Over the last couple of months, Brent and I have had the pleasure of experiencing Kelowna and the surrounding area. It’s been a place of sadness as we had to put our beautiful dog, Jill, down in September, yet it provided a space of comfort during the last two months of a very challenging year. 

Kelowna has a population of around 132 000(ish) and is situated on Lake Okanagan. I think it is quite quaint and charming, although it has its challenges like every other city, especially in Covid times. Homelessness is visible throughout the city as many call this area home as winter approaches in parts of Canada. Here, living on the streets is easier as it is warmer than most parts of Canada, albeit still cold. 

During our stay, Kelowna provided a temporary home and some semblance of structure and routine. We ended up staying at the Playa Del Sol, located on Cook Road, off of Lakeshore Road. The owners are allowed to have short term rentals so it worked perfectly for us. You can also rent similar accommodations at The Shore. Also, we had a standing 10 a.m. appointment at the gym located in the nearby Capital News, the local recreation centre.  I was pleasantly surprised at the facility as it provided an indoor track (well used by the locals) and a practical and adequate gym; nothing fancy but everything you need and then some. 

Our place was conveniently located and within walking distance of  The Eldorado, a long-standing hotel in Kelowna. We frequented the bar during cocktail hour on Friday nights and watched as the sun went down across the lake and marina. It seems I have acquired the taste of a Negroni; a cocktail with a combination of sweet vermouth, gin and Campari. It’s a great way to settle into a weekend. 

Kelowna is surrounded by many orchards and wineries that provide produce and great tasting wines to the locals and tourists. I recommend touring the wineries around Kelowna and throughout the Okanagan, especially Burrowing Owl located in Oliver, owned by a friend of mine. In November, I went on a half-day wine tour around West Kelowna, and by far my favourite winery in the area is The Hatch. It's quaint and quirky, and the wine is worth the visit. 

Surrounded by mountains, Kelowna provides many hiking and biking opportunities. Brent and I hiked both Knox Mountain and  Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park with the later complete with tunnels and trestles. The trails close to the condo provided a pleasant backdrop for my two hour Sunday walks as I listened to my favourite podcasts, The Daily and Armchair Expert. 

In late November, we travelled to Banff to ski Sunshine and Lake Louise as it was only 6ish hours away and opened early. We’ve never had the opportunity to ski before December, so that was a treat. Kelowna also provided a home base to ski both Big White and Silver Star in Vernon, only short distances away. 

I’m glad we were able to enjoy the area for as long as we did. We will be back in four months to pick up our trailer (home) as it is stored there. It will be nice to see what the area has to offer come Springtime.