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Kelowna Parks Alive Island Stage
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By Catherine Frechette
Step outside in Kelowna, and your face is immediately caressed with the soft Chinook breeze and the smells of wood and peaches in the air. The fruit industry is so fully embraced in this area that the aromas of tree-fruit linger on the breeze year-round.
A drive into town along the back-roads will take you through rolling orchards and rows of vines. Depending on your timing, you may see the trees festooned with pink and white blossoms, laden with ripe fruit, or turning a brilliant gold in autumn. There are 5 wonderful wine trails in Kelowna which can take you to 2 dozen wineries in this city – pick up a Kelowna Wine Trails brochure at the Visitor Centres and head out for a day of wine touring.
In the spring, summer, and fall the City is full of colour. Visitors can savor the sunset over Okanagan Lake, and then enjoy the evening activities at one of Kelowna’s festivals or regular entertainment venues. Kelowna in the summer is a city of festivals. Starting with the Spring Okanagan Wine Festival in early May, and gathering momentum with Parks Alive! concerts, the Fat Cat Children’s Festival, Knox Mountain Hill Climb, Cherry Fair, Summer Okanagan Wine Festival, Centre of Gravity, Fusion Festival, Pop Okanagan, the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, and a myriad of other festivals, there is always plenty to experience in Kelowna. Exploring Kelowna’s Cultural District is another sensory treat – this 6 block area of downtown Kelowna is chock-a-block with museums, galleries, studios, and performance venues.
Winery and agriculture tours are perhaps among the most memorable and distinct experiences that you will encounter. In addition to Kelowna’s predisposition to championship golf courses and water sports, let’s not forget that the long and hot summers and the fertile growing conditions have accounted for Kelowna’s oldest industry: agriculture. Within Kelowna you can explore a Lavender Farm; a Certified Organic winery where the vintner ages his bottles in a 1/14-scale recreation of the Great Pyramid of Egypt; or another that ages its wine in underground caverns of volcanic rock. Pick up a Studio & Farm Tour brochure at Kelowna’s Visitor Centres or any of the participating businesses, and you’ll be amazed at the diverse artisan product and the restaurants who support local farms that are available in Kelowna.
Kelowna is warm in summer and mild in winter. During springtime you can ski the slopes in the morning and golf in the afternoon, then dine and be entertained throughout the evening. There are 19 golf courses in the Kelowna area, making Kelowna a true Canadian golf Mecca. Hot summers make you want to water ski, cruise the lake, sun bathe, ride the water slides, go cycling, hiking, camping, fishing, or just read a good book in the shade.
It is no wonder that many Kelowna residents refer to their decision to live in Kelowna for a “lifestyle” of combining an unusual mix of life’s pleasures.
For more information contact Tourism Kelowna at 1-800-663-4345 or visit www.tourismkelowna.com.