What Kelowna is known for

The Okanagan Lake Region is known for its temporate year-round weather, high-class vineyards, and original restaurant scene. There are many ski slopes and family-friendly beaches that attract many tourists. Okanagan Lake itself is a trendy tourist spot, offering guests the chance to swim, kayak, and sail. There are dozens of wineries in the area that all offer wine tasting and vineyard tours. The region provides a lot of fine dining options, as well as casual dining. The area is known for its selection of food, which caters to a wide range of preferences.[1] 

It is estimated that 1.9 million tourists visit the Okanagan Lake Region annually. According to local hotel capacities, the peak season of tourism is between the months of July and September every year. However, the area is known for its consistent weather all year round, so tourism rates are relatively constant throughout all seasons. Most people who visit the region come from other areas of Canada. Only about 20% of tourists come from the United States or other countries.[6] One of the region's biggest attractions is the Big White Ski Resort. The resort is on top of a mountain and has over 110 trails for skiing and snowboarding. Big White was first established in 1963. The construction of the Kelowna International airport in the 1950s sparked a lot of new tourism in the region. Because visitors loved the snowy mountains, local businessmen Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn decided to open Big White to allow tourists to try their hand at skiing. Since then, the resort has gained over ten ski lifts, a lodge, restaurants, and of course, the slopes.[3] 

Other popular attractions in the area include Davison's Orchard and Quail's Gate Winery. At Davison Orchards, guests can purchase fresh produce or homemade baked goods. On-site, there is a farm area open for kids with plenty of agricultural activities and a petting zoo. Their overall mission is to farm using sustainable methods and educate visitors on earth-conscious produce.[2] Quails' Gate Winery is a local vineyard that makes its own wines. Tourists can take a tour with tastings included, purchase wines, and dine in the on-site restaurants.[4] 

The products the area produces and distributes is mainly wine. Vineyards and wineries are very popular in the area, and locally crafted wines are shipped and sold worldwide. The Okanagan Lake Region is also home to a large juice manufacturing company, Sun-Rype. The fruit juices produced there can be found in grocery stores all across Canada. Most of what the area produces is fun experiences for tourists and families. Because of the plentiful landscape, fishing, boating, hiking, and biking are very popular. The service industry and tourism industry employs most locals and brings in close to 1 billion dollars every year. A large town within the Region, Kelowna, houses the 11th largest international airport as well.

Geography

The Okanagan Lake Region is mountainous with forests, lakes, and small cities. The region is just north of the United States, in the southernmost section of British Columbia. It spans vertically from the top of Okanagan Lake in Vernon, down to just above the city of Osoyoos. Horizontally, the Region ends at the Eastern edge of the Granby Provincial Park (including the entire Park) and spans westward. The western boundary cuts roads 97C and 3 in half, in the middle of a wooded and mountainous landscape. The main cities within the region include Kelowna, Penticton, and Vernon. The entire Okanagan Lake is included in the region, as well as the entire Granby Provincial Park, which is a large forest recreational area. 


The Okanagan Lake Region is known for its consistent year-round weather. However, the winter months tend to be colder, and the summer months get much warmer. The average temperature is between 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter months, the temperatures drop to around 20-30 degrees, and in the summer, temperatures rise to 70-90 degrees. Peak tourist season is between the months of July-September where the weather is between 60-90 degrees. The region gets approximately 15 inches of precipitation every year. It is estimated that one-fifth of that is snow in the months of December and January.[7] 

The prominent agriculture in the Okanagan Lake Region is the farming of vineyards to produce wine. Wine tours are popular for tourists and locals alike, and each winery produces and sells it's own wine. Often, their products are shipped throughout the world.[7] Animals that are native to the Region include bears, coyotes, deer, cougars, and geese. Birding is very popular in the region because many bird species can be spotted during the summer season. The area is home to thousands of plant species, especially a lot of native flowers. Lilies, sunflowers, and buttercups line the hillsides. Near the lakes and mountains, pine and oak trees stand tall. Herbs like mint and oregano also grow in parts of the region, mostly in wooded areas.

History

The first settlers in the Okanagan Lake Region were the Syilx people. The descendants of those settlers still populate a majority of the cities to this day. When European missionaries came to the area to preach for the Roman Catholic Church, they decided to stay. Just as with the Syilx, their European descendants remain in the area today. Over the years, people of all ethnicities have migrated to the area for work and environmental reasons, but most people are of Syilx or European descent. [7]

One of the region's biggest attractions is the Big White Ski Resort. The Resort is on top of a mountain and has over 110 trails for skiing and snowboarding. Big White was first established in 1963. The construction of the Kelowna International airport in the 1950s sparked a lot of new tourism in the region. Because visitors loved the snowy mountains, local businessmen Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn decided to open Big White to allow tourists to try their hand at skiing. Since then, the resort has grown substantially in size. It is a main tourist attraction in the region and showcases the natural beauty of the area. Today around 300,000 people reside within the Region.[7] 

The first people to inhabit the Okanagan Lake Region were the indigenous Syilx people. Their settlement's exact date is unknown, but historians estimate that they populated it over 9,000 years ago. Descendants of the Syilx people still live there today and make up a majority of the local population. The first Europeans to settle in the area came in 1859, with the mission to spread their beliefs in the Roman Catholic Church. Over the years, the city has modernized with the times while still maintaining nearby natural formations and landscapes. [7]

The region was named after the large Okanagan Lake, which is where settlers started the first cities. Many of the main cities within the area lie right next to the lake. Bridges, buildings, and skyscrapers began to be built in the area and continue to be made today. Most recently, the tallest skyscraper in the Region (36 stories) was completed early in 2021. Most of the significant events that have occurred in the area are forest fires. Because of the thick woods and the hot summer months, forest fires are not rare in the region but have always been kept away from the main towns. The people in the area focus on the tourist industry and maintaining wildlife to last for centuries to come.[7] 

The Okanagan Lake Region is based around Okanagan Lake, which has had over 46 variant spellings through the years. To this day, the lake is spelled "Okanogan Lake" in America. The name has always remained the same, but explorers of different descents and languages all spelled it differently. Many locals tell the folk tale of "Ogopogo," the Lake monster of Okanagan Lake. Though there have never been pictures of the monster, several residents have claimed to see the monster swimming in the lake.[10]