The Homes of Kelowna
Kelowna has all the amenities of a major city – fine dining, unique shops, and a vibrant cultural life – with orchards and vineyards just a 10-minute drive from downtown.
Long warm summers, short mild winters and abundant sunshine year-round have made Kelowna an international destination for people looking for the best in outdoor enjoyment.
Attracting investors from around the world, the city’s carriage trade residential market is one of the fastest growing in Canada with house prices surpassed only by those in Vancouver.
The Region
Kelowna sits in the heart of British Columbia’s famed Okanagan Valley, renowned for its majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, bountiful orchards, and world class vineyards.
The region’s long warm summers, short mild winters and abundant sunshine year-round provide unsurpassed opportunities for year-round outdoor adventure.
From hiking, golfing and boating in the summer to skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter, each season offers unique delights.
A city of more than 100,000 people on Lake Okanagan, Kelowna offers sophisticated urban living in a setting of outstanding natural beauty.
The Wineries
The Okanagan valley, the oldest and largest wine growing region in British Columbia, has more than 70 sophisticated and charming wineries surrounded by lush vineyards and breathtaking scenery.
Hot, dry weather, sheltering mountains and rich soils have helped create one of North America’s most productive wine regions. Classic red vinifera grapes are widely planted in the south end of the valley, which with less than six inches of rainfall a year is the only classified desert area in Canada. French and Germanic white grape varieties are found in the north.
The Spring, Summer and Fall Wine Festivals offer hundreds of activities focused on wine making, tasting and touring.
The Golf
The Okanagan Valley is a golfer’s paradise. With an average of 2,000 hours of sun every year, the Okanagan offers one of the longest golf seasons in Canada.
The valley has more than 50 golf courses, fourteen of which are within a few minutes drive of Kelowna.
The Okanagan Golf Club designed by Jack Nicklaus and his renowned Golden Bear team, challenges and inspires the most experienced golfers. Predator Ridge was the host of the prestigious Export ‘A’ Skins Game in 2000.
The Skiing
With its snow-capped mountains and inspiring views, the Okanagan Valley is an exhilarating place for skiing and snowboarding.
The light, dry powder snow of nearby Monashee Mountains challenges every level of downhill enthusiast. There are four ski resorts within a short drive of the city. Big White Ski Resort with 118 runs serviced by 15 lifts, enjoys more than 24 feet of powder snow a year.
For those who prefer to explore the forest on snowshoes or cross-country skis, local ski clubs provide 85 kilometres of groomed trails.
The Boating
Kelowna is situated half way along Lake Okanagan, a long narrow lake that stretches more than 110 kilometres up the valley, perfect for swimming and boating on hot summer days. And for added variety, there are another 200 other freshwater lakes in the region.
The Entertainment
Kelowna’s Cultural District is the city’s creative hub for musicians, artists and performers.
The Rotary Centre for the Arts has a theatre, rehearsal hall, studios for art, pottery, and dance, and is home to the Sunshine Theatre Company. The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra holds performances from September to May. Kelowna Actors Studio, a 60-year-old former apple storage warehouse, is home to a professional theatre company offering a full season of dramatic entertainment and musicals.
The city also has four museums and a public art gallery.
Prospera Place, a 6,000-seat arena, has hosted concerts by Elton John, Cher and Nickelback and is the home of the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets.
The Necessities and the Niceties
With more than 100,000 people, Kelowna has shopping, dining, and entertainment to suit to every taste and budget.
Restaurants celebrate local produce paired with award winning wines from the Okanagan valley. Local shops stock the latest fashions and unique gifts.
For guests and travellers, Kelowna has more than 3,000 hotel rooms. The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort with 25 acres of ground on the waterfront is also home to the Lake City Casino.
Getting In and Out
Kelowna International Airport is the 10th busiest airport in Canada with daily flights to Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. Private aircraft are welcome and pilot sleeping quarters and cooking facilities are available.
Kelowna is approximately 400 kilometres from Vancouver and 600 kilometres from Calgary.
Carriage Trade Homes
Kelowna has a generous supply of carriage trade homes for use either as a primary residence or vacation home.
For expert advice about buying or selling a Carriage Trade luxury property, contact your local Royal LePage real estate agent.
