Kelowna
The Vacation and Entertainment City
 Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley.
As a matter of fact, the city is the 22nd largest metropolitan area in all of Canada!
It still maintains its small town feel, though.
You cannot visit the Okanagan without spending some time in the hub city of this region of British Columbia.
With the sunshine and warm temperatures, the City of Kelowna is sometimes referred to as "Summer City".
The city is a buzz of activity all year round. With its art galleries, museums, cafes, shops and boutiques, concerts and live theater there are no shortage of things to do in this great place.
There are beaches, parks, ski resorts, nightclubs and restaurants. There is something for everyone who wants to explore Kelowna and everything it has to offer.
A year-long calendar of Okanagan events that include regattas, rodeos, triathlons and festivals keep this place hopping.
Kelowna tourism is very important to the city so expect very friendly service from anyone you may deal with in the time you are here.
Kelowna Tourism and Things To Do and See
I could write a whole book on the variety of things to do in this booming city. I will just list for you some of my favorite places I have visited here and a few more that I haven't got around to seeing yet.
Come down and spend the day at Waterfront Park. From a water and skateboard park to a family playground this is a great spot for the kids to let off some of that energy.
I'm sure Mom and Dad will appreciate some relaxation here too!
The beach is only a few feet away so you can enjoy any of your favorite water activities. One of my favorite places to visit in Kelowna!
To really appreciate the beauty of Okanagan Lake look for the MV Fintry Queen and take a boat tour. This floating restaurant has daily cruises and offers lunch and dinner menus. A great way to entertain out of town guests, if you live here, or romance that special someone.
For a spectacular tour of the Central Okanagan and the North Okanagan you and the family can hop on the Okanagan Valley Wine Train. The ride begins in Kelowna and ends just north of Vernon.
Five hours of awesome scenery awaits you as the rail cars wind their way through 2 valleys, three lakes and countless other landmarks. One of my 'must things to do and see' in the near future!
You can't visit this wonderful city without taking in an event at Prospera Place (formerly called Skyreach Place until 2003). This 6,000 seat multi-purpose facility is home to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. Superb hockey and very affordable family entertainment!
 Built in 1999, this state-of-the-art entertainment facility was recently voted best concert venue in Canada. From Bryan Adams to Rod Stewart, to name just a couple of the entertainers to perform here, this is the place to watch incredible acts.
On a personal note I had the privilege of seeing the Bare Naked Ladies perform back in 2001. What a night of great songs by this fabulous group. I have memories to last a lifetime from that one concert alone!
A really neat place that you will want to check out is
Orchard Park Kelowna.
This shopping mall has it all and a great hangout no matter what the weather is like outside. With more than 170 stores and services Orchard Park is the largest mall in the Okanagan Valley.
In the winter, a short trip to Big White Ski Resort is guaranteed to be a fun-packed family adventure. Enjoy the usual winter activities like downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, sledding and skating to name just a few.
As is the case in the rest of the Okanagan valley, Kelowna has many quality vineyards and wineries throughout the area. Some of the well known wineries include Calona Vineyards, Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Peller Estates.
There are several up and coming wineries and these could be seen on any of the B.C. wine tours that are available.
Kelowna Accomodation
 There are no shortage of places to stay in this fun city. Settle down in a different accommodation each time you come for a visit.
Hotels The city is filled with a choice of top notch hotels with all the amenities down to the very affordable bargain hotels that a lot of families are looking for. If you are coming in the peak summer season just make sure you book well in advance.
One of my favorites is the
Lake Okanagan Resort
. A family getaway with endless activities, you could stay here for your whole trip and enjoy everything in one location. I stayed one time as a guest at a wedding performed on the golf course here. A great time was had by all!
Motels So many to choose from. There is sure to be a perfect one for anyone's taste!
Campgrounds From the RV owner to the backpacker with a tent, to the family with a camper and several tents there is an area for every type of Okanagan camper.
Bed and Breakfast I know a lot of people who like the experience of staying in a B & B when they are touring the Okanagan Valley. Again there are many to choose from to suit anyone's budget.
Hostels For those on a very limited budget there are a few of these to choose from. All of them are close to the downtown area so you can experience the famous nightlife here.
A relative or friend Many people I know get an influx of visitors in the summer months. I am sure you know of someone who is a friend of a friend of a relative who is... sorry I am rambling on a bit.
If you see no vacancy signs up everywhere around the city (which can happen during the busy tourist season) there is at least the possibility that someone will welcome you in to their home.
I will be working on an accommodation page in the near future and I will have a full list of each of these different places to stay and their contact information.
So please check back often.
Kelowna History
The original inhabitants of this city were the Interior Salish people. Back in the early 1860's Father Pandosy took possession of some land near Mission Creek, which became one of the largest farming operations in the Okanagan Valley.
The resulting settlement was later named Kelowna, which means Grizzly Bear in Native Indian dialect.
Cattle ranching was a big industry with the early pioneers which fed the Cariboo gold miners and other settlers.
A new railway line was built and reached Okanagan Landing at the head of Okanagan Lake. The CPR Sternwheeler made scheduled stops at the brand new townsite of Kelowna, which was formed in 1892. There was immediate growth in the area.
Kelowna was incorporated as a city in 1905. The 1958 opening of the floating bridge by then premier W.A.C. Bennet and Princess Margaret began an unlimited expansion of the city which continues today.
There are several museums in this area. Take a few days to explore all of them. They tell quite a story of this historic city.
 There is the Okanagan Heritage Museum for those wanting to explore the city's history. Inside you will find exhibits on natural, native and local history. It also houses the only Ethnography Gallery in the interior of British Columbia.
The B.C. Orchard Industry Museum, located in the historic Laurel Packinghouse is a tribute to the region's strong connection to the tree fruit industry. There is a gift shop and even a 50-foot working model railway for the kids (and some adults too) to enjoy.
The B.C. Wine Museum displays historic bottles, labels, wine-making equipment and artifacts from a rich history of producing quality wines. Anybody interested in wine and winemaking should definitely make this a stop on their next visit! Also located in the old Laurel Packinghouse building.
The Okanagan Military Museum is located in the Memorial Arena building on Ellis street in Kelowna. Come out and see some a collection of some of the best firearms in Canada.
For the sports fanatic there is the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame Museum. The facility recognizes achievement and excellence in sports and honors those deserving individuals.
Interesting Facts and Landmarks
 The new W.R. Bennet Bridge was opened in May 2008. Remaining as the only floating brige in Canada, it is the only vehicular crossing over Okanagan Lake.
The bridge is five lanes in width and almost 1063 meters (3487 feet) in length. It truly is a huge improvement on the old bridge. I try and make sure to cross it several times a year because it is quite the landmark.
The Kelowna General Hospital is the largest and most comprehensive in all of the British Columbia southern interior. There was an expansion project approved in May 2007 so this is good news for an ever-expanding population here.
The University of British Columbia Okanagan opened in 2005. This small campus is located off of Hwy 97 between Kelowna and the city of Vernon B.C.. It is a welcome educational place in this region as many students do not have to travel to the historic UBC in Vancouver to persue their university degrees.
Okanagan College offers university programs as well as a wide range of adult education and trades courses. Located on KLO road in Kelowna, this is a very popular place for students to continue their post-secondary studies.
The Kelowna International Airport is the 3rd busiest in B.C. and the 11th largest in Canada. Some of the familiar airlines serving this airport are WestJet, Air Canada and Horizon Air.
I will be adding flight information in the near future for your convenience.
The infamous Okanagan Mountain Park-Fire in 2003 was seen on televisions across the Canada and the world. This devastating fire destroyed homes and thousands of kilometers of forest. There are signs of recovery today.
Some former Major League baseball players born here include Jeff Zimmerman, his brother Jordan Zimmerman and Paul Spoljaric.
The 2007 World Women's Curling Championship was held in this city and won by the hometown Kelly Scott Rink.
The Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey league won the Major Junior Hockey League Memorial Cup championship in 2004, the same year they hosted the event.
The city of Kelowna, B.C. really is a wonderful place to visit. Make sure you stop by on your next visit to the Okanagan Valley.
I hope you have enjoyed the information provided for you on this page.
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!
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