Lookout for the spawning Kokanee Salmon if you’re here in the fall. Plus, I highly recommend trying stand-up paddleboarding if you haven’t done it before. Oh my goodness this post is amaaaazing! From Kelowna, continue 53 km (33 mi) north through Lake Country. Although if you’ve got the time, splurge on spending a week or two exploring the area. Thank you for being such stars and giving so much information! I can’t say I’ve stopped there yet, but I’ve heard they have old-fashioned ice cream and dairy products, plus a mini zoo.
Tastings are available all day for as long as they are open. I’m sure it’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs. It’s a decent-sized restaurant perfect for small or large groups. Here are the approximate driving distances: Calgary → Kelowna = 7 hour drive, 605 km stop for a picnic, paddle or swim. Indulge your senses with fresh, fragrant flavours and local produce on a road trip through the Okanagan Valley. Lakeside waves, orchards fresh for picking, wine tastings up every hillside, campgrounds and RV parks galore–welcome to the Okanagan. – Little did I know there was more than just wineries and breweries out here. This 6-day itinerary through the Okanagan Valley is perfect for wine and outdoor enthusiasts. Top things to do in Vernon, Okanagan Valley, 50+ Things to Do in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Holiday Beach Resort Motel, Okanagan Falls, 70+ Things to Do in Penticton and the Southern Okanagan Valley, 40+ Things to Do in Summerland, British Columbia, 30+ Awesome Things to Do in Vernon, British Columbia, Riding the Pipe Mountain Coaster at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC, 14 Unique Things to Do on the Sunshine Coast, BC, Meander between the many wineries found on this parallel drive but don’t miss, Those feeling more active should take a hike to, Just above the community of Okanagan Falls, the, Fruit, vegetables, coffee, street food, crafts and more – the Saturday morning, The perfect compliment to your new wine purchases (above), pick up some locally made cheese at, Floating the Channel is an absolute must do in Penticton in summer!
Grilled cheese with prosciutto and local greens at Miradoro restaurant. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} From Osoyoos to Vernon, taste your way through the Valley against a backdrop of sun-soaked lakes and mountains. – A popular place for families and kids: 10 waterslides, a picnic area, ice cream, mini golf–lots to do on a hot day! The Oldfield 2Bench series is quite popular, but since I’m a sucker for sweet wines, I picked up a Gewurztraminer for $12 (lucky me, it was on sale). The Osoyoos area is warmer than the rest of the Okanagan so there’s often a bit more variety in the types of fruit you can pick, but of course it depends on the season. We are heading for a long weekend next week, so I will book mark as many of these as I can. – A lovely bookstore that has discounts on a wide range of new and popular books in downtown Kelowna. It’s a nice picnic spot with plenty of trees for shade. is the ‘lake of a thousand colours.’ Distinct turquoise, green and blue hues are created from limestone deposits when the lake warms forming crystals that reflect off the sunlight. This one at Knox Mountain is shaded with trees, has some interesting higher level terrain, and you can opt to play halfway at the nine hole, or the entire course at 18 holes. It’s open year-round and donations for admission are appreciated but not required. 3 to 7 days, 254.17 km (157.93 mi) Indulge in fresh local produce on a road trip through the Okanagan. Come join us on our adventures! – Another sign I kept noticing along the highway but didn’t get a chance to check out. – So it seems the Okanagan has no shortage of Italian restaurants, but who’s complaining? The Miradoro restaurant here is open for lunch and dinner. Dominion Radio Observatory. So here we go peeps. Fall Festival Weekend, Featuring Cask & Keg and Festival of the Grape (Oliver, October), Okanagan Feast of Fields (Kelowna, August), Light Up The Vines (Summerland, November), Planet Bee Honey Farm & Honeymoon Meadery, Great Estate Wine Experience Centre, Penticton, Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre, Holiday Park RV & Condo Resort, Lake Country, Prestige Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre, North Thompson/Columbia Icefields Parkway Loop. The Okanagan Valley is hard to beat for a lazy summer road trip. Petting kangaroos and cabybaras is totally possible in Canada thanks to the Kangaroo Creek Farm. Look out for the “U-Pick” signs all along Highway 97 and pick your farm or orchard where you can harvest some of your own fruits or vegetables straight from the original source. Vernon is home to a few other unique Okanagan attractions. We love sharing these experiences to inspire and help others to do the same. The cafe is all about supporting the local community so the coffee comes from nearby places like Vernon. Fun things to do in Summerland and Peachland, Okanagan Valley. There is a bird observatory, accessible via a short boardwalk, at the northern end of the lake. – Take advantage of that hot summer weather and go for a round of disc golf. The staff are upbeat and will pour you nearly every type of wine they have (three white wines, three red wines, six dessert wines). Inspiring others to live a creative life of travel is my goal. It’s just off Highway 97 north of Kelowna. This shop has been running since 1902 and the store has quite the assortment of cheese you can sample and buy. If you go prepared, it doesn’t have to be just a long and boring car ride. Having a zen moment here at the Kasugai Gardens. A must for booklovers! This site features affiliate links for products and services. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. La Casa Ouzeria is a family-run Italian and Greek restaurant serving up traditional dishes with Mediterranean-like decor. The whole of the Okanagan Valley is true lake country, but the small town of Vernon may be positioned on the most beautiful of them all. I had high hopes I would be more […], Where did September go? Road trips are awesome because it can be a very affordable way to travel, especially for families and larger groups.
Seriously. – A super cute (and naturally busy) cafe, head here for your dose of caffeine, brunch, or beer and wine in the evening. The wine shop offers free tastings for eight of their wines. Lakeside waves, orchards fresh for picking, wine tastings up every hillside, campgrounds and RV parks galore–welcome to the Okanagan. a 15 km country road starting in Penticton travels along Okanagan Lake where vineyards and wineries beckon you to visit. The atmosphere is casual and warm, and I love how the restaurant is in this old brick building. I highly, highly recommend this place for lunch. If anything, too much has happened this past year.
When it’s high season though (May to August), snag anything you can get in the area to avoid the slim pickings. There’s so much to choose from in a small, concentrated area or even up and down […], After my first Japanese culture class in university, I was hooked. But each time I visit, I’m still finding new things to do and places I haven’t been to yet. The Ultimate Okanagan Road Trip. Check out, Also on this side of town are the most historic, For something a little different, take a self guided tour of indoor and outdoor artworks at the, The stunning Kalamalka Lake turns an emerald green colour every year due to limestone deposits left by glaciers. First off, the tastings are complimentary and they even provide snacks like cheese and crackers. Pit stop at the Log Barn while saying hello to the goats. Because there are so many roadside attractions. . Absolutely loved your post.
Road trips are awesome because it can be a very affordable way to travel. This may not be a visit for everyone, but it’s free to wander around and something a bit off-the-beaten path.
Looking to book a stay in Peachland or Summerland? – I had a free pancake breakfast here on Canada Day, but I’ve heard Auntie’s May Deep Dish Café is great for lunch and the pie is supposedly to die for. There are affiliate links in this post. Photo by: Adam Foster.
But it doesn’t mean I haven’t been up to much. ; There’s definitely no shortage of things to do in the Okanagan Valley in the summer. The views are epic, distances are short (it’s only 170km from Osoyoos to Vernon), the local produce plentiful, the weather wonderfully warm. Bonus points if the scenery is awesome, and it is. Why? And random pitstops are what makes a road trip enjoyable or in some cases, bearable. lie only a ten-minute drive away. There are seven zipline runs and the entire course takes about three hours. The food is fresh and tasty and you’ll be treated well here. – Leaning on the fancier side with a relaxed atmosphere, this French/Italian restaurant is located in downtown Osoyoos. – So this one is for the science nerds–I went here years ago when I was a kid and thought it was something out of Men in Black.
Bonus: you get free bread with a delicious oregano-olive oil-balsamic dip. the lovely Lindz sent me a link to your blog, so you should know you have good fans. With surroundings as beautiful as this, you can’t really go wrong whatever you do on an Okanagan Valley road trip. Kids can play with farm animals or cool off in the lake.
– A red farm I always see right along the Trans-Canada Highway, just before you head south on Highway 97 (if you’re driving from Calgary). – An old-school, drive-in movie theatre just outside of Enderby–and I’m not talking black and white films. It has changed a bit over the years–there are no longer tours–but the jellies are still amazing and the syrups are delicious on fresh pancakes (I recommend apricot or blackberry). The pizzas are reasonably priced, tasty, and many of the servers speak both English and French. It’s also a, With five at last count (and more being built! The whole place, from the vineyards and winery to the cellars and the restaurant, were designed with environmental preservation and sustainability in mind (think solar energy, using gravity instead of pumps, etc.). Super exciting as I’ve never spent more than 24 – 48 hours here. The bees are available to view in a glass display so there’s no chance of getting stung (hopefully). – Some say this is a tourist trap but honestly, I’d go there at least once to witness the goats who know how to roll up a can of food on the goat walk. – Located in downtown, you’ll find classic Italian food with hearty portions and tons to choose from here. Plus, there’s literally something to do for everyone. Seriously, how cool is that? gtag('config', 'UA-43280157-1'); sometimes has a demo area setup on the beach where you can try paddleboarding for free, but if not, the shop is closeby for rentals. Phew, I know this is a long list, but I hope it’s helpful for anyone planning a road trip to the Okanagan. It begins in Vancouver, where you can walk or bike Stanley Park's Seawall before driving the winding Crowsnest Highway through forested parkland to reach Kelowna. – Definitely wanted to do this after spotting all these yellow parachutes on the lake. The town of Osoyoos is the perfect introduction to the Okanagan Valley. Thanks for such a detailed and easy to read guide to Okanagan region. Discover the tastes, sights and sounds with a road trip along lakes, past vineyards and through orchard country. gtag('js', new Date()); It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but all the magic happens on the inside. Never have I been on a plane this jumpy before, and the weather […], I’ve resonated with this word, multipotentialite, for quite some time after I found out what it means. Hot, dry and yet also wildly abundant with local produce, this is the Canada that overseas visitors never imagine. Tell me, how did your September go? Most disc golf courses, including this one, are free (actually, I’ve never come across one where you needed to pay). Overall, I’d say most of the wines lean towards the sweet side but if that’s not your thing, just go here anyways. It’s an unforgettable experience rooted in Canadian history.