All posts tagged with: Vernon

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The Okanagan Valley is home to beautiful lakes, world-class ski resorts, award-winning wineries, and championship golf courses. But did you know it’s also home to a $122 million resort development outfitted with over $10 million in Swarovski crystals?

The 187-acre Sparkling Hills Resort is located in Vernon, BC, and is home to a 149-room hotel and wellness spa. From the moment of arrival, guests will be in awe over the stunning property, located adjacent to Predator Ridge Resort.

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Guests of Sparkling Hills have the choice of one king or two queen beds.  The rooms also have soaker tubs for two, a sitting area overlooking the spectacular views of either Lake Okanagan or the Monashee Mountain range, and complimentary breakfast, valet parking and wireless internet.

All hotel guests receive access to the KurSpa amenities, the highlight of Sparkling Hills. Offering over 100 treatments to rejuvenate and refresh the body, the KurSpa goes beyond traditional pampering. Treatments include massage, mud wraps, reflexology, aesthetics and aromatherapy.

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What makes Sparkling Hills unique is their signature cold sauna. Featured in The Real Housewives of Vancouver, the cryotherapy treatment is the first cold sauna in North America. There are three chambers. The first is at -15’c, the second at -65’c, and the third at -110’c. Cold sauna guests wear shoes, swimsuits or shorts, and protective covering for the head, hands and face. This treatment is particularly effective for people suffering from inflammation, arthritis and joint pain. It would also do wonders for marathon-runners, post-race!

Guests are also welcome to enjoy the two salt-water swimming pools. The 14m X 8m indoor pool has underwater lights and music, and overhead the ceiling is decorated with crystals giving a magical starry sky effect. The outdoor 17m X 8m infinity pool overlooks Lake Okanagan.

There are also three restaurants located on site offering everything from breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

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Fast Facts:

• 3 million Swarovski crystals
• 1.3 million Swarovski gems backed by silver to reflect light
• Over 1529 metres of crystal chains
• Over 750 metres of crystal strands
• 1 four story tall crystal built on site
• 3 crystal chandeliers hanging from the bridges of the lobby cost over $600,000
• The feature crystal weighs 300kg (661 pounds)

One of British Columbia’s best golfers. Winner of the 1982 British Columbia Open, 1984 Utah Open, 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open, 1992 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic and the 2001 Samsung Canadian PGA Championship to name just a few of his winning titles. His name is Richard Zokol and he is the Director of Golf at Predator Ridge Golf Resort in Vernon, British Columbia.

Richard made the decision to join Predator Ridge this past year after his agent and best friend, Brad Pelletier, VP of Westbild, suggested he join the Predator Ridge team. There were a number of challenges the resort faced and they knew that a seasoned expert, like Richard, could help address to build their position in the marketplace and deliver a better golf experience.

“I love the interaction with the membership,” said Zokol. “I get to meet and connect with them. That’s the magic of this place. Bringing Mike Weir here was exciting too.”

Richard’s goals are primarily focused on making a big impact at Predator Ridge.

“There’s a need for a third course,” Richard explained. “It would bring a whole new meaning to the product we currently offer.

While Richard is no longer golfing in the professionally, he does look back on his career to help him make decisions and inspires him for the future.

“Winning gold allows you to have a superior attitude and approach,” Richard proudly explained. “It’s not a physical sport, but very mental.”

It will be very exciting to see how Predator Ridge is transformed in the coming months and years under the recommendations of one of British Columbia’s finest professional golfers.

Have you ever golfed at Predator Ridge Golf Resort? If you have, leave a comment on this blog post on what you think are the best features, and how you think Richard and the team at Predator could improve the Ridge and Predator courses in the future.

After a day of sunshine and Okanagan adventures, find your way to The Range at Predator Ridge Resort, located just outside of Vernon, BC. The casual fine dining restaurant has amazing views of the Predator Ridge golf course and the friendliest servers in the Okanagan Valley.

Ease into your early evening dinner with a strawberry-lemonade cocktail or a glass or Okanagan chardonnay. The Range received the Aware of Excellence in 2011 by Wine Spectator Magazine.

The menu options are traditional Pacific Northwest favorites – from pork loin to tenderloin, and everything in between. Meals start out with warm, fresh baked bread from Cobbs Bakery.

The steak salad is served with fresh greens and a light dressing.

For dinner I had the 8oz sirloin steak and seasonal vegetables. The vegetables were appropriately steamed. The pear chutney served over the steak had a bit too much onion for my personal preference, however, the demi glaze was well done. The fresh vegetables and protein were stacked over mashed potatoes, making the plate appear to be small portioned, but overall it was an appropriate entre size.

Save room for dessert! The hazelnut daquioise is amazing and pairs well with the See Ya Later Ranch late harvest Ehrenfelser.

Overall, it’s a great dining experience and a perfect spot for dinner with friends, a romantic evening out, or just a fun spot after a day of wine touring. Dinner service can be busy, especially after a great day on the golf course, so reservations are recommended: 250.542.3436.

It has to be one of the most stunning 18 hole golf courses in all of Western Canada. It’s the Ridge Course at Predator Ridge near Vernon, BC. The natural elements of the modern course, coupled with breathtaking lake, mountain and Resort views are unparalleled.

The Ridge course opened in 2010 as part of the master planned development of Predator Ridge. The casual course is the original 27 hole course Predator Ridge course that was re-worked into what is now two beautiful true 18 hole courses.

When the course was redesigned, much of the natural rock and terrain was used, which brings out the true character of each hole. Essentially only the tee boxes have been man built.

Located at the top of the horseshoe shaped canyon, at the 5^th and 13^th tee boxes, is the Outlook Cabin. It’s a great stop to sit and enjoy a beverage and snack mid-play and it has the most spectacular views!

The course also passes through some of the residential areas at the Resort and past a natural pond stocked with trout and full of turtles.

The Ridge is one of the more expense courses in the Thompson Okanagan region, however, it’s well worth making it part of your summer golf getaway this summer!

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Every night at 9:30pm and 11:00pm in Robson Square during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, thousands of people gathered to watch and enjoy Ignite the Dream, a spectacular show that lit up the sky, featured lighting, pyrotechnics, lasers, projected images and performers. Amazing, by BC artist Andrew Allen was one of the hand-full of songs featured in Ignite the Dream. Andrew was also performed his hit song during the Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in front of the live audience in Whistler, BC.

Andrew Allen is an independent artist from Vernon, BC, who has fresh and original acoustic beach grooves with some mainstream pop overtones.  He music style is similar to Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and John Mayer.

This summer has been busy for Andrew Allen. He has been on tour promoting his latest single, Loving You Tonight, which won CHUM’s Emerging Artist Award in July 2010. His debut single from his follow up EP ‘Not Loving You’ was released in 2009.

Andrew Allen has been on many Canadian charts in the Top 50 has won many awards including:

• “Best New Artist of 2008” – BCIMA’s
• “2009 Singer/Songwriter Award” – We Are Listening 2009
• Finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition
• “Single of the Year” – BCIMA’s – 2009
• “Pop Recording of the Year” – BCIMA’s – 2009
• “People’s Choice Award” – BCIMA’s – 2009

For more information on Andrew Allen, check out his website and be sure to follow him on Twitter.

Photos are from Andrew Allen’s free live performance at Summerfest at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver on August 2, 2010.