A Room with a View; The Observatory B&B

There aren’t too many places in the world where you can get  a room with a view even when it is pitch black outside. It is possible just outside and above the town of Osoyoos, British Columbia thanks to the efforts of Jack and Alice Newton. The couple run The Observatory Bed and Breakfast which boasts a stong astronomy theme.

You will be warmly welcomed, even if your stay is only for a night. The B&B has three large rooms, all with superb views of Osoyoos. The fun really begins once darkness has settled in. Jack will lead you upstairs to his observatory. Inside sits a 16 inch Meade computer-controlled telescope which itself sits on a 12 ton concrete pier extending 35 feet to the bedrock.

With a flip of a switch Jack can open the observatory and then with the help of his computer, zero in precisely on wherever he has commanded the telescope to go via the click of a mouse. We had a cloudier night but were still able to clearly see Jupiter and a number of it’s moons, Vegas (a star!) and the craters in some detail on a full moon.

Jack is no slouch. He is a an amateur astronomer with a huge list of credits to his name, especially with regards to astro photograpy. NASA is happy to use his pictures and one of the Time Life books incorporates his images too. He has written books, chaired community programs and still maintains a down to earth demeanour.

The room rates are very reasonable, ($129 and up) especially since they include an hour or two with Jack in the observatory. However, BOOK NOW for next year. The B&B is only open from May to October and rooms fill quickly. Not only will you get a room with a view but you’ll find that your mind has been engaged on a level that it probably doesn’t see very often.

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