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INTO THE DESERT: AN ARID LANDSCAPE RICH IN HISTORY AND VITICULTUREBy Lauren Kramer It's pouring in Vancouver, but just five hours' drive away I'm sitting by the poolside along with a dozen other guests of Spirit Ridge Resort & Spa in Osoyoos, Canada's only desert. Here the weather is a balmy 25 degrees with just a slight spring breeze. Bikinis and books are the order of the day, though it's easy to get distracted by the view. Before us, the neat lines of a vineyard stretch for miles to Lake Osoyoos, while the arid mountains form a protective circle around this small town of 4,200 people. This desert is a far cry from the lush rainforest of B.C.'s coastal regions. Here, cactus plants grow in abundance, shaggy-maned Bighorn sheep graze on the steep mountain slopes and the sky is that perfect shade of blue that convinces you that summer is tangible. Pleasure craft zoom around the perimeter of the Okanagan's warmest lake, and it's hard to banish a smile as the thought of the rainy Lower Mainland crosses your mind.  Spirit Ridge Resort opened last year on land owned by the NK' Mip, one of the Osoyoos First Nation's five tribes. The 130-roomed property has the architecture and feel of a New Mexico-style establishment, its buildings constructed in rectangular blocks and coloured in earthy tones, offering large verandahs and a perfect vantage point overlooking the vineyards, mountains and lake. The resort is steps away from the NK' Mip Desert Cultural Centre, a striking, $9 million monolith of concrete that opened in June 2006 just beyond the neat rows of vineyards. The centre is playing a fundamental role in celebrating the culture, heritage and future of the Osoyoos Indian Band, and in reaffirming its members' sense of identity. One of the displays at the centre houses the art work of students at the Inkapmeep Day School between 1931 and 1942, drawings that depicted their life on the reserve. The fact the art work is still there is something of a miracle, considering it almost burned in '43. The children had created the art under the instruction of one Anthony Walsh, a teacher at the school in the 30s and 40s. When he left the school, his successor denounced Walsh's encouragement of art as being detrimental to "civilizing the children," and determined to burn it in a bonfire. But Katie Lacey, a non-native supporter of Walsh and his educational methods, couldn't bear it. She rescued as much as she could from the fire and stashed the art work in a box beneath her bed, where it stayed for the next 21 years. The art gives its viewers a sense of what life was like for a child on the reserve. The desert stands boldly directly behind the cultural centre, its slopes wearing the antelope brush that characterizes this arid region of British Columbia. It's a landscape alive and writhing with animals, all of which have mythological and cultural value to the band. Outside, a series of hiking paths snake into the Great Basin Desert, leading visitors to a reconstructed traditional Okanagan village, and to the Chief's Lookout. Signs along the way advise hikers to keep a sharp eye out for snakes, and on a warm day, it is an added delight to see a snake's tail disappear into the brush, or the profile of a raptor soaring on the thermals. Here, you can feel the magic of the desert, one that is made more real and alive by the depth of the Desert Cultural Centre's exhibits and explanations. A delectable way to end the experience is to dine at Passatempo, the resort's restaurant, and to visit the NK' Mip Cellars and sample some of the 10 varieties of wine produced here. This is a space where guests delight in the flavours of pinot noir, meritage and ice wine, and treat themselves to a meal on the terrace embraced by the hot desert air. Before them, the vineyards stretch to the lake, their sun-dappled plants eventually surrendering to the shadow of the mountain as day turns to dusk. If You Go:
2. Nk'mip Cellars offers 10 varieties of wine produced on site, as well as a restaurant patio with views of the lake and vines. 3. The desert sunsets are spectacular, highlighting the bold shades of this arid region. 4. The suites and villas at Spirit Ridge are reminiscent of New Mexico, with earthy tones and a rectangular, block-like architecture. 5. A striking metal statue of an Okanagan warrior heralds visitors' arrival at Spirit Ridge. Travel Writers' Tales is an independent travel article syndicate that offers professionally written travel articles to newspaper editors and publishers. To check out more, visit www.travelwriterstales.com 
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