Osoyoos
Table of Contents: Travel to Osoyoos, visa requirements By car By air / Get around / Culture and History / Osoyoos attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Stay / Get out More from Okanagan: Apex Alpine, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Summerland More from Okanagan-Similkameen: Okanagan More from British Columbia: Cariboo-Chilcotin, Dawson Creek, Kootenays, Lower Mainland, North Coast (British Columbia), Okanagan-Similkameen, Peace River, Thompson-Shuswap, Vancouver Island, Whistler More from Canada: Atlantic Provinces, British Columbia, North (Canada), Ontario, Prairies (Canada), Quebec, Rocky Mountains (Canada) More from North America: Canada, Caribbean, Cascade Mountains, Central America, Great Lakes, Greenland, Mexico, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, United States of America, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park |
Osoyoos [1] is in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. The semi-arid climate produces very hot, dry days, and Osoyoos has the distinction of being Canada's only desert, complete with wild cactus. Osoyoos also has the distinction of being Canada's hotspot many times each year, practically every other day. The chief industries of Osoyoos are fruit production, viticulture (winemaking), and tourism. The town has about 6500 permanent residents.
Travel to Osoyoos, visa requirements
By car
- Take Highway 97 south from Kelowna and Penticton.
- Highway 97 also heads north from Omak and Oroville, both in Washington.
- Highway 3 (Crowsnest) travels from Hope (and Vancouver further along on highway 1) in the west, and from Nelson and Castlegar from the east in the Kootenays.
By air
There is a small airport in Osoyoos, the ICAO name of which is CBB9, with a single paved 2,800 foot long runway running 12/30.
The closest major airport is in Vancouver, 400 km to the west-southwest. There is also a regional airport in Penticton, which serves domestic flights; Canada Customs services are available upon request.
Get around
There is no public transport, though the town is small enough that getting around on foot or bike is suitable. As with most destinations in the Okanagan, getting around by car is the best way to see all the sights.
Bike rental:
- Double O Bikes, 8905 Main St, +1 250 495-3312.
Scooter rental:
- Scooters Osoyoos, 5702 Main St, +1 250 495-3575.
Culture and History
Like many places in British Columbia, the area was named by the natives. O-sue-use translates as "the narrows", which refers to the cinched waistline of the 19km long Osoyoos Lake (5km of which is in the USA), the town's focal point. A fairly young place, in terms of native and non-native settlement, even the natives found the area too hot and there is no evidence of their permanent residence here prior to 1800, a scant 11 years before white settlers appeared on the scene. The first commercial orchard was planted in 1890, and when the South Okanagan irrigation canal was built in 1919, the town began to grow. The town was incorporated in 1946.
Osoyoos is situated just north of the Canada-US border, and the border crossing is the busiest in British Columbia outside of the Lower Mainland.
Osoyoos is a very hot place in the summer. In an area called the Osoyoos Arid Biotic Zone, Osoyoos claims Canada's lowest annual precipitation, warmest annual temperature, and warmest fresh-water lake. The average temperature in summer is 29C, with days up to 40C and above not uncommon.
Osoyoos attractions and sightseeing
- The viewpoint on Anarchist Mountain. Due to the close proximity to the US border, Highway 3 east had to be built straight up and over this mountain rather than going around. Gaining hundreds of meters of elevation in a very short streach of road, the viewpoint at the top affords great views west to town, and south into the US.
- Osoyoos Museum, 19 Park Place, +1 250 495-2582.
- Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad, 11611 - 115th Street, +1 250 495-6842 [2]. Multiple trains running on over a kilometer of HO scale track. Unintuitively, the theme here is of European towns and villages. There is a gift shop on site. $5 adult, $3.50 children.
- Osoyoos Desert Centre, 9202 - Hwy 97, +1 250 495-2470 [3]. This ecological interpretive centre provides guided and self-guided tours along a 1.5km boardwalk through the desert, teaching the local flora and fauna of this unique area. $6 adult, $15 family.
- Nk'Mip Desert and Heritage Centre, 1000 Rancher Creek Rd, +1 250 495-7901, toll free (in BC) 1 888 495-8555 [4]. Another source of insight into the desert flora and fauna, this one from the perspective of the natives. $7 adults, $22 families.
- Nk'Mip Cellars, 1400 Rancher Creek Rd, +1 250 495-2985 [5]. The first native owned winery in North America, and the second in the world. Often has special events such as a traditional salmon barbeque matched with not so traditional wines. Daily tastings.
City tours
- Hit the beach on Osoyoos Lake. However, if you are looking to escape the heat you may be disappointed; At 24C in the summer, the lake is as refreshing as warm bathwater.
- Take a Horse drawn carriage ride through town. Lakeview Carriage Co, +1 250 498-9624.
- Desert Country Wine Tours, +1 250 498-7316 [6]. If you don't have a car this may be the best way to see the over 30 south Okanagan wineries. Prices vary depending on length of the tour: $40-$80.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Campo Marina Italian Restaurant - voted the most popular restaurant in the South Okanagan, the atmosphere will make you feel like you are in Italy, with fine dining, freshly made bread and fine wine. (250) 495-7650
Chalet Helvetia - serving the best in European Cuisine let your taste buds enjoy entrees from schnitzel to steak from fish to chicken. (250) 495-7552
Diamond Steak and Seafood House - fantastic souvlaki, kalamari, and other Greek specialties as well as steak and seafood. Extensive wine selection. (250) 495-6223
Sol Grill Room and Lounge - watch the sun set and take in the beautiful view of Osoyoos Lake while enjoying superb cuisine served with elegance and grace. Extensive wine selection. (250) 495-6884
Wildfire Grill - the menu provides an innovative culinary experience featuring globally inspired cuisine using indigenous ingredients of the region. (250) 495-2215
The Sonora Room at the Burrowing Owl Winery - The perfect marriage of food, wine and ambience is often an elusive quest. But now, British Columbia's south Okanagan region is home to the ultimate epicurean experience, offered at The Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery's new fine dining restaurant
Stay
Stay at the del Ray B&B. It is brand new, has spacious main floor rooms with private entrances and ensuites with jacuzzi tubs. It is situated in the middle of an apple orchard and while you relax in the gazebo you have a spectacular lake view. You can either rent a room with breakfast or a one bedroom suit by the week. the hosts, Bob & Phyl are very friendly and helpful. Their website is www.delrayb-b.com
Cabana Beach Campground and RV Park offers family campers one of the nicest sandy private beaches in Osoyoos. There are a dozen rv sites, with electric and water hookups, situated right on the waterfront overlooking the lake and sandy beach. There are more accommodations inside the main campground. Unique tenting sites with "cabanas" (a cooking shelter, with water tap, electricity, sink, light and optional fridge rental). Also full hookups are available for motorhomes up to 30 feet and trailers up to 25 feet. (Larger RVs are unable to be accommodated at this time). Camping cabins are also available for weekly rental (bring own bedding). This campground has seen many generations of happy campers! Reservations are recommended for July and August. Your hosts: Gary and Alison. The website is www.cabanabeach.com . Sorry, No pets.
Get out
More from Okanagan: Apex Alpine, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Summerland More from Okanagan-Similkameen: Okanagan More from British Columbia: Cariboo-Chilcotin, Dawson Creek, Kootenays, Lower Mainland, North Coast (British Columbia), Okanagan-Similkameen, Peace River, Thompson-Shuswap, Vancouver Island, Whistler More from Canada: Atlantic Provinces, British Columbia, North (Canada), Ontario, Prairies (Canada), Quebec, Rocky Mountains (Canada) More from North America: Canada, Caribbean, Cascade Mountains, Central America, Great Lakes, Greenland, Mexico, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, United States of America, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park |
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