An Okanagan getaway in the Mitsubishi Outlander

By Megan Catalano

The sun was blazing, the breeze flowing, and the tunes pumping as we cruised lakeside through B.C.’s Okanagan wine country.

Joe, our dog Koloa, and I escaped the city for a beautiful long weekend in Summerland, B.C. Situated on the west side of Okanagan Lake between the communities of Peachland and Penticton, Summerland is a quick, yet scenic, getaway from the lower Vancouver mainland on less than a full tank of gas in the Mitsubishi Outlander. Nothing beats this quintessential B.C. summer road trip with stunning lake, vineyard and orchard views in every direction.

The Outlander’s ample space for our dog’s safety seat kept her contained and secure for both highway driving and touring around town. The third-row seating is a great addition for a trip with a larger family or extra guests. But in our case, the folded down third row gave us plenty of space for excess baggage, a welcome feature for a chronic over packer like me. We jam packed the cargo area with everything we needed for beach visits, wine touring and picnics with plenty of storage space leftover for hauling our local purchases like fruit and wine.

Boasting the most hours of sunshine of any place in Canada, Summerland is a tourist destination with a welcoming small-town friendliness. We appreciated its quieter pace compared to other parts of the Okanagan region while still offering plenty to experience.

Tucked away poolside, we made ourselves at home in a studio suite at the Summerland Waterfront Resort complete with a full kitchen and a great view of the lake. Our patio was the ideal spot to lounge and plan our days over coffee before it got too hot, or to relax and sip a glass of local wine at sunset.

After breakfast on the patio, we started every morning with a leisurely stroll along the lakeside walking path lined with shady weeping willow trees. We’d walk a loop passing the yacht club, the public beach and community pier, making stops at the fully fenced dog beach and park within the popular Peach Orchard Beach Park.

In the afternoons, we took turns as the designated driver and visited local wineries. We drove through the winding roads of Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive, the community’s official wine route, slightly south to Penticton nestled between Okanagan and Skaha Lakes, and up the east side of the lake to Naramata and back. The exceptional Dynamic Sound Yamaha audio system in the refreshed Outlander paired with my phone kept our vacation vibes high with the perfect playlist for our personal wine tour.

The South Okanagan region is home to more than 170 wineries with distinctly different sub-regions including Summerland, Naramata and Okanagan Falls. The unique microclimates of these sub regions, like the high elevation in the hills of Summerland, aid the production of different grape varietals and wine styles. You could spend an entire summer touring around the region visiting and tasting at different wineries.

We visited six wineries, two breweries and a cidery over our long weekend. With many places offering tantalizing food to graze on from light snacks and charcuterie to full meals, we nibbled and sipped our way through the valley each day.

Of course, you can opt for a more formal wine tour with a guide and shuttle, but we preferred to cruise around on our own in the comfort of the Outlander’s plush and spacious interior. We took our time and visited spots that called to us in the moment - especially the dog-friendly places. We were pleased to find many patios accommodate people travelling with their beloved pets.

The Mi-Pilot Assist with lane departure warning and prevention came in handy on the narrow single lane roads winding alongside Okanagan Lake. For the harder to access vineyards, the Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) system gave us better traction to climb some hilly gravel roads. The breathtaking views were well worth the drive and the shift into Gravel Mode.

You don’t have to be a wine lover to appreciate all the scenic beauty and activities the area has to offer. Aside from the views, the food and the entertaining lawn games, most places offered tasty non-alcoholic options so everyone can enjoy a cold beverage.

Between our winery visits, we alternated stops at sandy beaches and the resort’s pool to cool off with a rejuvenating dip. Jumping into cool water on a hot day is a necessary and invigorating summer feeling.

One morning we borrowed paddleboards from the resort (we’ll have to try the bike and boat rentals next time) and spent two hours playing (more like wobbling) on the lake. Thankfully the lake temperature was refreshing for those who are less graceful and tend to take a few tumbles.

We truly didn’t need to leave the resort at all, but we love to explore. The Outlander’s tri-zone climate controls made it easy to hop in the car when temperatures were in the high 30s, and we could still bask in the sunshine through the expansive panoramic sunroof. The ventilated seats were a welcome relief to keep us cool and comfortable between stops, and the rear window pull-up sunshades helped protect Koloa from the heat.

On our last night of the trip, we ate an incredible meal on the lakefront patio at Shaughnessy’s Cove Restaurant near our resort. We savoured every bite as we watched boats coming and going in the warm evening breeze. We ended our evening listening to live music and roasting s’mores over a fire. A memorable way to wrap up a wonderful stay.

On our way out of town we browsed the artisans and vendors at the farmers market, then swung by a fruit stand to pick up the tastiest treat to bring home with us — peaches from a local orchard. They were so irresistibly fresh and juicy that only a few made it all the way home.

We soaked up every last drop of the season during our getaway. With the comfortable road-trip ready Mitsubishi Outlander and endless activities to choose from, we can’t wait to go back next summer.

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