“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:

20 thoughts on “Journey to a ‘Sparkling’ Luxury Okanagan Resort

    Marlene Breton says:

    Would LOVE to win this contest & try out the new Dodge Journey, along with enjoying the ambiance & romance of the Sparkling Hills resort!

    Sincerely,
    Marlene

    Clint Peppler says:

    Great article, very inviting.

    Christl Taylor says:

    My girlfriends and I (we are a group 55+)are always looking for something special to do together. This would be soooo perfect for us. Also, I have always driven a Chev and would love to try the Dodge Journey….time for a change!

    Iris Hadfield says:

    I would love to win this trip. Sparkling looks like a fantastic place to spend a luxurious vacation.

    TyOnTheIsland says:

    Sparkling Hill Resort sounds stellar. We have had some great times at Silver Star but when a friend told us about the Sparkling Hill Resort that her and her family stayed at, it was instantly put on our bucket list. We love that community. The people in the Vernon area have always been terrific hosts.

    Geri russell says:

    Very enticing OK resort for 4 gals to enjoy!!
    Love to drive the “Journey” on the getaway.
    I am an avid OK visitor.

    Tracy Telford says:

    looks like a dream, outstanding and futuristic just like the Dodge Journey. Would love to take my Mom and two sisters as they are my best friends always forever.

    Joanne says:

    Oh I need a new vehicle and would love to drive the Dodge Journey. I have 8 sisters who are my best friends, so I would love to be able to have this special getaway with at least 3 of them!

    Judee says:

    I was visting this area last summer and took a drive up to Sparkling..OMG..what an amazing place. Such magic up that hill! Love it…

    Lorraine Ladan says:

    Up on the mountain overlooking Okanagan Lake and nothing to do but relax and enjoy the serene surroundings of Sparkling Hill…please send me there!

    Laurette Ramsey says:

    Love everything about this!! Would be a great getaway with three friends 🙂

    Allison Knittig says:

    What a great contest this would be to win! Since moving to Kelowna from the prairies,i have not been able to make a great friend that i left behind. What a great way for us all to get together as well as brag about the great new place that i live!

    Deborah Groom says:

    This is a dream trip. My friends and I are planning a getaway for my 50th birthday. There is no way we could afford to go to the Sparkling Hills Resort as we are at that stage where we are looking after the kids and our parents at the same time. These ladies have wonderful, positive and fun personalities and I would love to surprise them and say, “Roadtrip!”, tell them where we are going and show them how we are going to get there. We’d already planned to film the weekend so this would be a blast. My best gift would be to get a chance to treat them and thank them for all the happiness they have brought into my life.

    Gina MacSporran says:

    We are looking at purchasing a new vehicle in the next year! Would love this chance to try one out! What better way then a girls road trip!!!

    Sharon Hamer says:

    We would absolutely love to win this. we have been Chevy/GMC owners for more years than I care to think of, and are looking at a new vehicle in the next year or so and would love to try out the Dodge Journey. With the added bonus of trying out the lovely looking Sparkling Hill Resort !!

    Sandi H says:

    http://www.sparklinghill.com/ This resort looks absolutely breathtaking! Just yesterday, I was thinking how our poor old Dodge Ram doesn’t owe us a CENT and how we’ll soon have to look at replacing it… BUT it’s still such a workhorse! I <3 as much now as when we first got it… 😀

    GAIL WHITWORTH says:

    I can close my eyes and imagine the view of Okanagan Lake from Sparkling Hill. I can only dream of doing this as winner of such a wonderful prize.

    Jennifer R says:

    We make an annual trip to Osoyoos every summer, but I’ve never ventured to Vernon. Can’t imagine a better way to explore than a stay at Sparkling HIlls witha Dodge Journey!

    Louise Davison says:

    A spectacular view to be enjoyed with old friends.

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