Whenever you’re in a new place as a tourist it can be hard to find the best parts of a location beyond what major tourism articles or magazines tell you. It’s also not a bad idea to touch up on the local travel regulations and guides as well, especially for those that live out-of-province. We detail some Kelowna tips so you can not only maximize your time in the city but also find the best spots to visit and see.
Walk Around Downtown Kelowna
Trust us, there’s more to this city than meets the eye and many of these destinations can be found within downtown Kelowna. The downtown has a huge variety of local gems to look through and discover. From bookshops to breweries and everything in between you can easily spend an afternoon browsing between each of the local shops.
Is shopping not your speed? Kelowna City Park offers a massive green space with 2 fields, plenty of space to set up a picnic between the trees or run around with the kids. It’s especially great in the summer with a beach (and beach volleyball) area right next to Okanagan Lake and a kids’ waterpark as well.
Jump in Okanagan Lake
Speaking of Okanagan Lake, there are more ways to get the most out of this body of water than simply swimming in it. Of course, you can do that too with both Kelowna City Park and Boyce-Gyro Beach being some of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike.
But if you really want to get out on the lake, you have a whole swath of options to choose from. Rent a boat, paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or even water bike from the watercraft rental stores to go out on the lake or bring your own watercraft and launch it easily.
Go for a Tasting at Mission Hill Winery
Easily one of the Okanagan’s most iconic wineries, your trip to Kelowna would be amiss if you didn’t at least visit this stunning location. With multiple awards for their wine under their belt and amazing architecture, this location also offers plays of Shakespeare in the outdoor amphitheatre during the summer as well. It’s well worth your time to visit this unique winery.
Bike or Hike Along Myra Canyon
Further into the Okanagan, you’ll find the remnants of the old Kettle Valley Railway (which has been more preserved near Summerland) at the Myra Canyon Trestles, a section of now-removed train track that helped with the old mining boom. This historic site now boasts more than 6km of walking and bike paths that take you directly over the old trestles which have been maintained.
While you can walk it, we recommend biking it by renting one on-site or bringing your own with you since it makes the mostly flat path much quicker to see to the end.
Make your Kelowna visit memorable by visiting the aforementioned locations and enrich your summer!