WISTERIA COTTAGE: A BEAUTIFUL, PRIVATE RETREAT IN NARAMATA

What a lovely stay we had at Wisteria Cottage! (We stayed for a week to watch our daughter in Ironman Canada, and to enjoy the wine country.) The photos don't do Wisteria Cottage justice; it exceeded our expectations from the moment we arrived. It's a beautiful, well-laid-out house, well- maintained, and immaculate. It's a very peaceful setting, and yet close to wineries, fruit stands, and restaurants. The restaurant at the Naramata Inn was especially good. Wonderful food, outdoor dining, and a friendly, professional staff--what could be better?

Evelyn, the manager, was helpful from the beginning, and was available when we needed her during our stay. We look forward to the next time we can visit; we'll bring our bicycles then. We've already recommended Wisteria Cottage to friends.

The Wisteria Cottage is located on the "quiet" side of Lake Okanagan, about ten miles NE of Penticton, up a pleasant country road dotted with fruit orchards and vineyards sloping to the water's edge. First, to me, the Wisteria isn't a cottage but a fully appointed (with A/C) home. We found it clean as a whistle, enjoyed our Master Bedroom with in-suite bath and lake view, appreciated the well supplied and modern kitchen with its excellent cooking equipment and basic supplies, TV/DVD/Sterio, and long patio, with hammock and barbecue overlooking the wooded property rolling down to the lake about a mile distant (sunsets gorgeous!)

The Wisteria is located on a quiet ridge road overlooking Lake Okanagan, about a five minute drive from the lake and "downtown" Naramata, which is a quiet village, not a strip mall resort or amusement center. Naramata has a excellent swimming beach/picnic/ball playing park, there's a kayak/paddle board rental, a small grocery store, and a sedate bar and grill. Go to Penticton for the "action" scene and fast food, go to Naramata to enjoy the lake, swimming, and boating in more quiet and relaxed manner. Hike the RR trestle walk alomg the ridge above Naramata or the serene creek park leading through forested glens beside its small waterfalls.

We stayed at the Wisteria with our adult daughter and teenage grandson and thoroughly enjoyed our "no agenda" vacation, playing with our dog in the lake, hiking, kayaking, barbecuing and relaxing on the patio, sharing some good mysteries at night on the DVD, and exploring the orchards and vineyards.

The Wisteria is all that's its cracked up to be on their website..clean, comfortable, relaxing, with a beautiful setting above the lake. Enjoy the fruits of the tree (peaches, pears, apples) or the vine (excellent whites and reds) at this home away from home!

We throughly enjoyed our one week stay in this home and will return in the future. The house was immaculately clean, the view was staggeringly beautiful, and the kitchen was very well equipped with cooking and serving utensils. The sounds of the nearby creek eased us into sleep each night. Life was easy here!
The location of the home was perfect for exploring the wineries of Naramata, many of which serve decadent lunches akin to the south of France. The larger wineries are very busy in the summer and lunch reservations are often required but our best lunches were often found among the smaller vineyards. Misconduct Winery offered a tapas lunch that was our favourite.
The Kettle Valley Railway path is easily accessible at the top of the street and bicycles can be rented in the village at very reasonable rates. The 2% grade of the path allows easy cycling for all ability levels. The views from this pathway are unparalleled.
Paddle boards and kayaks can also be rented from the bicycle shop in the village. Three Mile Beach was our favourite.
The owners have also provided guests with detailed information about the home and the attractions in the area. The owners clearly take great (and well deserved) pride in their property. It is a little piece of heaven.