Page 38 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2025

FAST FACT
Located on the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver,
visitors can fly from Vancouver to
Penticton and rent a car to explore the
region, or drive from Vancouver to South
Okanagan in approximately 4.5 hours.
Discover Four
Seasons in a Glass
Detours around Hester Creek
BY WAHEEDA HARRIS
YEAR-ROUND, HESTER CREEK ESTATE WINERY and Oliver offer
tempting distractions for visitors looking for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacay.
SPRING TIME
Kick off spring with a weekend at the tasty Osoyoos Oyster Festival, hosted by
Walnut Beach Resort and the Osoyoos Golf Club. Sip, slurp and savour Pacific
bivalves paired with Golden Mile Bench wines, while for those wanting a laid-
back weekend option, enjoy Hester Creek’s family-friendly afternoon “Music
on the Patio,” showcasing local singer/songwriters on weekends from mid-May
to October.
The 22-km Half-Corked Marathon is an incentive for active travellers to run
through vineyards and wineries, stopping at wine-tasting stations along the
way, which culminates in the ultimate finish-line celebration. Meanwhile,
hikers can follow the International Hike and Bike Trail, a scenic 18.4-kilometre
path that traces the winding Okanagan River. Flanked by rolling vineyards and
golden grasslands, you are guaranteed stunning riverside views.
SUMMER TIME
Celebrate summer and Canada Day at Oliver’s community park, with its annual
picnic and live music. At nearby District Wine Village, find ample daily tastings.
This time of year is the perfect time to experience the South Okanagan greens.
NK’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course is a scenic public course with a mix of chal-
lenging and beginner-friendly holes that can be played as either nine or 18
holes. Over at the Fairview Mountain Golf Course, golfers have been attracted
to this standout destination since 1925. Perched 60 metres above the valley floor,
the immaculate greens have been rated one of Canada’s top public golf courses
by SCOREGolf.
HARVEST TIME
Watch for Hester Creek’s popular Harvest Festival, featuring local artisans, garlic
producers, fun games, tasty food and award-winning vintages. But the harvest
season doesn’t end there. There are considerable fall festivals, and the big kahuna
is of course, Oliver’s Wine Capital Weekend (September 19–21). The notable
three-day festival has a batch of festivities from the Cask & Keg Festival
(September 20) showcasing craft beer, cider and spirits, to the crowd-pleasing
Festival of the Grape (September 21), which will celebrate its 26th season this year.
WINTER TIME
South Okanagan’s mild winters lure skiers and snowboarders. A seasonal
favourite is Apex Mountain Resort. Only 30 minutes west of Penticton, the
annual snowfall of 500 cm there makes the 85 runs a champagne powder dream.
Stay locally at Baldy Mountain Resort, which boasts the third-highest ski ele-
vation in British Columbia. Raise a glass to the holidays at “Winter in Wine
Country,” a two-weekend celebration with Hester Creek Estate Winery partici-
pating in the Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country events. Expect festive cheer with
complimentary tastings, mulled wine, holiday shopping,
and evening strolls through illuminated vineyards.
TRAVEL PLANNER
To start your sip and savour road trip to Hester
Creek Estate Winery, check out hestercreek.com
PHOTOS: FAIRVIEW MOUNTAIN: GORD WYLIE | DESTINATION OSOYOOS