The Great Escape: 3 days in Kelowna with a toddler
After we recovered from our failed trip to Victoria, we set our sights on Kelowna. Everyone had been telling us we had to experience the Okanagan, but I’ll be honest: I wasn't entirely sure how a 4.5-hour drive would go with Yuyu. In the end, I’m so glad we went for it! My goal was to plan a trip that balanced kid-specific fun but also allowed us to soak up the "cool vibes" of the city.
The Journey: A Detour to Harrison Hot Springs
We went back and forth on whether we should just power through the drive or take a detour. Ultimately, nostalgia won out. Jamie remembered visiting Harrison Hot Springs as a child and going to a “fancy” German restaurant that he absolutely loved.
The Vibe: A cute resort village, though busy (parking took forever!). We let Yuyu run on the grass by the lake before hitting the road.
The Snack Situation:The Black Forest Restaurant – They’ve been open since 1975! We re-lived Jamie's childhood memory and sat on the patio with a welcoming breeze coming off Harrison Lake. Yuyu was introduced to some great schnitzel and spätzle. There are a bunch of other places to eat and get dessert along the waterfront strip.
Potty Proximity: A proper bathroom with a change table, road trip gold.
Our Basecamp
We stayed at: Best Western Plus hotel and Suitesin the Kitchenette Suite.
Whenever we travel with Yuyu, we try to find reasonably priced suites. It's a tried and tested approach for everyone to have a happy hotel stay. We get a room to ourselves where we can actually chill in bed and watch a movie or chat without worrying that every movement will wake her up. Meanwhile, Yuyu is happily asleep in her crib in the living area with her sound machine.
I was really happy with our hotel choice for a couple of other reasons:
The Perks:
The Breakfast: I’m a total sucker for a complimentary hot breakfast. It wasn’t extravagant, but having eggs, fruit, and pastries ready to go is a huge morning win.
The Pool: They have an indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub. All three of us loved our time in the hot tub.
Free Parking
BBQ: The courtyard has a green space and a BBQ for guests to use which added to the communal family vacation feel.
Kelowna Downtown Marina
Where we spent our Wake Windows:
There is so much to do and see in Kelowna it was hard to pick but, we were so happy with the places we visited and would happily recommend them all as fun for the whole family.
Kelowna downtown Martina
Official info: https://www.kelownadowntownmarina.com/
I’m so glad we did this stunning 2km walk. It’s entirely stroller-friendly and loops around the edge of Okanagan Lake and the Marina. You pass through parks, beaches and tourist attractions. Yuyu loved pointing out the boats,
Mum Musings: There is an infectious energy of passersby along the path which we enjoyed soaking up.Doing this in the late afternoon meant we also caught a marvelous sunset.
SOMA Craft Cidery
We couldn't come to the Okanagan and not visit any vineyards or cideries, and we chose SOMA specifically for the kid-friendly vibes.
The Drinks: They have delicious food and ciders (Jamie got some to take home), but the real star was the apple juice, truthfully the best we’ve ever had! Yuyu chugged her glass so fast all we could do was laugh.
The Setup: They have perfected the outdoor space with shaded seating, lounging chairs, a picnic area, and plenty of green space for Yuyu to run around.
The Alpacas: There is actually an Alpaca farm right on the property, which was a fun, unexpected highlight for a cidery visit.
Mission Hill Winery
A friend told me we couldn’t leave Kelowna without seeing this place. The grounds of Canada’s winery of the year are stunning! While there was no dresscode, I immediately felt underdressed!
The Reality: While it feels fancy, kids are welcome in the Salons and the restaurant. We considered the Terrace restaurant but opted out when we realized it was a set 2 or 3-course wine-paired lunch. A 2-year-old + formal wine pairing didn’t quite make sense. But, hopefully we can come back one day.
I expected a market with various stalls, but it’s actually a lovely family-owned farm store with a cafe.
The walls are filled with photos of the Singh family, who settled here over 100 years ago. As we were waiting for our lunch (authentic Indian food and smoothies), one of the owners came out of the kitchen with her daughter, who was about Yuyu's age. Yuyu kept eyeing the little girl’s raspberries, and this kind mother went back to the kitchen and brought Yuyu her very own plate of berries.
Watching those two girls bond over fruit is a sweet memory. Plus, the staff didn't even blink at the mess of rice Yuyu left on the floor and kindly shooed us out when we tried to clean up a bit. They really’ get’ life with a toddler. We bought some fresh baked goods and left happy and full.
Paul’s Tomb Hike
We really wanted to get a hike in to enjoy the views, so we opted for Paul’s Tomb on Knox Mountain. It was a hot day and Jamie ended up carrying Yuyu for most of the 4km trek.
The Trail: We started at the end of Poplar Point Drive, where there is free parking. It’s a well-groomed trail with benches along the way for breaks, though there are a couple of steeper inclines. The views of Okanagan Lake were well worth the effort!
The Kids' Perspective: Yuyu certainly couldn't walk it fully on her own, but older children could definitely manage it.
The Ending: We reached the point where we could see the beach that was promised! However, Yuyu fell asleep halfway through. Instead of waking her to play in the water, we decided to just turn back and let her sleep.
This was the "Yuyu Specific" hit of the vacation, and she absolutely loved it! It was my first time seeing kangaroos and wallabies up close, too.
The Experience: They roam around right next to you and you can even feed them. At first, we found it a bit disconcerting to be so close, but we quickly got used to it.
More Than Just Kangaroos: There is so much to see beyond the roos. We spent over 2 hours looking at various birds, tortoises, bunnies, and more.
A Word of Caution: You have to be "actively parenting" here. It’s important to make sure your kids are being safe and respectful given how close the animals are.
Logistics: Leave the stroller in the car; the ground is too uneven for wheels. There is free parking on-site, a designated picnic area, and food available to purchase if you need a snack break.
The Verdict (and the Vows!)
Would we do it again? Absolutely. Kelowna is well worth the drive.
Our Travel Vows:
Stay Longer: I would have loved at least two more days. It feels like we only just scratched the surface.
Harrison Revisit: I’d love to plan a full weekend in Harrison Hot Springs - it’s so close to Vancouver and has such a great energy!
Author
I’m Mimi, the writer behind Mi & Yu. This blog was born out of a year spent exploring Vancouver with my toddler Yuyu and newborn son Gabe while my husband Jamie worked through a demanding fellowship.
What started as a way to survive the newborn phase turned into a collection of tried-and-tested family adventures, real reviews, tested logistics, and the occasional toddler meltdown included. Now back home in Newfoundland, I’m sharing those adventures so other parents can skip the decision fatigue and get straight to the fun part.
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