British Colombia is one of the prettiest province in all of Canada, from the impressive rockies to the sand-fringed coast it is always picture ready. Driving across British Colombia a few years ago, I absolutely fell in love with the city of Kelowna. Located 4.5 hours from Vancouver, Kelowna captures everything necessary for the perfect vacation. You can reach Kelowna either by car or by flying in to the International airport, however it serves mainly Canadian cities.
The downtown portion of the city is next to Okanagan Lake which offers plenty of beaches to relax and swim during the warmer summer months. The downtown core also has a number of charming restaurants and small shops to entertain visitors. The marina allows boat lovers to head out and spend some time on the water with boat rentals available (kayaks, canoes). Kelowna also has some of the best golf courses in the country, where you can play year round due to the unique micro-climate that maintains warm temperatures even in the cold Canadian winter.
Personally, a highlight of Kelowna is wine production. If you are of legal drinking age, you must visit one (or two or four…) wineries. I registered for a wine tasting tour with Club Wine Tours so that I could fully indulge in the generous wine samples at a number of wineries without having to drive. On the tour I visited Hainle Vineyards Estate Winery, Kalala Organic Estate Winery, Rollingdale Winery, and the majestic Quail’s Gate. All the owners were extremely friendly and I learned about wine production in general, Kelowna’s unique geography and climate, and treated my stomach and eyes to some wonderful food in the most scenic environment.
Have you been to Kelowna? What are you looking for when planning a family vacation?
Make sure to check out my other Canadian Postcard here.
