Kelowna

Sun-drenched vineyards meet sun-dappled lakes

Give your glass a gentle swirl, then gaze across sun-drenched vineyards and beyond to shimmering Okanagan Lake. You’re in Kelowna, the largest city in British Columbia’s famed Okanagan Valley. And on this day, you don’t want to be anywhere else.

It’s easy to feel more alive in Kelowna. You can smell the fragrant fruit blossoms wafting in the air. These blossoms, come harvest time, will have transformed into fresh apples, cherries, peaches and apricots that you can pick yourself.

The Okanagan Valley is Canada’s only true desert. The semi-arid climate means Kelowna enjoys more than 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. You can mountain bike one day, cycle through orchards and vineyards the next, go lake swimming or stroll scenic creekside trails. No wonder so many people flock here to enjoy golfing, skiing, hiking, fishing and paddling amid the area’s some 200 freshwater lakes.

The ultimate wine and cheese adventure

Oak barrels stacked in rows give the air an earthen smell as you explore the wine cellars of Kelowna’s Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. Crossing the winery’s grassy courtyard to the tasting room, it’s an elegant place to savor the bouquet of a garnet-tinged merlot or citrus-scented pinot gris.

There are over a dozen wineries in Kelowna, with more than 60 spread out across the Okanagan Valley. Wherever your start your tour of the area, on four wheels or two, you’ll find all of your senses enlivened in this fragrant valley.

Start a perfect picnic day in Kelowna with a stop at an apple or cherry orchard, followed with a sampling of the fine cheeses at Carmelis Goat Cheese Farm. Then, not far from Kelowna, visit the world’s first Jammery to view the jam production and slather some of the tasty, finished product on a fresh-baked scone.

One of Canada’s cultural capitals

Kelowna is the heart of the Okanagan’s cultural scene. The city was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2004 for good reason. You’ll be treated to a colorful parade of galleries, theaters, museums, gardens, public art exhibitions and eclectic shops in Kelowna’s Cultural District. You can catch live entertainment on stage at Prospera Place, and the Okanagan Symphony entertains with its glorious sound year-round. The award-winning public flower gardens are a must-see on any visit to this lakeshore city, particularly in the summer when live music in the parks sets spirits soaring amid the blooms.

Tee time in Kelowna

Known for its golf courses, Kelowna offers you a chance to play over a dozen courses in the city and to take your best swing at some 50 challenging courses throughout the Okanagan. Tee off along orchard-lined fairways and greens offering sparkling views of Okanagan Lake.

A resort experience for lakeside lovers

Kelowna is home to many elegant lakefront resorts catering to families, romantic couples or groups of friends, all with the common goal of escaping to Okanagan Lake’s bounty of beaches. Boating, waterskiing and wakeboarding, paddling, sailing and windsurfing are all on the agenda on any getaway to this recreational waterfront playground.

The countryside, ranging from desert terrain and rolling hills to clear lakes and canyons, is made for exploring on foot or by bicycle. The scenic and historic Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) Trail offers world-class cycling and hiking.

Winter in Kelowna

Winter in Kelowna brings mounds of light and fluffy “Okanagan Powder” to lure skiers and snowboarders. Big White Ski Resort, the second-biggest ski resort in BC and just 50 minutes from Kelowna, is a prime winter playground offering snowshoeing, tubing, skating on outdoor ponds and challenging cross-country skiing.