Winter happenings in Penticton, BC

 All winter long, adventure and leisure await in one of the Okanagan’s most vibrant destinations

Penticton, nestled between two picturesque lakes in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, is one of British Columbia’s most popular summer destinations among local, national and international tourists, hosting tens of thousands of visitors each year between June and September.

But Penticton is a true all-season destination — in fact, it was recently voted one of the Top 18 Cities to Visit anywhere by users of Expedia.ca. Its temperate climate, modest snowfall, outdoor activities and world-class dining and imbibing (including award-winning breweries, distilleries, and 80-plus wineries), make it the perfect winter getaway for families, couples and solo travellers alike.

Here are just three reasons to keep Penticton top of mind throughout the months ahead.

Apex Mountain Resort
While snowfall in town is usually light — which means getting around is easy — the mountain receives an average of 600cm each winter, providing just the right amount of dry powder beloved of skiers and snowboarders. As well, Apex boasts an all-ages, no-skills-required Tube Park; a kilometre-long Adventure Skating Loop that winds through breathtaking forest scenery; an NHL-sized outdoor rink; and, on February 16, 2019, the annual Brewski beer-and-spirits tasting event, also featuring an array of food stations and live entertainment. apexresort.com

Hoodoo Adventures
All year round, Hoodoo Adventures hosts one-of-a-kind outdoor activities and events that entertain, stimulate and challenge, as well as provide the perfect showcase for Penticton’s stunning natural beauty. Go to hoodooadventures.ca for upcoming winter activities, including popular snowshoe expeditions. Check back for news about Hoodoo’s recent acquisition of the beautiful Chute Lake Lodge in nearby Naramata; the historic property is currently being renovated and is due to reopen December 1, 2018, with all-new recreation and adventures.

Great Estates Wine Experience Centre
It can be hard to know where to begin with the Okanagan’s scores of world-renowned vineyards. Luckily, there’s a new first-stop destination for both seasoned and novice wine lovers. Opened this past September, the Great Estates Wine Experience Centre, in downtown Penticton, is a hub for the award-winning wares of the wineries in the Great Estates Okanagan portfolio: Black Sage, Dark Horse, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs, Nk’Mip, See Ya Later Ranch, Steller’s Jay, Sumac Ridge, and SunRock. Open daily from 10am to 7pm, the Centre offers educational seminars and tastings that highlight the unique qualities of Okanagan terroir. And you can take home your favourite new discoveries from the in-house shop.greatestatesokanagan.com

What's Hot in Hong Kong – November/December 2018

Food is at the heart of Hong Kong, whether it be: recipes passed down from generations; global chefs bringing their own flavour and flare; or dishes that take the diner on a journey of new discoveries. Here's just a taste of what's new in the gastronomy capital of the world...

Eat

The Shore Hospitality Group has opened two bold new culinary concepts, Hunter and The Chase, at Central's L'Place. Located on the upper level, Hunter delivers a modern and refined dining experience, with an insightful menu by Executive Chef Felipe Lopez. The menu is punctuated with the use of alternative meats, from bison and wild boar to line-caught fish. Downstairs, The Chase is a more casual, eclectic space that incorporates menus packed with the flavours of American bistro classics with a mesmerising cocktail bar; a dedicated cheese counter; chic lounge and restaurant seating; and one of the city's most coveted outdoor terraces. www.hunterandthechase.com

Famed Tokyo-based seafood izakaya Uoharu has made the leap overseas to open its first location outside of Japan in Central. Affiliated with MUGEN Co. Ltd, Uoharu sources its premium seafood from Yama-Haru, the largest wholesaler in Tsukiji Market. The Hong Kong location will uphold the "less is more" ethos of the Japanese flagship establishment, using the authentic preparation and cooking techniques to bring out the natural flavours of the ingredients. www.facebook.com/uoharuhk

Opened in 1971, Jade Garden was possibly the first restaurant in Hong Kong to pioneer the tenet of Chinese cuisine with Western service – the tasteful dishes, brightly-lit surrounds and exceptional hospitality have set the stage for its refined Cantonese dishes to truly shine through the ages. Its flagship restaurant, located in Star House, has marked a new chapter in its history with an extensive refurbishment, to welcome lovers of authentic Cantonese cuisine and creative dishes for many more generations to come. www.maximschinese.com.hk/brand/5

LUMI, a new borderless restaurant concept by Tokyo's renowned Japanese Chef Kihachi Kumagai, has opened in Pacific Place. This new dining spot showcases the best flavours and cooking techniques from countries such as France, Japan, Senegal, Morocco and beyond. Making the most of his Japanese roots, Chef Kihachi creates dishes with western cooking techniques and seasonal ingredients. He has picked 29 of his favourite dishes for LUMI from over 3,000 creations in his five-decade-long career. www.lumi.com.hk

Virgilio Martinez Véliz, the celebrated chef behind the award-winning Central restaurant in Lima, Peru, has launched ICHU Peru in the H Queen's building. Located in the heart of Hong Kong, ICHU serves contemporary Peruvian cuisine in a modern, bistro-style setting. www.ichu.com.hk

The award-winning Mott 32 team has opened an exciting new Chinese restaurant John Anthony to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and sustainability. Located at the new Lee Garden Three, the restaurant features three custom-built barbeques, a highly customised kitchen and unique interior designed and built with sustainability in mind. The goal was to incorporate as many sustainable features as possible to set a new standard of environmental consciousness in Hong Kong restaurant design. http://johnanthony.hk

Gordon Ramsay's Hong Kong journey continues with the announcement of his third restaurant in the city. Located in the stunning new glasshouse extension of Ocean Terminal, Harbour City. Maze Grill represents Ramsay's third partnership with Dining Concepts and the first opening of the acclaimed contemporary steakhouse outside of London. Inspired by the three maze Grill restaurants located in London, the dining experience is casual, warm and welcoming. www.diningconcepts.com/restaurants/maze-Grill

Zuma has welcomed the first guests into its newly redesigned main dining room. In celebration of over a decade in Hong Kong and a continued commitment to the city, Zuma has spent the summer working with long-time design partner, Tokyo-based Noriyoshi Muramatsu, to redesign the restaurant. Drawing on values central to the brand, Zuma's new look is defined by freshness, timelessness and a unique combination of traditional Japanese culture and contemporary innovation. www.zumarestaurant.com

Play

Hong Kong's only rooftop “guinguette”, PIQNIQ, has now opened at the top of the city's hottest new arts venue, H Queen's. Introducing a whole new experience for dining, drinking, dancing and relaxation in the heart of Central, Hong Kong's cultural cognoscenti can imbibe and socialise in style while enjoying the mesmerising views from Victoria Harbour to The Peak. This rooftop terrace serves eclectic PIQNIQ Baskets comprising of delicious selections from across the globe; such as signature Wagyu Sando, Dim Sum, Charcuterie Selection, Leek Quiche, French Artisanal Cheese Platter and much more. To enhance the experience, PIQNIQ's talented bar team are ready to craft signature libations – Matcha Harmony and Aperol Spritz on Tap - along with a list of popular wines and champagnes. www.piqniq.hk

Calling all foodies! Set your tongue tingling with Hong Kong Great November Feast, a month-long series of gourmet happenings from 1 to 30 November 2018, with everything from special tasting menus to world-class wine and spirit expos, and from gourmet carnivals to local gastronomy tours. www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/events-festivals/highlight-events/great-november-feast.jsp

Hong Kong Tramways and Circus Limited have collaborated to launch a bespoke tramcar, Circus Tram. This premium party tram preserves Hong Kong's tram heritage whilst developing its evolving connection with the city and modern culture. The Circus Tram departs four times per day and travels along the busiest Hong Kong spots, starting and ending at Western Market Terminus (Sheung Wan), and swinging through Causeway Bay, the Happy Valley loop and North Point. It is only available for private booking. www.circustram.com

The Hotel Madera Hong Kong has opened a 3D Art Gallery, offering a fun, interactive experience through 3D artworks created by a local artist and features a series of famous Hong Kong movie scenes. The exhibition is free for hotel guests and is open from 6am to 11pm daily. www.maderagroup.com/hotel_madera/en

Travel

Hong Kong's High Speed Rail System connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong commenced operation on 23 September 2018. The rail system, which is expected to reduce travel time by approximately 60 percent, will strengthen Hong Kong's position as a gateway to Greater China. The 142km track connects Hong Kong to 44 stations across Mainland China, including six short-haul and 38 long-haul stations. www.expressraillink.hk/en/ticketing-info/type-guangdong.html

The West Kowloon Station, designed by architect Andrew Bromberg of Aedas, also debuted on 23 September 2018, and will be the main Hong Kong hub for the new rail network. The station is one of the largest underground high speed rail stations in the world, and features a pedestrian skywalk with views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline; an urban green oasis and more than 4,000 glass panels. www.expressraillink.hk/en/home

The world's longest bridge and tunnel sea-crossing, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, opened on 24 October 2018. At 55km, the bridge is 20 times longer than San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and is the first major combined road and tunnel seacrossing in the Greater Bay Area. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will strengthen Hong Kong's position as Asia's gateway and a hub for multi-destination travel within the Greater Bay Area, which includes nine cities in the Guangdong Province and two Special Administrative Regions. The bridge will also shorten the journey time from Hong Kong International Airport to Zhuhai from four hours to 45 minutes. www.hzmb.hk/eng/index.html

Sleep

Marriott Hotels, the flagship of Marriott International, Lai Sun Group and Ocean Park Hong Kong has opened the highly-anticipated Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. Located at Ocean Park Hong Kong and just minutes from the heart of a city famous for its skyscrapers, the first-ever city resort hotel with 471 rooms offers a brilliant new destination experience for business travellers and families on leisure. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hkgop-hong-kong-ocean-park-marriott-hotel

For more information on Hong Kong visit:
www.discoverhongkong.com/au or www.discoverhongkong.com/nz.