Kelowna is the largest city in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, spread along the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake. What was once orchard country has grown into a mid-sized city, but the remaining orchards and vineyards still press against the hills, and the lake dominates everything.
The Okanagan is Canada's wine country, and Kelowna sits at its heart. There are dozens of wineries within a short drive, many offering tastings and views over the lake. The city beach at Hot Sands is popular in summer — the Okanagan gets more sunshine than almost anywhere else in Canada — and the lake is warm enough for swimming from June through September. Ogopogo, the local lake monster, has been a fixture of the tourist pitch since long before anyone planted a vine.
The surrounding hills offer hiking and mountain biking in summer and skiing at Big White in winter. Kelowna's downtown has improved in recent years, with a lakeside boardwalk, craft breweries, and restaurants that make good use of the local produce. It is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver on the Coquihalla Highway.