Explore the Map

Explore the Map Exploring the Okanagan, BC, and beyond through the outdoors, food, and cool experiences.

We're hiking and road tripping around the Pacific Northwest, exploring all this beautiful world has to offer.

05/21/2026

The sun’s out, which means it’s officially paddling season ☀️

One of my favourite things about living in the Okanagan is how early paddleboard and kayak season start. You can easily get out paddling as early as March!

Spring is such a peaceful time to enjoy the water before the busy summer season. The air’s crisp and it feels like you have the whole lake to yourself.

Here are three great spots to check out this spring:

1️⃣ Smiley Cave and the Rock Wall on Kalamalka Lake. Starting from Kaloya Regional Park in Oyama, it’s only about a 2.5 km (Smiley Cave) or 3.5 km (Rock Wall) paddle one way to reach these secluded spots tucked along the shoreline.

2️⃣ Oyama Lake is such a fun place to explore once the snow and ice melt. There are 27 little islands scattered around the lake, plus camping if you want to make a weekend of it at either or the rec site. Please note that this lake is accessed by FSR, so drive carefully.

3️⃣ The Kelowna Paddle Trail is a 27 km self-guided route that stretches from Bertram Creek Regional Park all the way to McKinley Beach. Along the way, you’ll find beaches, wetlands, shoreline cliffs, and plenty of places to stop for food or a swim later in the season.

If you don’t have your own SUP or kayak, these spots make it easy to rent and get out on the water:






Have fun and enjoy the start of paddling season!

⚠️Stay safe on the water this season. Always wear a properly fitted PFD, carry a whistle, and keep an eye on changing weather conditions, as wind can pick up quickly in the Okanagan Valley and create challenging conditions fast.

05/15/2026

Want to go on an e-bike wine tour in Oliver? I’ve got you covered 🍷🚲

Comment “guide” and I’ll send you our full route, bike rental info, and winery stops so you can plan your own South Okanagan wine adventure.

We grabbed our .velo bikes from the Visitor Centre and rode along the International Hike and Bike Trail, which is an 18 km paved path connecting Oliver to Osoyoos Lake.

The trail follows the Okanagan River through vineyards, orchards, and farmland, and it’s such a fun way to explore wine country without rushing from stop to stop.

Partway through the ride, we left the trail and climbed up into the Black Sage Bench. The vineyard views up here are absolutely incredible and the e-bikes made the hills way easier!

We stopped at three wineries along the way:

🍷
One of the most beautiful wineries in the Okanagan with panoramic views. If you can, book the tour so you can see the underground wine cellar spaces beneath the tasting room and patio.

🍷
A fun, relaxed winery with a laid-back atmosphere that’s super welcoming. Grab a tasting and take a tour of their vineyards and production area.

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Quite possibly the cutest garden-inspired winery I’ve ever visited. There’s live music, vineyard tours, and a patio that’s very hard to leave once you sit down.

Our e-bikes were from .velo (a local company who designed the bikes) and they’re super comfortable, easy to use, and named after the region which is a cool touch. They also lock through an app, which makes winery hopping so much easier since you don’t have to find somewhere to chain them up every stop.

And if you didn’t know, Oliver is home to more than 40 wineries, so there’s no shortage of amazing places to explore on your next e-bike wine tour through the South Okanagan wine country!

Have fun and enjoy the ride 🍇

05/15/2026

’s cute dirty soda truck is officially open at Gyro Park in Penticton! 🎉

They have so many flavours to choose from, including signature drinks that all sound amazing, plus build-your-own options. You can choose from energy drinks, diet sodas, and even sparkling water bases, so the combos are pretty much endless.

I got the Cloud 9, which is Sprite mixed with different kinds of strawberries and cream, and I LOVED it. Poor Jacob only got a sip 😂

I’d never tried dirty soda before, so when we realized it was opening day and we just happened to be driving through Penticton, we had to stop and see what all the hype was about. I get it now!

Enjoy!

05/08/2026

The circus is in town!

is in Vernon May 7-10 and Salmon Arm May 14-17, plus many more dates and locations in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan all summer!

✨Comment “guide” for a link to buy tickets and a 20% discount! ✨

We went for opening night in Vernon and WOW, they put on quite the show! My nieces and nephews loved it, it truly felt like we were right in all the action!

I highly, highly recommend going, it’s a lot of fun!

The artists are from all over the world, and the show is about 1.5 hours with a 15 minute intermission. There’s popcorn, cotton candy, drinks, food, and face painting all inside the Big Top.

Use code “EXPLORE20” for 20% off your tickets in Vernon.

Enjoy!

05/05/2026

Enjoy family-style dining at Shambhu's Spice House this Mother’s Day.

We tried their Social Table Experience which includes a little bit of all their favourites, and I couldn’t believe how much we got. We were so full after just the appies 😂

My favourites were the Sweet Puffs Spoon Shot and Butter Chicken, but everything was absolutely delicious and I’d recommend it all.

The experience is only $35 per person (minimum of two people), so bring your friends and family, and enjoy this absolutely delicious feast!

Appetizers:
✨ Golgappa Shots
✨ Indian Nachos (Papdi Chaat)
✨ Paneer Tikka Skewers
✨ Sweet Puffs Spoon Shot
✨ Veg Chowmein with Manchurian Bites

Mains:
✨ Paneer Butter Masala or Butter Chicken
✨ Dal Makhani or Chicken Tikka Masala
✨ Veg Korma or Chicken Korma
Enjoy!

04/30/2026

Grab your FREE smoothie in Kelowna!

has just opened a new location in Kelowna and they’re kicking things off with a Grand Opening celebration 🎉 [ad]

📍 3326 Lakeshore Rd, across from Shoppers and near Gyro Beach

✨ May 8, 4–7 pm
✨ Free smoothies & face painting
✨ WIN AirPods, a gift card, or a merch bag
✨ Ribbon cutting at 4pm with the mayor

Also, did you know Jugo Juice has more than smoothies?! They have fresh-pressed juice, bubble tea, smoothie bowls (the mango is my favourite), chia seed puddings, parfaits, breakfast bowls, wraps, sandwiches… way more than I’d realized!

They’re also in such a great location right beside Gyro Beach. Grab a smoothie or bowl and go enjoy the sun ☀️

Enjoy!

04/29/2026

Enjoy a little taste of the Mediterranean right here in Kelowna thanks to at ☀️

Maestro’s absolutely nailed it with their new family-style Mediterranean menu! Everything is absolutely delicious and it was hard to pick favourites, although I was partial to the grilled octopus, seafood platter, and steak.

The menu leans farm-to-table and sustainable, with fresh and bright flavours you’d expect from the Mediterranean.

And let’s not forget their absolutely STUNNING patio. Sitting right on the shores of Okanagan Lake, the patio feels like a little slice of Mediterranean summer without ever leaving the Okanagan.

Grab your friends and family, and enjoy a great meal with a little taste of everything on the patio ☀️

Address

123 Shortt St
Vernon, BC
V1B 3M1

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