Kelowna, British Columbia

If you want a summer suntan, big crowds and cheek-by-jowl nightlife – none of which you'd readily associate with the British Columbian interior – then KELOWNA ("grizzly bear" in the Salish dialect) – is the place to come. Compared with other interior towns, Kelowna (pop.109,000) ranks as a sprawling metropolis, and to the unsuspecting visitor its approaches come as a very unpleasant surprise – particularly the appalling conglomeration of motels, garages and fast-food outlets on Hwy 97 at the north end of town.

That said, the lakefront and beaches, though heavily developed, aren't too bad, and off-season Kelowna's downtown can make a good respite from mountains and forests. Remarkable jumps in population have taken place over the last few years, mostly due to its popularity with retirees.