Our fall media familiarization (FAM) tours wrapped in mid-October with a wellness- and culture-focused content creator tour that combined indulgence and inspiration. The trip, Glowing & Flowing: Fall in Kelowna, was designed to balance quintessential Okanagan experiences with moments of calm, connection, and flavour. 

Our three visiting content creators—Ashley Kizito (@theashleyrhapsody), Beige Bassig (@colormebeige), and Rebecca Felgate (@missrebeccaj)—enjoyed an itinerary that blended harvest stops at wineries, farms, and craft beverage producers with wellness-minded experiences. Throughout the FAM tour, we leaned into our culinary theme so the three creators could truly taste Kelowna, now designated as Canada's first UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

One of the strongest takeaways from the trip was how interconnected our community is. In Kelowna, collaboration not just a buzzword; it shows up in small details and big flavours.

Our cocktail experience at Born to Shake explored how local mixers and syrups are crafted. These same products then showed up on menus at other itinerary stops, including Luckhurst Farm & Distillery and Meadow Vista Honey Wines. The connection between the various producers and businesses carried through to the fields—while pumpkin picking and squash hunting, our group learned that chefs from Old Vines Restaurant had been there moments earlier, gathering the same varieties for their dining specials.

The group heard from Chef Brian Skinner at Frankie We Salute You!, who discussed the restaurant's close connection (and location) to the Kelowna Farmers' & Crafters' Market and how the Chef's team takes weekly trips to gather the freshest ingredients for their plant-based menu. Cocktails at Bernie’s Supper Club & Cinema showcased fresh Okanagan pears in a seasonal feature aptly named The Market. Throughout all these stops and others, the journey from farm to plate (or orchard to shaker to glass) was easy to see and even easier to taste.

Balance was a guiding principle for the trip. so in between tastings and meals, creators stretched their legs on waterfront paths downtown and took in the sweeping views at Myra Canyon Trestles. The rhythm of footsteps on old railway ties, the quiet crunch of leaves, the sun warming larch and pine. It all worked as a gentle reset before the next round of farm stands, cellar doors, and kitchen stories. Accommodation at The Royal Kelowna and the Outside Inn at Niche Wine Company also provided the perfect retreat after each day of discovery.

Each creator arrived with a high bar for food and drink. Many hail from cities known for their culinary options, which made their reactions even more meaningful. What impressed them most was not only the quality of the dishes and pours, but the way Kelowna’s flavours are grounded in the land. Menus shift with what the growers pull from the soil, while cocktails are filled with fruit picked from the tree only hours earlier. The throughline is a generous one. People here work with the land, not against it, which gives our food and drink an honest sense of place.

We are grateful to our local partners who opened their doors, shared their craft, and made the season sing:

Bernie's Supper Club & Cinema | Bohemian Café | Born to Shake | CedarCreek Estate Winery | Central Kitchen + Bar | Crown & Thieves Winery | Fancy’s Cocktails & Coldcuts | Frankie We Salute You! | Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery | Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market | Luckhurst Farm & Distillery | Meadow Vista Honey Wines | Niche Wine Co. | Old Vines Restaurant | Paynter’s Fruit Market | Room + Pillar Spa | Sprout Bread | The Hatching Post | The Royal Kelowna

Thank you as well to Destination BC for their ongoing collaboration and support. Together, we've showcased a fall experience that is warm, flavourful, and deeply memorable. Kelowna continues to shine as one of Canada’s most inspiring four-season destinations.

If you would like to learn more about Tourism Kelowna’s Travel Media program, connect with me at darby@tourismkelowna.com or with my colleague, Lindsay Kelm, Travel Media & Communications, at lindsay.kelm@tourismkelowna.com.