We were attending a wedding at The Old Willow Farm Wedding Venue and needed a place to stay for three nights. We wanted to stay in Armstrong, where most of the wedding party lived, but were not confident that the stays there would meet our needs. Vernon had some good options, but if we could find something closer to Armstrong, that would suit us better.
We discovered the Castle at Swan Lake, a 12-minute drive to Armstrong, a 10-minute drive to Vernon, and a 21-minute drive to the wedding venue. The first thing we noticed when entering our suite was the laminate flooring, not carpets! Excellent! Have you ever walked on a hotel carpet with white socks? Please don't do it! You'll discover the filthiest socks ever. I always take slippers when travelling and staying in hotels.
Another thing that amazed us was the size of the King Suite Deluxe room. It is a room for two people, but the living area was generous with two couches and a chair. It felt like "home" and not a hotel. If you want to do meals, there is a full kitchen, including a dishwasher and microwave. My wife and I enjoyed the Keurig coffees that could quickly be replenished at the front desk. I recommend buying a container of cream to put in the fridge if you do not like fake creamers. No grocery stores or coffee shops are nearby, and it is an easy way to start the day if you are a coffee drinker. You must travel to Vernon for coffee, groceries, or a restaurant meal. Two places we enjoyed in Vernon were the White Spot and the restaurant in the Vernon Lodge Hotel. Don Cherry's restaurant was also good for a pub meal and a beer. Their burgers are delicious.
We planned to stay an extra day after the wedding and asked Trudi at the front desk about areas we could explore. She was incredibly friendly and helpful in introducing us to the Okanagan Rail Trail along the beautiful, clear, turquoise waters of Kalamalka Lake. She mentioned if you join the path in Vernon, you can rent bikes or e-bikes. However, this area can be pretty busy on weekends, so she suggested going to Kekuli Bay, which is only 20 minutes along Highway 97 and less busy. However, you would not be able to rent bikes, which was okay since we wanted to walk. The trail runs 50km to Kelowna, with some sections not developed yet, which was fine for us as we only walked 8km of it.
Trudi also told us about the Gray Canal Trail system. The Gray Canal Trail system has seven different trail sections. We walked the East Vernon section, which gave us great views of Vernon, the valley, and the mountains on the other side. The Gray Canal Trail and the Okanagan Rail Trail are very easy walks.
The night before we left for home, we decided to try the INTERMEZZO CASTLE BISTRO at the Castle at Swan Lake. The dining room was quiet and intimate, with pricing similar to a Cactus Club or Brown's Social House. I had Chicken Involtini, and my wife had Saffron Risotto with Scallops and Prawns. These dishes were excellent and delicious. We finished our meal with coffee, Mango Cheesecake, and Chocolate Decadence Cake. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try. You won't be disappointed.
There were some comments in reviews about highway noise. It was slightly noticeable at first but soon became background noise for us and was not a problem while sleeping at night. The beds are very comfortable, and the quilt felt like a weighted blanket, making everything cozy.
A few more things to mention are they have a pleasant reading room with a small library of novels. There are two computers available to check emails etc. There is a laundry room as well.
When booking, give them a call .vs using the website as you could get a 20% discount (ask!). They also offer discounts for seniors and BCAA members.
