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Vernon – a Four-Season Recreation Resort

The Okanagan People, who have lived in the area for thousands of years, knew how to take advantage of their natural surroundings. Early European settlers got the message too. Vernon is the oldest city in the Okanagan Valley, incorporated in 1892. Historic brick buildings and an imposing courthouse in the downtown core, and leafy residential streets lined with heritage homes attest to prosperous beginnings fuelled by agriculture and transportation. Surrounded by three lakes, hundreds of small fishing lakes, world renown golf courses and award winning Silver Star Mountain Resort and Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, you can stay active all year round.

Today, tourism plays a major role in the economy, although the ranching and fruit growing that helped give Vernon its start continue and have even adapted to welcome visitors. Restaurants offer tremendous choices, while the arts scene includes galleries, concerts by the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and touring headliners at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre. For a calendar of activities visit www.tourismvernon.com

The Vernon area is also becoming well known as a mountain biking destination. The Bike Park at Silver Star offers challenging routes and Kalamalka Provincial Park and Ellison Park have mountain bike trails that are developed to “Whistler Standards” by the North Okanagan Cycling Society. For some great biking on roads and paths, check out this map on www.ribbonsofgreen.ca.