Kelowna
Kelowna is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley boasting all the amenities of a major city - fine cuisine, unique shops and a lively cultural life - yet orchards and vineyards thrive only a 10-minute drive from downtown Kelowna. Exceptional vistas await those ready to explore; a delightful day can be spent sampling the award-winning wares of our numerous internationally-acclaimed wineries, or you may wish to visit one of many championship golf courses in the area.

Located on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake half way between Penticton in the south and Vernon in the north, Kelowna residents and tourists alike find the lake offers magnificent opportunities for boating, swimming or fishing. The nearby mountains attract hikers, skiers, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts of all descriptions. There are three major ski hills less than an hours drive from Kelowna’s city center - Big White, Silver Star and Apex.

Kelowna has become the main marketing and distribution centre of the Okanagan Valley, with a flourishing tree fruit industry and a growing light industrial sector that competes on a world scale. Best known for forestry, boats, plastics, fiberglass, body armor and oil-field equipment, Kelowna also has a growing high technology sector that includes aerospace development and service.

Kelowna's airport is the 11th busiest in Canada with more than 30 flights a day; it is also one of the quickest growing in North America. Passenger activity has more than doubled since 1995 and airport traffic is continuing to grow. This is an impressive feat for an airport that sprang from humble beginnings in 1946 when pilots used a 3,000-foot grass airstrip with no terminal facility whatsoever. Today passengers enjoy a large, modern 76,000 square foot terminal and Kelowna handles 30 scheduled flights a day, from the turbo-prop Beech 1900 to the Airbus A320.

Prospera Place, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose facility that’s home to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League, attracts major entertainers and events to the heart of our Cultural District.

The new Rotary Centre for the Arts is a significant feature of the district, which was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2003.

Waterfront Park is a showcase of the area with lagoons, an outdoor amphitheatre and a wooden boardwalk that links Tugboat Beach and the residential area to the north with the Grand Okanagan Hotel and the downtown.
Stuart Park, located on the Waterfront Promenade across from City Hall on Water Street, will be developed over the next several years.

Also see Activities in Kelowna