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Trip Report
Kelowna, BC Wine Tour
Turned a US holiday long weekend in to a Canadian adventure, on the search for some good pinot noir and kangaroos!
+ 11
North AmericaCanada3 days / July 2019
Highs & Lows
Kangaroo farm and very good wine!
Weather was spotty, on/off showers, which was not normal for July
Itinerary Overview
We drove 5.5 hours from Seattle to Kelowna, B.C. on the 4th of July, to take advantage of a long weekend. We met up with family who traveled 3.5 hours from Lake Chelan. We decided to stay in downtown Kelowna, and found an AirBnB condo right in the heart of all the city bustle. Although we knew Kelowna was a University town, we weren't aware of the beautiful lake Okanagan views and beaches, and trendy shops and restaurants. We were aware of the "country side" of Kelowna, which is home to many vineyards! We found a great tour guide to take us around to some of the top wineries, and had a great time getting to know the locals, the wineries, and our awesome tour guide! Downtown Kelowna is fairly flat, so we brought our bikes so we could explore the breweries around town and not worry about driving or finding an Uber. We ended the trip with a visit to the kangaroo farm that was so fun!
Kelowna Wine!
11+- This city has so much to do! Our wine tour was the best we had ever taken, and was booked through Roots & Vine Wine Tour.
- We stopped at four wineries, Mission Hill, Volcanic Hills, Quail's Gate, and Indigenous World Winery. Of all of them, Mission Hill and Quail's Gate are a must, just for their beautiful views and excellent wines.
- We also did the Kelowna Ale Trail (by bike), which includes three breweries: Tree Brewing, BNA Brewing, and Kettle River Brewing. All were great, but BNA Brewing has the best atmosphere including a giant menu, bowling and bocce ball, and good music.
- Lots of shopping in downtown Kelowna, with great Canadian stores like Lululemon and Roots, but also cute boutiques.
- The waterfront (Lake Okanagon) is absolutely stunning, with beaches that remind you of the ocean.
- On our way out, we stopped at The Jammery, which had a line out the door - but we quickly realized why. This diner had incredible breakfast, with an array of eggs benedicts to choose from (I had the cheeseburger benny!).
- Then we were off to Kangaroo Creek Farm - a sanctuary for rescued kangaroos and wallabies, as well as birds and other farm animals. It was truly an unique experience and a must-do in Kelowna!
Q & A
What would you have changed?
We learned there are a lot more wineries just south of the Lake Okanagan, around Lake Osoyoos. Had we known, we would have extended our trip and stayed a night down there!Anything go wrong during the trip?
Our weather wasn't typical July weather (a lot of the locals told us this), so we did dodge some rain during our wine tour. But nothing that a little wine couldn't help!Restaurant recommendations?
BNA for atmosphere, The Jammery for old diner breakfast, and The Terrace for a very nice dinner.Tips you would give a friend?
Bring a bike!Packing tips?
Comfortable outfits, lots of outdoor activities!Transportation Tips?
Great road trip, but also an easy flight! It was nice to have our car to explore out of the city.Any surprises?
Exceptional wine! And of course (not really a surprise), friendliest locals.
Lodging
AirBnB https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/24968081