Kelowna
Kelowna (population: 106,707) is the largest city in the BC Interior. It lies near the heart of the Okanagan Valley, on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake. Its climate is semi-arid (the Okanagan Valley is an extension of the Sonora Desert) and it enjoys more than 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. In 2004, Kelowna was named a Cultural Capital of Canada for cities with populations of 50,000 to 125,000. Its Cultural District, with its many galleries, museums, gardens, public art displays and eclectic shops, is a must-see/do for visitors, as are the public flower gardens that regularly win national and international competitions. The city is strongly associated with the beautiful orchards and vineyards that surround it. It is also known for pristine, sandy beaches and for Ogopogo, a sea monster that -according to local legend- lurks beneath the surface of Okanagan Lake.