General: British Columbia

"Oh Sue Use" - and that's how you pronounce this British Columbia town's name.

Taken from the same source as the local Native (Indian) band, it means "narrowing of the waters" and refers to the figure-8 shaped Osoyoos Lake that nestles on the floor of the valley.

Osoyoos is part of the warm, sunny Okanagan, (about 400 kilometers from Vancouver and the coast)and will not factor in the 2010 Olympics ...
...the hordes on Whistler. But for many native British Columbians, it's a family type summer resort destination with much to offer. Travel is easy by road, either by car or motorhome, but the closest airport is at Penticton, about an hour's drive to the north.

The area around Osoyoos is described as a "pocket desert" and is the northernmost part of the desert areas of the North American continent just west of the Rocky Mountains. ... more

"Oh Sue Use" - and that's how you pronounce this British Columbia town's name.

Taken from the same source as the local Native (Indian) band, it means "narrowing of the waters" and refers to the figure-8 shaped Osoyoos Lake that nestles on the floor of the valley.

Osoyoos is part of the warm, sunny Okanagan, (about 400 kilometers from Vancouver and the coast)and will not factor in the 2010 Olympics except as a place to go to get away from the hordes on Whistler. But for many native British Columbians, it's a family type summer resort destination with much to offer. Travel is easy by road, either by car or motorhome, but the closest airport is at Penticton, about an hour's drive to the north.

The area around Osoyoos is described as a "pocket desert" and is the northernmost part of the desert areas of the North American continent just west of the Rocky Mountains.

The Osoyoos native band has gone to great lengths recently to attract tourists to their part of the valley. They have built a winery (as the Okanagan is noted for its wines) and a Desert Interpretive Centre. This writer spent an hour at a presentation about rattlesnakes that was a real revelation.

The natives are concerned about the vanishing rattler, and are implanting tracking devices in captured snakes and painting (ecologically safe paint) their rattles in different patterns so as to track their movements. The naturalists' concern about all living creatures is quite impressive.

The band has also developed a large, tree-filled campsite for tenters and trailers (caravans, to you Brits) right on the lake, or you can choose to stay at the government campsite where the lake narrows.

Osoyoos is surrounded by orchards, and provides a steady supply of fresh-picked fruits and vegetables all summer long in its road-side fruit stands.

During a summer's day, the sandy beaches are busy (but not crowded) with swimmers, boaters, and "sea-do" (personal watercraft) riders. There are several public beach areas, nicely ringed with shade trees, or you can stay at one of the many motels along the waterfront, with the lake right at your door.

If beaches are not your goal, how about a wine tour? There is a wide variety of local wineries offering tastings and sales of their delicious products. There's even a tour bus to take you, so you won't have to explain to our friendly Mounties why you're weaving all over the highway.

One outstanding feature of Osoyoos is its distance from the major cities of the West Coast and its lack of industrial pollution, making it a perfect place to observe the heavens each night, and the warm summer temperatures mean that you can lie on your back on the beach and gaze at the light show going on overhead.

Of course, if you really want to do it up right, book yourself in at the Observatory Bed and Breakfast just 8 kilometres up Anarchist Mountain, which towers over the town.

The hosts, Alice and Jack Newton, have installed a state of the art telescope on the top floor, and have anchored it into the bedrock below the house, so that it can be moved by means of a computer program and locked on to whatever part of the heavens you want to visit. The revolving roof on the dome is moved by hand, and glides along smoothly to reveal all sections of the night sky.

Jack Newton is a reknowned consulting astonomer, and has an impressive list of credits to his name. He spends one-half of the year (the winter months) in south-east Arizona, at his "other" telescope. His love of astronomy is evident, and even somebody like me, who can recognize the Big Dipper and little else, is quickly caught up in the magic.

Alice Newton, Jack's enthusiastic partner, oversees the day-to-day operations of the bed and breakfast, which consists of two large suites and a smaller room with a queen-sized bed, all with ensuite bath.

The view from each room is spectacular, suspended as it is over the town below and on an eye-level position with the surrounding mountains. Alice has added all sorts of nice touches - in-room coffee and tea service, plus complete kitchens in the two larger suites, and has decorated with an "astonomical" eye.

As you finish your tasty, healthy breakfast, Jack will invite you to look at the sun through his telescope before you set off for your day's outing. As you gaze in awe at the evidence of solar flares, he's getting ready to show you planets - yes, in the daytime - and even stars. Of course, when you return after dinner, he has a complete program planned for your viewing pleasure. And, in the rare event of rain or clouds, the house is equipped with a comfy theatre where you can see Jack's own "home movies" of the stars, or watch a DVD or video.

Oh yes - and before you get to your car, you will probably be beset by the resident marmots, largish rodents about the size of a hare. These little fellows are used to getting carrot treats from the lady of the house, and will literally sit on your shoes until Alice throws down a carrot from the kitchen window to appease their hunger. Once fed, they loll on the rocks like tourists on the Riviera, only responding to a sharp whistle from the lookout marmot before scrambling off to their dens.

Have I tempted you? Don't wait too long. Osoyoos is not yet expensive, and although busy in the summer, is not overcrowded. Come and bask in the sand - like one of the marmots.

...less