If you’re looking for a wellness escape, Kelowna is the perfect place to recharge and have some memorable winter adventures.
 

Kickstart Your Day With a Smoothie or Superfood Latte


Is your New Year's Resolution to drink less coffee? Many of Kelowna’s local coffee shops offer different types of matcha or tea lattes. But if you want to try something caffeine-free but still totally cozy, I highly recommend heading to any Blenz Coffee location around Kelowna for a Turmeric Latte.

If a hot drink isn’t enough to hold you over, grab a smoothie packed with produce from Goods Health and Wellness or The Energy DenJust Peachy will be your jam if you’re looking for all the above. It’s a sunny and trendy cafe that offers healthy and refreshing alternatives even in the dead of winter. They have everything from smoothie bowls to beetroot lattes.
 

Outdoor Winter Wellness Activities in and Around Kelowna

Hiking_at_Knox_Mountain_Park_49_
Knox Moutain Regional Park Lookout. Photo: Danika Lee Photography

If you’re in Kelowna for wellness travel between January to March, you absolutely should spend some time outside. The average winter temperature is slightly above −3.0 °C (26.6 °F), which is pretty mild for Canada.

Connected to downtown Kelowna is the Waterfront Boardwalk, a beautiful place for a 5km-ish flat walk with fantastic views. The trail connects to the Rotary Marsh Park, where you might spot a heron, beaver or eagle. To upgrade to a hike, check out Knox Mountain Regional Park. It’s a must-do hike with trails for all levels. If you’re ok with breaking a serious sweat, hit up the Apex Trail for some jaw-dropping views of the city, lake, and valley. 

If hiking or walking feels a little ho-hum, and skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, you should try snowshoeing. It’s a classic Canadian experience that’s beginner-friendly and a great workout. Big White Ski Resort is known for skiing and snowboarding, but it also offers snowshoe rentals for solo exploring and interpretive snowshoe tours where you can bathe your senses in the forest and learn about the area from an experienced guide.

 

Refuel With a Healthy Lunch in Kelowna

2023, Summer, July,Nourishing meal at Frankie We Salute You! Photo: BC Ale Trail & Norma Ibarra

For plant-forward menus, Naked Café is perfect for a casual vegan lunch, and Frankie We Salute You! is a bright spot to sit down and enjoy a vegetarian lunch or brunch. 

While lingering is often the goal during wellness travel, sometimes you just need to grab something healthy and go. Fresh Healthy Cafe and BLKBOX both have fast options that cater to a wide variety of dietary preferences.
 

Unwind with a Contrast Therapy Experience

Loyly Floating Sauna Outside
Photo via Löyly Floating Sauna on Instagram (@loyly.kelowna)

Contrast therapy is a growing trend in the health and wellness space right now because it has a ton of benefits. In Kelowna, you can take in nature as you sweat and plunge, or you can book an indoor private experience.

Löyly Floating Sauna will have you staring off at the scenery as you cold plunge straight into Okanagan Lake (yes, even in the dead of winter). After drying off, you can head back into a Finnish-style sauna to rewarm. 

Then there’s Tality Forest Spa, a members-only sauna and cold plunge experience surrounded by pine trees. Their facilities are communal, so it’s an opportunity to care for your physical and mental wellbeing while also connecting with lovely new people. Don’t worry if you’re just visiting and you’re not a member, it’s free to become one. All you have to do is sign their membership agreement!

If a private-but-premium indoor experience is more up your alley, book in at BioShack.  

 

Grab a Mocktail or a Near Beer During Happy Hour

Cocktail Class at Born to Shake 7Mocktail or Cocktail-making class at Born To Shake. Photo: Ken Hagen

Of course, Kelowna is known for its breweries, wineries and distilleries.  But if you’re looking for some no and low-alcohol options, you won’t be disappointed. I recommend Kettle River Brewing for its non-alcoholic beer menu and Intrigue Wines in Lake Country if you’re looking for a well-vetted selection of non-alcoholic wines. For mocktails, check out The Ricco Room, The Curious Cafe or Born to Shake.

Or if you want a totally local non-alcoholic drink experience, you can taste apple soda at Farming Karma or kombucha and water kefir at MotherLove Ferments. Both businesses have tasting rooms and MotherLove offers some light bites.

 

Treat Yourself to a Farm-to-Table Dinner

Part of Spring 2022 Shoot with Andrea & Cara
Farm-To-Table Meal at Home Block Restaurant. Photo: Ken Hagen

No matter what time of year it is, Kelowna’s farm-to-table dining scene is all about wholesome, feel-good food made with the Okanagan’s freshest local ingredients.

The seasonal menu at Home Block features organic produce, locally raised meats and artisanal cheeses, all perfectly paired with their estate-grown wines. The food is as clean and pure as the vineyard views, and the chef’s tasting menu can be made plant-based if you’re so inclined.

At OAK + CRU, the focus is on hyper-local ingredients sourced within 50km of Kelowna. The result? Beautiful plates and bright flavours that taste great and leave you feeling good. With a seasonal menu and stunning lakeside setting, it’s the perfect way to indulge during your wellness escape.

 

Relieve Tension with Some Gentle Stretching


If you’re feeling tight and stiff after travelling, I highly recommend taking a candlelit Relax and Restore class at Nifty Pilates.

Sunny Space Studio also offers a vibey TLC class that focuses on “releasing tension, improving flexibility and enhancing body awareness” (according to their website). Both studios offer drop-in passes, so you can pop in and pop out no strings attached.