to see it for myself some day!

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I am not an outdoors person at all but even I was taken back with how beautiful it was.

  5. I’m kicking myself for not making it to Canada yet. So much beauty. I love these photos.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      You are SO close, I can’t believe you have not been to British Colombia. Are you coming to Toronto for TBEX?

      1. I know! It’s usually the closest places that I end up not visiting. Yes, I will be in Toronto! So excited!

  6. Kristin Addis says:

    The Spotted Lake is so rad-looking! I’m excited to visit Canada one day. It looks so naturally beautiful.

    I, on the other hand, love landscape photos 🙂

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I think I’m just not very good at taking landscape photos. I hadn’t intended to do a post but then when I looked at these photos I knew they needed one on their own.

  7. Andi of My Beautiful Adventures says:

    I really need to explore more up North. Gorgeous pics!

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      Well I can’t blame you for being drawn South but yes you must come visit us up here.

  8. The Okanagan is stunning, and these photos attest to that. The lake looks really cool. would love to see that for myself.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I’m hoping to get back in the summer, so much more to see.

  9. Matthew Karsten says:

    Can you swim in the spotted lake??

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      The lake was previously a place first nations would visit for its healing properties but now it is fenced off to protect too many people from going in it.

  10. Thanks for the shots of home – I’m feeling homesick for BC.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      Sorry about that but the region is so beautiful.

      1. Yes, it is! You can understand why I smile when folks talk about mountains in NS.

  11. Ruth (Tanama Tales) says:

    Oh, that spotted lake is so awesome.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      The landscape here is so diverse it was completely unexpected.

  12. meandmypassport says:

    WOW!! This scenery is ah-mazing!

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      It always amazes me how we overlook so much beauty because it’s close to home.

  13. Beautiful-looking place.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      It is definitely worth a visit.

  14. I ve only seen BC in the winter, would love to head back so I can see some of these places in the warmer months!

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I’m the opposite I have never been there in the winter but the summer is really quite beautiful too.

  15. Soooo beautiful! I am beginning to feel embarrassed that I’ve never been to the Okanagan (and many other lovely places in Canada).

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I feel the same way about much of Canada, we drool over foreign lands but we have the same beauty in our backyard.

  16. A Cook Not Mad (Nat) says:

    Makes me miss BC 🙁

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I’m starting to understand why you would.

  17. Martine @ Chompchomp says:

    Wow! Breath taking. Fabulous photos

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      Thanks so much Martine.

  18. Stunning landscapes! You’ve got it all in Canada.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I’m just starting to realize that now.

  19. Scott - Quirky Travel Guy says:

    I got to drive through British Columbia going east from Vancouver and it was some of the most impressive scenery I’ve seen. And it felt so weird to be in a desert in that part of the world.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I had no idea Canada would have a desert at all. But I guess we are a very large country so anything is possible.

  20. I love BC. Dalene and I say all the time if there is one place in Canada we were forced to settle down to, it would definitely be interior BC. Beautiful photos Ayngelina!

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I really do want to see more of it soon. I am starting to see why BCers spend so much time outdoors.

  21. Gorgeous. One of my friends from Costa Rica is from Kelowna, and isn’t Steve from MoreKidsThanSuitcases?

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I’m not sure, but I think you may be right.

  22. LOVE the spotted lake! I am with you on landscape photos… I usually try to shake it up a little. My photography professor in college told me to always include “the human element.”

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I have so many photos of landscapes just sitting on my computer, it’s rare that I feel the need to share them.

  23. Beautiful blue skies. That place looks amazing.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      It really is, you guys should come up some time.

  24. That spotted lake really looks as if it’s from annother world.
    I also love the pictures with where the blue from the skies and water contrast with the green of the landscape.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      The spotted lake made me realize that while I was so impressed by the salt flats in South America I could see such strange sites here in Canada too.

      1. It’s true, we often look for special things a plane ride away, while we forget what’s just a car ride away:-)

  25. Camels & Chocolate says:

    I just love BC. I have a friend who lives in the wilds of Okanagan and her daily Instagram photos make me swoon.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      Ooh share her name on Instagram? I love finding good people to follow.

      1. Camels & Chocolate says:

        Yep! It’s AngellaD.

  26. Regina @ aNomad'sDream says:

    Ahhh…you were in my home!!! Well, haven’t been there for over a year, but I am reminded once again how beautiful ‘home’ is as well.

    1. Ayngelina Author says:

      I think it would be difficult to live elsewhere if you had a home as beautiful as this.

  27. I love this kind of places. 🙂
    I’ll surely visit Kelowna in the future.

  28. Sam @ Green Global Travle says:

    These pictures are stunning. Its hard to imagine that this place is considered a desert after seeing your photos

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