British Columbia Tourism
In The Okanagan

The Okanagan has so much to offer in British Columbia tourism and is a traveller's vacation paradise.

I would like to guide you through one of the most beautiful regions in the province of British Columbia and Canada.

There are so many things to see and to do here that your leisure and recreation time will be filled up no matter how long you plan to stay.

The scenery is unbelievable wherever you find youself in this area.

And the fabulous weather we enjoy here in the Okanagan makes for an experience second to none.

Are you ready to explore and enjoy British Columbia tourism in the Okanagan?

The Okanagan lies in a valley bordered by mountains to the east and west. The Shuswap region is to the north, the West Kootenays region is to the east, the Similkameen region is to the west and the border to the United States is to the south.

The Okanagan is situated in the Southern Interior of BC along with the rest of these regions of the province.

Sometimes you will see the Okanagan area referred to as the Thompson Okanagan region or the Okanagan Similkameen region.

There are several wonderful cities and towns in each of these regions.

The Shuswap consists of Salmon Arm, Chase, Sorrento and Sicamous.

The Thompson Nicola area includes Kamloops and Merrit.

The Similkimeen has Cawston, Hedley, Keremeos and Princeton as landmarks in its region.

The West Kootenays has quite a few cities and towns in the region. Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Creston are just a few from this area.

Each of these regions offer the best in British Columbia tourism.

How To Get Here

There are several ways to travel into the Okanagan. If you are driving by car there is British Columbia Highway 97 that passes through the entire Okanagan Valley.

This is the longest continuously-numbered route in the Province of British Columbia, running 2,081 km (1,293 mi) from the Canada/U.S. border in the south to the British Columbia/Yukon border in the north.

There are more highways that you can take from other directions that will get you into the Okanagan. If you are coming from the U.S. or other parts of Canada there are several travel routes available to you.

If you decide to see the area by bus there is Greyhound service that has stops at most of the cities in the Okanagan. You can contact the Geyhound depots by phone or check out schedules online over the internet.

Airplane travel has become more popular as the cities of the Okanagan continue to grow.

Kelowna International Airport has several airlines stop here and there are a number of Domestic and US flights coming in and out of here daily.

The only other airport to serve the Okanagan is the Penticton Regional Airport . It is a smaller airport but it is another way to get into the Okanagan.

It offers four flights to and from Vancouver International Airport daily on Air Canada Jazz.

Any way you choose how to visit the Okanagan you will see why British Columbia tourism is a growing industry in this region.

There are three regions within the Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia. Each one has its own identity and differ in climate and weather and even how long the growing season is in its agriculture industry.

There is the South Okanagan, the Central Okanagan and the North Okanagan. Here is a brief description of each of these unique regions.

No matter what region you end up visiting or staying at there is something for everyone to enjoy in British Columbia tourism.

The South Okanagan

One thing you think of right away about the South Okanagan is the hot summer days and being near the water.

The town of Osoyoos sits minutes away from the Canada/US border and it is at the very tip of Canada's only desert. No wonder it gets so hot here!

Here is where you will find Osoyoos Lake, the warmest freshwater lake in all of Canada! It really is a beautiful lake for all your water sport activities.

You can enter the South Okanagan near the border at the junction of Hwy 97 and Hwy 3. You can take Hwy 3 from the Kootenays to the the east and also from the west.

Besides Osoyoos there are several more cities and towns heading north through the South Okanagan. These, in order heading south to north are:

The Central Okanagan

As you leave the South Okanagan you begin to enter the Central Okanagan. This region includes the hub city of Kelowna where there are plenty of activities and events year round for everyone to enjoy.

This is where the British Columbia tourism industry thrives.

Along with the scenic landscape of farmland, vineyards and orchards there are many places to stop and relax or have some fun.

This area enjoys one of the longest golf seasons in Canada which usually runs from March to November each year.

Winter here is just as fun as Big White Ski Resort is close by for all of your skiing and snowboarding activities.

The other cities and towns in this region include:

Peachland
Westbank
Lake Country This area is made up of four different communities. These include Winfield, Okanagan Centre, Carrs Landing and Oyama.

The North Okanagan

The North Okanagan is an outdoorsman's dream come true. With all the hills surrounding the area there is plenty of hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and much more to enjoy.

The numerous lakes and streams in this area will make any fisherman happy and content. Just gather your camping gear and have the time of your life!

This region of the Okanagan also offers the best in British Columbia tourism.

The city of Vernon is probably the focal point of many to this region. As you make your climb driving from Lake country into the North Okanagan towards Vernon you will be amazed at the beautiful scenery.

You can't miss Kalamalka Lake, the "lake of many colours". It truly is spectacular and for anyone with a camera it is worth stopping at one of the lookouts off of the highway and taking a picture.

Heading east from Vernon on Hwy 6 towards the Monashees is another scenic experience. You pass through the communities of:

Coldstream
Lavington
Lumby

Staying on Hwy 97 through Vernon will take you north towards:

Armstrong
Enderby Home to the Starlight Drive In, the largest drive-in theater movie screen in North America.

I hope you have enjoyed the information provided on British Columbia tourism in the Okanagan. You will not be disappointed on your visit to this wonderful area.

The Okanagan is a vacation paradise and you will have memories to last a lifetime.

I promise you this!

Okanagan Valley Guide will be updated regularly. Please return often or bookmark this site. I will be adding more pages of exciting information for you.

Thanks for visiting.

See you soon!