LifeofLG

Last weekend I spent three unbelievable nights in Kelowna, BC. Now I’m no stranger to Kelowna but I do tend to be a creature of habit and each summer that I go, I’d stay at the same place, check out the same restaurants and have very similar experiences to the summers previous.

This year I decided to change that! I wanted a new adventure complete with new hotels, restaurants and experiences. I love traveling and I realized that you can go to the same place or places several times and have very different experiences. So this time I stayed at Manteo, Hotel Eldorado and Eldorado Marina and it was absolutely MIND BLOWING. Both resorts are side by side and have the same owner, they face onto a picture perfect beach and lake and they offer absolutely everything you could ever imagine. When you check into either resort, they also give you access to the other so you can enjoy all the amenities and boy do they have a lot…. I don’t even know where to start!

Manteo

This side of the resort is seemingly a little bit quieter even though it has more kiddos running around, there’s a very peaceful feeling about it. When you check in, they let your kiddos “check in” as well where they can sign in and get a little present. I thought that was so cute and I know my little nephews would just love that. The rooms are spacious and there are several different options depending on how many people are with you. They also rent out town beautiful town houses right at this resort. There’s a theatre on this side and two fabulous pools, one of which is great for kids and is complete with an outdoor waterslide… every kids dream! There’s also a little splash park, lots of games and an infant pool. The lifeguard is always there to help you watch your busy kids as well My favorite things about Manteo? The food, drinks and the views….. WOW…. just WOW! The restaurant in Manteo is called Smack Dab and honestly I don’t think the name does it justice.

This is hands down one of the most incredible meals I have ever tasted.

The flavors were impeccable, everything was cooked perfectly and the presentation was unbelievable. All together we had the Argentinian Red Prawns, the Ricotta Herb Gnocchi, the Halibut & Prawns and the Chicken Saltimbocca. I think I will remember this dinner forever. With dinner we had a few cocktails and then wrapped it up with a glass of wine. All the beverages were creative and you could tell a lot of pride goes into them. We left feeling so satisfied with all expectations exceeded. I highly recommend this restaurant for everyone, especially for a great date night! The staff on this side went above and beyond from the front desk, to the bell boys, the servers and all. I was extremley impressed in all areas. We had a one bedroom suite which I found to be very comfortable, there was a king size bed and a pull out bed, both were great. I also loved that the blinds were thicker and blocked out the light in the bedroom, it was a huge plus!

Hotel Eldorado

The Eldorado was established in 1926 and to this day is kept in immaculate shape! It’s well known for its heritage and they do a great job of maintaining the feeling while also highlighting some beautiful vintage vehicles and photos around the resort. They have a very busy, and gorgeous marina and are definitely known for their spectacular lake views. Did you know that you can even rent boats while you’re there visiting! When you walk around the resort and feel the warm summer air, you might forget that you’re in Canada and think that you’re in a tropical paradise! Our room over looked the lake at this side of the resort as well and we woke up to the most beautiful sights everyday. You can see people launching their boats while other people head to breakfast or brunch. You can sit inside and enjoy some air conditioning or outside on the patio, we of course opted for the patio for every meal to get as much of that sun in as possible. My two favorite meals I had for dinner on this side at Lake Side Dining were the BC Ocean Wild Salmon and the White Wine Garlic Pesto Pasta which I added Prawns to. Both were absolutely incredible…. The pasta was so filling and worth every single bite. If you’re a pasta person, you cannot visit this resort without trying it! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it right now, ha. On our last day here we knew that we had to check out their famous Sunday Brunch. I heard rumors that it was mind blowing, so I couldn’t wait to check it out for myself, did I mention that it’s an unlimited buffet! OH.MY.GOD. I almost have no words for how spectacular it truly was. They offer an omelette bar, waffle station, lots of fresh fruit and pastries, bacon, sausages, eggs benny, scrambled eggs, salads, cheese and meat trays, CRAB LEGS, shrimps and a fully stocked massive table full of every dessert you could ever imagine. I loved that it also had gluten and dairy free desserts which were labeled on the table AND even a chocolate fountain to dip everything in. As someone who *tries* to eat healthy and often opts for the gluten free options I really appreciated that both resorts really seemed to incorporate those options in all menus.

Overall it was one of the best weekends of my life and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve traveled a lot and I’ve probably been to over 50 resorts. So friends, if you are looking to take a vacation, with or without your spouse or kids, these resorts are an absolute MUST. It doesn’t matter if you’re coming from far or maybe you already live in BC or Kelowna, it’s still a must. If I lived in Kelowna I would even do a “staycation” with my family, I’d rent out one of their little town houses which comes fully stocked with a patio and bbq because it’s completely affordable and offers the best of both worlds for both adults and kids! Oh I almost forgot, did you know that you can get married here! Check out their website for their wedding offers, we saw three different weddings over the weekend and let me just say that I was very impressed. I would get married there in a heartbeat after seeing the venues and the photos that I saw on their instagram, picture perfect.

I know I’ll be back soon to enjoy these spectacular resorts and if you book in, feel free to post photos and tag me in them, I love seeing everyone’s experiences! For more information on these resorts, and/or to book your next stay, meetings, confrences, or wedding, please see their websites or call them directly!

www.eldoradoresort.ca