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Westbank
- West Kelowna
Westbank is located 12 km (8 miles) west of Kelowna
and 10 km (6 miles) north of Peachland
on Hwy 97.
West
Kelowna
Westbank was at one time a small municipality but eventually was
merged together within the regional district forming the Westside
District Municipality in 2007. The name officially changed to West
Kelowna in 2009 after a hard fought plebiscite was voted on.
A
Recreational Wonderland
West Kelowna is one of the fastest growing cities in British Columbia
and Canada. No wonder if you happen to enjoy a lifestyle that has
to offer golf, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling,
curling, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming and exploring - this
is the place. Westbank and Westside are recreational wonderlands
with a climate that is one of Canada's best.
Okanagan
Lake
Situated on the west side of Okanagan Lake across the William R.
Bennett Bridge, West Kelowna lies on various clay mesas, called
benches, that give tremendous panoramic views towards the east going
north to Knox Mountain and south to Okanagan Mountain Provincial
Park.
Hwy
97
Once you enter West Kelowna on Hwy 97 coming from either Kelowna
or Peachland is where you can find most of the businesses including
banks, restaurants, a Best Western which features a waterslide,
a number of large stores including a Wal-Mart, London Drugs, Canadian
Tire, Home Depot, Starbucks,
some
pubs and access to the beach activities on Okanagan Lake including
some marinas.
Beach
Areas
If you are driving on Hwy 97 and want to visit the West Kelowna
beach area on Okanagan Lake, there are a couple of ways to get there.
One way is Gellately Road located in Westbank by McDonalds and the
A&W. The other way is to take Boucherie Road in Westside as
you come close to the William R. Bennett Bridge.
White
Sandy Beaches
Both roads eventually meet each other and will take you to beautifully
clean and white sandy beaches with a waterfront walkway bordering
Okanagan Lake . There are quite a few RV parks and campgrounds along
this route especially in Green and West Bay.
Visitor
Info Centre and Museum
For a great place to get information, make sure you visit the Visitor
Info Centre located at 2372 Dobbin Road in Westbank. This is where
you will be able to find free maps, accommodation listings, the
locations of the local wineries and visit the local museum. Telephone:
250-768-0110 for more information
Bear
FSR
In between William
R. Bennett Bridge and Westbank to the north on the road to Fintry
is a recreational area called Bear Creek. Here you can Bear Creek
Provincial Park and access to the Bear Creek FSR. Once along the
Bear FSR you'll first come to the Bear Creek Motorcycle Trails an
area maintained by the Okanagan Trail Riders. Farther along Bear
Creek FSR is Bear Lake Recreation Area where there is some trout
fishing, rustic campgrounds and the Bear Lake Resort.
Westside
Go Karts Ltd
During the summer season Westbank has a large number of attractions
for you to visit, a favourite being the Westside Go Karts Ltd. For
beginning NASCAR racers, one of the largest of its kind in British
Columbia.
Wineries
and Vineyard Tours
When you visit Westbank you will notice a landscape that is covered
with fruit orchards and vineyards. This land has been blessed with
a climate that produces top-quality fruit and wine products to sample.
There are quite a few wineries to visit in Westbank and nearby in
the Westside area of West Kelowna. If you don't mind a short drive
there are wineries close by in Kelowna, Peachland and Summerland.
Great
Golfing
If you like golfing, check out 19 Greens Fun and Sports Centre -
the family activity centre - for a superb putt and play zone right
into the night. There are also Shannon Lake Golf Course and the
Two Eagles Golf Course and Academy close by to Westbank. For those
who don't mind a short drive, Kelowna is only 30 minutes away for
even a greater selection of 18-hole courses.
Okanagan
WaterToyz
For adult kids make sure you look at Okanagan WaterToyz down by
William
R. Bennett Bridge
on Campbell Road. At Okanagan WaterToyz you have the Okanagan's
largest selection of jetski and boat rentals available.
Circle
Tour
As you take Hwy 97 towards the west side of the William
R. Bennett Bridge,
you have a chance to drive north on the west side towards Vernon.
Look for the turnoff to Bear Creek Provincial Park and head this
way. The road eventually takes you to Fintry and the north end of
Okanagan Lake.
O'Keefe
Ranch
Eventually you will meet Hwy 97 again at the junction near the historic
O'Keefe Ranch. Turn east on Hwy 97 and go to Vernon, then drive
south past Kalamalka Lake, Lake Country,
and Kelowna, eventually returning to Westbank. This is an excellent
drive with fantastic views of the northern Okanagan Valley.
Wildfire
of 2009
Unfortunately in July, 2009 a wildfire erupted behind the Gorman
Bros. Mill in the Glenrosa area of West Kelowna causing some damage.
Eventually the wildfire also created a major disruption throughout
the rest of West Kelowna including Bear Creek, Rose Valley and as
far north to Terrace Mountain west of Fintry.
Accommodation
Westbank
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