Trip chapter 11
Vancouver to Kelowna
A riverfront stretch in Hope led to a hot Kelowna stay with an indoor dog-friendly brewery and another off-leash beach.
We left Vancouver on July 5 and headed inland towards Kelowna. Hope made a useful halfway break where all of us could get out, stretch our legs and spend a little time beside the river.
A riverfront break in Hope
Fisherman Rotary Centennial Park sat directly beside the Fraser River, surrounded by steep mountains. The carvings and waterfront gave us much more to look at than a basic highway rest area.
A welcome kit with one casualty
In Kelowna, we checked into Accent Inns. They charged a $20 daily pet fee and supplied a bowl, bandana and poop bags for Tilly.
There was also a little rubber duck in the bathroom for us to take as a souvenir. Tilly found it and had it torn to pieces within seconds. It was impressive, even if the duck did not survive long enough to come home.
Accent Inns Kelowna
A practical dog-friendly hotel that supplied a bowl, bandana and poop bags for a $20 daily pet fee.
Read our Accent Inns Kelowna notes →Inside at Unleashed
Unleashed Brewing Company did more than provide a dog-friendly patio: Tilly was welcome inside the taproom. The whole place leaned into its love of dogs, right down to the souvenirs, and we bought Tilly another bandana.
Unleashed Brewing Company
A dog-focused Kelowna brewery where Tilly was welcome inside and could pick up a souvenir bandana.
Read our Unleashed Brewing notes →Several nearby bars also appeared to have dog-friendly patios, giving the brewery district useful alternatives for anyone visiting in cooler weather.
Lunch in the heat
Kelowna was brutally hot during our visit. Leopold's Tavern was one of the few places open by lunchtime and welcomed Tilly on its patio, but the temperature encouraged us to finish early and keep moving rather than sit outside for long.
Leopold's Tavern Kelowna
A downtown tavern with a dog-friendly patio and unusually useful lunchtime hours during our visit.
Read our Leopold's Tavern Kelowna notes →We explored the waterfront after lunch, passing the Ogopogo figure and marina before finding somewhere Tilly could cool down properly.
Back into the water
Lake Avenue Dog Off-Leash Beach gave Tilly a chance to run into Okanagan Lake and play with several other dogs. She had a great time, although the beach itself was not as nice as Hadden Beach in Vancouver.
The area was not fenced, and stakes in the ground seemed to mark the limits of the public dog beach. It worked for supervised play, but it required more attention than a securely enclosed dog park.
Lake Avenue Dog Off-Leash Beach
A small unfenced dog beach where Tilly could swim and play with other dogs in Okanagan Lake.
Read our Lake Avenue Beach notes →