Summer is well underway and I wanted to share a few hidden gems you should check out around the valley:

North Okanagan:
The Brown Derby - Located in downtown Armstrong the Brown Derby is without a doubt one of the best places to eat in the world. That may seem like hyperbole for a casual little cafe / sandwich shop, but their combination of ecclectic atmosphere and deliciously simple food is unbeatable. Run by a husband and wife team that is as equally likely to greet you with a sarcastic comment as they are to feed you a delicious meal, “The Derb” doesn’t offer five star service black tie service. It’s more like eating a casual meal over at an old friend’s place. I just had lunch there today and have to say the chilled mango soup was a phenomenal compliment to my delicious roasted (in-house) turkey sandwich and all it cost was $6.30!!! If you go, DON’T PASS ON DESSERT, their homemade pies, crisps, and tarts are unbelievable.Enderby Gas Station - No… seriously…. the gas station at the north end of Enderby. I’ve stopped there many times, but never for gas. In the gas station building there is a fantastic Ice Cream shop that serves up heaping portion of Foothills Creamery ice cream for about $3.

South Okanagan:
Gehringer Brothers Winery - 100%, without question, the most underrated winery in Canada. I don’t know if its the cheap looking labels on their bottles or their low prices ($12-16 for most bottles), but nobody seems to take Gehringer Brothers seriously. They have the most consistently good lineup of wines I have ever found in the Okanagan. Quite simply, everything is at the very least quite good and some of their wines are outstanding. My favourites are their Schonburger/Gewurztraminer blend and their Sauvingon Blanc, but don’t take my word for it. Head down to the winery (just south of Oliver) for your own complimentary tasting. I challenge anyone to leave without buying at least two bottles. Tickleberry’s - It may not be a true hidden gem because there are certainly no shortage of people who know about it, but it blows my mind how many people I meet that haven’t been down to Okanagan Falls to get an ice cream. Tickleberry’s has literally dozens of delicious flavours to choose from, but thankfully you’ll get to choose three for a “single” cone. Even the kiddie cone has two huge scoops. If you get discouraged because you see that its lined up out the door, don’t worry as the staff is incredibly efficient and it never takes more than a few minutes to get through the line. You’ll find Tickleberry’s and their assortment of ice cream, fudge, candy, and ecclectic items for the home and garden about ten minutes south of Skaha beach in Okanagan Falls.