If you haven’t noticed yet, Kelowna is the perfect place for exciting dates: first-dates, wedding dates, and everything in between!
Often fondly referred to as nature’s playground, it’s not hard to see why – did you know that in April you can hit the slopes at Big White, pop over for a quick 9-round of Golf, and go for a kayak all in the same day?
Sprinkle in some world-class cuisine, cocktails, wine tours, markets, helicopter rides, and a kangaroo farm and you’ve got a recipe for love… er, at least for a few laughs, anyway.
If you’re still feeling stuck, or if you’re new to town, whether it’s your first date ever or your first one of the month, we’ve got you covered.
Here are our top 5 spring date ideas for YLW (and yes, these are outdoor and covid-aware, too!):
Hiking boots > wedges, any day:
Take a hike up to Myra canyon, walk the trestles, and feel the strange crunch of snow under your boots while you watch the sun heating up the valley below. Cruise by Kitsch winery on your way back down and grab a bottle of local Red to enjoy on your evening polar bear dip. You heard us – steel your soul as you join countless others in this Nordic ritual, right on the shores of the Okanagan. Head over to Tugboat Beach, take a quick dip, get the blood flowing, and cozy up under a blanket to watch the sunset over West Kelowna. Feeling peckish? Countless restaurants are offering takeout downtown – Momo Sushi is an ode to the sea, while you’re sitting by the lake.
The stuff of cheesy romance movies:
Pick one of many outdoor markets (Kelowna Farmer’s Market, East Kelowna Market, or Penticton Farmer’s market to name a few) and head on down for an artisan coffee, a warm fresh-baked bun, and a walk in the sun admiring the spring produce. Grab takeout brunch for lunch from Diner Deluxe YLW and enjoy at Gyro Beach while watching the windsurfers, then head to Kasugai Gardens downtown for a stroll through Japanese gardens, a quick stop into Mosaic books, and maybe a patio beverage at Micro.
For those who bleed grape juice:
More options than we could possibly list here to but a nearby and fabulous self-guided wine tour will make even the most novice wine-drinker swoon with sips and views. Hitch a ride to the West Side Wine trail and check out Quail’s Gate for brunch. Then book a wine tour and hit all the crowd-pleasers on the West Side Wine trail. Our faves: Crown and Thieves, Mission Hill, Mt. Boucherie, The Hatch, and Black Swift. Finish off with a patio bite at Modest Butcher – Mt. Boucherie’s newest addition. Trust us, only a 10-minute drive from downtown Kelowna and you’ve got some of the world’s best wines, best views, and best bites at your fingertips.
Prefer barley over grapes?
Book a Velo Volt Mobile E-Bike and head to North Kelowna where the beer is flowing. Stop in at the BNA tasting room and cozy up around the outdoor firepit with a flight. Next, cruise on over to BC Tree Fruits Cidery for a tasting of crisp fresh cider made from local orchards. Down the street, Rustic Reel’s dog friendly patio awaits with snacks and brews for every palette (not to mention a Caesar bar on Sundays). Keep the day going strong with a visit to Kettle River Brewing, pop over to Vice and Virtue for a growler, and then take a final pit stop at Red Bird Beer (who will one day again have live music on Saturdays). Finally, exhausted, cheerful, and hungry, make your last stop Central Kitchen and Bar with some of the best burgs in town.
You fancy huh?
Book Valhalla tours for a bird’s eye helicopter tour of the valley in the morning and enjoy the views from high above. Grab brunch at Summerhill before you embark on your next adventure – a boat cruise and wine tour with Sip and Anchor. Grab a quick change of clothes and slip into something stiletto-y while you grab a sunset beverage on the Oak and Cru patio. Finish off with dinner at a fancy AF venue of your choice: Waterfront Wines, Raudz, and 50th Parallel will all leave you breathless.
If you’re not convinced that Kelowna is the perfect place for exciting dates, check out our top 5 winery dinners!
