Why Sparkling Hill Resort is the Ultimate Girls’ Trip Destination in British Columbia

An Annual Girls Getaway Tradition

Last year, after our first girls getaway together at Kingfisher Oceanfront Resort, we quickly agreed it needed to become an annual tradition. What started as a much-needed weekend escape had turned into something much bigger. Time away to reconnect, recharge, laugh until our stomachs hurt, and simply enjoy being together without the constant pull of responsibilities.

This year, we decided to change things up and explore somewhere completely new together. None of us had visited Sparkling Hill Resort before, and from the moment we arrived, it felt like the perfect setting for a relaxing girls’ weekend away.

Located about 20 minutes outside Vernon in British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan region, Sparkling Hill Resort is known for its stunning lake views, luxurious spa facilities, and the millions of Swarovski crystals incorporated throughout the property. It is part wellness retreat, part luxury escape, and exactly the kind of place that encourages you to slow down for a few days.

Flying into Kelowna and Exploring Lake Country

Our four day getaway began at Kelowna International Airport, where we all met before picking up a rental car for the weekend. One of the best parts about travelling with friends is that the fun starts immediately. There is something about road trips, coffee stops, and shared playlists that instantly shifts everyone into holiday mode.

Before heading to the resort, we made our first stop in Lake Country for brunch at The Salty Caramel Kitchen. This charming vegan café was the perfect place to ease into the weekend. The food was fresh and delicious, and after brunch we wandered down to the pebble beach nearby for a walk along the water.

From there, we headed to Gray Monk Estate Winery for a wine tasting overlooking Okanagan Lake. The Okanagan is filled with incredible wineries, and visiting one is almost a requirement when spending time in the region. Sitting together sampling wines while taking in the views felt like the official start to our getaway.

Exploring Vernon Before Check In

Before checking into the resort, we stopped in Vernon to grab groceries and supplies for the weekend. We also spent a couple of hours exploring Vernon’s downtown and local shops.

One of my favourite parts of travelling is finding little treasures to bring home, and this year I picked up another candle to enjoy throughout the year between our girls’ trips. It has become a small tradition and a reminder of these weekends away together.

We arrived at Sparkling Hill just in time for the 3 pm check-in, and the property immediately impressed us. Everywhere you looked there were sparkling crystal details and incredible panoramic views over Okanagan Lake.

The resort itself feels peaceful from the moment you walk through the doors. Large windows flood the space with natural light, and nearly every corner encourages you to slow down and relax. Even on a busy long weekend, we found lots of quiet places to catch up.

Dinner at Gerni’s Farmhouse

After settling into our rooms, we wandered down the hill to Gerni’s Farmhouse for dinner. This Austrian and German-inspired restaurant ended up being one of our favourite meals of the trip.

The schnitzel was delicious, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the fact that reservations were not needed made it an easy choice for our first evening.

Following dinner, we headed straight for the spa and pool areas, which quickly became one of the highlights of the entire weekend.

The Spa and Pools at Sparkling Hill Resort

One of the best things about staying at Sparkling Hill is that access to the pools, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation spaces is included with your stay. There are so many different options that you could easily spend an entire day moving between them.

We especially loved the outdoor infinity pool overlooking the lake, the hydrotherapy pool that improves circulation, and the tea room to sit and read a book.

The steam and sauna area featured several unique spaces, including traditional saunas, a rose steam room, and a quiet meditation room complete with frozen towels to cool off.

It was the perfect way to truly disconnect from everyday life.

Originally, we had hoped to book treatments through Sparkling Hill’s KurSpa, but despite trying nearly a month in advance, we were unable to secure reservations. Surprisingly, we did not feel like we missed out at all. Between the pools, saunas, relaxation areas, good conversations, and downtime together, there was already more than enough to enjoy.

The Rooms and Lake Views

Our rooms were spacious and beautifully designed, although they are definitely set up more for couples than groups of friends. The open concept layout includes a bathtub and shower with a lake view that are visible from the main room, which meant we had to coordinate our use of them.

What none of us minded, however, were the spectacular lake views.

Each morning we left the blinds open so we could wake up to the sunrise over Okanagan Lake. There is something incredibly calming about slowly waking up to natural light and quiet views over the water.

One thing we really appreciated about the resort was the number of common spaces available to guests. Rather than staying tucked away in our rooms, we spent time together in the library area where we ate, chatted, and even brought along some crafting supplies for a relaxed afternoon indoors.

Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For

While Sparkling Hill offers hiking trails on the property, this ended up being one of the few parts of the weekend that none of us found particularly memorable. The trails were pleasant enough for a morning walk, but compared to the rest of the experience, they were not a standout feature.

Breakfast each morning was included with our stay and ended up being one of the biggest highlights of the trip. Guests reserve a breakfast time in advance, and every meal we had was absolutely fantastic. The quality, presentation, and service at breakfast far exceeded our expectations.

Dinner at PeakFine Restaurant

By comparison, our dinner experience at PeakFine Restaurant on the final evening was unfortunately a bit disappointing.

After deciding we did not want to leave the resort for dinner on our last night, we booked a table expecting a similar experience to breakfast. Unfortunately, the restaurant appeared very understaffed, which resulted in significant delays throughout the meal.

That said, the desserts were definitely the highlight and helped redeem the evening slightly.

Despite the slower service, the dinner still gave us one of the best moments of the trip. Somewhere between dessert and laughter, we landed on and booked next year’s girls’ getaway destination: Tofino.

Honestly, half the fun of these trips is already planning the next one before the current one ends.

Why These Girls Getaways Matter

Throughout the weekend, we also spent time browsing the resort boutique, relaxing in robes, drinking tea between sauna sessions, and simply enjoying the luxury of having nowhere we needed to be.

A couple of our group also made their way into Vernon for the Sunday market while the rest of us stayed behind to enjoy slower mornings at the resort.

More than anything though, this weekend reminded me how important it is to intentionally create time for connection and rest.

At one point during the weekend, a few of us commented that we do not laugh like this very often anymore.

That line stayed with me.

Not because life is bad, but because adulthood can become so focused on responsibilities, schedules, caregiving, and work that joy quietly becomes something occasional instead of something woven into everyday life.

These weekends away are about far more than luxury resorts or spa facilities. They are about friendship, reconnection, slowing down, and remembering what it feels like to truly relax.

Three nights somehow felt far longer than our actual time away. Perhaps because for a few days, we stepped outside of our usual routines and gave ourselves permission to simply enjoy the moment.

And honestly, that kind of reset feels more important than ever.

For more on how to plan your next road trip, check out this post.