5 Ways to Survive an Okanagan Summer

The Okanagan summer temperatures have been known to venture into the high thirties making Kelowna not only a tourist destination but a great place to live. Combine those high temperatures with sandy beaches, a beautiful lake, local dining, and wineries and you’ve got a recipe for a great summer.

McKinley Beach wants to share with you our top 5 ways to survive an Okanagan summer:

1) Venture Downtown

Kelowna’s Downtown core is located a short 15 minute drive from the McKinley Beach Community. Bernard Ave plays host to a variety of local and well-known restaurants and bars where you can escape the heat for a variety of great food and beverages. For a unique and locally owned and operated dining experience, check out the Salted Brick on Bernard Ave.

2) Lake Play

The Okanagan Lake is 110 kilometers long from the bottom of the valley to the top. There are water recreational activities available to meet everyone’s tastes. From the Grand Hotel to City Park you’ll find a number of vendors where you can rent water toys ranging from boats, paddle boards, and jet skis, to kayaks, kite boards, and wake boards. While there’s a lot of fun to be had on top of the water, if you’re looking to cool down, you’re better off taking a dip in the lake. Because the Okanagan Lake is such a vast and deep body of water (its deepest point is 232 meters) the temperature stays cool all summer. Perfect for combating the summer heat!

3) Beach it

If there’s something that Kelowna has a lot of, it’s beaches. From Hot Sands Beach in City Park, to Gyro Beach in the Mission area there are a number of sandy destinations for you to choose from. Sun worshippers can catch some rays and every beach has shady spots for those wanting to cool off. Other beaches in the area include Rotary Park, Tug Boat Bay, Sarson’s Beach, and our very own McKinley Beach.

4) To Wine or Not to Wine
The Okanagan Valley is famous for its wineries and vineyards and is the premiere grape-growing region in BC. There are over 130 licensed wineries in the valley so you’re never going to be short of choices. If you don’t know where to start you can always book yourself into a wine tour which also solves the pesky problem of needing a designated driver. Mission Hill Winery, Summer Hill Estate Winery, and Quails Gate are all award winning vineyards located in Kelowna. If you’re feeling more adventurous you can venture out to Summerland and visit Bottleneck Drive which features smaller boutique wineries like Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery, and Silkscarf Family Boutique Winery.

5) Stay Healthy

Through all the sun and fun (and wine) make sure you’re looking after yourself. While it’s hard to resist staying up late on long summer days, be sure to get a good night’s sleep as it’ll better prep your body to deal with the sun and summer activities. And finally, with high daily temperatures it’s always a good idea to keep hydrated so drink lots of water!

Now, get out there and live your true life story and enjoy the Okanagan Summer!