Kelowna is a gorgeous lakeside city located in Canada’s Okanagan Valley. Surrounded by mountains, pine forests, provincial parks and tons of vineyards there are endless options for activities, food and wine. Keep reading for our list of the best things to do in Kelowna and why you’ll love them too!
Snuggle a Joey at The Kangaroo Farm
The Kangaroo Creek Farm is one of the only places in Canada where you can walk around with kangaroos and wallabies. Not only that, you can actually snuggle a joey! Open from 10 AM-3 PM daily the price is $10 for an adult and $5 for children. The joey line up can get fairly long so be sure to go early!
Taste Wine from The Region
You simply can not visit the Okanagan Valley without experiencing the fantastic wine! A few of our favourite stops included Mission Hill, Frequency, and Quails’ Gate. If you’re up for a bit of a drive; the entire Naramata Bench (1.5 hours south of Kelowna) is absolutely beautiful!
If you’d prefer a tour; Experience Wine Tours was truly outstanding! Your tastings and lunch are included in the price and you have a driver which means you can drink as much wine as you like.
Sample Local Goat Cheese & Gelato
Carmelis is a family owned dairy company located just outside of Kelowna. They produce all their dairy products on a small scale allowing them to closely monitor and experiment to create amazing products. Show up anytime during the day for a tasting and make sure to try the goats milk gelato!
Soak Up The Sun At Gyro Beach
Located in the mission area; Gyro Beach is arguably the best beach in Kelowna. It is close to local shops and restaurants while offering swimming, walking paths, beach volleyball courts, sunbathing and a great view. Head over for the afternoon and make sure to bring sunscreen!
Walk or Bike Through The Trestles
Myra- Bellevue Provincial Park consists of 18 old railway trestles spread out over 12 kilometres. The views are stunning and it’s an ideal way to walk off all that wine! You can walk some or all of the pathways; or choose to rent a bike in the parking lot.
BUDGET TIP: Bike rental is a bit steep ($40 CAD for a few hours) so if you have the means to bring your own bike you can save yourself some cash.
Pick Your Own Fruit
BC fruit is sought after across Canada and for good reason! Stop in at one of the family-run orchards and pick your own fruit to take home. Some of our favourites include Kempf Orchard, Mike and Lizzy’s Cherry U-Pick and Arndt Orchards; but you’re sure to have a good experience anywhere you go!
Relax at The Lavender Farm
The Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm is one of my very favourite places in Kelowna. They offer amazing locally made products and multiple workshops ranging from botanical body care to wreath making and an intro to steam distilling. Even if these workshops aren’t for you, it’s worth it to wander around the farm to take in the views and the aroma.
SUP & Kayak The Lake
A great way to explore Okanagan Lake is to get out over the water on a kayak or stand up paddle board! There is no shortage of rental companies on any major beach in Kelowna. You can expect to pay $25-$35 CAD per hour for just the equipment or around $130 CAD for a tour.
Shop at The Local Farmers Market
The Kelowna Farmers Market is located at the corner of Springfield Road and Dilworth Drive. The hours of operation are from 8 AM to 1 PM every Wednesday and Saturday. This is a great place to shop for local produce, crafts, woodwork, art, farm products, and so much more! Once you’re shopped out, stop for lunch at one of the multiple food vendors and enjoy the live music.
Hike Knox Mountain
Apex Trail is a short hike in Knox Mountain Park rewarding you with an excellent view of Kelowna. The trail is 4 km out and back with 263 m of elevation gain. This is a great way to spend an afternoon or hike up first thing in the morning to beat the heat!
Try the Laksa at Mad Mango
Mad Mango is a local favourite and a must-try while visiting Kelowna. The prices are fantastic and the food is to die for! You can thank me later.
Hop on The Beer Bike With Smile Cycle Tours
Can you think of a better way to spend a sunny day than biking between the best breweries, distilleries, and wineries that downtown Kelowna has to offer? Probably not. Book a 2-hour tour with Smile Cycle Tours and pedal around on the group bicycle for the afternoon.
We hope you enjoy your time in this stunning area. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comment below with your favourite things to do in Kelowna!
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Kelly Barbeau
Awesome post!!!! I would add Parlour Ice cream for a tasty treat 🙂
David & Cayleigh
Thanks Kell! We can definitely add that one