The Getaway: Osoyoos with the Acura RDX

I’ve partnered with Honda Canada to take their vehicles out for a spin and explore our beautiful region. Most recently, Michelle and I took the Acura RDX to Osoyoos to discover The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake and enjoy the warmth of the South Okanagan in spring.

Departing from the West End, I took Highway 1 to Surrey (across the Port Mann) to pick up Michelle on the way out to Osoyoos. The entire 390km drive took us about 5 hours since we stopped so much along the way. Here are a few places we reached in the Acura RDX:

Stop of Interest 1: Hope Slide

In 1965, on the morning of January 9th, 47 million cubic meters of rock plummeted down the side of the Cascade Mountains in the Nicolum Valley, killing four people.

The Hope Slide was the largest landslide ever recorded in Canada and it’s a humbling stop of interest as you head east on Highway 3 after the Highway 1 and Highway 5 turn offs around Hope.

Boulders larger than today’s SUVs dot the landscape and one can only imagine the horror of the deafening tragedy that occurred that day. It’s calm, quiet, and intimidating while making you appreciate the unpredictability of Mother Nature.

Stop of Interest 2: Osoyoos Lookouts

There are many great lookout spots along road to Osoyoos but two in particular offer panoramic views of the entire valley, lake, and surrounding vineyards. The first is just past Spotted Lake as you enter Osoyoos from the west. We stopped here on our way back so we didn’t have to make a left turn or u-turn as the highway grades down towards the valley.

The second lookout point is from Anarchist Mountain, after you’ve passed through Osoyoos and head east towards Grand Forks.

Stop of Interest 3: Wineries, of Course

The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake were so close to some of the Black Sage Road wineries, like Black Hills, that we could have rode bikes out to the vineyards and tasting rooms. Since we had the Acura we only did one winery stop but of course when you’re in the Oliver/Osoyoos region you have to do a wine tour, tasting, or enjoy some of the award-winning restaurants like Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek. There are 31 wineries in the region, each with their own stories, histories, and unique offerings.

Stop of Interest 4: Indian Food in Keremeos

When traveling along Highway 3/Crowsnest Highway, fruit stands are more abundant than rest stops between Princeton and Osoyoos. There’s one in particular that Michelle wanted to visit since she said they had the best samosas around so we stopped at Sanderon Fruit Stand and Indian Restaurant in Keremeos on our way home. While she just went in to grab samosas, she also came out with a carton of fresh butter chicken. We sat in sunshine and fuelled up for the trip home with these deliciously fresh and spicy Indian treats on the side of Highway 3.

About the Acura RDX

The RDX first went on sale in April 2012 and achieved an all-time record sales year that year. It is a comfortably-sized crossover SUV with plenty of power (273 horses to be exact) and Environment Canada fuel-economy ratings. Our model was had a rich Kona Coffee exterior paint, black leather interior, back-up camera, sun roof, 18 inch wheels, and plenty of cargo room in the back for our suitcases and the bounty we accumulated in wine country.

My favourite part of trying out these Honda and Acura vehicles is the consistency in the technology offered on board. Each has HandsFreeLink™ so I can easily pair my iPhone to listen to music and make calls. There’s no guess work and no need to re-learn a system with each vehicle. Having Sirius XM was also a bonus for entertaining us through those Southern BC mountain passes. Michelle and I flipped between the BBC World Service and CBC Radio 3, with a stop or two on Caliente to match our upbeat moods as we basked in the rays coming from the sun roof.

Follow Honda Canada on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information about their 2014 fleet.