Kelowna

Introducing Kelowna

An idyllic lakeshore lined with parks and attractions, a vibrant cultural community, excellent wineries, good restaurants and lots of activities year-round give Kelowna an almost too-good-too-be-true appeal. Happily, developers and the hordes attracted to this wonder bring a dose of reality to what would otherwise be a fantasyland.

The downtown is fast changing as condos rise to 12 or more stories but it’s still a delightful place to stroll, especially the cultural district that runs north along Ellis St. Stroll the many well-manicured parks lining the lake and hang out at one of the beaches. When you see a café you like, plop down for a respite, whether it’s from all the exertion or simply the summertime mobs that are also onto the scene.

Kelowna, an Interior Salish word meaning ‘grizzly bear, ’ owes its settlement to a number of missionaries who arrived in 1858, hoping to ‘convert the Natives.’ Settlers followed and in 1892 the town was established. Industrial fruit production was the norm until the wine industry took off 20 years ago.

Should you check out real estate prices today, you’ll be ready for a drink.

Last updated: Sep 24, 2008