By Lisa Kadane
Kelowna shines in every season, but during the long, hot days of summer, visitors can do everything from wine tour to set sail, and most activities and attractions are easily accessible from The Royal Kelowna. Need some inspiration for how to spend your summer holiday? Here’s a curated Kelowna bucket list.
Visit iconic vineyards on a Westside Wine Trail tour
Stop in for wine tastings at Mission Hill and Quails’ Gate estates, along with two or three more boutique wineries, on a tour with Uncorked Okanagan. Along with varietals from Merlot to Viognier, appreciate vineyard vistas and lake views while someone else does the driving.
Tee up at The Harvest Golf Club
Grab a fruit snack right from the tree while swinging through this championship-length, 18-hole golf course that’s nestled among fruit orchards in pastoral southeast Kelowna. After a great game, grab a bite at Masa’s Grill and pair local wine with seasonal favourites.
Set sail on Okanagan Lake
See the city and the surrounding Okanagan Highlands from the glassy surface of Okanagan Lake on a boat tour or private yacht charter. Kelowna Cruises runs sunset dinner sails with live entertainment in July and August, while Holy Doodle Sailing Charters offers a more intimate experience on an S2 8.5-metre yacht.
Cycle the Myra Canyon train trestle trail
Rent a bicycle from Myra Canyon Bike Rentals, located on site seasonally at the Myra Station trailhead, and then pedal 12 kilometres (one way) over 18 historic train trestles and through two tunnels as the most scenic stretch of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail bends around the deep canyon. Pack a picnic and stop for lunch at one of several viewpoints of Okanagan Lake and downtown Kelowna.
Dine with a lake view at the Red Fox Club
Watch the light fade across the valley from the patio at the Red Fox Club, located on the grounds of Indigenous World Winery in West Kelowna. Match award-winning wines with reimagined Indigenous cuisine such as the Bannock Board, Wild & Cultivated Mushroom Pie or Local Foraged Juniper Scented Beef.
Try a Vinotherapy treatment at Beyond Wrapture spa
Literally soak in wine during a Vinotherapy treatment at one of Kelowna’s premier day spas. Beyond Wrapture’s popular massage treatment rubs in Red or White Vino-lotion that’s high in antioxidants for a protective effect on the skin that also helps strengthen and repair connective tissue.
SUP a section of the Kelowna Paddle Trail
Exercise your abs on a stand-up paddleboard and explore part of Okanagan Lake’s new 27-kilometre paddle trail that passes by 20 beaches, two bird sanctuaries and the Downtown Marina between McKinley Beach and Bertram Creek Provincial Park. SUPs, kayaks and canoes can be rented from Okanagan Beach Rentals at four beach locations around town.
Hike to the top of Knox Mountain
Trek 300 metres above the lake for a great workout and the best views in town from the top of the city’s largest natural area park located just five minutes from downtown. Look for native species including the pretty Okanagan sunflower, stately ponderosa pine, and mule and white-tailed deer, on the two-kilometre (one way) grind up Apex Trail to the summit of this extinct volcano.
Bowl with a side of craft beer at BNA
Quaff a seasonal saison or hipster IPA between bowling frames at Kelowna’s coolest craft brewery. Located inside the historic British North American Tobacco Company building in the city’s vibrant Cultural District, BNA has become a hub for nightlife thanks to its food and drink, six 10-pin bowling lanes and retro-casual vibe (check out the retrofitted Airstream trailer that doubles as a bar).
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