A Long Weekend in Kelowna, British Columbia - Kelowna to Osoyoos: Wine Country, Lakeside Strolls & the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre

This week on the Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m sharing a relaxing but adventure-packed Easter weekend getaway in Kelowna and Osoyoos, located in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. If you’re dreaming about a scenic road trip filled with vineyard views, coffee shop gems, and meaningful cultural experiences, this episode is for you.

We based ourselves in downtown Kelowna, staying at the centrally located Royal Anne Hotel, and explored everything from lakeside trails to vibrant cafes and local eateries. Then we hit the road to visit Vernon, the desert-like town of Osoyoos, and the powerful and educational Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, where I share my honest reflections about Canada’s colonial history and the importance of Indigenous learning spaces.

From sipping wine at Frind Winery next to the beach, to an epic brunch at Eatology, to sipping third-wave espresso at Slow Side Coffee, this weekend was the perfect mix of downtime and discovery. I also dive into travel costs, local transport tips, and why Kelowna might just be your next affordable getaway from Vancouver.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

• 🧳 How to spend 4 days in Kelowna without breaking the bank
• ☕ Where to find the best coffee in Kelowna
• 🍷 A must-visit beachfront winery in West Kelowna
• 🍽️ My top food spots: from Vietnamese banh mi to fine Indian cuisine
• 🏞️ The Okanagan Region is one of Canada’s sunniest destinations
• 🎓 An honest take on the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and its powerful Indigenous education
• 🚗 How to plan a mini road trip through the Okanagan with a cheap rental car
• 🌅 Scenic walking routes along Okanagan Lake and Tugboat Beach
• 💡 Tips for booking travel during holidays like Easter

If you’re considering a short break within BC, this episode shows why Kelowna and Osoyoos offer the perfect mix of relaxation, culture, and natural beauty. I’ll also touch on how this trip made me reconsider future moves—Kelowna might just be a contender!

Here is my episode on our time in Penticton and Nelson when on our road trip in 2023 - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000622426622

https://open.spotify.com/episode/25S9EOPiUSljD2KJuYMbvs?si=KuXDBWWBTp-fdDnprr7Ldw

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Winging It Travel Podcast

00:30 Exploring Kelowna: A Weekend Getaway

01:55 Adventures in Kelowna: Food and Coffee Stops

05:44 Day Trips: Vernon and Asoyus Highlights

09:33 Cultural Insights: Inka Meep Desert Cultural Center

10:58 Reflections on Kelowna and Future Travels

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Winging It Travel Podcast -

In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I share my real-time experience during a 4-hour layover in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). From navigating quick immigration to sampling authentic local food, I break down how to make the most of a short stopover in one of Asia’s busiest transit hubs.

You’ll hear tips on how to leave the airport, our experience of finding local street food, great viewpoints around Central Station and ideas on how much things cost. I also dive into a few other fantastic cities around the world for layovers, including:

✈️ Singapore Changi Airport – Nature, food, and luxury in one

✈️ Kuala Lumpur – Affordable and easy to get around

✈️ Amsterdam Schiphol Airport – Europe’s layover gem

✈️ London Heathrow – Historic sites just a train ride away

✈️ Reykjavik – Utilise Icelandic Air's free layover service with your airfare

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or planning your first big trip, these layover travel hacks will help you turn airport downtime into a mini-adventure.

🔗 Connect & Subscribe:

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your travel-loving friends.

Follow the journey on Instagram and YouTube at Roaming with Hammo.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Winging It Travel Podcast

00:30 Layover Adventures in Hong Kong

06:07 Exploring Other Layover Cities

10:21 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

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Winging It Travel Podcast - Website

Please leave a review and rating wherever you get your podcasts!

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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits

Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond

Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com

Social Media - follow me on:

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Facebook

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Patreon - Here

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Ep 179 w/ Mark Wolters - Honest Travel Tips from Wolters World: 1M+ YouTube Followers + The Power of Being Real

In this week’s episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I sit down with Mark Wolters, the face behind the hugely popular Wolters World YouTube channel — with over 1 million subscribers tuning in for his brutally honest, no-fluff travel tips.

Mark has built a reputation on keeping it real — no sugarcoating, no sponsored fluff, and zero tolerance for BS. Whether you're a first-time backpacker, a digital nomad, or a seasoned globetrotter, you're going to love this chat.

Here’s what we dig into:

🌍 Travel before the internet – What it was like exploring the world in the 90s and early 2000s

📱 YouTube honesty – Why Mark refuses to take money for travel reviews and how that keeps his content real

🧳 Backpacking in South America & study abroad insights – Why these were game-changers in Mark’s travel journey

🏕️ Budget travel vs. today's hostel prices – Has the travel industry lost the plot post-COVID?

🌍 Underrated destinations – Why Rwanda, El Salvador, and South America deserve way more love

🚫 What NOT to do when travelling – The philosophy behind his “Don’ts of Travel” series

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family travel tips – How Mark makes world travel work with kids

🛫 Overcoming fear of travel – The media vs. the reality on the ground in countries you might think are “dangerous”

🏰 Upcoming trips to Banff, Serbia, and beyond – Plus, why his dad is finally visiting a castle from a 50-year-old painting!

Whether you're here for inspiration, insight, or a bit of nostalgia, this episode is packed with wisdom from a guy who’s travelled the world, filmed it all, and still sends postcards home.

👉 Hit play and discover why 1m+ subscribers trust Mark for honest travel advice that actually helps.

🔗 Links & Resources

• Wolters World YouTube Channel
• Follow Mark on Instagram: @woltersworld
• Wolters World Website
• Find all episodes & more travel podcasts at Voyascape

📍 New episodes every Monday on Spotify, Apple, and all your favourite podcast app.

YouTube version is HERE

💬 Love the episode? Share it with a friend and tag us @wingingittravelpodcast

Timestamps

00:00 Nostalgia for 90s Travel

01:47 Introduction to Mark Walters

02:12 Mark's Early Travel Experiences

06:11 First International Trip and Its Impact

09:50 Travelling as an Adult

11:40 Backpacking in South America

13:34 Advice for Study Abroad Students

15:42 Travelling in the Digital Age

17:15 Camaraderie in Travel

20:24 Types of Travellers

22:03 Lessons Learned from Locals

24:13 Overcoming Travel Fears

25:57 Experiencing Culture Shock

27:45 Accommodation Preferences

30:11 The Changing Landscape of Hostels

31:30 The Evolution of Hostels

32:50 Travel Disappointments and Expectations

33:48 Local...