Perfect for family getaways

Baldy Resort is the perfect place to take the family for a winter getaway.

The vacation hot spot, which is located about an hour’s drive northeast of Osoyoos, is affordable, the slopes are not too overwhelming for young skiers, and it always has plenty of fresh powder.

“It’s a family mountain,” Destination Osoyoos executive director Kelley Glazer says. “It’s a smaller area. It’s affordable. It’s much less expensive than some of the other ski areas in the South Okanagan. The room rates that we have available in the winter time are also much more affordable.”

To celebrate their wondrous winter wonderland, Destination Osoyoos and Mount Baldy have teamed up on a ski and stay adventure promotion. They are giving away four prize packages, and each one is worth a night’s accommodation in beautiful Osoyoos and two Baldy lift tickets.

“The promotion is all about families, and we’re targeting family weekends, but in particular the Family Day weekend, which coincides with President’s Day weekend,” Glazer says. “So we’re hoping to attract some U.S. traffic. We have the best value for ski and stay in the South Okanagan Valley.”

Glazer added that Mount Baldy has no lift lineups and the size and friendliness of the mountain “really add to the family experience.”

And that’s not all.

“We have a lot of snowbirds in the area at this time of year, so it’s a good alternative activity for snowbirds because it also offers cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails,” Glazer said.

The Okanagan is known for its terrific winter weather, but it’s even better in the southern part of the valley. Osoyoos will often have outdoor or recreational opportunities that few other Canadian cities can offer at this time of year. Destination Osoyoos is the best resource for finding out what to see, do and experience while visiting Osoyoos.

At Baldy there is tobogganing every Saturday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., featuring a fire pit, hot chocolate and the Magic Carpet to haul people and sleds to the top. It's all the fun of sledding from your childhood with none of the walking. The Family Day weekend is also chock full of events, including helicopter rides on Saturday, Feb. 16 and a pig roast on Monday, Feb. 18 at 12:30 p.m. in the Baldy Cafe.

“We have the slightly better weather than anywhere else, even Penticton,” Glazer says. “We don’t get the snow and the cold. We’re always a few degrees warmer in the summer as well as the winter. Our golf course stays open until the early part of November and opens again in February, so all of those types of things that come along with being the warmest place in Canada includes a much nicer winter experience—and not very far to go before you get into the snow and the activities that you want.”