If you’re visiting the Canadian West coast, you have to spend at least 24 hours in Kelowna. The little town is located in between 2 popular cities; Calgary and Vancouver. The drive itself from Vancouver to Kelowna is such a beautiful drive that the journey is almost the best part.
Located in the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is known for its vineyards and beautiful views. If you’re looking to explore more of the Okanagan region than it’s likely you’ll be staying in Kelowna. I didn’t do too much research on the city itself before visiting so I was pleasantly surprised. It was smaller than I would have imagined but so quaint.
The drive to Kelowna from Vancouver is roughly 4 hours. However, there are plenty of places to stop along the way to help you break up your trip. Plus you’ll be driving through some epic mountains and landscapes so you’ll never get bored. Unlike taking trips in Ontario where you’re struck just viewing highway after highway!
Is 24 hours in Kelowna enough? It can be. Like I said, it’s a smaller city so you can definitely see all of the major sights over 24 hours in Kelowna. However, if you want to explore the regions around Kelowna or have more of a relaxing time then I would recommend putting aside at least 2 days. If I was to do it all over again I would spend one full day doing a wine tour and the rest of the time checking out the sites.
| What to see in Kelowna |
If you plan on moving around you will definitely need a car. Because a lot of the sites in Kelowna are a bit more spaced out you’ll find it much easier to move around if you have a vehicle. Make sure to wake up early to really get a head start on your day, you’ll have lots to cover!
Quail’s Gate Winery
Living near Niagara-on-the-Lake and Prince Edward County and having visited Sonoma Valley, I’ve seen my share of wineries. However, nothing can compare to the Quail’s Gate Winery. Everything from the architecture to the outstanding view is perfect.
We happened to also visit on a really nice day so we got super lucky. Aim to go for lunchtime so you can really get a view of the mountains, water and vineyards. While it’s a bit on the expensive side I would definitely recommend you stop in for lunch. We had the most delicious meal while overlooking the view and doing some serious people watching. Plus, the wine was a definite plus.
Knox Mountain Park
Just on the cusp of downtown Kelowna you’ll find Knox Mountain Park. There’s a parking lot at the bottom of the hill that offers free parking. While you can drive up the hill, it’s always better to get a bit of exercise in my opinion. Plus the walk is a pretty easy one so if you’re reasonably fit you’ll be able to do it no problem!
As we got to the top of the lookout we could see all of Kelowna from below, including the Okanagan Lake. Having never been out West in Canada I really didn’t know how beautiful it was until I arrived in Kelowna. It really does help the West coast live up to its reputation.
Okanagan Lake & Waterfront
With a few of mountains in front of you, it’s always a good idea to wander down to the water. Walking along the path you can sit and have a picnic to watch the swimmers enjoying the nice weather. It’s a great spot to bring kids as they basically have a playground on the water. They are all floating devices that people (young and old can play on).
As you walk further along the waterfront you’ll spot the docks. I have this weird love of walking along docks
Downtown Kelowna
The thing I loved most about Kelowna is how it felt like such a small town. The downtown area was very walkable with a number of restaurants and cute little shops lining the streets. In the height of summer the atmosphere was actually buzzing making it feel like a big city.
You don’t need a whole day, or even half a day by any means to see the whole town but definitely set aside a couple of hours. One of our favourite spots was Moo-Lix ice cream. The line-up after dinner was crazy! The size of the ice cream cones was very healthy, making it a perfect treat to accompany you on your tour of the downtown.
Lavender farm
Honestly, I think this was one of my favourite things that we did during our 24 hours in Kelowna. I was surprised that we had to pay so much to get in but it was worth it. I had never been to a Lavender farm before but I’ve always loved the scent of Lavender so I knew I had to go here.
The farm was stunning everywhere I looked. We visited in the middle of July and the lavender was in full bloom. The purples were absolutely stunning especially as they blew in the wind.
One of my favourite parts of the farm was the wish tree. It wasn’t actually a tree but instead a circular metal structure with string hanging from it. People had tags that they tied around the strings or fence around the structure, writing down their dreams and wishes, hoping they’d come true.
Leave yourself about 45 minutes to really take in the farm and all of the sights. Sit and relax for a minute as well enjoying the atmosphere. It was truly peaceful.
The craft
After a long day of touring around, we ended the day with some drinks on the upstairs patio of The Craft. The view from the rooftop was beautiful. You had the water and the mountains just behind you and on a sunny day I honestly don’t think I could have asked for anything better.
The atmosphere was also amazing. We got there a little early for dinner but we were having so much fun that we stayed longer and as the night progressed it got busier and busier. My only recommendation would be to either make reservations or be prepared to wait. We happened to get really lucky but otherwise, the wait was so long – I mostly think it was because of one of the restaurants with the best views.
| Where to stay in Kelowna |
There are a number of places to stay in Kelowna whether it’s right downtown or a little bit out of the way. During our visit with Ford Canada to Kelowna, we happened to stay right in the downtown core. This made it easy to walk to everything. However, I can see how it would be wonderful staying in one of the places a little further out with just as beautiful views.
Hotel Zed
The Hotel Zed is a really cool and creative place to stay. There’s a trend happening in the hospitality industry right now where motels are getting turned into higher-end accommodations. Hotel Zed is one of those places. The former motel was painted in bright 70s styled colours with the theme being brought into their furniture as well. It had quite a Scooby-doo vibe. The rooms were pretty big but the one criticism I would have is you can hear quite a bit from the rooms. However, we were located right near a bachelor party so I think that was part of the problem as well. Otherwise, it was a really great stay.
| Click here for other hotels in Kelowna |
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