In the midst of living and working in Vancouver, I have had a few opportunities the past few months to visit the Okanagan. As this is my first summer living outside of the Okanagan, it feels a bit weird to not be experiencing a summer there. I’m glad I’ve had the chance so far to make a few trips out and take in some of the Okanagan classics: sunshine, wine, food, and of course, incredible views.

Last year, I wrote about some of the must-do’s in the Okanagan. Not surprisingly, many of my favorites include checking out local wineries. I had the opportunity to go wine tasting at a few different places the last time I was in the Okanagan, including River Stone, Silver Sage, Hidden Chapel, Hester Creek, and Gehringer Brothers. There are so many wineries in the Okanagan, and there are new ones popping up every year! I’m sure if you visit, you will find your own favourite in no time – or if you’re like me, you won’t be able to decide!

Of course, no wine tasting adventure is complete without some delicious food to pair it with. My family and I visited Terrafina Restaurant at Hester Creek for some amazing food – the pizza is seriously to die for! Terrafina is one of my favourite winery restaurants, but there are plenty of options all throughout the Okanagan. Here’s a capture of a sample of some of the mouth-watering goodness that locally sourced food provides!

Enjoying delicious food and wine is fun in and of itself, but it’s even more enjoyable when you have someone to share it with. I’m glad I have the chance to reconnect with family when I visit the Okanagan. Spending time together is definitely a highlight, especially in such a beautiful setting as this.

Hopefully I will get the chance to visit the Okanagan again this summer before I head back to school in the fall! In the mean time, I’ll be continuing to explore Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. To keep tabs on me, follow #chiaratakesvancouver on Instagram for the most recent updates 🙂