Just got back from a trip to the central and southern BC interior, spend a few days at the family cabin at Bridge lake in the Caribou, then down to Vernon and Kelowna for a few days.
Vernon's downtown has been quite nicely done up with a very main street feel with lots of interesting shops and restaurants. Changed quite a bit since the last time I had been through. Towards the east end of downtown a new 3 story law office is going up and a new library across the street. That, with the new Tolko building and the refreshed park, It will tie in east hill with downtown, Jubilee park and the courthouse. Stayed at the fabulous downtown Tiki Village motel (dog friendly) at the advice of a realtor friend and my mum, hard to find dog friendly places, I was a bit leery of the place as it's been there since I can remember (30 years ago) but it was quite nice and the Polynesian themed courtyard was impressive with a nice little patio off the restaurant. Cheap, central and clean if your looking for a place like that.
We drove to Kelowna for a day, partner wanted to go see some wineries. Went to Mission Hill and Quails Gate, where we had lunch. I have lived in the Okanagan most of my life & had never done a winery tour. Mission Hill is very impressive, for the view and grounds if nothing else. Bought some hooch and checked out some of the houses on the hills in Westbank. There is obviously a lot of money on those hills.
Took a drive through downtown Kelowna and down Pandosy past Gyro beach. Wow... that area has changed a lot since I was there last. What was single family houses and strip malls along Pandosy has been transformed into quite the little tourist shopping and food district... a few really nice looking buildings going up along there, had a very summery feel to it. Lots of construction going on.
Down around the Yacht club is really transforming as well, several more buildings have gone up since I lived there, including a typical looking Yaletown special which seems oddly out of place. I think they''re building another one right beside it... they've keep it quite open and parklike, it will feel like the new part of Yaletown down there after a while. Down Ellis (I think.. same road as Flashback... which amazingly is still there!) in place of the run down houses, warehouses and shops like my old Volvo mechanic, a few quite modern low and midrises with retail fronts is a very Vancouver-y district in the making.... closer than anything we've seen here in Alberta I think. Downtown Seems bustling (with the exception of the old Wolworths building which still sits empty) and for mid June it was busy. My old house on Lawrence and Ethyl is a 3 story low rise.
Anyone know what that huge 3/4 finished building on Glenmore as you head just out of the city is ?
We took the back way to Vernon, including a drive through Predator Ridge. Whatever, fancy-dancy golf course and expensive houses, but the Spa at the top of the hill is crazy.... Giant diamond shaped crystal curtain wall and probably the most elegant finishing I have ever seen. If you are out that way it is worth a look... for sheer awesomeness or cheesyness of this extremely decadent facility, whichever.
A photo off the deck of the cabin, and the dog having the time of her life. This is what BC holidays are all about for me
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There are quite a few good bars downtown in Kelowna. 
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