Located in British
Columbia's lush Okanagan Valley, the city of Kelowna
is a summer playground for both kids and adults. Boasting near picture-perfect
weather, with hot sunny days and warm evenings being the norm, and situated
on the shores of the impressive Lake
Okanagan, the city and surrounding
area offer a mind-boggling array of exciting outdoor activities.
Everything from sunbathing and water sports to wine tours and cheese tasting
make the region one of Canada's
most popular summer hot spots. Any holiday-maker who considers great weather,
relaxation, good food
and drink,
friendly locals and, most importantly, the chance to have a lot of fun as a
part of their vacation destination check-list should jump at the opportunity
to while away the days in Kelowna.
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| The
Pyramid Wine Cellar at Summerhill Winery1 |
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GRAPES, APPLES AND MORE
The Okanagan Valley's long,
warm summers make for ideal fruit-growing conditions, and many have taken advantage
by starting private orchards
and vineyards.
The picturesque hills surrounding Kelowna are abundant with apple, cherry, peach
and other fruit trees, as well as vines sprouting a variety of juicy green and
red grapes. Visitors wanting to try some of this home-grown goodness can visit
one of the many roadside fruit markets that dot the highways throughout the
valley, or visit the outdoor Kelowna
Farmers and Crafters Market for produce, baking, crafts and more.
Oenophiles, both amateur
and professional, will find the city to be a virtual paradise, as more than
ten wineries
are located in the city with many more situated in the surrounding towns. Everything
from small and family-owned to huge estate wineries are represented, and some
offer tours for those curious about the wine-making process. Nearly all offer
tastings. These are usually complimentary or will cost a few dollars for three
or four samples. Staff can recommend the perfect red or white based on each
visitor's preference and will suggest ideal food pairings for each bottle. Those
who have a sweet tooth should try a sample of ice wine, which is often served
in an edible dark chocolate shot glass. In addition, many wineries feature gourmet
restaurants
overlooking the lake or vineyards.
Favourites include the province's
original winery, Calona
Vineyards, located downtown and offering public tours and tastings.
The Summerhill
Pyramid Winery is often recognized by its pyramid-shaped cellar, which
is a replica eight per cent the size of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Tours are
also offered, as are tastings, and guests may choose to dine at the winery's
Sunset
Bistro.
Arguably the most impressive
winery in the region is the Mission
Hill Family Estate Winery. Perched atop Mount Boucherie in Westbank,
directly across the lake from Kelowna, the vineyard offers panoramic views of
the valley, is beautifully landscaped and features a large wine and gift shop.
There is also an outdoor amphitheatre onsite where local theatre groups perform
while visitors enjoy a picnic with wine. The Quail's
Gate Estate Winery is also located on Mount Boucherie and is smaller
with an extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. Tastings are free and the
winery boasts some of the most flavourful vintages in the region.
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A
Goat Stretches for a Treat at the Kelowna Land & Orchard Co. Ltd.2 |
Those who would like to
try the delicious fruit grown in the area while keeping the kids entertained
can make a trip to the Kelowna
Land & Orchard Co. Ltd. This historic orchard features a petting zoo,
wagon tours highlighting the types of fruit grown as well as the history of
the estate, a teahouse restaurant and a gift shop with a variety of jams, jellies,
juice, gifts and more.
ON THE GREEN
Kelowna is an ideal destination
for a golf holiday, with more than 10 clubs,
including a number of impressive championship courses, scattered throughout
the city. With such variety, visitors will find courses appropriate for all
skill levels. The most popular options include Gallagher's
Canyon Golf and Country Club, located a mere 15 minutes from downtown.
The club features a range of amenities such as onsite accommodation, a learning
centre, a dining room, a bar and a pro shop, in addition to the 9-hole Pinnacle
and 18-hole Canyon courses. The massive Okanagan Golf Club is a true resort
boasting onsite accommodation, a full practice facility and a chic clubhouse.
Golfers can choose between two 18-hole championship courses, each of which offers
its own unique challenges, including
The Bear, which was designed by pro-golf star Jack Nicklaus, and
The
Quail created by famed golf course architect Les Furber. The oldest
course in the city is the centrally-located Kelowna
Golf and Country Club. Established in 1920, the Country Club, as it
is known by locals, is famed for its beauty and as such is a popular spot for
weddings.
Golfers will find a par 72, 18-hole course, and may take advantage of the driving
range, pro shop and dining facilities.
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| Golf,
Mini-Golf and Putt-Putt Courses are Plentiful in Kelowna3 |
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If a challenging-18 holes
in the sunshine isn't on the agenda, try something mellower with a round of
mini-golf
or putt-putt.
Both activities are kid friendly and require less time and exertion than a full
round of golf. 19
Greens Putt & Play features two 18-hole grass courses where patrons
can practice their skills on natural greens. Night golf is also available so
visitors can play while enjoying impressive night-time views of the lake, and
there is also a mini-golf course and an X-Treme Bounce trampoline onsite. For
the ultimate in Kelowna mini-golf check out Scandia
Golf and Games, which offers two themed 18-hole courses. Cool off at
the indoor Jungle Golf course or attempt to beat the competition at the Outdoor
Course. Anyone who manages a hole-in-one on the 18th hole of either course receives
the next round free. Visitors could spend an entire day at Scandia as the fun
centre also includes batting cages, bumper cars and an arcade.
FUN ON THE WATER
Wineries, orchards and golf
courses are all great spots to spend a day, but for water-lovers, Lake
Okanagan is the real draw in Kelowna. The 135 km (84 mi) long lake is
deep, and takes longer to heat up in the summer than some of the others in the
area, but from May until September the 351 sq km (135 sq mi) surface is dotted
with boats, jet-skis, wakeboards and more.
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Jet-Skiing
is One of Many Popular Activities on Lake Okanagan4 |
Houseboating
is traditionally one of the most popular holiday activities in the Okanagan
Valley. Visitors can rent
a boat for a few days, a week or more and live, sleep and party on the lake,
making it an all-inclusive vacation. It is also possible to charter a houseboat
for a tour, evening cruise or private party. Various other excursions
on the lake are available, including a dinner cruise with live entertainment
on the Fintry
Queen Paddlewheeler, as well as sailboat and twilight cruises. Other
companies providing lake adventures include those offering windsurfing
and kiteboarding
lessons as well as those that take guests on parasailing
escapades. A number of local businesses provide rentals
of a variety of water-sport equipment including speed boats, fishing boats,
wakeboards, water-and jet-skis, tubes, canoes, kayaks and much more, for those
with the skills and knowledge to venture out on their own,
FESTIVALS
The festival
season in Kelowna and the surrounding
area lasts throughout the year, with a range of fun and interesting
events
taking place each month. A range of events celebrating the best of what the
Okanagan Valley has to offer occurs from May to September, and for many locals
and visitors the festivities are as much a part of summer in the Okanagan as
peaches, BBQs and sunshine.
One of the summer's hottest
events occurs at the beginning of July. Wakefest
is a big, three-day long party that sees professional wakeboarders from across
Canada competing to score the best, most impressive ride. The party, which occurs
at Waterfront
Park, also includes a bikini contest, beer gardens, motocross races,
a Texas Hold'em tournament, rock shows by some of the country's biggest bands
and more.
Taking place at the Silver
Star Mountain Resort just outside the town of Vernon,
which is located 46 km (29 mi) north of Kelowna, the Summer
Wine Festival celebrates one of the region's most important and popular
exports. Wine is so popular in fact, there are also Spring
and Fall
wine festivals as well as an Ice
Wine Festival, held in the winter. The summer festival occurs over the
second weekend in August and guests can expect to enjoy tastings, specialty
food pairings, world class meals and educational seminars among other activities.
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| Peachfest
Celebrates Penticton's Peach Harvest5 |
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Another fun August event
that takes place just outside the city of Kelowna is Peachfest
in Penticton,
68 km (42 mi) to the south. One of the region's oldest festivals, Peachfest
began in 1947 and has occurred annually ever since. The five-day event celebrates
the local peach harvest with fun and educational activities for the entire family.
Events take place at various locations around town and include one the largest
parades in British Columbia, an arts and crafts fair, live music, hypnotists,
food vendors, a square dance festival, competitions and fireworks.
Heading back into Kelowna,
visitors will find that the city's Dragon
Boat Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. One
of a number of similar festivals that take place throughout Canada each summer,
the event occurs at the beginning of September and is a celebration of Chinese
cultural traditions. Thousands of spectators, both young and old, come to watch
paddlers and drummers in dragon-shaped boats race for the top spot.
AFTER DARK
After a day of outdoor fun
there are a number of places to find a cool, refreshing drink and show off a
tan hard-earned after hours in the sun. Kelowna's nightlife is hopping and visitors
will find most establishments range from being busy to heaving every night of
the week from Victoria Day weekend in May to Labour Day weekend in September.
Finding a spot on a patio, especially one overlooking the lake, can be a challenge
but the lucky can spend the evening enjoying a warm breeze, sipping tasty beverages
and people-watching. The city boasts fine-dining restaurants,
casual and friendly pubs,
live music venues and nightclubs
playing music ranging from top 40 to R&B to country.
Visitors looking for an
upscale but casual and friendly experience should pay a visit to the 'El'
Bar at the Hotel
Eldorado. Located along the lakeshore, the boutique hotel dates back
to the 1920s and maintains a retro yet classy ambiance. The bar features a large
outdoor terrace that stretches along almost the entire length of the hotel and
offers panoramic views of the surrounding lake. Guests can have a pint of draught
on tap or try one of the many tasty cocktails available, including the bar's
spicy Caesar.
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The
Promenade and Marina Outside Rose's Waterfront Pub6 |
Those wanting to spend the
night on a patio overlooking the lake and hoping to hang out somewhere raucous
can try Rose's
Waterfront Pub. Attached to the impressive Grand
Okanagan Lakefront Resort, the pub, which is known to locals simply
as Rose's, is situated along the promenade leading to the beach at City
Park. This prime location ensures not only excellent views of the lake
lights, but also fantastic people-watching opportunities as sun-kissed beach
bodies parade past. Boasting drink specials, a tasty menu of pub favourites,
pool tables, sports on a big screen and local live music, Rose's is easily one
of the busiest and most popular night spots in the city with queues stretching
well into the surrounding parking lot on special occasions. Those who want to
get in need to get there early.
If a night of dancing is
on the agenda then Flashbacks
nightclub is the place to be. Established in 1989, the club has endured since
and continues to be one of the hottest spots in the city. The place to be to
see cool Canadian bands, Flashback's has hosted some of the country's biggest
up-and-comers as well as established indie favourites including Nickelback,
54/40, Bif Naked, Sloan and more. Located downtown directly behind Prospera
Place, the club features Ladies Night on Fridays and often hosts special
event parties such as the Official Wakefest Afterparty. Most nights the masses
hit the dance floor to the sounds of local DJs playing a mix of top 40, pop,
rock and alternative music.
EXCITING EXTRAS
Even after exhausting all
of these possible activities, visitors will still find more adventures in and
around the city. Take a drive 97 km (60 mi) north of Kelowna to the small town
of Armstrong
to find cheese to go with all of local wines at The
Village Cheese Co. Spot the company's billboards sporting the phrase
"Good Times, Cheese and Ice Cream" along Highway 97 on the way to the shop.
Samples of a number of flavoured cheeses including garlic, dill, jalapeno and
much more are available as are ice creams, light snacks and a variety of artisan
food products. On the way back stop in Enderby,
a small town located 80 km (50 mi) north of Kelowna and the home of the Starlight
Drive-In, which features the biggest drive-in screen in North America.
Two films, including family-friendly movies, are screened here each night.
Just south of Kelowna in
Westbank
visitors will find the Mariner's
Reef Waterslide Park, which features a variety of slides including some
just for kids, as well as a river ride, a hot tub and a playground. Navigate
the hairpin turns at Westside
Go-Karts, which is located right next door and has single and double
karts for adults as well as kiddie karts for the younger set. There is also
a concession stand, a picnic area and arcade games onsite. Those who have had
enough of the beach but are still looking to laze in the sunshine can head farther
south to Penticton
and try the Channel
Float. The Penticton Channel connects Lake
Okanagan to Skaha
Lake, and from the starting point at Riverside
Park to the pick-up point, the float takes approximately an hour and
a half to two hours. Patrons pre-pay for a bus ride that returns them from the
exit back to the point of origin, and can bring their own floatation devices
or rent an inner tube for a small fee. Pack a cooler full of pop and water (but
be sure to keep the channel clean by saving and recycling the empty bottles
and cans) and join the masses on the slow ride down the water.
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| A
View of Downtown Kelowna and Lake Okanagan7 |
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- The Pyramid Wine Cellar at Summerhill Winery; Kelowna, BC,
Canada
- Lauren Greschner; c/o WorldWeb.com; A Goat Stretches for
a Treat at Kelowna Land & Orchard Co. Ltd.; Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Golf, Mini-Golf and Putt-Putt Courses are Plentiful in Kelowna;
Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Jet-skiing is One of Many Popular Activities on Lake Okangan;
Kelowna, BC, Canada
- Peachfest Celebrates Penticton's Peach Harvest; Penticton,
BC, Canada
- Lauren Greschner; c/o WorldWeb.com; The Promenade and Marina
Outside Rose's Waterfront Pub; Kelowna, BC, Canada
- A View of Downtown Kelowna and Lake Okanagan; Kelowna, BC,
Canada
