If you’re considering being an Au Pair in Canada then moving to the Kelowna region will be a great adventure! You will love to live in a friendly, cosmopolitan city which offers plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors, simply continue reading to discover 5 reasons why you should seriously consider moving to Kelowna.
Kelowna boasts a world class ski resort
Kelowna is home to the Big White Ski Resort, which boasts 118 unique trails. So, whether you’ve been skiing or your life or are keen to learn how to ski or snow board, you’ll be sure to find plenty of trails which suit your level of experience. If you’re a newbie make sure to take advantage of Big White Ski Resort’s ski school, which offers invaluable lessons from highly qualified ski instructors.
As an Au Pair living in the Kelowna area, it’s well worth purchasing a season pass, which boasts unbeatable value for money and will allow you to hit the slopes as often as you’d like. As a season pass holder you’ll be about to enjoy free night skiing sessions and will also be able to make use of the resort’s ice skating rink and Nordic trails, free of charge.
Kelowna boasts a wide variety of word class vineyards
Kelowna is home to over 20 award winning vineyards, examples of which include Mission Hill Winery, Quails’ Gate Winery, Ancient Hill Winery and Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery.
So, if you fancy spending your weekends vineyard hopping and wine tasting, you’ll love living in Kelowna. As a bonus, the majority of vineyards, which are in Kelowna, also specialize in offering gourmet café style lunches.
Kelowna backs straight on to the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake
If you’re interested in moving to a picturesque city, it’s well worth considering moving to Kelowna as the central business district looks straight out over Okanagan Lake. In fact, downtown Kelowna is home to two impressive public parks Waterfront Park and City Park.
Waterfront Park winds around the shore of Okanagan Lake and features a wide boardwalk, a beautifully landscaped garden and a dedicated swimming area as well as a manmade beach. If you have children, they’ll love growing up with Waterfront Park on their doorstep.
City Park is also incredibly popular with locals and tourists and features a wide boardwalk, which is popular amongst joggers as well as a children’s playground, a skate park and a dedicated picnic area.
Kelowna offers some of the best beaches in the Okanagan. Young adults will enjoy the busy atmosphere of Gyro Beach, while families with small children may prefer the quieter Rotary Park Beach. If you are looking for lots of facilities, City Park features one of the largest sand beaches in town as well as a picnic area, basketball and tennis court, children’s water park and a skateboarding park. Waterfront Park offers a semi-secluded beach and bird sanctuary for visitors that are looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy the sunshine and nature.
Kelowna offers individuals an active lifestyle that few cities can match
If you love nothing more than spending time exploring the great outdoors, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with Kelowna as you’ll be able to spend your free time water-skiing, mountain biking, swimming, skiing and hiking. As Kelowna boasts plenty of mountains, forests and parks, which are just waiting to be explored. Even after a year of living in Kelowna, you’ll still be able to find new hiking trails, that you haven’t explored.
If you choose to move to Kelowna, it’s well worth joining one of Kelowna’s many recreational clubs. Examples of which include the Kelowna Yacht Club and Hiking Addiction. The latter of which is Kelowna’s official hiking club. After all, there’s no better way to settle in to a new city, than to make new friends who share your passion for adventure.
Kelowna’s restaurants and cafes feature local produce on their menus
If you’re a fan of fresh food, you’ll enjoy eating out in Kelowna as many of Kelowna’s most popular restaurants make a point of featuring local fare. As an example, Old Vines Restaurant, offers an ever-changing seasonal menu which features vegetables which are grown in Old Vine Restaurant’s on-site garden. As well as locally sourced steak and seafood.
If you’re looking to grab a quick bite of food on the go, you may also be interested in checking out Okanagan Street Food, which offers fresh seafood tacos. Which are full of locally caught snapper.
One bonus to living in Kelowna, is that no matter whether you prefer French, Thai, Mexican, Italian or Canadian fare, you’ll be sure to find a restaurant which caters to your tastes.
Life & Arts Festival
This family orientated festival showcases local talent and the growing cultural district of Kelowna. Enjoy stage and street performances in music, live theater as well as culinary and performing arts. With three stage venues as well as an artisan market, this festival offers a little something for everyone.
Kasugai Japanese Garden
Located within a walled enclosure behind City Hall, Kelowna’s Kasugai Japanese Garden is almost completely hidden from the streets. Built to represent the sister-city relationship with Kasugai, this sanctuary provides a relaxing escape from the busy downtown areas of Kelowna during the summer months. The garden itself features a walking path around the perimeter, footbridge, koi fish pond, waterfall and many scenic sitting areas.
Mission Creek Path
Mission Creek Park offers 12 km of average to difficult trails, including Mission Creek which is a famous trail for walking, cycling, and jogging. The path begins at the intersection of Dilworth and Springfield and continues all the way to Lakeshore Road. Dogs are allowed in this park. Enjoy living in Kelowna.
Tours in different locations
Kelowna has no shortage of high-quality places to visit, and there are different places known both for it’s delicious organically grown wine and signature on-site pyramid. Unlike many of the other wineries in the area, it offers free guided tours several times a day followed by a complimentary tasting.
Heritage sites
This heritage site is where the famous missionary ( Pandosy) ministered for the original settlers. Founded in 1860, this site marks an important period in history. Today you can explore the four-acre property, which contains several of the original buildings that have been restored and filled with antiques unique to the area.
Bear Creek Park
Located in West Kelowna, this area offers more than 5 km of well-marked hiking trails, including Bear Creek Canyon Trail. This popular trail makes a loop of the canyon and includes a footbridge over the creek, a sturdy staircase on the side of the mountain and several viewpoints offering spectacular vistas. The park is also home to a 400m sandy beach, playground and summer concession.
