Penticton, BC boasts one of the finest locations anywhere, nestled in the southern Okanagan Valley between Okanagan and Skaha Lakes and surrounded by mountain peaks. Its agreeable climate and fertile valley make it a centre for fruit orchards and vineyards yielding some of Canada’s finest wines. Outdoor recreation possibilities run the gamut from countless kilometres of hiking trails to biking, paddling, mountaineering, or just relaxing on the beach. While there is a lot to do, here are 13 things that we think you shouldn’t miss.
Take a Walk along Okanagan Beach
Lining the south end of Okanagan Lake, sandy and picture-perfect Okanagan Beach is in many ways the heart of Penticton. Lakeshore Drive along the beach is home to many top hotels, resorts and restaurants, plus it’s a short stroll to the downtown area.
Relive Okanagan Lake’s shipping history
At the west end of Okanagan Beach the SS Sicamous, a sternwheeler dating to 1914, is Penticton’s main landmark. It plied the waters of Okanagan Lake until it was retired in 1936. You can tour the luxurious ship, now part of a Heritage Park.
Two other historic vessels sit next to the Sicamous. The SS Naramata, a tug boat operating on the lake from 1914 to 1967, is the last freshwater steam tug boat operating in Canada. The last tug boat of any kind to operate on the lake is also here – the diesel-powered Canadian National Tug Boat No. 6, which marked the end of an era when it was retired in 1973.
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Practically next to the historic ship, the Penticton Rose Garden encourages you to slow down and enjoy the peaceful setting. This small park brings a visual and aromatic delight with a gazebo, walking trail, and benches.
See the Giant Peach
As you walk to the east end of the beach, you can’t miss the giant peach. Over the years, it has served various uses, from an information booth to an ice cream stand. Any way you look at it, peaches are so important to Penticton that they even hold an annual Peach Festival at harvest time with entertainment, sports, live music and more.
Take in the Saturday Farmers Market
If you’re visiting on a weekend, don’t miss the weekly Saturday Farmers’ Market on Main Street – considered one of the more popular farmers’ markets around. It’s easy to get to – just a few blocks down the street from the giant peach. As we might expect, this rich agricultural region has a lot to offer. But it’s much more than fruits and veggies; fresh baked delights, take-out food, and an eclectic selection of arts and crafts vendors round out the many stalls. Their slogan is “Make it, Bake it, Grow it”.
Take a Drive along Naramata Road
Naramata, a small town 16 km north of Penticton along Okanagan Lake’s east shore, is reached via one of the area’s most scenic roads, lined with vineyards, wineries, and lake and mountain views. Watch for the turnoff to Munson Mountain, where a short walk up from the parking lot takes you to a viewpoint with sweeping panoramas of the vineyards, the lake, and Penticton in the distance.
Savour the Wines
This is reason enough for a visit. We can find around 80 wineries within a 20-minute drive of Penticton and at least that many again farther south. Many wineries have tasting rooms, and some have restaurants attached, such as Poplar Grove Winery just off Naramata Road, where excellent food and wine come with one of the finest views around. For serious wine tasting, it’s best to sign up for an organized trip with a tour operator so you don’t have to worry about driving.
Sip some Ciders
With apple orchards everywhere, it’s not surprising that cider making has developed into a major business around Penticton. But what we did find surprising was the extent to which ciders have expanded into markets that were traditionally the domain of fine table wines, and how it’s not just about apples anymore.
We had a most enjoyable tasting at La Petite Abeille (the Little Bee) along Naramata Road. They specialize in elegant dry ciders intended for pairing with food, all made from fruits from their orchard. Our favourite was their Pear Charmat from Bartlett pears and made similar to sparkling wines such as Prosecco. For other ciders they use apricots, black currants, honey, and, of course, apples.
Sample the Suds
While we’re in the imbibing mood, let’s check out the craft beer scene. With one of the highest concentrations of breweries per capita in the country, Lonely Planet once dubbed Penticton as Canada’s Craft Beer Capital. Each puts its own special spin on brewing.
If you like the idea of quaffing a fine brew while feeling environmentally responsible, be sure to visit western Canada’s first carbon-neutral brewery. Tin Whistle Brewery, run by Alexis Esseltine and Timothy Scoon, has come up with innovative ways to reach zero-waste (feeding CO2 to algae, for example) while at the same time winning awards in the Canada Beer Cup.
Hike or Bike part of the KVR Trail
Penticton has more trails than you can shake a walking stick at. But the most famous is the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, or KVR. The former railway once ran for over 600 km through southern BC through spectacular landscapes. The most popular and accessible stretch winds through the stunning landscapes between Penticton and Naramata. You can start right in Penticton or at a number of road-accessible trailheads along the way. Since it follows the railway route, the grade is more gentle and gradual.
Visit Little Tunnel
The Little Tunnel, north of Naramata and part of the KVR Trail, was originally blasted through solid rock high on a cliff overlooking the lake. But the nice part is that you can drive there as well as walk or bike.
After winding up mountain roads, we turned onto the last 3-km stretch, which was the old railway bed, narrow and hugging the edge of the cliff. Fortunately, we didn’t encounter oncoming traffic or one of us would have had to back up a long way. The road ends at a parking lot just steps from the 80-metre-long tunnel, where the ceiling is still covered in soot from steam trains, and a picnic site provides a breathtaking view.
Ride the KVR Steam Railway
While the KVR hasn’t operated since 1989, a short section of track was saved and now runs as a tourist train, complete with a 1912-vintage steam locomotive. It operates out of Summerland, just north of Penticton on the west shore of the lake. The delightful trip is filled with history, dynamite scenery and even wildlife encounters if you’re lucky. We’ll be getting into more detail in a future posting devoted to that trip.
Stroll through the Summerland Ornamental Gardens
Many visitors head straight to the KVR Railway when visiting Summerland, often overlooking these dazzling gardens just off the highway into town. The 15-acre site was originally a Dominion Experimental Farm established in 1914 to demonstrate how to farm and garden in the dry Okanagan climate. When the government closed the site in 1991, it was taken over by a local gardening society to continue the work of educating the public about sustainable gardening practices and maintaining the beauty of the historic gardens.
Resources
Visit Penticton has a wealth of information on their website about things to do, how to plan your trip, and events.
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