Kelowna Called the “Next Big Thing” in Travel Destinations

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

While we all know what an amazing destination Kelowna is, travel writers are beginning to take notice.

In an article for the Aspen Times in Colarado, travel writer Aimee White Beazley predicts that Kelowna is the “Next Big Thing” in travel and praises our beautiful area. “For people who love the outdoors, good food, wine, a place with history and heart—and for God’s sakes, a junior hockey team— Kelowna, Canada, in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia is the place to be,” writes Beazley.

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

Beazley gushes over the scenery, the climate, the numerous visitor activities, and, of course, the wine and food. “It has a beautiful and historic downtown, incredible mountains surrounding the city ripe with mountain biking and hiking trials, and an expanding outdoor community dominated these days by climbers who can easily access the parallel canyons of Skaha Bluffs,” says Beazley.

She compares Kelowna to Boulder, Colarado of 40 years ago—but with the beautiful Okanagan Lake and resulting watersports and wineries. Naming Kelowna one of the most exciting, up-and-coming wine regions in North America, she particularly mentions Mission Hill Family Estate (and its Pinot Noir) as “a mecca of food, wine, and the arts”. The downtown also gets special notice, particularly with all the exciting restaurants and even some yummy handmade gelato at GioBean Coffee.

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

Beazley looks at Kelowna in both the summer and winter, mentioning Big White, snowshoeing, and crosscountry skiing along with mountain biking, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding to showcase Kelowna's wide variety of fun tourist activities.

“Kelowna is a gem of British, Columbia,” Beazley concludes. “The only thing you need now is a visa, because a quick visit to this beautiful region just won’t do.”

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

Earlier this month, a San Francisco newspaper also did a feature on the Okanagan, praising the wine country and saying that our area had earned a reputation better than “Canada's Napa Valley.”