About the South Okanagan
Have a look at the galleries below, of the towns in which we represent both property buyers and sellers in the South Okanagan. These areas include Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden and Okanagan Falls. If you would like to tour these areas or obtain more information, give us a call.
A Magical Place Called Summerland…
Summerland's landscapes depict a fantasy land which astounds visitors when they learn that mortals actually live here. It is the stuff of legends and involves a very old stream train, a trestle troll and an expired volcano.
Giant's Head Mountain is a hike, one that is well worth the effort once you reach the top. With its 360 degree view of the lake it is always breathtaking. A bike ride down the Giant's Head winding road with its many vantage points is also a real treat.
The Summerland Steam Train and the Garnett Valley Gang train robbers are well known, with camera crews coming from various parts of North America to record the robberies in summer. This re-enactment of wild west shenanigans and the authenticity of the riders with their home made garb is enough to cause wardrobe envy for any big budget Hollywood western productions.
Trout Creek and it's deep canyon is topped off with a lovely trestle bridge that the old train traverses every day in the summer - making this a popular attraction to 30,000 people plus each year. Tourists and Summerlanders alike can end a day of train hopping or hiking, with a barbecue on Powell Beach with good friends, and a bottle of the best local vino. Ah yes, this is indeed the life.
Summerland is far enough from the big cities that you can still hear the coyotes howling at night under the trestle bridge, and the crickets create a lively cacophony in the town's gardens and hedges. This is the perfect place to find a small and cozy home or a grand beachfront property. Choices are plenty in this magical township.
Penticton with a population of 33,700, has lovely beaches on both ends of town. At the north end is Okanagan Lake and at the south end is lovely Skaha Lakes which sites in a valley or low mountains. Surrounded by wineries and orchards the Penticton area is a popular destination for tourists.
The town is known for its excellent restaurants, wine tasting rooms, brew pubs and summer festivals.
The real estate market is alive and thriving in Penticton, especially considering the number of people who have changed their personal goals and places to reside since 2020. Come up for a weekend and check out the wineries surrounding the town. You’ll be back.
Penticton has not just one, but two lakes
Kaleden's low rolling hills give it the aesthetic of a Swiss village and the drive down Lakehill Road towards the main cluster of houses, adds to this image with its tidy vineyards and orchards.
This small enclave with a population of 1,203 is a short distance from Penticton (16 K) so is ideally located for those who work in town. Originally established in the early 1900's as a fruit growing area, Kaleden sits at the south end of Okanagan's Skaha Lake an is bordered by lovely beaches.
The town has its own school and is also home to the stunning Linden Gardens. There is a 1910 hotel structure with its outside wall still standing, which is popular as a photography backdrop.
If you are looking for bedroom communities close to Penticton then Kaleden is a must-see township.
Kaleden… known as a charming enclave
The tiny town of Naramata on the southeast shore of Lake Okanagan, has a population of 2000. The township itself has become a hideaway for those looking for an unhurried and easy going lifestyle. One of only three towns in Canada to be accredited with ‘Slow Food’ or ‘Cittaslow’ status, Naramata is a dream for those interested in haute cuisine.
This pretty village with its funky general store that sells practically anything, has some of the tallest and oldest trees in the Okanagan. If you are looking for a home, especially if you are outdoorsy, then Naramata is perfect with its network of bike trails so that you can ride for hours, including up to the Kettle Valley Trail which runs right through a huge tunnel carved out of the mountain.
The town of Naramata itself, which is right on the lake has the most picturesque hotel in the area - the Naramata Inn, built in 1908.
Houses here used to be even better than reasonably priced, however the popularity of the Naramata Bench wineries which are now becoming as well known to wine aficionados as Napa Valley, is beginning to see this new-found interest reflected in property prices. However, if you know where to look...
Ask Shelley to take you on a tour of the area - you will be amazed at the number of wineries, and orchards but most of all you will be struck by the ambience of this town that sits prettily on the Naramata Bench.
Naramata, in a league of its own
Okanagan Falls is on the south end of Skaha Lake in BC. Originally named Dogtown, which came from the name Dog Lake ("skaha" means "dog" in the Okanagan language), the name was later changed to reflect the falls that used to lie on the Okanagan River at the outlet of the lake.
One of the most acclaimed research stations in the world is near the town of OK Falls - the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, which was founded in the 1960’s. The observatory grounds house a radio telescope, a 26-m single-dish antenna, and a solar flux monitor. Some of the brightest scientific minds in North America are at the lab working out inter-galactic puzzles and mysteries. In August when the heavens are alive with the Perseid Showers, the facility opens the gates at night for visitors to come and witness the Perseids in this truly ‘dark sky space’.
Like most Okanagan towns, OK Falls is also surrounded by wineries, vineyards and old barns as well as being in close proximity to the stunning White Lake area which is like some backdrop to an old western movie.
There are some reasonably priced acreages in and around Ok Falls. At the south end of the town, a lovely river runs off the dam at the end of Skaha Lake, meandering through vineyards and more orchards which comprises so much of the Okanagan properties.
Exceptionally pretty Okanagan Falls
