The Okanagan valley is located in the upper reaches of the Sonora Desert and is approximately half way between Calgary and Vancouver. The semi-arid climate of long, hot summers and short, mild winters allows active residents and visitors alike to enjoy a continuous stream of recreational activities.
Kelowna is the largest city in the valley and is often referred to as the Jewel of the Okanagan. Situated on the eastern shore of the 135 km long Okanagan Lake, it is the choice destination for sports and recreational enthusiasts, but is also the setting for the new University of British Columbia campus, as well as many thriving commercial enterprises and businesses, all of which are served by the ever expanding Kelowna International Airport. In addition, Kelowna is the centre of a vibrant tourism industry that features an endless variety of aquatic activities during the summer season, and world-class skiing and snowboarding during the winter at the famous Big White Ski Resort, the recipient of numerous awards for the mountain with the “Best Snow,” the “Best Powder,” and the “Best Family Skiing” in all of Canada.
Kelowna is home to more than 200 high tech-businesses, including Kelowna Flightcraft, with a staff of over 900 professionals and skilled technicians, as well as the ingenious “Club Penguin” website company that was recently acquired by Walt Disney for a cool 700 million dollars. Kelowna also serves as the head office for the long established Sun-Rype Products Ltd., known simply as "Sun-Rype," a leading Canadian manufacturer of popular fruit-based juices and fruit snacks that are marketed around the world.
The ideal climate in the Okanagan valley has given rise to more than 60 world-class vineyards and cottage wineries whose quality wines have received international recognition, many prestigious awards, and are served in fine restaurants around the world. Many of these wineries are located within minutes of Orchard Springs community condominiums, and they offer guided tours, special events, and complimentary wine tasting.
No less than a dozen professional golf courses are located within a short drive of the KLO setting of Orchard Springs condominiums, and with a playing season that lasts from eight to a full twelve months, Kelowna is a golf aficionado’s dream.
To find out the latest in golf news, you can visit www.bcgolfguide.com or www.golfokanagan.com for more information.
Year round, the city of Kelowna’s Cultural District is alive with galleries, theatres, museums, fine restaurants featuring western and ethnic cuisine, unique little markets, and quaint shops just waiting to be explored.
A short drive also takes you to the Orchard Park Shopping Centre, a spacious modern complex of more than 170 retail stores, public services and eating establishments, all of which are certain to make your shopping ventures easy and satisfying. For the dedicated shopper, there is also Kelowna’s Costco, Wal-Mart, Staples, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Superstore, Winners, and many other great shopping venues, all within a short radius.
Kelowna is a vibrant city both day and night. With its seasonal festivals, its recreational and cultural amenities, its fashionable shops and varied entertainments, and its professional and commercial venues, it is an exciting world for both work and play. But on top of these riches, Kelowna’s incomparable natural setting that surrounds the city with acres of green park space and numerous pristine beaches truly guarantees that there is something for everyone in the Jewel of the Okanagan.
For more information on skiing, visit:
www.apexresort.com
www.bigwhite.com
www.silverstarmtn.com
www.mtbaldy.com
www.sunpeaksresort.com
www.crystalmountain.com
More Great Links:
www.KelownasCulturalDistrict.com
www.weathernetwork.com
www.travel.bc.ca
www.hellobc.com
www.downtownkelowna.com
www.city.kelowna.bc.ca/airport/airport.htm
www.thompsonokanagan.com
www.kelownachamber.org
www.kelownainfo.com
www.tourismkelowna.com