“Enderby In Motion” In Honour of Rick Hansen

Enderby is hosting its 1st Annual "Enderby in Motion" 5K Run, Walk or Wheel Event, in honor of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay. Held on Saturday, March 31 at 8 am at the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce, community members can sign up to participate as sponsors,  volunteers or participators. There are a number of excellent prizes available to be won.

If you are interested in participating in the event, you must enter by March 25. Entry forms are available and can be dropped off at the Enderby Chamber. For more information or to sponsor or volunteer for the event, please contact Patricia Cech at 250-838-5640

1st Annual World Media Awards

I am excited to share that I have won the award for Best Travel Blog from the 1st Annual World Media Awards!! I want to thank the World Media Awards and congratulate all the other winners of this years awards. 

Best Travel Blog Virtual Trophy

The World Media Awards recognizes successful bloggers and publishers from across the globe. To see all of the 2012 winners, visit the World Media Awards website at http://themediaawards.com/winners.

A quote  from the Founder, Murray Newlands "I am thrilled to help shine a spotlight on some of the best blogs from around the world. I think it's important to hold up examples of bloggers and publishers doing great things." 

It is my goal to provide plenty more great information, pictures and videos of the Okanagan, Shuswap and surrounding regions this year. Let me know what you loved, what could be improved and what you want more of in the comments below.

Snowshoeing and Tobogganing at Larch Hills

I must confess it has been months since my last post. Our outdoor fun has been fewer and further between than we have wanted. That said we have had a bit of outdoor fun at Larch Hills, the local cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing destination. While the snow has come and gone with changing temperatures here in the North Okanagan, it has remained snowy up at higher elevations such as Larch Hills.

The beginning of December there was just enough snow to snowshoe on the more open trails. Come mid January, Larch Hills was the winter wonderland we love to play in. Now, in late February, we still have plenty of snow and it is still coming. If things keep going this way, we should be able to keep going up there to play in the snow till at least the end of March.

These pics are from early in the season. The open paths had plenty of snow but areas under heavy cover were still snow free. 

Snowshoe trail entrance

Open snowshoe trail

Snowshoe trail at Larch Hills

This next one was taken in January. Great snowshoeing to be found on all of the trails.

There is a great place to go sledding at Larch Hills. Beside the north side of the parking lot is the Ski Out down to John's Ski Shack. The first stretch of it beside the cabin makes for excellent tobogganing and it is rarely used so you won't be in the way of the cross-country skiers.

Sledding on a cloudy afternoon.

Tobogganing at Larch Hills

A sunny afternoon at Larch Hills

Sliding down the hill on our tummies!

We are still hoping to get out a bunch more between now and the melt to enjoy the snow. Have you gotten out as much as you wanted to this winter? Any great places you have played this winter? Let me know in the comments below.

Upcoming Christmas Events in the North Okanagan

It is that time of year again when we start to think about Christmas and begin our yearly preparations. As part of your preparations this year, you may wish to add some of the awesome Christmas events found in the North Okanagan.

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event  (November 27th)

Make sure you come out to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs at this wonderful, family friendly event. See the amazing gingerbread creations, bring in your own gingerbread house or make one while you are there. The event is located at the Parkinson Recreation Centre on November 27th from 10am to 3pm.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadEvent 
Twitter: @gingerKelowna  use #GingerbreadEvent

 

Enderby Community Christmas Celebration (Dec 2)

This family tradition includes a Santa Parade, River Candle Walk, sleigh rides, bonfire, carols, nativity and free soup and hot chocolate. An excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit, this family event starts with the Parade, located in Downtown Enderby on Cliff Ave at 6 pm.

Some Pics of Santa from the Community Christmas Celebration in years past.

Enderby's Santa getting ready to start the parade.

Santa waving at the crowds during the parade.

Santa in between visits with the children at the festivities after the parade.

Downtown Vernon's Festival of Christmas Traditions (November 25th)

Located  on 30th Avenue (from 29th Street to 35th Street) in Downtown Vernon, this Christmas Light-up includes entertainment, a bonfire, pony rides, carriage rides,  face painting, storytelling, a nativity, and a visit from Santa! The Festival of Christmas Traditions runs from 5:00pm - 9:00pm on Friday November 25th 2011.

If I have missed a local event, please let me know so I can include it. Planning on attending, please leave a comment below. 

Fall 2011 in Enderby, British Columbia

I must confess it has been a month since my last post (gasp!). I know, I know. It is not so much that I haven't been able to find a couple of minutes to write, more that I have not been able to find the time to get out and enjoy this incredible area. Renos combined with work and now Christmas has left us with little free time and we haven't had a chance to get out and do the things we love.

But while I am writing, every now and again, I take a look out at the magnificent view out our patio doors and sometimes even remember to snap a pic. We have a great view of not only Enderby, but the Enderby Cliffs and Mabel Lake Valley as well.

Pics taken early in the morning as mist was rising off the Shuswap River.

Mist coming off of Shuswap River.

View down Mabel Lake Valley in the morning.

While it hadn't rained anywhere in town that day, there was this amazing rainbow visible at sunset. A few days later we had this fabulous sunny day, something that does not happen all that often in Enderby in fall. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Enderby Cliffs were a striking pink. I caught a shot of it near the end of sunset.

A rainbow at sunset down Mabel Lake Valley.

A sunny fall day in Enerby.

Sunset on Enderby Cliffs.

I am also including a pic of our family of pumpkins from this Halloween.

Our pumpkins this Halloween.

Have you stopped to appreciate the spectacular fall colours this fall or a scenic sunrise or sunset? I would love to hear what you love best about the fall? Leave a comment below!

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event

 An awesome guest post about this year's Annual Gingerbread House Event!!! 

Whether you are new to gingerbread house making, an old pro or just want to view all the delicious creations, please support this excellent event.

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2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event

In the summer evenings along Kelowna's lake shore you may have noticed some long boats with 20 paddlers slicing their paddles into the water. Like pistons in an engine the paddles lift vertically up and down in unison, powering the boat ahead. This is the sport of dragon boating which originated in China over 2000 years ago and has become a popular paddling sport in North America and the world in the last 25 years.

Dragon Boaters

Dragon boaters are generally outgoing; you'd have to be to join such a strange and wondrous sport! Dragon boaters are fun, enthusiastic, passionate people who come together from all walks of life with one common goal: To Have Fun!

In 2010 the Red Hot Chili Paddlers, a local co-ed recreational dragon boat team with the Kelowna Dragon Boat Club, decided to take their enthusiasm into the community to create a premier event, a Kelowna family tradition, and an annual fundraiser to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, and the local community.

Red Hot Chili Paddlers

So it is with great excitement that we are now announcing the 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event which will take place on Sunday, November 27th at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna, BC. This event aspires to bring our community together to experience the enjoyment, creativity, and beauty of gingerbread houses in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs.

Partial proceeds from this event will directly support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs’ Cool Moves Program which promotes increased physical activity and healthy eating among school aged kids.

The packaged kit category commences at 10am and at the same time people can start dropping off their open category creations. From 10am-3pm families can come to Parkinson Rec Centre together and build a gingerbread house right at the event. 

Family with Gingerbread House Kit

An Open Category Gingerbread House

With the support from local chefs, we aim to display some of the amazing talent found in the Okanagan Valley. The public viewing will take place from 3-6pm. Viewing entry is $2/adult and $1/under18, or a non-perishable food donation which will go towards the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs' Christmas hampers.

If you’d like to participate in this event, please visit the registration page of gingerbreadevent.com. Sponsorship and donation opportunities are also available. 

Gingerbread House Image

All of the information you need to become a sponsor, a participant or a spectator can be found on our website at: gingerbreadevent.com.

Let us know if you have any questions by emailing the event chairman Clinton Dixson at chairman atgingerbreadcompetition dot ca.

Gingerbread House Event Poster

  

We would be pleased to hear any feedback you have including where you first heard of this event. If you live in the Okanagan you may have heard ads on the radio from our media sponsors at EZRock101.5, SunFM and AM1150 ! Have you seen our website, our twitter page, posters, facebook page, flyers, or posters? Or is this the first place you are reading about it?

For more information, visit our press release: http://www.prlog.org/11691789



 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadEvent
 
Twitter: @gingerKelowna

A Visit to the Log Barn Near Enderby, BC

For a long time, like most locals, I drove right on past the Log Barn. Wrote it off as a tourist trap. Well, while the prices of most items found there are definitely tourist inspired, there is plenty to do for free and it is a great place to take the kids.

Outside the Log Barn Store

The mountains in the distance.

Shaded sitting areas.

Towards the parking lot.

My daughter LOVES to go and feed the goats and Ryley the horse. We usually make the trip out every couple of weeks in the off season, but less often during peak season as it can be quite busy. It is located on Highway  97A between Enderby and Armstrong and is open Monday thru Saturday from 7 am to 7 pm. You can buy goat feed for a quarter and a piece of apple to feed Ryley for 50 cents. There are also a number of slide areas, a children's sitting area and some non-functioning mall rides (good for kiddie imaginations).

Immobile kids ride

Goat area

Children's sitting area.

Feeding the goats

Log Barn goat

Goat walking down goat walk.

Adults can do a little gift shopping as well as shopping for a variety of fresh, local produce and homemade goods. After all that shopping and playing visitors can purchase fresh pie, candy or ice cream. Some of our favourites include the pepperoni sticks, saltwater taffy and rocky road bars.

Sitting area.

Looking out from goat area.

I love driving by there during the fall leading up to Halloween. The Log Barn decorates the entire area in pumpkins for sale. They range greatly in size and shape and because they are nicely spaced you are sure to find the perfect pumpkin.

Have you ever been to the Log Barn? What is your favourite treat when stopping there? Let me know in the comment section below.