Westbank

History

Before the arrival of white settlers, the area was the home of First Nations people in the Stekatkolxne'ut village, which overlooked Okanagan Lake. Fur traders in the early 1800s used the area as a stopping place, calling it MacDonald's Plain, after a Hudson's Bay Company officer. The settlement was renamed Westbank in 1908, due to its location on the west bank of Okanagan Lake.

Location

Westbank is located on Highway 97 near the western shore of Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, 16 kilometres (10 miles) northeast of Peachland and 14 kilometres (9 miles) southwest of Kelowna.

Places to See

• Westbank Museum
  
  Brush up on the pioneer history of the region at the Westbank Museum, located on highway 97 South in Westbank.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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 the area's 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.
  
  
• Break Creek Provincial Park
  
  Truly a natural wonderland, Bear Creek Provincial Park is situated in the Central Okanagan Basin on the west side of Okanagan Lake. The park features lakeside camping, over 400 metres of sandy beaches, and 5 kilometres of spectacular, well-marked hiking trails. A picturesque canyon has been carved into the bedrock by Bear Creek tumbling onto a cottonwood-lined delta. This park is extremely busy during the summer season and reservations are recommended. For your convenience, during the summer season the park has a concession located at the Gatehouse and managed by the Park Facility Operator.
  
  
• Fintry Provincial Park
  
  Fintry Provincial Park includes 360 hectares of the former Fintry Estate, a heritage site with a colourful history. From the delta area to a forested area made up of ridges and deep slopes, this park offers two dramatically different topographical areas. There is over 2 kilometres of waterfront with surrounding mountains and deep canyons. Shorts Creek passes through a deep canyon creating a series of waterfalls and deep pools. With almost two kilometres of waterfront property, the park has opportunities for camping, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Recreational users can enjoy the natural sand beach while wildlife viewers can hike the Canyon trail and view a variety of birds, small mammals, deer and bighorn sheep in the higher regions. Historical features throughout the park include the Manor House, the octagonal barn and several other farm buildings. A small wetland area located south of the Packing House, a portion of lakeshore and the Shorts Creek corridor and canyon below Westside Road are designated Special Feature-Natural Conservation Areas. Notable features within the zone include a large eagle's nest, old growth cottonwoods and several wildlife trees, Shorts Creek waterfall, and kokanee spawning grounds. The Fintry Manor House, garden, the barns, remnant power generation and irrigation systems are special heritage features.
  
  The Fintry Protected Area was established on April 18, 2001, to enhance the ecological viability of the existing park. This protected area protects important California bighorn sheep habitat and provides increased representation of the North Okanagan Basin ecosection by capturing an increased elevational gradient as well as providing a spectacular canyon and hiking and viewing opportunities.

Things to Do

• Boating
  
  From the 110-kilometre long Lake Okanagan to over 200 other freshwater lakes throughout the area, Westbank 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.
  
  
• 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 Kelowna (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.
  
  
• 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!
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.

Events

• Mardi Gras Street Festival
  
  Mardi Gras is an all-day community street festival in Kelowna 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 Kelowna Visitor Info Centre.
  
  
• 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 Kelowna's 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!

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