We recently went up to Kelowna on a family road trip to Kelowna. Jason had a wedding to attend and all us girls decided to tag along for the weekend. On this trip, we were getting to check out Hotel Zed again. We all really enjoyed our stay in Victoria and were intrigued to see what the Kelowna location was going to be like. We definitely had a fun little weekend away.
My husband is actually from Kelowna, but we still love exploring there as a family because there is still plenty for us to discover and there are so many changes every time we go. With this being a quick weekend trip, we had to keep it very simple. We wanted to explore near Hotel Zed and maybe go to a couple places a short drive away.
A PLACE TO STAY IN DOWNTOWN KELOWNA
We were looking forward to another Hotel Zed location. We had a bit of an idea of what it was going to be like; a whole lot of retro-chic fun! There is definitely nothing ordinary about this place. Our kids love that the whole place is covered in bright colours. As soon as we crossed the bridge and turned to head to downtown Kelowna they both spotted the familiar signage and colour scheme right away. The girls also immediately started asking if there was a swimming pool. To their surprise, they were also reunited with the pink and green Volkswagen Bus they had seen in Victoria!
We got settled into our room, which had a king bed and a twin bunk bed. While the bunk bed was not in a sperate room it was tucked around a corner and gave enough space for the girls to be able to settle down at night and go to sleep. They’ve since made a request to get bunk beds at home. The room had just the right amount of space for all of us on our weekend away. If you’re at Hotel Zed you have to look at what all is offered there. We popped over to the pool and visited the different patio spaces, one rooftop patio even has a great view of City Park and Okanagan Lake. At this location, there’s also a Ping Pong Lounge and Mini Disco room! You can even borrow a pair of rollerskates if you’d like.
The staff was very attentive to anything we needed. We really appreciated seeing how much attention they paid to the cleanliness of the grounds outside. We often saw a staff member outside sweeping and cleaning. Jason and I also love that there are coffee and tea in the lobby any time you would like some. This made early morning wakeups with kids much easier on us.
Zed Kelowna may not have a restaurant in the lobby like Zed Victoria, but there are plenty of coffee shops and little restaurants in the neighbourhood. All of them are just a short walk away. If you want recommendations for where to go, pop in and have a chat with the staff in the lobby before you head out. We enjoyed strolling in the park and near the lake while exploring the area surrounding the hotel.
LOTS TO DISCOVER IN KELOWNA + WE FOUND THE OGOPOGO
Our full day in Kelowna was the day of the wedding Jason was attending, but there were lots for us to explore! We found out that there was the 29th Annual Block Party happening just around the corner from Hotel Zed, and the staff highly recommended we go check it out. So I loaded up the stroller and we walked on over. This was perfect because it gave us a great opportunity to see what is available in the neighbourhood and some of the different businesses.
The girls loved playing at the bouncy houses and watching the dog races. They’d never seen anything like this before as we don’t really have a block party like this back home. They were thrilled to find the Ogopogo and get a photo taken with it. The highlight though just might be the shave ice they got to enjoy as the temperature outside started to rise. We all needed something to cool down and that was perfect!
Jason had a bit of a break between the wedding ceremony and the reception, so he joined us again and we headed out for a little hike at Knox Mountain. When he had to head back for the reception I loaded the girls into the car and took them to Scandia Golf + Games. I took a vote and the girls decided they wanted to play mini golf outside, though I do wish I had vetoed that and we had done the indoor course. We still had a great time, even with the heat. It was the first time both of them got to play mini golf and it was hilarious. Addie is a little cheater and Evie has definitely watched her Daddy play and was trying her best.
WE’LL BE BACK TO THE OKANAGAN
A weekend wasn’t enough to get to go to all the places we hoped to, but it was just right for getting away and relaxing. Our whole family enjoyed our stay at Hotel Zed, while some may not consider it to be “fancy” enough for them, we liked the simplicity and the location. Plus the pool was a major hit, the girls would have stayed there all day if we let them. Next time we go, we really want to go back to the Kangaroo Creek Farm. We’ll be back to the Okanagan again soon and we hope to check out much more!
Wow, this all sounds like so much fun! What a great family vacation. The hotel looks super colorful and fun for the kids as well!
-Jennifer
https://maunelegacy.com
What a fun family getaway! Looks like such a kid friendly place to visit!
Looks and sounds like you had so much fun!
It looks like you had so much fun! And that hotel looks so cute and kid-friendly as well. Perfect for families!