Less than 15 days until Christmas and if you are like me, you maybe procrastinated buying gifts for everyone. I’ve put together a short list of local ideas and sources for Kelowna/Outdoor inspired gifts for your friends and families to help you when you are done procrastinating!
Gift Card for a Food Adventure: This is a great idea for your friends and relatives that come to visit every year but also for locals! Who doesn’t love getting to know some of the new (and old favourite) dining spots in town? Food Tours Kelowna is new on the scene but run by a food blogger that I have been following for years – I can’t wait to see what spots her tour will take us to!
Biggie Card/Pow Pass – It’s hard to go wrong with the gift of outdoor adventures. Both of our closest ski hills offer discount cards. These cards are essentially a prepaid day of skiing with discounted follow up days and allow direct to lift access. Pow Passes with Silverstar Resort need to be purchased online and it appears that for the 2019-2020 season the sale is now over so put this on the list for next year! Biggie Cards are available for purchase all season at local retailers like Fresh Air and Sport Chek so you don’t even need to go to the hill to get one (if you don’t want to!).
French Press and Coffee – Got a coffee lover on your list? Pick up a French Press and some beans from one of the local coffee roasters. We love Cherryhill and Canoe Coffee Roasters
Reflective Gear – Kelowna is an active community but like the rest of Canada gets dark early so being a walker, runner or cyclist in the winter is a risky under taking. Reflective gear is a must (although also great would be for motorists to slow down and pay attention but that’s a whole other topic). My favourite spot to pick up reflective gear and other lights and safety measures is MEC – they have everything from full on reflective jackets to safety vests and sashes to arm bands and small reflectors to clip to bags, hats, pets, and wherever else you think some additional light and reflection is required.
Punch Pass for H20 – Another gift of activity, a punch pass for H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre is a fun idea. This facility has lane pools, a couple of waterslides, lazy river, an indoor surf simulator and a fun splash park for families.
Hat and Mitts – A bit more on the practical side but still a great idea. You really can’t have too many winter hats and mittens. Good sources for hats and mitts: Hudsons Bay for Canada Olympic mitts (always a hit!) and hats, Sport Chek, One Board Shop and MEC are all good options to find what you need.
Collection of fun treats from one of our speciality grocery stores: As much fun to shop for as it is to give, create a basket full of globally inspired foods. Not sure where to go? Try these shops: Illichman’s, The Mediterranean Market (1570 Gordon Dr.), Sun Asian Market ( 2009 Enterprise Way), Oriental Supermarket, or San’s Latin Market (14-1771 Cooper Road) to start. (Feel free to let me know about other favourites).
Anything handcrafted by a local artisan – on any weekend you can find at least half a dozen markets and craft fair happening, stop in and browse. The Okanagan has an amazing variety of talented crafters you’ll be sure to find something! Not sure where to start? Try the Kelowna Indoor Farmers Market, hosted every Saturday at Parkinson Rec. Other good bets – the Laurel Packing House (almost every weekend in December you can find a market here), Churches in your neighbourhood, or your Favourite Winery or Brewery (most host at least one pop up market a month).
Okanagan Lifestyle Shirt or other gear. Quickly becoming the the most recognizable logo representing Kelowna/the Okanagan, Okanagan Lifestyle carries shirts, hats, socks, mugs and now Pela cell phone cases. The four icon logo with the maple leaf, snowflake, sun and wave really represent what life in the Okanagan is about. Yo can find them at their own shop as well as select retailers throughout the valley (see their site for locations).
Growler and Gift Card for a fill from one of the amazing breweries or cider houses. I’m a fan of the design of the Rustic Reel Growlers (and their beer of course) but if you are looking for something festive, check out BNA for their holiday inspired growler, or for something edgier – Kettle River has some fun designs to choose from.
Happy Gifting!
Outside in Kelowna
Outside in Kelowna 