Margaret Falls, Herald Provincial Park
Located on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, on the southern shore of Shuswap Lake, 25 km northeast of Chase and 45 km northwest of Salmon Arm, is the lakeside vacation community of Sorrento. Sorrento is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, alpine meadows, rivers and forests on the shores of Shuswap Lake. Originally known as Trapper’s Landing, after the meeting place of Shuswap Indian trappers returning with their furs, the town was renamed by James Kinghorn after the Italian town of Sorrento, because Copper Island on Shuswap Lake reminded him of the Isle of Capri, off Sorrento in Italy.
Sorrento’s history dates back to the year 1910, and it is today enveloped by motels, resorts, campgrounds and summer cottages, offering a fabulous array of recreational activities, during both summer and winter. Sorrento also acts as a wondeful ‘home base’ for a sightseeing trip through the Shuswap where you can visit historical land marks such as St. Mary’s Anglican Church, and a number of provincial and regional parks.
As the Suswap region is known for its lake side beauty and warm water during the summer months it only makes sense to spend time exploring Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park. Comprised of 26 sites located around the perimeter of Shuswap Lake, all locations are popular for fishing and water sports. Some sites are road accessible, but most are water-access only, so make sure to bring your boat on this trip! And if you don’t have a boat then you may be interested in Herald Provincial Park which is a very popular day-use area. The park covers 79 hectares of beautiful beach and forested uplands. Swimming, fishing and bird-watching are popular Shuswap Lake activities, as is the self-guided nature walk to Margaret Falls.
And because we mentioned how perfect the town of Sorrento is for your Shuswap vaction home base, you must make sure to book your reservation at Ingrid’s European Bed & Breakfast. Located off Highway 1 at Lakeview Place in Blind Bay, only four minutes east of Sorrento, the view of Shuswap Lake from this Sorrento Bed & Breakfast is breathtaking. Offering artistically decorated rooms with comfortable beds, antiques and art pieces along with private bathrooms, a fireplace and TV and VCR, Ingrid’s European Bed & Breakfast is the perfect spot to call home during this trip.