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| CANOE & KAYAK |
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| Vintage Paddling |
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| Sharing an Aprés-Paddling Bottle of Wine is a Tasteful Way to Enjoy an Exquisite Sunset |
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| OKANAGAN LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA British Columbia’s Okanagan region, located in the province’s unusually warm and sunny southern interior, has been a prime summertime recreation destination for generations. And many of the area’s best assets—the warm summer temps, the beautiful desert-like setting, and an abundance of lakes and rivers—make it not only a great place to paddle, but a prime grape-growing region as well. Okanagan Lake, which stretches from Vernon in the north to Penticton in the south, has plenty of sandy beaches to launch from, but for a truly special experience, take your boat to the tiny town of Naramata, northeast of Penticton, and put-in at the public beach located next to the Naramata Heritage Inn. This quaint little end-of-the-road town is located in the one of the Okanagan’s best grape-producing areas—the Naramata Bench—and you’ll pass many of B.C.’s finest wineries on your way here. Paddle out into Okanagan Lake, hugging the shore heading south, and you’ll get an amazing perspective on all the vineyards perched on the “bench” above the lake. Do some post-paddle wine tasting at such notable wineries as Lake Breeze, La Frenz and Nichol, or stay right in Naramata for a romantic lunch or dinner where you can share a bottle of the Okanagan’s finest on the Cobblestone Wine Bar’s patio (located in the Naramata Heritage Inn). WHEN TO GO: June-October (warm weather and ripe locally grown fruits—cherries, peaches, apricots, apples) QUICK INFO: Penticton & Wine Country, www.penticton.ca/Tourism/default.asp; Naramata Bench Wineries, www.naramatabench.com; Naramata Heritage Inn, www.naramatainn.com STEWARD'S SUGGESTION: Lake Breeze Pinot Blanc (www.lakebreeze.com) ******** LAKE BUCHANAN, TEXAS Geographically speaking, the Texas Hill Country isn’t really within the latitude range that’s best suited for producing wine. But don’t tell that to the more than a dozen wineries that are quietly putting this green, fertile area, northwest of Austin on the wine world’s map. In the case of one of the area’s longest operating and largest producers, Fall Creek Vineyards, its close proximity to Lake Buchanan is part of the secret to its success. The lake, created by the damning of the Colorado River in the 1930s, not only offers a plethora of great experiences for kayakers and canoeists—from dramatic waterfalls to a rich abundance of flora and fauna—it also helps cool the surrounding hills in the evening, giving the sun-drenched grapes a much-needed break from the heat. Put in at either the Canyon of the Eagles on the northeast shore (boat rentals at Lake Buchanan Adventures), or Cedar Point Recreation Area right near the town of Tow, and paddle over to dramatic Fall Creek Falls, which tumble over a limestone ledge. Before you call it a day, stop off at Fall Creek Vineyards (they have a dock) and pick up a bottle to take back to your campsite—I’d recommend a white—where you can ice it down in your cooler and then enjoy under the shade of a live oak tree. WHEN TO GO: Visit before it gets too hot (March-May) or during grape harvest time when it cools down (Sept.-Oct.) QUICK INFO: Lake Buchanan Adventures, www.lakebuchananadventures.com; Canyon of the Eagles, www.canyonoftheeagles.com; Cedar Point Recreation Area, www.lcra.org/community/cedarpoint.html; Fall Creek Vineyards, www.fcv.com STEWARD'S SUGGESTION: Fall Creek Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Text and photos (pgs. 3/4) by ADEM TEPEDELEN |