Top 5 Things to Do in Kelowna, BC

Originally a mostly summer vacation town, Kelowna and West Kelowna are having a population explosion as people realize they do not have to live in the lower mainland to work. With than 2000 hours of sunshine a year, it also brings a lot of visitors. Here are the top 5 things to do:

1. Have Fun on or by Okanagan Lake

Okanagan Lake starts in Vernon in the north and finished in Penticton in the south with Kelowna being in the center. This breathtaking recreation playground, allows you to rest on sandy beaches, parasail, boat, fish, and so much more.

2. Hit the Mountains - hiking in summer and skiing, boarding, snowshoeing in the winter

Big White Ski Resort: featuring an average of about 7.5 meters of the white snow, in winter. This family-friendly spot offers a range of ski runs, winter activities, hiking or biking in the summer, and a variety of accommodations as well as dining.

Silver Star Mountain Resort: In the winter, expect ski-in, ski-out access with a vertical drop of 760 meters. In the summer, visitors can hike the mountain for views from the peak, a variety of trails, and mountain biking. To round out this serene mountain resort amenities are a variety of restaurants, hotels, condominiums, and shops.

3. Hike / Walk / Bike in a Provincial Park

Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park: Known for the Kettle Valley Railway's 18 historic trestles and 2 tunnels, the former rail area has become a renowned trail with bikers and hikers. If you are interested in biking, you can rent them at a location near the trail head.

Vaseux Lake Provincial Park: found just south of Penticton (30min drive from Kelowna), this small campground has a four-kilometer-long lake that is a harbor for birds like Canadian Geese nest and rare Trumpeter Swans. It is also a popular fishing area with numerous species of fish .

4. BC Orchard Industry Museum

The Okanagan originally was a massive cattle range that turned into one of the largest fruit producing areas in BC and the BC Orchard Industry Museum offers various exhibits and artifacts. Information covers a variety of topics from their original cattle origins to how the orchards popped up, processing to home preserving and fruit picking.

5. Golf

About 15 different courses and varying difficulty means that there is something for every golfer no matter your handicap. Kelowna is considered one of the longest, driest golf courses in Canada due to the nearly 2,000 hours of sun per year and 12 inches of precipitation that seems to fall all on one day. If drinking high calorie wine is the reason you came then make sure to use golf to burn it off as one hour in a golf course can burn nearly 370 calories. If none of the 15 interest you then there are about another 35 found in the Okanagan area alone.

Through our affiliation with Viator, a Tripadvisor company, we are able to suggest the following highly rated tours. For more information, click the blue link to visit Viator's website for more information, to check availability and prices, as well as to purchase.

Guided backcountry experience in the South Okanagan

Heiking is a 4-hour guided hike in the mountains of Summerland to see the area from a local’s point of view. It is an opportunity to hike with a professional photographer/educator to learn more about the craft of photography and how to read the signs that nature presents us. The group size is kept to 1-4 people to minimize our impact and increase the chance of wildlife sightings. Heiking is designed for individuals or groups that want something different than the usual tourist locations. They are looking for adventure and to bring home different photographs and an experience that they can share. It is also for locals who want to explore, but due to the environment, it is not best to do it alone. Spend some time exploring deeper into the mountains of the area.

Private Kelowna Sailing Cruise on Okanagan Lake

Spend a day immersed in Kelowna’s beautiful nature as you embark on a sailing cruise on Okanagan Lake. For this adventure, board your private vessel and enjoy a few hours of relaxation, letting the wind guide your boat across the lake. Sail past key landmarks including downtown Kelowna, City Park, Hot Sands Beach, and the Floating Bridge.