Kelowna, British Columbia

Kelowna enjoys an average of 2000 hours of sunshine a year. In mid-summer it is possible to believe you are on a tropical vacation as the temperatures can soar to the high 30's, over 100 degrees F. Without irrigation, the area surrounding the lake is arid and desert like. Kelowna is only an hour and a half away from Osoyoos in the South Okanagan, home to Canada's only official desert.

With its seasonal attractions and activities, Kelowna is worth visiting at any time of the year.

Spring brings eye-catching views of cherry, peach and apple blossom in the area’s many orchards. The local orchard museum provides historic information about orchard development in the valley. Sun Rype Products offer tours of their factory where juice and other fruit products are manufactured. Be sure to wear sensible shoes for that tour!

In summer, water sports are a popular choice for many! Boat and seadoo rentals are available as well as parasailing opportunities, swimming, water park activities and water slides. Kelowna's centrally located City Park has long stretches of bike or rollerblading paths, or just take a stroll and admire the gardens and sculptures within the park. Take a look at the Fintry Queen, a restored paddle steamer, berthed near City Park. For those with a lot of energy, there are many hiking and biking trails around the city. One popular trail is the Green Route, which runs along the side of Mission Creek. For great views of the city and lake, a hike up Knox Mountain, home of the annual "Hill Climb" car race, is quite exhilarating. The Kettle Valley Railway Trail takes one along old track routes, high above Kelowna. Views are breathtaking! Crossing the trestles is not for the faint hearted but guardrails are in place on most of them!

As I mentioned earlier, Kelowna is a year round holiday destination and in the next article I will let you know what happens in Kelowna in Fall and Winter as well as give you some information on Kelowna's artistic appeal and other great stuff! Stay tuned!

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