Location: Junction of Highways 97 and 97C, near Highway 33; 240 miles to Vancouver, 360 miles to Calgary, 90 miles north of the US border. Population: 127,000. Visitor Information: Tourism Kelowna Visitor Centre, 238 Queensway, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S7; Email: info@tourismkelowna.com; Toll free: (800) 663-4345; Phone: (250) 861-1515; Website: www.tourismkelowna.com
Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, known for its sunny, dry climate and surrounded by spectacular scenery, vineyards and orchards. Pluck juicy peaches from the tree or spend a delightful day sampling the award-winning wares of dozens of internationally acclaimed wineries. Wine Festivals offer hundreds of activities focused on wine making, tasting and touring.
Kelowna has miles of beautiful parkland, much of it located along sandy beaches. Okanagan Lake and the surrounding mountains provide a scenic backdrop for a wide range of family attractions and outdoor activities including golf, downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, water-skiing, waterslides, cycling, hiking, camping, horseback riding and fishing. Just minutes from everywhere, this 68-mile long lake is the focal point of life in Kelowna.
Golf courses meander through orchards, over desert terrain and rolling hills, and past lakes and canyons. There are over a dozen courses located in the Kelowna area, providing golfers of all ages and abilities a premium golf experience.
Kelowna has an outstanding symphony orchestra, while blues, jazz, folk, country and rock bands play in a number of festivals and downtown locales. The Kelowna Cultural District offers a concentration of galleries, museums, theaters and artist studios mingled with an eclectic mix of delightful dining opportunities from the ultra casual to highly formal. A variety of accommodation options abound with choices ranging from lakeside resorts to cozy B&Bs.