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Fire in Kelowna

July 20, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Penticton, Driving Routes
Find more information about Penticton, Driving Routes

As with the 2003 fires in Kelowna, many people believe that the "Okanagan" is on fire.  Fortunately this is a very large valley.  While there is a fair amount of smoke in the air there are definitely no fires close to Penticton.  The weather is warm, the skies are blue (mostly) and its a great time to be on the beach.

Of course, Highway 97 to Penticton is closed as of July 20 at 2:30pm, but there is talk that it may open by Tuesday.  There are alternate routes, however.  Just yesterday I took Hwy 5A from Merritt to Princeton and then Hwy 3 and 3A from Princeton to Penticton.  Absolutely beautiful drive!  Stunning scenery.  I had no idea how many deciduous trees were in the area around Aspen Grove (although the name should have given me a hint).

Besides Hwy 5A, travelers can take Hwy 33 to Route 201 (well travelled forest service road) directly to Penticton.  Another option is to take a southern route to Osoyoos and then follow Hwy 97 north to Penticton.

Bottom line: we're still here, we're not on fire, and the weather is fantastic.

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Posted by Aaron , Vancouver at 02:32 PM

2009 Sicamous Follies Five - WOW!

July 9, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Penticton, Theatre & Performing Arts

Last night I had the pleasure to attend the VIP opening night of the 5th season of SS Sicamous Follies (Five).  It was spectacular!  The talent they have brought in for this musical montage is truly impressive.  They performed non-stop for more than two hours to a packed house.  As if the talent wasn't enough, the venue, on the historic SS Sicamous paddlewheeler steam ship, added an abundance of flair to the show. 

The show consisted of brief excerpts from classic musicals from the early 20th century right up to some of today's most famous songs.  The range of the cast was tested thoroughly and they came through with flying colours.  A bonus was the intermittent sketches performed by Glen Cairnes, manager of the SS Sicamous, who displayed a comic talent I didn't know he possessed. 

Very impressive show and an absolute must-see!

For more details go to: http://www.tourismpenticton.com/events/

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Posted by Aaron , Vancouver at 10:55 AM

Elvis was in the building!

July 2, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Penticton, Festivals & Events

Wow!  The Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival was a huge success.  For the first time ever the two big events, the Saturday Night Tribute Show and the Sunday Judged Finals, sold out completely.  This has become a very impressive event, attracting top talent from around North America.

Between the Elvis Festival and the Peach City Beach Cruise, it was really amazing to see the traffic in downtown Penticton.  There were people everywhere because both events took place within the same two block radius.  On top of that, the Penticton Farmer's Market STILL ran on Saturday morning.

Talk about things to do!  Summer in Penticton is jammed with so many great things: sun, sand, festivals, fresh fruit, wineries... the list goes on.

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Posted by Aaron , Vancouver at 01:59 PM

Spring is almost here!

February 22, 2007 | Tips from Us > Penticton, Mountain Biking
Find more information about Penticton, Mountain Biking

Yes! It's true! Spring is almost here and it's not even March. Well, at the moment there's a bit of snow falling, but the day before that we were +8C, which is almost t-shirt weather at this time of year. Today we had a couple from Holland who wanted to go mountain biking on the world-famous Kettle Valley Railway. With the dip in temperatures we suggested doing a hike on the trail instead. The added bonus is that they'll feel more compelled to stop and enjoy the amazing views of Okanagan Lake. Even at this time of year the views are breath-taking. We live in paradise!

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Posted by Aaron , Vancouver at 12:00 AM