OKANAGAN VALLEY - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 391

roundings of a heritage commercial building are exposed red-brick walls adorned with pho-
tos of local suppliers and their produce, a glassed-in kitchen, a long wooden bar, and com-
fortable seating. The menu features an abundance of regional produce and game, all sourced
directly from local farms. Signature dishes include a crab cappuccino soup to start and wild
boar cannelloni as a main. Adding to the charm is a well-priced list of regional wines.
Competing with RauDZ for the best place to enjoy innovative cooking is M Waterfront
Wines (1180 Sunset Dr., 250/762-3336, 5pm-11pm daily, $23-34), a slick dining room
where the emphasis is on local produce (the menu describes exactly where each ingredient
comes from) paired with local wines. The least expensive way to dine here is by choosing
a pasta, with the option to “build your own” from the menu.
INFORMATION AND SERVICES
Kelowna Visitor Centre (544 Harvey Ave., 250/861-1515 or 800/663-4345,
www.tourismkelowna.com , 9am-7pm daily in summer, 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat. the rest of the
year) is beside Highway 97 as it passes through the center of the city—watch for the signs.
Coming into town from the south on Highway 97, turn left on Richter Street at the traffic
lights and go back one block. A good map for immediate orientation is posted outside the
center; it also incorporates a legend of motels and attractions.
Mosaic Books (411 Bernard Ave., 250/763-4418, 9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.)
is an independent bookseller that has been serving the valley since 1968. The eye-catching,
semicircular building on Ellis Street is Kelowna Library (1380 Ellis St., 250/762-2800,
10am-8pm Mon.-Thurs., 10am-5pm Fri.-Sat.).
The post office is right downtown on Queensway Avenue. Kelowna General Hospital
is on the corner of Strathcona Avenue and Pandosy Street (250/862-4000).
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
Kelowna is in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Penticton
and 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Vernon. Highway 97 along the valley floor links
all three cities, while southwest of Kelowna Highway 93C provides the most direct access
from Vancouver, which is around four hours and 390 kilometers (244 miles) to the west.
Modern Kelowna Airport, the province's third busiest, is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles)
north of downtown along Highway 97. It's served by Air Canada (250/542-3302) and
WestJet (800/538-5696), both of which offer daily flights to and from Vancouver, Calgary,
and Edmonton. At the airport are car rental outlets, a lounge bar, and a café.