The Okanagan Valley,
British Columbia

This picture perfect land is sprinkled with some of the world’s finest orchards & vineyards, world class resorts, post-card pretty villages, thriving orchard towns & three exciting lakeside cities.

Enchanting Penticton is in the south, wonderful, vibrant Kelowna in the center, and delightful Vernon is in the north.

 

All are nestled serenely beside lakes in this dry, sunny, grand desert valley, from the little lake at Osoyoos on the USA border, north through lakes Skaha, Okanagan, Kalamalka, some exquisite lesser lakes, up to majestic Shuswap.

 

Why is this area unique?

All the way up North America from south Mexico, there is a desert east of the Coast Mountains. Even in northern Washington State, the dryland desert follows up through the American "Okonogon Valley" until the Canadian border. It is unique that the cooling of the land as we travel north creates at this point the first real series of sweet-water desert lakes running north from here.

As you cross the border, you will be amazed to see this barren desert area transformed into an Eden of lakes, orchards, vineyards, farms, ranches, resorts, villages, towns: welcome to Canada’s fabulous Okanagan Valley!

KELOWNA

Enchanting Kelowna, largest city in the valley, is at the heart, and in the hilltop orchards above town, still speaks with the soul of this fabled Okanagan Valley.

Kelowna and all the Okanagan Valley are a poetic reality.

Stand in a desert hilltop vineyard at dawn or dusk as the light changes. Walk along the warm sandy beaches in town & in the City Park. Bask in the sun at lakeside resorts. Imagine Roman villa life in north lakeside Italy. Feel the fresh cool breeze off the lake, the vitality of this charmed, new, vibrant place.

As you approach Kelowna over the Lake Okanagan Floating Bridge, to your left are public beaches & the City Park, delightful "old town", the luxurious Hotel Grand Okanagan on the beach a few blocks away, & many downtown accommodations, services & attractions. To your right are more warm sandy public beaches, flanked by pleasant residential neighborhoods: further along this way are many delightful beachside resorts & motels. Ahead of you is the new & rapidly expanding new business district: a thriving & growing collection of malls, shops, attractions, playland parks, views of luxury suburbs climbing up the desert hills between vineyards, hotels, resorts and motels.

While you may stay, shop & play out here, in the desert summer, down by the cool breezes at lakeside is where you will want to be.

Park your self near the Lakeside City Park and enjoy!

Enjoy the ambiance of the lakeside Park. The warm sandy beach. The tennis courts. The fascinating Water Playground. From the Park, walk the Pedestrian Underpass under the highway and walk south along the warm sandy public beach, so much a part of local life; obviously being enjoyed by many. Back at the north end of the park, check out the statue of the "Ogopogo" Sea Monster, the paddlewheel steamer The Fintry awaiting you to join them on a Dinner Cruise along this enchanting lake. Treat yourself to a wonderful meal at Earl’s Restaurant.

This cheerful glass walled place affords you grand views of the park & lake. In town, walk north along the lakeside: the fabulous Hotel Grand Okanagan is merely blocks away. Have a snack or check it out. The Grand, the Capri Hotel and many Kelowna hotels have entertainment places that become lively as evening approaches and the lights come on over this enchanting town. Prospering, thriving, growing Kelowna is now home to 100,000 citizens in Canada’s most fabled desert valley. There is so much here for you to enjoy: tours of vineyards are available through many award-winning estates.

VERNON

Delightful Vernon, a thriving city of 40,000, is even warmer, drier, and sunnier than Kelowna. This lovely city is on shimmering Lake Kalamalka in the north of the Okanagan Valley. Here the hilly desert outside town boasts an occasional sagebrush or small cactus. Yet now this lovely area of rolling hills & valleys next to the lake is dotted with homes, orchards, vineyards, ranches, and now resorts & retirement villas

Vernon is a thriving city; it offers many services, attractions, and community facilities – tennis, swimming, walking paths & things to do for all ages. Vernon offers excellent accommodations, from lakeside and near-lakeside hotels, motels, & resorts, priced from budget to luxury.

Vernon also offers a growing variety of restaurant & dining choices; from ethnic to local favorites. Near Vernon is famed Silver Star Ski Resort; excellent skiing. This area is truly a four-season playground, easily reached through fascinating countryside on excellent roads & airports.

PENTICTON

The very name evokes sunny blue skies, warm sandy beaches, gorgeous bronzed bodies, relaxed days away from it all in a serenely beautiful land. Penticton is unique: it straddles Lake Okanagan on its north shore and Skaha Lake on its south shore. Penticton is a delightful, pleasant, clean town of 40,000 people in a heavenly setting.

Penticton offers full ranges of services, dining & accommodation: from budget motels to luxury resorts. Summer months are most popular, and therefore most expensive times to visit; spring & fall weather are cooler, yet very pleasant. Winter offers skiing at nearby mountain ski resorts. Penticton is the most southerly of the Valleys three major cities: Penticton in the south, Kelowna in the middle, Vernon in the north. All around Penticton & to the south are other small villages, delightful towns dotted amongst rolling hills of orchards, vineyards, resorts & retirement homes & villas.

Dry, sunny villages, towns & cities nestle serenely in this exquisite valley by Lake Okanagan. This picture perfect area is dotted with some of the world’s finest orchards & vineyards. Tours are available through many award-winning estates.

Further South...

Are the resort towns of Oliver & Osoyoos. Located amidst beautiful lush valleys and situated on highway 97 between the US border and Penticton at the south end of Okanagan Lake.

HOW TO GET THERE

There are many delightful ways to enter this magical area...

BY CAR

BY AIR