Ice Rinks

Kelowna has many recreation services available, so there is always plenty for you and the kids to do. Winter is hockey time here. There are four indoor ice rinks (plus numerous outdoor - if the weather is cold enough) available for public skating as well as figure skating, ringette and hockey.

Memorial Arena:

Located in downtown Kelowna on Ellis Street, Memorial Arena is often referred to as The Barn, and is the home of the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets. Public skating is offered from September through April on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as well as several times through the week. For the exact schedule, contact the arena.

Rutland Arena:

Just off Leathead Road, Rutland Arena is located on Dodds Road. With two sheets of ice, it is a hubbub of activity all winter long. From October through March there is public skating at the following times: Saturday 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday family skate from 3:45 to 5 p.m.; Friday public skating from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is a seniors skating time on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and a special mom and tots time those days from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Also, there is a drop-in hockey recreation program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Mount Boucherie Arena:

Serving the Westside, this arena is located right beside Mount Boucherie Secondary School, on Cameron Road. For complete schedule, call the arena.

Winfield Arena:

Swimming Pools

There are three indoor swimming pools/recreation centres in the area: Athens Aquatic Centre in Rutland, Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna, and the Johnson-Bentley pool in Westbank. All three pools offer swimming lessons and aqua fitness classes as well as providing homes for local swim teams.

Kelowna Family Y:

Located on Hartman Road, just across the parking lot from the Rutland Arena and adjacent to Rutland Senior Secondary School, the Athens complex consists of a 25-metre pool, a dive tank, hydro therapy pool, hot tub, steam room, locker room, weight room, and aerobic area. Pool information line call 250-491-YMCA(9622).

Johnson Bentley Pool:

This indoor pool and recreation centre offers a six-lane 25-metre pool. It comes complete with whirlpool and a walk-in beach style area perfect for toddlers. A steam room, weight room, super circuit, locker rooms, meeting rooms and aerobics facilities round off the centre. Call 768-4442.

Parkinson Recreation Centre:

Golf

If you like golf, you will love living in the Okanagan. There is enough courses in the area to choose from that you could play golf every day of the week and not have to play the same course more than twice in a month. The following describes just some of the courses that are available.

Aspen Grove:

A par-three course with nine holes. It is located at the bottom of Wood Lake Road in Lake Country.

Fairview Par 3:

With two nine-hole courses to choose from, this par-three course has a snack bar and pull-cart rentals on site. Situated between Gordon Drive and Lakeshore Road, you can access it from Lakeshore Road.

Gallagher's Canyon:

This semi-private course has an international reputation. It offers 18 holes spread over 6,900 yards and is situated in South East Kelowna off McCulloch Road. Gallagher’s also owns a nine-hole 2,200 yard mid-length Pinnacle Course on the same site.

Harvest Golf Club:

Perched on a hill in east Kelowna, just off K.L.O. Road, this former orchard is now a world-class 7,104 yard-long, par-72 golf course.

Kelowna Golf & Country Club:

This 18-hole, par-72 course is nestled in beside the cliffs of Dilworth Mountain. This 6,285-yard course is the oldest semi-private club in Kelowna. It is located on Glenmore Drive just past Bernard.

Kelowna Springs:

This 18-hole, par-70 public course offers a full practice centre along with certified instructors. It can be found on Penno Road, just off of Old Vernon Road.

McCulloch Orchard Greens Golf Club:

Much like Harvest, these greens were once home to hundreds of fruit trees. A nine-hole course, at 2,200 yards it is a par-31.

Michaelbrook Ranch:

This 18-hole public course runs right beside Mission Creek. At 3,776 yards, this par-62 course is located on Lexington Drive off Gordon.

Mission Creek:

This mid-length course is located on K.L.O. Road, near Benvoulin.

Ponderosa:

You will know you are nearly there when you see the giant golf ball along Highway 97 in Peachland. Open to the public, this 18-hole course is a par-72.

Quail Ridge:

This semi-private course is located opposite the Kelowna Airport on Quail Ridge Boulevard.

Shadow Ridge Golf Club:

A 18-hole, 6,200 yard par-72 course, Shadow Ridge is located on Bulman Road on the way to the airport.

Shannon Lake:

This full-facility course is located on the Westside on Shannon Lake Road. It is a 6,100-yard, par-72 course.

Sunset Ranch:

The 6,600 yard course is located four kilometres from Highway 97 off Old Vernon Road on Anderson Road.

Ski Hills

Whether you are a skier or a snowboarder, you are about to discover what champagne powder is as you prepare to tackle some of the best skiing in North America. There are four major ski hills within an hour’s drive of the Kelowna Area: Apex Mountain, Big White, Crystal Mountain, and Silver Star.

Apex Mountain Resort:

Penticton’s full-service hill has 56 runs, with four lifts to get you going: one high-speed detachable quad, a triple chair, a t-bar and a platter lift. While it is a great family resort, they also offer plenty of challenge with several black diamond and double black runs. In a different snow belt area, there are times when Apex will get the big dump which misses the other Okanagan ski hills. The vertical offered here is 2,000 feet. Apex offers night skiing and on-site accommodations. (250) 492-2880.

Big White:

With the opening of the Westridge in 1996, Big White has put Kelowna on the map as a destination for international skiers. It now boasts the longest detachable quad in North America, just one of the four high speed detachable quad chairs on the mountain, along with a triple chair, one double chair, and a regular quad chair, a t-bar and a platter lift on the infamous "cliff." With glade skiing, two powder bowls, and 100 runs ranging from novice to double black diamonds, there is something for everyone. Last year’s base was over 300cm, and the mountain is famous for being right in the heart of the snow belt. (250) 765-3101.

The closest of the four to Kelowna is the smallest. You can be skiing in less than half a hour, and just 12 minutes from Westbank. Crystal has a somewhat shorter season than the other three mountains, but they usually operate from December through to April. They specialize in beginner to intermediate runs, but offer some black diamond runs. With one chairlift, two t-bars and 20 runs to choose from, it is a favorite spot for night skiing, which is offered Wednesdays through Saturdays. To get there, just head along Highway 97 South, turn off at Glenrosa Road and follow it to the end. (250) 768-5189.

Silver Star:

Perhaps one of the nicest attractions of this mountain is that, for Kelowna residents, the drive is mostly all highway. With two detachable quads, a regular quad, two double chairs, two t-bars and a hand tow for beginners, they provide access to 84 runs covering the north and south sides of the mountain. Silver Star offers four seasons of fun, with horseback riding, mountain biking trails and rollerblading. The resort is set up like an old fashion western town with plenty of on-hill accommodations. (250) 542-0224.