Have you ever felt like exploring and experiencing places or activities that aren’t very well-known? You have come to the right place because these four hidden gems in Vernon are guaranteed to blow you away!
Whether you’re looking for a new getaway spot, a cool hike with an outstanding viewpoint, a fun experience getting to know the mysterious history of an Italian family descending from royalty or some good grub, this list has something for everyone.
Coming right from Tourism Vernon, the local experts in all things you can do in the wonderful town of Vernon, here are four hidden gems that you are going to want to add to your bucket list this year for #TheBestDayEver.
Tucked into a quiet cove on Okanagan Lake is Outback Lakeside Vacation Homes, a private estate of stunning vacation homes located on 60-acres of mountain forest, right on the lake.
Surrounded by Okanagan Valley pine forest and million-dollar lake views, Outback Lakeside has been coined a luxurious wilderness sanctuary. The iconic Ellison Provincial Park is nearby with tons of hiking and biking trails to explore during your getaway.
What’s so special about this hidden gem is that while you’re getting out of town and reconnecting in nature, you still get to enjoy luxurious amenities while nestled in the great outdoors.
The resort boasts an exclusive collection of designer homes, villas and cabins, all unique to each neighbourhood on the property. If you want a rustic and elegant home or a chic and modern villa, there is something for everyone.
Plus, there are pools and hot tubs, sightseeing, a playground, a teen room, beaches, trails and so much more for everyone to enjoy whether they come with a family, as a couple or with a group.
There is truly no better place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to reconnect with what’s important to you.
You can even enter to win a 2-night getaway to this stunning resort for you and a plus one! Click here to enter the contest before it closes on April 22nd, 2022!
Once you see the view from the Boss Creek section of the historic Grey Canal Trail, you’ll never consider a different viewpoint for watching sunsets this summer.
The view at the top of the hike overlooks East Vernon, Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake. The beautiful hike goes through forested areas and the terrain is considered rough. It is a steep vertical climb up Vernon Hill and goes towards Boss Creek Road, making it a fun adventure for confident hikers and their furry friends.
You can access the hike from the Welker Road and Boss Creek Road Parking Lots, as well as the Gray Canal Trail from the East Vernon trail or Coldstream Valley Estates North trail.
There are several trails to follow throughout the hike depending on where you start and the direction you want to take to get to the lookout point.
For further directions to the access points and trail directions, click here, select the difficult tab and check out number 6!
The heritage house at Caetani Centre is over 125 years old with a very fascinating and disturbing history (some even say it's haunted!).
You can explore the secrets and rumours of the Caetani family. Get to know Leone Caetani, an Italian prince, duke and scholar from an ancient royal family, his wife Sveva, and their daughter who was held prisoner in her own home for over 25 years.
What happened in this house? Why did Leone Caetani leave royalty behind to move to Vernon in the early 1900s? Why were his wife and daughter secluded from the world for decades?
Discover the mysterious history of the Caetani family, view the collections of artwork, artifacts and mementos of the family including Sveva’s vintage Chanel and Vionnet clothing, her watercolour paintings, family photographs and home movies.
Visitors can learn about the bizarre and intriguing world of the Caetani family in a guided tour with tablets or phones for an immersive experience or self-guided tour at the Caetani Centre when it opens to the public on April 22nd.
For some of the best food you can get your hands on, Bourbon Street Bar & Grill is a must-visit. Located at the Prestige Hotel, the restaurant boasts delicious and unique dishes with the lobster grilled cheese ringing out as a favourite for locals.
The classic grilled cheese gets a mouth-watering twist with lobster, jalapeño havarti, avocado puree and creole aioli cooked between those two pieces of bread making for a masterpiece.
Other than the famed grilled cheese, there are tons of high-quality and expertly created dishes featuring seafood, chicken, beef, salads, pasta, dessert and so much more at reasonable prices. There are also breakfast, happy hour and kids menus available.
When we say this is a must-try restaurant, we are not kidding. To view the Bourbon Street Bar & Grill menus, click here.
Tourism Vernon are experts in their trade and know all of the cool things you can do this year that you might have never heard of!
For help planning your next visit and finding the perfect things to do, contact the Tourism Vernon team for more information or visit their website today.
Share your adventures on social media using #TheBestDayEver!
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