Our reporters comb the country for inspiring stories. You're welcome to use them just follow our usage guidelines.

Need a story?

At the CTC, our job is promoting Canada to the world. We are pleased to provide media all copyrights to reproduce the stories and story ideas published here.

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.)

If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author’s byline and “courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission.” If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: “The text has been modified from the original.”

Please contact us if you would like to reproduce one of our media centre stories, and let us know how and where you will use this story. Thank you.

A full moon rising in Canada’s only desert means vino, nibblies and a nighttime boardwalk eco-tour in BC’s wine country.

August ‘Romancing the Desert’ kicks off Osoyoos summer wine-‘n-fun season.

It’s summer and the yellow moon is full over Canada’s only desert—just north of Osoyoos, BC. Time for a night-owl’s eye view of wine country. Here’s a taste of the annual “Romancing the Desert”: it’s a hot August night, with the fragrance of antelope brush and sage in the air. You’ve got a primo Okanagan wine in your glass, locally inspired appetizers in hand. Meander along the 1.5-km (1-mi) boardwalk in the desert, home to a host of fragile flora and fauna.

Along the boardwalk, volunteers from the Osoyoos Desert Society deliver a two-hour tour of one of North America’s most endangered ecosystems, part of the Great Basin Desert that runs through the United States. Later, take in the full moon rising over the mountains, along with views of Okanagan Valley from the deck of the Desert Centre. Add more wine, plus local cheeses and dessert.

If you miss this romantic soirée on Aug. 16, 2008, just put together your own tour. Add to your itinerary Nk’mip (pronounced ink-ah-meep) Cellars, North America’s first Aboriginal winery and the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre at Spirit Ridge Resort, operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band. Sample chardonnay, pinot blanc, pinot noir and merlot, all produced from grapes grown in the band’s own vineyards. Explore the desert’s canyons and streams by horseback from Indian Grove Riding Stables or tee off at the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club. End the day with a cool swim in Osoyoos Lake at Haynes Point Provincial Park. www.desert.org www.nkmipcellars.com www.nkmipdesert.com www.sunnyosoyoos.com www.golfosoyoos.com www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks www.hellobc.com

Print
Usage guidelines

We welcome you to use these story ideas as inspiration for your own stories about Canada. The CTC owns all rights worldwide. (Our images are also royalty-free and available for editorial print, broadcast and electronic use.) If you choose to reproduce these texts for editorial use only, please include the author's byline and "courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission." If you cut, edit or modify the text in any way, please include this note: "The text has been modified from the original." Thank you.

Tags:
- Background Image