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The international gateway to British Columbia's Okanagan Valley,
Kelowna is an extraordinarily scenic destination surrounded by rolling,
pine-covered mountains. It is characterized by award-winning wineries,
a thriving agricultural and orchard community, and an array of leisure
activities. A short drive from downtown Kelowna will take you from a chic
gallery to orchards, vineyards and grassy hillsides, all accented by the
sparkling backdrop of 110 km-long (68-mile) Okanagan Lake. Kelowna is also
a recreation enthusiast's paradise, with trails for biking and hiking, alpine
and Nordic skiing, and a vast selection of water sports all within close
proximity of the city. Sun-drenched plateaux, fresh seasonal harvest, memorable
wines, powder snow, lake views and astonishing golf are signatures of this valley.
History
Artifacts suggest that hunters lived in the Kelowna area as far back as 2,000 years
ago. However, the first European settlement took place in 1859, when three Oblate missionaries,
Father Pandosy, Father Richard and Brother Surel, set up a mission for the area's natives,
traders and new settlers. Three of the original buildings remain at the Father Pandosy Mission
Provincial Heritage Site.
In 1893, Lord Aberdeen, Canada's Governor General, bought huge tracts of land in the valley in recognition
of Okanagan's fruit-growing potential. He also built Guisachan House, now a 2.4 acre heritage site.
Kelowna became a city in 1905 at a time when the population was 600. Its name comes from the story of August
Gillard, an early settler who crawled from an underground shelter just as a group of Indians passed by. The Indians
called out, "Kim-ach-touch", meaning Brown Bear. Over time, this became Kelowna (meaning Grizzly Bear), which was
easier to pronounce.
Today, the greater Kelowna area has a total population of 145,445. It also boasts a rich history. See
fascinating exhibits in the Wine Museum, the BC Orchard Industry Museum, the Kelowna Museum and the Military Museum.
Location
Kelowna is the largest city in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and boasts all the amenities of a major city.
Located approximately 400 kms (240 miles) from Vancouver and 600 kms (360 miles) from Calgary on Highway 97.
Kelowna is 150 km (90 miles) north of the United States Border, and is easily accessible by air, and by bus and
car via Highways 1, 3, or 5.
Kelowna International Airport is the 10th busiest airport in Canada, with daily direct departures to Seattle,
Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto. As well, the Shell Aero Centre welcomes private aircraft
and provides pilot services, such as sleeping quarters, cooking facilities, and 24-hour customs.
Places to See
- The Kelowna Art Gallery
The Kelowna Art Gallery is located in the heart of the Downtown Cultural
District. As Kelowna's leading public gallery, it is central to many cultural
initiatives, each year bringing a variety of local, national and international
exhibitions to the region.
- Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market
The Kelowna Farmers' and Crafters' Market offers a huge variety of farm products, organic produce, and works created by
local artists. There are also over 120 vendors, offering ethnic foods, baked goods, oganic meats, garden perennials,
annuals, woodwork, pottery, soaps, and jewelry! Located on the corner of Springfield and Dilworth, on Saturdays and Wednesdays
from April to October.
- Father Pandosy Mission
In the 1960s, the Okanagan Historical Society took on the task of preserving the historic Pandosy Mission site on
Benvoulin Road in Kelowna. It was here that Father Pandosy, an Oblate priest, established the first white settlement
in the Okanagan Valley in 1859.
Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. Work parties from the historical society and the Knights of Columbus
have laboured over the years to restore four of the original buildings: the Chapel, the Root-House, the Barn, and the
Brothers House. Four other historic buildings have been moved to the site.
Today, it is jointly administered by the Okanagan Historical Society and the Catholic Church. The property remains in
the hands of the Catholic Church. There is a caretaker on site and the grounds are open to the public from dawn to dusk
from Easter to Thanksgiving. Admission is by donation.
- Guisachan Heritage Park
This spectacular 2.4 acre site offers garden tours, special events, and tantalizing cuisine available in the Guisachan House Restaurant.
The park was home to the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen, who bought the land in 1890.
Surrounding the house are perennial gardens featuring many of the types of flowers tended by the Camerons, the subsequent owners of the
property. The log house on the site is estimated to have been built in the late 1870s or early 1890s. This historic site also includes
a fine restaurant and the Milkshed Gift Shop.
- The Benvoulin Heritage Church
This was originally a Presbyterian Church. It was built in 1892 in the Gothic Revival style and served the community until 1964. The
original tower was replaced in 1953 and the steeple replaced during restoration in the early 1980s. Benvoulin Church is located at what
was once the Benvoulin Town site, which was laid out by pioneer land promoter, Mr. G. G. McKay. This is also the site of the McIver House,
one of the city's unique heritage settings. It is also home to Xeriscape and Heritage Gardens.
Restored in 1986, this charming pioneer church has become one of the most popular locations for weddings. Though right in the city, it offers
a historical location in a country setting. The tall steeple on this white shiplap building has been a landmark for over a century.
- The Laurel Building
Kelowna's first designated heritage building was established in 1913 as a packing and shipping house for BC Fruit Growers Ltd. It houses the
Wine Museum and the British Columbia Orchard Industry Museum, which celebrate the area's most important - and flourishing - economic mainstays.
- The Kelowna Museum
Enjoy unique regional collections and exhibitions. The museum explores the natural and human history of the Okanagan region, and regularly features
visiting displays from around the world. Offering events and educational programs to the public, this facility provides an interesting approach to
the preservation of past and present, alive with our history!
- BC Orchard Industry Museum
The early settlers in the Okanagan region nurtured the first seeds of agricultural opportunity. Orchards gradually replaced rangeland with a bountiful
selection of fruit, introducing a new industry into the Valley. This museum offers reflective and interactive interpretations of the local orchard
industry - past, present and alive with our history!
- Okanagan Military Museum
The Okanagan Military Museum is a non-profit, charitable, volunteer organization committed to collecting, displaying, and interpreting memorabilia
related to the military service of Okanagan residents for present and future generations. The collections include small arms, photos and text, primary
materials, and an extensive reference library.
- The Wine Museum and VQA Wine Shop
Artifacts and exhibits chronicle the beginnings of wine making globally and explore the history of the local wine industry. We offer "Okanagan One-Stop Shopping"
for wine and wine-related information, such as wine festival guides, seminars, and daily tasting. The VQA Wine Shop showcases all of BC's Vintners Quality Alliance wineries.
Things to Do
- Biking!
Kelowna is all about variety. Even the mountain biking terrains offer a choice for experts and novices alike. Travel through pine forests or wide desert spaces.
Try urban biking or single-track off-road trails. Catch air with dramatic climbs and fantastic downhills. Test your skills with epic rides or just have fun any
way you like. The breathtaking views themselves will make the journey worth it.
- Bird Watching!
With its lush parks, glorious trails, forests and streaming waters, there's no better place to birdwatch than Kelowna. This area of the Okanagan Valley offers
some of the best shorebirding, gull-watching, and urban birding experiences in BC. Kelowna plays host to hundreds of birds in dozens of varieties. Better still,
their locations are all within easy access - either by bus or by taxi within city limits, or just a short drive from the city.
For a great way to learn of hard-to-find species visiting the valley, call the Okanagan Valley Rare Bird Alert hotline at 250-491-7738.
- Boating!
From the 110-kilometre long Lake Okanagan to over 200 other freshwater lakes throughout the area, Kelowna is the perfect place for people who love their boats.
From jet skis to houseboats, canoes to kayaks, there's every kind of boat to enjoy. Spend an exciting afternoon parasailing or wind surfing. Gather the family or a
few friends and rent a houseboat for the weekend. Or simply head off on a good old-fashioned paddle boat and stop by a lakeside for a quiet picnic.
With all these lakes, there's no better way to travel!
- Camping!
With its beautiful forests, mountains and streams, Kelowna is a favourite spot for campers. Add the excellent Kelowna weather and you can understand why people
come back again and again. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the glorious Kelowna scenery!
- Fishing!
Kelowna is a favourite spot for fishing. And no wonder! There are over 200 freshwater lakes in the area, each with an assortment of fish, including: Rainbow Trout,
Kokanee Salmon, Whitefish, Burbot, and Carp.
- Hiking!
Bring water and snacks and set off with family and friends for a hiking experience you'll never forget! Kelowna and its entire surrounding area provide awesome beauty for miles upon winding miles.
Every step you take comes with another glimpse of flowering bushes, tall pines, clear waters, wonderful wildlife and breathtaking views. From steep forest trails to easy strolls by gentle streams,
from hidden nooks to open spaces, there's a sight and spot for everyone.
- Horseback Riding!
Nothing brings you closer to nature than riding on the back of a steed. Add to that rolling hills, open meadows, refreshing waters, and majestic mountains, and the experience becomes nothing short of exhilarating. Horseback
riding in Kelowna is a journey you'll never forget. In fact, you'll want to relive it over and over again!
- Shopping!
From furniture to fashion, Kelowna boasts a selection of shopping experiences to tantalize every taste. As the biggest business centre in the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is home to many of the larger chain retailers
and several shopping malls- most located right along Harvey Avenue (Highway 97). Walk through the heart of the City and you'll be treated to a range of shops stocking the latest fashions and unique gifts.
For home décor ideas, visit Spall Road, then stroll down Pandosy Street where you can find the latest home furnishing ideas. Just a block off of Pandosy, Tutt Street Square also offers an array of choices from
trendy teapots to the perfect painting.
- Skiing / Boarding!
Why just hike and bike through the mountains when you can ski, board and feel absolutely exhilarated?
The nearby Monashee Mountains boast consistent amounts of light, and dry powder snow that challenges every level of downhill enthusiast. Four ski resorts within a short drive from the City (e, Silver Star, Crystal Mountain,
and Apex) offer a wide selection of amenities beyond the major attractions of skiing or snowboarding. Big White is the closest to Kelowna and is considered by residents to be the local mountain. Winter is a great season in
the Okanagan, and cross-country skiing enthusiasts will enjoy the serenity of ther wilderness. In addition to the trails available at the major ski resorts, Kelowna has several active cross-country ski clubs that maintain
approximately 85 kms (50 mi) of groomed trails in the area that are easily accessible.
- Pick Your Own Fruits and Vegetables!
Everyone, especially picky eaters, will enjoy choosing their own fresh fruits and veggies. The whole of the Okanagan Valley is ripe with plump offerings. It's a great way to bond with family and friends, so be sure to make
the time.
Call the Visitor Info Centre at 250-861-1515 or 1-800-663-4345 to find out where U-pick opportunities exist.
Events
- Fat Cat Children's Festival
Truly a community event, the festival is funded locally and operated by volunteers. With an exciting array of free
activities and entertainment, the festival attracts more than 15,000 children, parents, and grandparents every year.
At each festival, a different theme is promoted to inspire unique and interesting activities, costumes, and entertainment.
- Life and Arts Festival
A fun, family-oriented festival that offers an eclectic mix of visual and performing arts, music, live theatre,
street performances, and culinary arts that appeal to a wide audience of all ages. The Life & Arts
Festival showcases the area's best and brightest while bringing more artists, opportunities, and audiences into
the Cultural District. Also included is a Festival Village with an Artisan Marketplace, the illuminArts Lantern Celebration, and
three stages of entertainment,
.
- Mardi Gras Street Festival
Mardi Gras is an all-day community street festival with entertainment and concessions at a variety of downtown locations.
There are stages with live entertainment, as well as a children's activity zone with a dunk tank and a climbing wall. Thrifty
shoppers will find some of the hottest bargains under the sun from downtown retailers!
- Okanagan Wine Festivals
There are three wine festivals held in the Okanagan Valley. Sample award-winning wines.
Attend an educational seminar! Or, celebrate with live entertainment and wine
paired with fabulous local cuisine. More information, including an event schedule, is
available at the Visitor Info Centre.
- Parks Alive!
This non-profit program brings a touch of art and culture to Kelowna's lakefront and parks from June to September. Throughout the summer,
Parks Alive offers a variety of music and entertainment the whole family can enjoy. Plus, it's free. For more information stop in at
the Kelowna Visitor Info Centre to pick up a copy of the Parks Alive summer schedule.
- Snowfest
Every year, the third week in January provides Kelowna-area residents and visitors alike with an
opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of events aimed at helping shake the winter blahs. Although some Okanagan Valley
winters can be a lot milder than others (there have been years when Snowfest organizers prayed for snow and
below-freezing temperatures) there's usually enough of the white stuff to go around. In fact, nearby ski areas are
renowned for their 'Champagne Powder'.
Snowfest had its beginnings in 1973, when the first-ever world championships for hang-gliders (known then as
delta-wing kites) were held at the Big White Ski Resort. The first schedule included a downtown torchlight parade, the
Frostbite Fishing Derby, a dance, and the annual Schmockey game pitting the RCMP against a squad of local news
media misfits.
The schedule has changed a lot over the years. Hang-gliders are only an occasional sight at Big White. The fishing derby
is gone. So too is Snow Golf (purple balls, only, please). But they've been replaced by dozens of others- from outrageous
to almost-serious. And every year the fund-raising Snowfest buttons sell out quickly.
- Wakefest
During July, Wakefest rolls into Waterfront Park for the biggest beach party of the summer! Wakefest features the Pro
Wakeboard Tour with some of the world's best wakeboarders! Enjoy live music, freestyle motocross, bikini contests (awesome!),
a festival village, an action sports market, and a beverage (i.e. beer) garden! Come on down for your chance to win great prizes
all weekend long!
Notable Comments
- Winery and agriculture tours are perhaps among the most memorable and distinct experiences that you will encounter. In
addition to Kelowna's predisposition to championship golf courses and water sports, let's not forget that the long and hot
summers and the fertile growing conditions have accounted for Kelowna's oldest and strongest industry: agriculture. Now with
tourism growing as an industry in Kelowna, many producers have turned to agri-tourism, offering tours of their businesses,
taste-tests, and quickly are becoming leaders in this new hybrid field. Within Kelowna you can explore a Lavender Farm; a
100-year-old orchard that pioneered the region's iced apple cider; an "All Organic" winery where a vintner carefully "riddles"
bottles by hand and then stores it in a 1/14-scale recreation of the Great Pyramid; or another that ages its wine in underground
caverns. One Okanagan Winery's wine was served as the exclusive wine of the 2003 and 2004 Academy Awards.
Kelowna is warm in summer and mild in winter. During springtime you can ski the slopes in the morning and golf in the afternoon,
then dine and be entertained throughout the evening. It is no wonder that many Kelowna residents refer to their decision to live
in Kelowna for a "lifestyle" of combining an unusual mix of life's pleasures.
-from Kelowna: Winsome and Warm, courtesy of Tourism Kelowna
- At Kelowna's recent Miss Beef Bikini Competition, the country's top cows were herded around on stage in specially-designed
two-piece costumes. As enthusiastic farmers and bewildered tourists watched, each cow was judged on the loudness of her moo and
on the volume of milk produced in five minutes. Eventually, Bossie the Cow emerged victorious, having shattered eardrums with a bellow
topping 300 decibals and producing enough milk to fill an entire carton. For her efforts, she was awarded $500 and a photoshoot for the
ever-popular Cowboy magazine.
- Logan Oyama, in an article for the Dawson Creek Inquirer
- "I like Kelow-na!"
- Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic seven-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information
Tourism Kelowna
544 Harvey Avenue
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6C9
Phone: 250-861-1515
Fax: 250-861-3624
Toll Free: 1-800-663-4345
E-mail: info@tourismkelowna.com
Website: http://www.tourismkelowna.com
City of Kelowna
1435 Water Street
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 1J4
Phone: 250-469-8500
Email: ask@kelowna.ca
Website: http://www.city.kelowna.bc.ca
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