Blog? What blog?

... and as far as which is prettier - Kamloops or Kelowna - I'll rely on Rich_007's unbiased opinion.

Kelowna does have the ugly highway going right through the middle of it, malls off either side and fast food everywhere. But beyond the Highway it's beautiful and I can't think of a better place to live.

Hey, perfectly entitled!...I know Rich & Wife Personally, and we have had the good fortune to visit our equal lovely abodes....
There is much to offer in as Rich would put it 'This Temperate Narnian Paradise'

Yah and I said it before in previous threads on the subject, the Loops makes an extremely attractive alternative - similar central Interior location, weather, ski hills close by, awesome mountain biking, real estate is cheaper, cheaper cost of living, approx same distance to Van, Kootenays, Shushwap, competitions capital of Canada [official kinda thingy ma bob] etc. You can grocery shop, buy a vehicle, get a haircut, eat at decent-to-great restaurants, polish yer bobbin etc just like any reasonably sized Canadian city.

Oh and there's less stuck up rude dumb asshat millionaires in the Loops.

Rich.

Now that's a benefit I didn't consider.

Easy fella, that's the strip in all it's noisy brash overpriced shimmering flourescent bling bling mini skirted wifebeater wearing tattoed glory what goes on in the strip stays in the strip

Rich.

Hi Mr Hopeful,

I guess I could be called Mr Biased - lol.

I have now been here for 11 Months and have got myself very integrated into the city.

Interesting read of the threads. I think that there are some very different attributes between Kelowna and Kamloops and I personally feel that it is very hard to compare the two places.

Ocean MDX - just out of curiosity do you live in Kelowna? The people I have met here in Kamloops are very biased towards Kamloops and the people in Kelowna are often likewise. In fact I find it interesting that both the tourist boards and even the radio stations often spar with each other and have 'pops'. This in my belief, is because the people that choose each city choose wisely for their own reasons and possibly move, depending on their needs.

For example, Kamloops Lake is out of town but very beautiful - they are building a new marina golf course and equestrian center on the edge of it. Our views are of mountains. Yes we do have truck run aways in city limits but there again these roads are well outside the actual city - in fact from Kamloops to Rayleigh you have a 10 minute drive through country patrolled by coyotes and still dont leave the city limits - so please do not think of city limits in a UK way!!!!

We have extreme downhill biking and great cross-country terrain on the grasslands - so from a biking point of view - thumbs up.

Fishing - they say you can fish a different lake every day of your life - I have tried several now and seen others with fish like in the photos. Some lakes have a maximum catch of 2 while others go up to 6. Some have bait restrictions, some motor boat restictions etc etc etc - but yes you can fish lots of lakes and rivers on the one licence - I think mine was about 36 dollars.

Golf - some 18 hole some 9 hole most do not require membership and don't care about handicaps.

Skiing - well awsome champagne powder for down hill, lots of cross country, snow shoing, skidoing or just hanging around the small village - this is being expanded to a second village to cater with all the people that are going - but no lift queues - down the hill - onto a lift and straight back up one of the many runs. We have two resorts - Sun Peaks and Harper Mountain - Harper is great for a bit of fun and practising techniques. I have been on there and not seen any other skiiers on the top runs.

Traffic - well watch out - I left work at 5:00pm and got caught in the local jam. There were constantly 3 cars in front of me at every traffic light and some lights even caught me on red - what a bad day on the way back from work - it delayed me by 5 mins getting home.

I will check in again tommorow and answer other questions.

Oh and thanks to whoever posted the Venture Kamloops link - I am a Director on the Board of Venture Kamloops looking out for anyone who settles here from UK and interested in your views. We are setting out to make the settling transition and pairing skilled workers to jobs better for both the City and the newcomers - so yes, Some would say I am biased - but that is because I love this place so much I am keen to share the secret delights of 'My Paradise'.

I also appreciate why Kelowna is Paradise to other but it is not for me.

We're planning a trip to Kamloops very soon, really looking forward to checking the place out.
We're slowly getting around the area, been to Osoyoos, Penticton, Vernon & Peachland. Driven past Summerland and have a fishing trip planned to Trout Lake (can't remember where it is exactly). Each place has it own individual character and charm, really nice.
Fraid it's Kelownafornia for me though

Ya gotta visit Kamloops Zoo - they have a real life cougar, not the garden variety either.

Ah.....summertime in Kelownafornia means silicon valley time

Rich.

I don't live in Kelowna or Kamloops, so I guess I could be called Mr. Unbiased.

I'm just traveling around BC (currently in Vernon) in my motor home as I spend 6 months/yr in Mexico.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't knocking Kamloops at all - I just think the Okanagan Valley is more beautiful. But like I said, it's all very subjective. Kamloops is kind of neat because it is so hilly - probably the hilliest city in the country.

Hi Rich,

Yes he's a cute cuddly Cougar for sure - I still remember the way he licked his lips as he watched us all go past his pen in that little train.

Summer time here varies depending on where you live. Up on this hill we sure get the sun in the day time - record so far is about 47 degrees Celsius. But then we get the breeze early evening. The other side the Vally is a lot cooler through the summer but a lot more snow in the winter. Down the bottom is hot and lots of peeps with swimming pools and no cool evening breeze. I also hear they do us a service as Mozzie bait - a few Mozzies come up here but most are happy with the food source living down below.

It intrigues me the way recorded temperature for the City is taken at the airport in the shade - but with so many micro-climates around it needs to be somewhere that is about average.

Our peaches are growing well at the side of the house - when they are ripe you will have to come up and try a fresh off the tree Kamloops peach.

I always fancy a nice soft ripe peach
& we need to go visit the mountain hillbillies soon..... I needs moonshine and chewin' baccy.

Rich.

Hey- No Problem.

Like I say we all pick for different reasons. As for Hilly we are the home of the Rocky Mountaineer.

Not sure about Kamloops from a tourist point of view - most of my visits were fact finding. There is a lot to do but not easy to find - a lot of information is tied up in local knowledge not in glossy brochures. Rose Hill is a world class down Hill Bike run - but to find it you have to ask a local - no sign post, No obvious car park - park and follow the guy in front.

From a Living here point of view the community spirit is awsome. My wife and I got invited to a local branding with BBQ and loads of food, we were allowed to join in with cattle wrestling and met even more awsome people. Every-one can tell you of a local hidden gem to visit - and no hords of people - well no suprises - no signs for other to find the places. Any-one ever heard of the beaches dotted around Kamloops? The Grasslands? Rose Hill? Hrper Mountain?etc etc etc

Now that you mention Kamloops from a tourist view point vs. living there, I do have one beef about Kamloops - it doesn't have a single decent RV park! The Okanagan has several very nice RV parks - from Osoyoos to Mabel Lake.

Hi Airseir, tried to PM you but your folder is full, currently heading to Kelowna with my family to join Rich and co. Hope you don't find this cheeky but we considered Kamloops mainly because on the line of work I am in. I have worked for National Grid in the UK for 27 years as an engineer, now manager - HV Substations (would have to seek employment as a technologist or manager due to P.Eng licensing issues, currently member of ASTT in BC) etc. I have been trying to seek employment with BC Hydro (for the last 3 years) which I believe have a depot in Kamloops. Also one in Vernon (UK spell checker keeps wanting to change it to Vermin for some reason) but have been told all vacancies go to internal applicants as it is a desirable location.
If you come across any people I can network in the industry I would be much obliged for their contact details. It appears these people are like gold dust to locate.
My family and I have PR and hope to finally come over for good as soon as my voluntary redundancy comes through.

Good to see the lively debate Kelowna vs Kamloops - think both have their Merritt's (no pun intended) and would live in either for similar reasons.

Paul