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Merritt is proudly known as the Country Music Capital of Canada. The highlight of the year is the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, held annually in July. Merritt also has the advantage of being a four-season, outdoors-adventure destination, with over 2,050 hours per year of sunshine and endless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, horseback riding and golfing.
Merritt’s downtown recreates the western style of the early 20th century. Visitors are often charmed by the down-home, generous hospitality of this thriving community.
Surrounded by rolling hills and sparkling lakes, and with over 2,050 hours of yearly sunshine, it's easy to plan for nearly every type of outdoor activity in the Merritt region. They include hiking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, horseback riding and golfing. Many hiking and mountain-biking enthusiasts head to the Trans-Canada Trail, which follows the Kettle Valley Railway right-of-way from nearby Brookmere over to Hope. Trails proliferate throughout the region, from ambling strolls alongside lakes to challenging backcountry routes. Of special note are Kane Valley, an 18-km (11-mi) drive from Merritt, with its well-maintained and varied-terrain routes, as well as Sugarloaf Mountain, which is closer to town. Take advantage of the region's many private, provincial and Forestry Service campgrounds. For those who prefer to tee-off, there are two well-groomed golf courses in the area.
There are some fascinating structures in the Merritt area, including the landmark Old Kettle Valley Railway water tower. It has two spouts, one that serviced the Kettle Valley Railway and another that serviced the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway. Thanks to a copper dome, the Coldwater Hotel in downtown Merritt has been a focal point of the community ever since its construction in 1909. Murray Church, built in 1876, still stands at Nicola Ranch. Merritt also boasts its own Walk of Stars, with nearly 100 bronze hand replicas of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival's star performers on display throughout the town.
There is an active visual and performing arts presence throughout the Nicola Valley, highlighted by the annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival in July. Those who want to explore the history of the area should head to the Nicola Valley Museum & Archives, with its large collection of artifacts and memorabilia. No trip to Merritt is complete without a visit to Nicola Ranch, founded in 1919. Once the centre of the ranching community, today it is still a working ranch, albeit one that offers accommodations and ranching experiences to visitors.
Merritt boasts its own Walk of Stars, with nearly 100 bronze hand replicas of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival's star performers on display throughout the town. After strolling the streets, head to Rotary Park, an idyllic green space. Or explore the history of the area at the Nicola Valley Museum & Archives.
Merritt offers non-stop entertainment, highlighted by July's annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival, when over 100,000 people from around the world gather for a week to hear country music's top stars. There's more to sing about in the region, including Music in the Park, barn dances as well as year-round arts performances and concerts.
There's still more to cheer about - sports from hockey and soccer to baseball as well car-rally and stock-car racing. Befitting its ranching roots, Merritt is also part of the Pro Rodeo Circuit, with Rodeo Fair Days a celebration of this western heritage. As for shopping, Merritt offers unique boutiques, gift shops and art galleries.
Merritt is surrounded by provincial parks that are brimming with lakes - ideal locations from which to view wildlife and birds. Kentucky/Alleyne Provincial Park is known for its open forests, turquoise lakes and spectacular scenery. Watch for mallards, goldeneye and grebe, plus hawks and falcons. Roche Lake Provincial Park is a year-round recreation area, noted for camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Black bears, moose, deer and birds such as the Canada goose, mallard and mountain bluebird call this park home. Visitors flock to Lac le Jeune Provincial Park for its ideal swimming, fishing, boating, hiking and mountain-biking opportunities. The Laurie Guichon Memorial Interpretive Grasslands Site describes the function and role of natural grasslands.
Merritt maintains a large and varied parks system within its borders, including picnic-perfect Central and Lions Parks. There are loads of parks geared towards sports such as baseball, skateboarding, running and BMX riding. There is also a 25-m (82-ft) pool at the Aquatic Centre. The Dhamma Surabhi Meditation Centre (one of only 30 such centres in the world) is located in the Merritt area.
Merritt is a land of many lakes, where visitors can swim, fish, kayak, river raft, canoe, windsurf, boat and waterski to their hearts' content.
For anglers, there are over 200 fishable lakes filled with rainbow trout as well as other species. Fly fishing is a valued and admired skill in this region. Popular lakes include Lundbom, Stump, Tunkwa and Peter Hope. Trollers can try such easily-accessible sites as Nicola or Mamette Lakes.
Nicola Lake offers some of the best sailing and windsurfing opportunities in North America. The 22-km (14-mi) narrow lake lies at the bottom of a long valley that funnels winds. Nicola Lake is also popular with canoeists and waterskiers. Prime rafting and kayaking opportunities are found on the Nicola River.
Winter brings a flurry of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tobogganing and skating to Merritt. While cross-country trails can be found at Kane Valley, snowmobilers vroom to the Coquihalla and Stoyoma areas further out. Diehard anglers turn to ice fishing. The Merritt Curling Club hosts numerous events during the winter season.
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