Tl;dr – Flights between Vancouver and the Okanagan offer some fantastic views.
After a fun few days in Vancouver, it was time to fly out to the Okanagan Valley for some wine tasting. Our wine-tasting adventures would have us checking out a few spots throughout the valley, starting up in Kelowna and concluding down in Osoyoos, close to where we were staying – Spirit Ridge, part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. I decided it made sense to fly into Kelowna, make our stops on the way down to Osoyoos, and then, when it was time to depart, fly out of Penticton, which is about halfway between Osoyoos and Kelowna, preventing a full drive back. #no-backtracks.
Both flights were on fun, smaller aircraft that offered great views of the beauty of British Columbia.
Vancouver (YVR) to Kelowna (YLW) – Air Canada
The 53-minute flight out from Vancouver to the Okanagan was operated by Air Canada Jazz – a regional subsidiary that employs a De Havilland Dash 8-400 as part of its fleet. I’m not particularly knowledgeable about non-flagship aircraft, and I can confidently say this was my first time onboard this twin-turboprop aircraft.
As we departed the city, we were treated to views of the North Shore Mountains, Coast Mountains, and the Cascade Mountains.
Closing in on Kelowna, I spotted some vineyards set amongst the patches of trees and farms below.
After touching down at Kelowna Airport, we snagged a car rental and went about our way.
Penticton (YYF) to Vancouver (YVR)
In comparison to Kelowna Airport, Penticton is a lot smaller – a landing strip with a storefront.
Scheduled for just about an hour of flight time, our carrier for the day was the world-famous Pacific Coastal Airlines, and we were flying another fun plane – a Beechcraft 1900 twin-turboprop…
…with ample cabin space.
This flight was truly remarkable as we flew into the sunset, offering some breathtaking views.
As I sat onboard the tight-quartered plane, I looked out the window to see the setting sun over the BC mountains and noticed the insignia of an elk (it could also be a caribou or reindeer, but I know it’s NOT a moose!) on the wingtip; I got the craving for some maple syrup.
It all just felt so Canadian.
Fun fact: each of Pacific Coastal Airlines planes has a different image on its wingtip and tail, representing something about British Columbian culture – indeed, the “Tale of the Tails.”
We touched down in Vancouver and headed to the Westin Wall to get some rest before flying out in the morning—short but fun flights with some incredible scenery.
