The Okanagan Valley is one of Canada's major fruit growing regions.
It is located about 5 hours east of Vancouver by car on the opposite side of
the Coast Mountains. Positioned between the Coast Mountain Range and
the Rocky Mountains, it is extremely dry. Some areas receive less than
10 inches of precipitation each year and are therefore classified officially
as dessert.
The largest city in the Okanagan is Kelowna. Kelowna is located on
Lake Okanagan and is a popular tourist destination. Penticton, at the
south end of that lake is also very popular. There are plenty of
hotels and motels throughout the Okanagan Valley, however, most are booked solid during the months of July and August when Canadian families
like to take vacation. Consequently, it is recommended to arrange
accommodation in advance if you are visiting during the summer.
When visiting the Okanagan Valley, a tour one of the many wineries is
recommended. A pastime that many families enjoy is a rafting trip down
the Penticton canal in an inner tube or other flotation device.
