Sophistication meets Rural Charm in Kelowna

Sunshine and wine, fabulous food, spectacular scenery and seemingly endless possibilities for outdoor recreation -what more could you want? Kelowna is the perfect vacation destination! Kick off your shoes and go barefoot through the sand while taking in a lakefront festival or outdoor concert. Wander through the galleries, museums and studios. Jump in your car and drive through orchards and vineyards stopping to buy sun-ripened fruits from roadside stands. Or visit some of Kelowna's award winning wineries for a tour or tastings -trust me, these would impress any wine lover.

With its exquisite wineries, acres of vines stretching over rolling hills, all set against the stunning backdrop of Okanagan Lake, the area has been likened to California's Napa Valley by National Geographic Traveler, the New York Times and Travel + Leisure magazine. The region was also listed in Sherman's Travel Magazine among its "Top 10 Places to Go Worldwide".

Cycling wine tour

Still relatively undiscovered, Kelowna, is fortunately not too crowded despite playing host to visitors from all over the world. The city blends urban amenities with rural charm. Even its main street ends conveniently at one of many picturesque public beaches on 110 km-long Okanagan Lake.

Located at the northern most end of the Sonora Desert, the valley has a semi-arid climate, boasting long warm summers and short mild winters. The city of Kelowna is the largest community and is located midway through the valley. It has a population of 115,000 and is the transportation, business and service hub of the Okanagan.

There are a variety of accommodations you can try in Kelowna, ranging from luxury lakeside resorts to cozy B&Bs.

Kelowna has miles of beautiful parkland and several sandy beaches from which to enjoy boating, swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing and fishing. Cycling wine tours are also a popular Kelowna pastime. A guided bike tour solves the problem of what to do with bottles of wine purchased along the way -you can put them in the tour's support van. Most guided bike wine tours are geared towards cyclists with average athletic abilities and include rental bikes, transportation, winery tours and lunch.

Kelowna's burgeoning wine industry has attracted some of Canada's most celebrated chefs who are creating memorable feasts utilizing the local bounty. Wine, food and golf lovers will find bliss here in Kelowna. Golf enthusiasts have a whopping 17 premium courses to choose from, all within 40 minutes from one another.

How to get there

Easily accessible by highway, the drive from Vancouver to Kelowna is approximately four hours. If you want to get there quickly it's just a 60-minute flight from Vancouver or Calgary and 70 minutes from Seattle. The Kelowna International Airport, the 10th busiest in Canada, has more than 30 non-stop daily departures to Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.

So for your next getaway, why not see what Kelowna has to offer?

Go to www.tourismkelowna.comor call 1-800-663-4345 for your travel information and be sure to stop by the Visitor Centre for up-to-the-minute information on places to stay and things to do.

Claire is the official Travel Consultant for Global BC and has appeared on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, CNN, Martha Stewart Radio and other US media. Claire recently launched two lines of luggage & travel accessories. She is the best selling author of Travel Best Bests

-An Insider's Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever. Visit www.clairenewell.com

There are many wonderful sights and activities to enjoy during your stay in Kelowna. To capture the essence of this beautiful city, here are some highlights:

t StartyourdaywithadriveupKnox Mountain for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding area. t Followthepathfromthelookout down to Paul's Tomb for an invigorating walk, or return downtown to stroll around Kelowna's Cultural District. t KelownaLand&OrchardCompany is a working farm and commercial apple orchard situated a short distance (10 minutes) from the city centre. The orchard spans 150 acres and produces approximately four million pounds of fruit annually. The tour combines explanations of modern day farming techniques with the history of the development of the city. Take a wagon ride orchard tour, sample their fresh-pressed apple juice or cider, and visit their petting zoo and farm market. If you time it right, you may want to have lunch at The Ridge Restaurant where tasty meals are prepared with fresh local ingredients. t Theafternoonisaperfecttimeto get out on the water and enjoy a scenic boat cruise along Okanagan Lake. There are a variety of tours available so you can join a scheduled departure, customize a private cruise, or rent a boat and explore on your own. t AvisittoKelownawouldnotbe complete without touring a local winery and there are many to choose from. All the wineries offer a unique look at the winemaking process and many provide dining as well. Be sure to stop by your favorite and end your day with a scrumptious meal paired with fine Okanagan wine. The backdrop, provided by a dreamy Okanagan sunset, makes it an experience that you won't soon forget.

With warm temperatures drenching the vines of our 16 wineries, Kelowna gets a jump on summer. And those early rays give you the perfect excuse to pair a glass of Okanagan wine with tantalizing culinary creations on a lakeview patio. So pack your bags, prepare your palate, and enjoy a sneak preview of summer in Kelowna.

(Source: Vancouver Sun)