Kelowna, BC, Canada
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Kelowna, British Columbia is the largest community in the entire Okanagan Valley. It is located on the shores of Okanagan Lake and is neighbours to the areas of Westbank, Fintry, Big White, Lake Country (Oyama and Winfield) and Rutland.

Kelowna is a year round destination for many recreational activities. The fresh water lakes, sandy beaches, powder snow mountains, backcountry forests, hillside wineries, orchards, parks and trails in the region provide endless opportunities for exploration and fun.

In Kelowna, the shoreline of Okanagan Lake is decorated in docks, piers and marinas. Cruising the lake are sailboats, pleasure boats and houseboats. During the summer people take to the lakes and local parks to enjoy activities like boating, water skiing, fishing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, windsurfing, kite surfing and swimming.

The downtown shopping core of Kelowna, BC consists of old and new buildings. The buildings lining the street include restaurants, art galleries, pubs, coffee houses, tour companies, grocery stores, gas stations, government buildings, banks, retail shops, boutiques, accommodations and much more. Cultural venues enjoyed in town include theatres, museums and art galleries.

Also downtown is a collection of community parks. Waterfront Park and City Park are two of the more popular parks downtown. Both are situated on Okanagan Lake. Both parks provide good water views and are ideal for casual walks and viewing the waterfront. Some downtown parks include volleyball courts and picnic tables while others include viewing benches, outdoor food stands and/or artisan booths.

Bigger parks located in the outlying areas near the community provide plenty of opportunities to explore. Two of the more popular parks include the Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and the Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park. Activities in the summer include hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching and horseback riding.

In the winter, the nearby mountains entertain snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers, downhill and cross country skiers. The two main ski hills in the region are Big White located east of Kelowna and Silver Star Mountain located north of Vernon.