Kelowna

Kelowna is a city in the Okanagan region of British Columbia.

Culture and History

Kelowna is the largest inland city in British Columbia, located in the heart of BC's wine country. It has a population of 105,000 with another 40,000 in an unincorporated area across the lake.

Okanagan Lake is the main draw in the summer. This 90Km long jewel is a big draw for boaters (power and sail), swimmers and kite-boarders.

In winter thousands of tourists come from all parts of the world to ski at Big White resort, located 55Km from the city.

Travel to Kelowna, visa requirements

Flights to Kelowna, airtickets

Kelowna has one international airport, with daily service to several cities including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Prince George, and Seattle. Kelowna International Airport also offers flights to Puerto Vallarta,Victoria and Toronto.

Some of the Airlines utilizing Kelowna International Airport are:

  • Westjet
  • Air Canada
  • Jazz
  • Horizon Air
  • Skyservice Airlines

By train

There is currently no train service available to Kelowna however you can utilize the nearest train terminal in Kamloops (about 90 minutes north-west of Kelowna by car).

By car

Hwy 97 is the major highway through Kelowna, with Vernon and Hwy 1 to the north, Penticton and Hwy 3 to the south, and (via Hwy 97C) Merritt to the west. Hwy 33 provides secondary access to points south and east.

Buses to Kelowna

Greyhound services Kelowna from Vancouver and Calgary and points in between.

Get around

Traffic can be quite heavy on major roads in Kelowna during the summer months, especially at the approaches to the floating bridge. A lack of advance left turn traffic lights contributes to accidents at major intersections.

Bus service within Kelowna has actually improved slowly but steadily over the last few years. Best times to travel are early mornings and late afternoons, Monday to Friday. Bus drivers are generally courteous and will on request call ahead to your next bus to facilitate a timely transfer.

Kelowna has an extensive network of bike lanes. Cyclists are advised to use bike lanes (when not obstructed by parked vehicles) and intersections with caution. Cycling on local highways is not recommended.

There are several boat launches along the lakeshore with parking facilities. Be prepared to queue in the summer months. As for the lake itself, it can get crowded out there, especially with small watercraft.

The downtown area is pedestrian-friendly, especially along the waterfront.

Vehicle Rentals

  • Budget Car Rentals
  • Enterprise Rent-a-Car
  • Avis Car Rentals
  • Discount Car and Truck Rentals
  • Hertz

Downtown

The Downtown Core is easily accessible with public transit as well as taxis and bicycles, once downtown you have two major Parkades to choose from if you decide to drive yourself one is of Pandosy Street (The Verve Restaurant is in the first level) or at the Library by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Station, so parking shouldn't be a chore.

You should know however that as in any city the Rush Hour (usually 4:30-6pm) can be a challenge in the downtown core as well as on the main transportation arteries (Highway 97C, Highway 33, Lakeshore Rd).

Kelowna attractions and sightseeing

The Downtown City Park offers a great environment in the summer to sun tan play and enjoy yourself or with your family playgrounds as well as the water and skate board park offer for a great time in the sun.

Enjoy the half submerged playground at Gyro Beach, in summer you can let yourself slide along the rope into the lake within which you may come across our lakes resident the Ogopogo (we are not joking, Loch Ness isn't the only body of water with a lake monster [the term monster is used loosely]). If you see Ogopogo make sure to be friendly as it is his home your swimming in ;).

One of the best kept secrets of Kelowna is Bertram Park at the end of Lakeshore Road, with beautiful beaches and grassy areas to picnic on it is one of the most idyllic places in Kelowna, it offers BBQ's as well as change/wash rooms.

  • Kelowna Rockets hockey
  • Okanagan Sun football
  • Local wineries
  • Mission Creek Greenway
  • Knox Mountain (two viewpoints)

City tours

  • Ski and Snowboard at Big White and Silver Star Resorts
  • Swim in Lake Okanagan
  • Bike and hike the local mountains
  • Golf on any of our many great Golf Courses
  • Play Tennis
  • Enjoy our Athletic Centers (Parkinson Recreation Center, Athens Recreation Center)
  • Seadoo-ing and Boating on Okanagan Lake
  • Sailing on Okanagan Lake
  • Windsurfing
  • Take a tour of the nearby Mission Hill winery.
  • Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
  • Or the best yet... just be lazy and lay at the beach... or in winter in a jacuzzi surrounded by snow

Learn

  • UBC Okanagan
  • Okanagan College

Work

The main industry in Kelowna is tourism, with its requisite offering of service industry jobs at or slightly above minimum wage. The local ski hill Big White offers winter employment for ski/board instructors, liftees, servers, and so on. With the recent boom in housing, there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the construction industry.

Shopping, Kelowna souvenirs

  • Orchard Park shopping centre
  • Bernard Avenue between Richter and Water Streets
  • Central Park shopping area, Hwy 97 and Banks Road
  • Pandosy St at/around KLO Road

Good restaurants and cheap meals

Check out http://www.specialz.ca for drink and food specials all around the city as well as locations, events and other happenings.

Budget

  • Ken's Dim Sum, near Starbucks on Bernard.
  • For Great Donairs check out Sub City Donair on Highway 33, and on Rutland road by McCurdy

Mid-range

  • O-Zeki Japanese
  • Moxies

Splurge

  • Mon Thong
  • Bouchons - High Quality French Bistro with a great kitchen (Near the Grand Hotel by Prospera Place)
  • Minstrel Cafe - Great Location in the upper Mission on Lakeshore Road, enjoy great live entertainment.

Kelowna nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.

Check out http://www.specialz.ca for drink and food specials all around the city as well as locations, events and other happenings.

  • The Grateful Fed is on Bernard Ave, the main strip downtown, and has live music in the later evenings, with pub/deli style eats and drinks, and a patio in the warmer months.
  • Roses
  • Flashbacks
  • The Blue Gator
  • 97 Street Pub
  • all the bars on Leon Avenue
  • Doc's
  • Sturgeon Hall

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

If you will be staying in Kelowna between May and September, book your accommodations well in advance, especially for weekends.

Budget

Mid-range

  • Best Western
  • Ramada Lodge
  • Holiday Inn
  • Super 8 Motel
  • Siesta Inn Motel
  • Apartment Hotel Enigma

Splurge

  • Grand Okanagan

Ski Resorts

  • Big White Ski Resort
  • Silver Star Ski Resort (located North of Vernon)
  • Crystal Mountain(Last mountain to all you Old Skollers)located on Kelowna's Westside.

A new ski hill, Kelowna Mountain Ski Hill, just north of Kelowna's Mission area, has been proposed.

Contact

Stay Safe

Kelowna is a growing city and therefore has its growing pains, with these come the following recommendations, you should know that Leon & Lawrence Avenues between Water and Ellis during night time should be avoided. City Park at night is patrolled however can be somewhat dodgey after hours, too.

Cope

Get out

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Kelowna"
Featured articles
China travel tips: Language / pensions culture in Barcelona / cheap youth hostels singapore / hotels and hostels in Trastevere in Rome / Major Morocco tourist attractions / South Africa political attractions / Vancouver visitors guide, culture & youth hostels / Las Vegas hotels, top casinos, tours and shows
.
.
TravelTips24 2008
website stats