Journey to a ‘Sparkling’ Luxury Okanagan Resort

by Keith Morgan on Thursday, September 25th, 2014

“Four lucky readers will put a Dodge Journey’s weekend-getaway abilities to the test around the Vernon area, during a stay at the luxurious Sparkling Hill Resort…” 

 

 

*CLICK HERE to enter Black Press Contests’ newest giveaway – a $4,000 Trip for Four to Sparkling Hill Resort and spa in Vernon, B.C. Just enter your name, your email, and click SUBMIT for a chance to win!

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The Dodge Journey is a versatile crossover vehicle that easily transforms from a weekday workhorse to a luxury weekend-getaway vehicle.

In recent years, yours truly has had the opportunity to put succeeding models of the seven-seater through the daily paces around Metro Vancouver, hauling human cargo and on one occasion toting many boxes while helping one of my kids move home!

I now see that four lucky readers put a Dodge Journey’s weekend-getaway abilities to the test around the Vernon area, during a stay at the luxurious Sparkling Hill Resort (see contest details on this page).

The accommodation will certainly not disappoint. I stayed there recently while attending a new car launch. The spa facilities are incredible and the adventurous among the foursome should be sure to brave North America’s first European Cyrotherapy Cold Sauna. There will be a moment during the sub-zero temperature stage when one’s sanity will be questioned but the afterglow will be worth it!

Anyway, I’m the car guy not health advisor so here are some tips on how and where to get the most out of the Journey for the weekend.

The sporty looking wagon is the only one in the segment offering a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines; five- or seven-passenger seating and front or all-wheel drive. The optimum Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine delivers 283 horses, with its smooth six-speed transmission, enables the vehicle to bound up the steepest incline. The Vernon area definitely qualifies as hilly but frankly there’s nothing there that a 2.4-litre four-cylinder version couldn’t handle.

The Journey has a premium interior with soft-touch materials throughout the cabin, plenty of tech to play with in the infotainment system and great in-seat storage and in-floor storage bins to load up the souvenirs to take home to the menfolk in the winners’ lives.

Where to go when the spa sessions have made all mellow: I’ve done quite a bit of wine research in the area so we’ll start there… a designated driver will be required!

One of my nearby favourites is Arrowleaf Cellars, a family operated winery located nearby at 1574 Camp Road, in Lake Country. It specializes in cool-climate wines and I recommend the Bacchus (arrowleafcellars.com). Next door is the Ex Nihilo Winery, which has an awesome building and a very crisp Riesling (exnihilovineyards.com). A few minutes’ drive along Camp Road brings you to the Gray Monk Estate Winery and ideal lunch spot. Many photo opps along the way and still more from the vantage point of the deck, which overlooks lush vineyards stretching down to Okanagan Lake.

The Meadery at Planet Bee, 5011 Bella Vista Road, Vernon, is an intriguing spot. There they make “Honeymoon Mead”, an ancient drink made from fermented honey and water and dubbed the Beverage of Love” (planetbee.com).

Downtown Vernon has transformed large 27 blank walls into colourful artists’ canvases depicting Vernon’s rich heritage. They can be viewed either with a guide or you can pick up a self-guided tour booklet.

Just a few man-made spots. The northern and central Okanagan’s natural beauty is evident at every turn of the wheel but I would highly recommend a stop above Kalamalka Lake to look down the Coldstream valley. You know, you don’t need to win this prize to enjoy this beautiful area. Roll out your vehicle of choice and enjoy a getaway weekend.

Contact: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca

More Photos here below, from Keith Morgan and Sparkling Hill: