Penticton enjoys year-round sunny weather and is handy to mountains, 15 golf courses, hiking trails and the world-famous Skaha Bluffs. While the Bluffs are a draw for rock climbers in particular, paragliders, hikers and horseback riders also make frequent use of them. If you're hiking or biking and like a long, smooth path, you'll want to check out the Kettle Valley Railway Trail. It traces an old railway line through provincial parks, recreation areas and protected areas. It currently bypasses the Myra Canyon trestles, which were destroyed in a 2003 wildfire (reconstruction of the trestles is underway). Mountain bikers can use the Apex Mountain Resort's chairlift to get to some scenic, white-knuckle mountain trails in summer. Other options for outdoor fun include helicopter or floatplane sightseeing tours as well as touring the city on in-line skates or on a rented four-seater bicycle.
If you enjoy looking at graceful old buildings, take a walk down Front Street or head for the Leir House Cultural Centre on Manor Park Avenue. It was built in the late 1920s by Penticton pioneer Hugh Leir, and now serves as a home base for cultural organizations and community arts events. If you walk or cycle the Kettle Valley Railway Trail (there are a number of access points for the trail in Penticton) you'll come across the Randolph Draw-McCullough Trestle, a rather interesting, old-style trestle bridge 86 m (283 ft) across and 15 m (50 ft) high. The views from this bridge are spectacular.
There are many cultural highlights in Penticton. The large Art Gallery of the South Okanagan exhibits fine and decorative art from regional, provincial and national sources. Lloyd Gallery exhibits works by local artists. The R.N. Atkinson Museum chronicles local history from First Nations settlement to the present day. The En'Owkin Centre teaches you about the area's First Nations culture.
The Grist Mill is BC's last remaining pioneer flour mill with its original machinery intact. The Grist Mill is just 45 minutes away in the nearby town of Keremeos. Two handsome buildings from the early 20th century have been beautifully restored and put to new purposes: the Grand Hotel in Kaleden is a popular restaurant, while the Naramata Heritage Inn & Spa in
Naramata serves as an inn and luxury spa.
Whatever your age or tastes, Penticton has attractions you won't want to miss. The S.S. Sicamous is the largest remaining steel-hulled sternwheeler in Canada. She was built in 1914 to accommodate passengers in luxurious style while also moving large amounts of cargo for, and providing daily mail service to, Penticton, Okanagan Landing and points in between. The Rose Garden next to the S.S. Sicamous is so beautiful it's an attraction in itself.
Your whole family can have hours of fun on city beaches or on Okanagan Amusements' go-carts, bumper boats and mini-golf course. And, of course, no visit to Penticton would be complete without a winery tour.
When it comes to entertainment in Penticton your options are many, and due to the warm, dry climate, they can often be enjoyed out of doors. Five performing arts companies stage productions in Gyro Park all summer long, while festivals celebrating the peach harvest, jazz, square dancing as well as Scottish dancing happen in various locations in summer and fall. There are also many summer ball tournaments. You'll find excellent shopping along historic Front Street (unique boutiques) and along Main Street (bookstores, antique stores and cafés).
There are several provincial parks near Penticton with camping for tents, hikers and RVs. If you're looking for the nearest spectacular view, make your way to the Munson Mountain viewpoint. From there you can see the city and surrounding areas as well as the big white letters that spell out P E N T I C T O N on the mountainside. The trail to Little Joe Lookout provides insight into the city's mining and railway history.
A variety of wildlife flourishes around Penticton, but migratory birds and kokanee salmon are what people come to see most. More than 220 bird species are known to frequent the Vaseux Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Among them are Canada geese, trumpeter awans, blue-winged teals, wood ducks, lazuli buntings and golden eagles. Canada's smallest hummingbird also calls the lake home.
Vaseux Lake is an important staging area for migratory birds, so the best time to visit is in the spring and fall. Follow the trail that leads from the Vaseux Wildlife Centre at the north end of the lake down to the marsh and along the boardwalk to the enclosed, two-storey bird blind.
There's an important kokanee nursery in Penticton Creek. Interpretive signage, fish ladders and viewing platforms help to make this viewing opportunity special.
A holiday in Penticton can be action-packed and outdoorsy, sunny and serene or just about anything in between. When you're leaning toward "sunny and serene," consider spending the day on one of the city's beaches. At its north end, close to downtown, is the busy Okanagan Beach; at its south end, the quieter Skaha Beach.
Of course, as relaxation goes, it's hard to beat the spa experience. One of the best day spas in the Penticton area is the Heirloom Spa at the Naramata Heritage Inn. An Aveda-concept spa housed in an authentically restored 1908 inn in the village of
Naramata, it offers a full complement of relaxing spa treatments using 97% pure flower and plant essence products.
The city of Penticton is sandwiched between two warm-water lakes. At the city's north end are the soft, pale-brown sands of Okanagan Beach; at its south end, the firmer, red sands of Skaha Beach. Okanagan Beach features paddle boats, bicycle rentals, house-boat rentals, a busy promenade and a giant, peach-shaped concession stand.
Quieter Skaha Beach features shade trees, concession stand, boat and Jet Ski® rentals, a marina, an amusement centre, a children's water park as well as waterskiing and parasailing lessons. Rotary Park is the place to go for parasailing and waterskiing lessons in the north end. The best swimming weather occurs from June through September.
Aside from the city beaches, there are between 80 and 100 lakes within a two-hour drive of Penticton. Some have facilities like U-catch fishing for children or waterslides, but most are tranquil and natural, making them wonderful canoeing or kayaking destinations.
Penticton is within a few hours' drive of four ski hills, the closest of which is
Apex Ski Resort, just 35 minutes west of the city. Apex offers lots of dry Okanagan powder, big hills with few line-ups and three distinct ski areas for skiers of different abilities. Boarders can head for Apex Resort's Terrain Park and half-pipe located just above the village base. The resort offers lots of ski-in, ski-out accommodation in its charming, wild-west-themed village. Ski season is from late November to early April.