Kelowna

Kelowna is one of those wonderful places where visitors can enjoy time outdoors, any season of the year. Aside from a lightweight jacket and pants during the winter months, you’ll be able to pack light for this trip

Summers in Kelowna are hot, sunny and perfect for lounging on the beach. Temperatures often reach the mid 30s C in the day but cool down quickly in the evenings...

The city of Kelowna nuzzles the pristine shores of Lake Okanagan, a glacier-fed lake wedged in the Okanagan Valley. Over the years, Kelowna has been recognized as a wine-producing gem, with its location smack in the middle of the Okanagan Valley wine region. Also known as ‘Napa of the North', this was Kelowna's best-kept secret until its fragrant vineyards and lush green orchards were discovered by touring oenophiles. Today, it is known for producing some of the best wines in the country, from pinot noirs and Rieslings, to pinot gris and chardonnay.

Kelowna carries a sun-dappled disposition most of the year round, with the exception of its snowy winters. Owing to its well-endowed natural beauty and prairie-like landscapes, it is home to several golf courses and trails that lead to sparkling lake shores and sand-gilded beaches.

Downtown Kelowna
The heart of the city finds itself in the throes of culture and art, and is home to the ever-evolving Cultural District. With the Okanagan Lake to its west, Downtown Kelowna is a diverse playground, with much to see and do for the average tourist. This neighborhood is the site of the Kasugai Gardens and the Laurel Packinghouse, where the city's wine museums are located. Other crucial landmarks and attractions include the City Hall, the Kelowna Art Gallery and the Kelowna Yacht Club. The smaller lanes along Water and Ellis Streets are dotted with a motley mix of small boutiques, restaurants and bars.

Glenmore
What was once a rustic community in the Glenmore Valley has given way to a tonier suburb made up of townhomes and condominiums. It still retains its natural allure, with its proximity to Knox Adventure Park, the Kelowna Golf & Country Club and the Mill Creek Linear park.

Mission
After Mission relinquished its erstwhile position as an independent community and was merged with Kelowna, it was divided into smaller communities of Lower Mission and Upper Mission. Although the Lower Mission neighborhood is located a few minutes away from Downtown Kelowna, it has come into its own with a unique, colorful personality that is separate from downtown. More modern as compared to its elevated counterpart, Lower Mission is where you will find a host of boutiques, cafes and restaurants, alongside single family homes and townhouses. It allows plenty of recreation opportunities too, with its proximity to the Bryce-Gyro Beach Park, H2O Adventure Centre and the famous Summerhill Winery. Upper Mission occupies a more raised terrain, consequently offering breathtaking views of the lake and the lower city.

Dilworth
From a nondescript grassy knoll, Dilworth went on to become one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city, offering enviable city views from its lofty perch. Dilworth makes for a promising haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with the Dilworth Mountain Park and the Knox Mountain park in its near vicinity.

Kelowna has vast gamut of entertainment opportunities, from native galleries and historic museums, to classical concert venues and celebrated wineries. Downtown's Cultural District is the epicenter of most of its cultural activities.

Museums
Kelowna's museums pay tribute to the valley's history and cultural heritage, showcasing period artifacts and original exhibits wherever possible. The Okanagan Heritage Museum is one such marvel. It holds everything from Kelowna's oldest log cabin to a true-blue Chinatown shop window on display. You can also see what an ancient Okanagan home looks like, or peruse through the exhibits at the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame. Inside the Laurel Packinghouse on Ellis Street, two museums - the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum, and the BC Orchard Industry Museum pay homage to the city's flourishing wine industry.

Further away on the same street, study the firearm collection at the Okanagan Military Museum, and gape at historical artifacts that witnessed the Boer War, the World War I and II, and the Korean War. In South Kelowna, the Father Pandosy Mission, a small museum doubles up as both a historical site and a museum, and educates visitors about early settlers in the city.

Art Galleries
In the city's Cultural District, walk the halls of the Kelowna Art Gallery and browse through varied collections of traditional and modern Canadian art. At the Geert Maas Sculpture Gardens and Gallery on Reynolds Road, things are a bit different. Find yourself among large and quirky bronze sculptures and installations by the internationally acclaimed artist. For a more Canadian-focused art narrative, head to the decades-old Hambleton Galleries where more than 80 Canadian artists are represented. The Tutt Art Gallery is recognized for its contribution to fine art, and often showcases artworks inspired by Canada's natural landscape.

Performing Arts
In Downtown Kelowna, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is known to host an assortment of cultural activities, from art exhibitions and musical performances, to film festivals and theatrical plays. The smaller Mary Irwin Theatre also opens to music, dance and theater productions. If you wish to listen to the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, visit its home theater, the Kelowna Community Theatre located in the Cultural District. It is also home to the Kelowna Community Concert Society. At stone's throw, Prospera Place is known to host several concerts, besides being the home ground of the Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club

Wineries
The fertile Kelowna land harvests a sizable amount of wine and fruit from its vineyards and orchards each year. Blessed with a rich wine industry, both East and West Kelowna are known for their expansive wine estates that go from strength to strength every season. Tour iconic vineyards such as the Mission Hill Winery and Quail's Gate Winery in West Kelowna, while the Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Tantalus Winery in East Kelowna are prolific as well. Most wineries have tasting rooms and restaurants that serve dishes made from local produce alongside fragrant in-house wines. Besides wine, Kelowna owns a fair share of distilleries and cideries as well. Pay a visit to the Urban Distillery on Bay Avenue which is known for its production of hand-made craft whiskies, brandies and liqueurs. The Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and the Scenic Road Cider Co. are a few others that offer tours and feature tasting rooms.

Outdoors
Kelowna's outdoor spaces are legendary, offering myriad possibilities for outdoor sport and recreation, both during summers and winters. Within the city's mainland, the Knox Mountain Park is an adventuresome option. Trek to this dense mountain park, or cycle down its scenic trails for sweeping views of the lower city. Summers provide ample opportunities for bird-watching near the Rotary Marshes. To the southeast, the Myra Bellevue Provincial Park offers trails for mountain biking and hiking. Peek into the gritty depths of the Myra Canyon, and feel an instant rush of adrenaline that makes the journey here worth it. Cross over to the west side of Kelowna for a night of lakeside camping at the Bear Creek Provincial Park. An uphill hiking trail here leads to a stunning waterfall.

Water babies can cool off in summers at the Gyro Beach Park in the city, which offers incredible avenues for paddling, swimming and boating. Else, take it up a notch by also trying your hand at flyboarding.

With the onset of winter, Kelowna transforms into a winter wonderland, carpeting summer blooms with thick snow. However, the winters here are not as harsh as the rest of Canada, and provide some terrific options for winter activities. Go skiing on the slopes of the Big White Mountain Reserve, located outside the city limits. Popular resorts like the Big White Ski Resort and the Silver Star Mountain Resort are great for all the winter fun you're seeking.

Kelowna's landscape and weather translate into perfect golfing conditions. In recent years, the city has become a top-notch golfing destination, with a slew of premier golf courses cropping up within city limits. Tee off at the Harvest Golf Club, the Tower Ranch Golf Club or the Kelowna Springs Golf Club.

Before the land of Kelowna was discovered by trekkers of the fur trade, it was largely used by the First Nations' Sylix people for hunting. In 1859, Oblate missionaries, headed by Father Pandosy, founded a mission in Kelowna, which stands today as the Father Pandosy Mission Provincial Heritage Site. In 1860, European settlers used the Okanagan Valley as thoroughfare to get to Kelowna, where they ultimately established their trading post. This pronounced a new dawn for Kelowna, which started attracting more settlers soon thereafter.

Beef traders coming in from the United States, as well as miners that passed the land in the wake of the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1862 began taking notice of the land. Kelowna's arable land and proximity to the lake ignited the need to settle here. Thus, the population grew further. In the last decade of the 19th Century, Kelowna's orchard industry bore fruit when Lord Aberdeen planted sizable orchards and farms. Since then, Kelowna has established itself as the wine capital of the Okanagan Valley, and continues to enjoy a thriving wine and orchard industry.

Kelowna's beautiful lakeside city and its location within the Okanagan Valley offer many a natural advantage. Unlike other cities, it resembles less of a concrete jungle, and more of an outdoor paradise, with lakeside retreats and rolling vineyards aplenty. Most of its main attractions are spread across the vast city, originating from the Cultural District and radiating through its upper limits.

Kasugai Gardens
Between Queensway and Water Street, the Kasugai Gardens provide a welcome retreat with their koi ponds, idyllic bridges and iridescent blooms. A stroll along these quiet Japanese gardens reveal hidden Japanese scripts, zen-inspired designs and traditional stone fountains. Take a short break at the cozy tea house located within this Asian enclave. Later, catch a concert at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and head to the nearby Kelowna Yacht Club for an indulgent dinner overlooking Okanagan Lake.

Kelowna City Park
The Kelowna City Park is a great place to spend the latter half of your afternoon. Pack a picnic lunch to this busy park, and later, run down to the downtown beach nearby as the sun begins to set. You can also walk down to the floating pier of the marina nearby and admire evening colors. The marina also offers boat rentals for those who fancy a quick skim along the lake's cobalt waters. End your exhilarating evening with a quiet rooftop dinner at Earls Kelowna.

Laurel Packing House
A longstanding heritage house that speaks volumes about Kelowna's wine industry, the Laurel Packinghouse is the oldest and largest of its kind in British Columbia. Explore the city's historical roots at this packinghouse, and pay visits to the BC Orchard Industry Museum and the BC Wine Museum. From here, take a short walk to the picturesque Waterfront Park that features a nice boardwalk and a bird sanctuary, besides offering panoramic views of the mighty lake. On your way back, stop by at the Rhapsody Plaza to admire the pleasant whoosh of its back-lit fountains alongside unique Canadian artworks. Unwind at Rose's Waterfront Pub with a cold beer and Pulled Pork Burgers.

Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm
A visit to the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm will transport you to the blooming lilac fields of Provence. Take a stroll along lavender aisles even as the delicate fragrance holds you still. Later, pick up all the essential oils and creams that you can carry from the specialty gift shop. The farm provides tours in blooming season, which typically lasts from July to the end of summer. Nearby, Arlo's Honey Farm also provides farm tours by appointment. Drive south and have an early dinner at the Aomi Sushi Restaurant.

Summerhill Pyramids Winery
When in Kelowna, a visit to this award-winning winery is a must. Participate in the winery's daily tours that introduce you to organic wine-making and take you through the fragrant Pyramid wine cellar. The tour ends with a guided wine tasting in their tasting room. Skip other restaurants for dinner at the winery's own organic eatery, the Sunset Organic Bistro.

Guided Tours
Uncorked Okanagan Wine Day Tours (+1 250 769 3123 / http://uncorkedokanagan.com/)

Experience Wine Tours (+1 250 300 4436 / http://experiencewinetours.ca/)

Okanagan Foodie Tours (+1 250 808 9890 / https://www.okanaganfoodietours.ca/)

Outdoor Adventures
Okanagan Flyboard outfitters (+1 250 317 5864/http://okanaganflyboard.com/)

Window views in Kelowna are like paintings of perfectly framed skyline, mountain peaks and lush tree-lined meadows. Here, you’ll feel as relaxed inside at the spa as you will outside on the beach or boardwalk. Even the golf courses in the region offer optimal relaxation (not to mention fantastic greens and conditions)...