Check out the ZipZone Adventure Park in Peachland, BC.

Is there an
unwritten rule that says you need to actually try something personally to blog
about it? If so, I’m breaking it!

I’m breaking it because Mark and I went out for a drive the other day and came across this funky attraction about 8 km up Princeton Avenue from Peachland’s waterfront. I read in
the Penticton Herald about Kevin Bennett developing and opening it this year,
however, I wasn’t thinking about it when we set out that morning. We were thinking
of driving up to the Brenda Mine area. However, there are some things you just
have to share when you learn about them!

When we passed the ZipZone gate on our way up the road, we immediately recalled the
story. Beyond it the road deteriorates and there seemed to be an endless fleet
of massive gravel trucks on a tight deadline roaring up and down. Not the
leisurely exploration we had in mind so we turned around to check it out.

The facility has seven zip lines. One is a training line while six are at heights up to 350 feet
criss-crossing Deep Creek Canyon. Given the height of the lines, special
permission was required from Transport Canada to install them. The poles are
painted orange to warn aircraft not to fly under them. Designed by a
professional engineer with a specialization in Zipline engineering, the
facility was built to the Association of Challenge Course Technology
international standards and approved by the BC Safety Authority.

It was abuzz with activity.

For the “All Inclusive Zipline Tour”, the fee is $89 per adult
or $69 per youth ages 7 to 14.

With that you zip across all the lines plus
experience the First Nations Interpretive Walk and enjoy the Puzzlearium. (There’s
a 10 per cent discount for groups of 10 or more.) Signing a waiver is mandatory
and weight requirements are 70 pounds minimum and 275 pounds maximum.

We hadn’t booked ahead and I was wearing flip flops — not exactly the shoe of choice
zipping across a canyon! After observing the wide variety of folks doing it, I
think it’d be a lot of fun. I’d even put aside the fear of heights that has crept
into my being as I’ve grown older to give it a shot. In fact, the day we visited
an 89-year-old man named Jim had just done it! He mentioned to his daughter
Betty-Ann that it looked like fun and shortly he was strapped in and zipping.
How’s that for a story to tell your grandkids?

If you are planning a trip to the Okanagan, here’s yet another great quest to put on your
trip list. Check out www.ZipZone.ca or call
1-855-947-9663 to learn more.

I find it exciting to see such family friendly attractions popping up in the Okanagan
valley. Here’s wishing the affable folks at ZipZone Adventure Park all the
best. Hope to zip there someday when I’ve got the right shoes!

Mind you options such as “Dangle in the Dark” and “Go Bare in the Air” are also
available – kind of gives “see you there” a whole new meaning, don’t you think?