Penticton (population 33,250) is a small city in transition. At the centre of the burgeoning Okanagan wine industry, this long-established summer resort is morphing into a city of more sophisticated urban appeal.
The already well-developed arts scene is being augmented with new restaurants and accommodations. People now come to Penticton for wine tasting and dining, to visit galleries and museums and to take in the symphony, plays and concerts.
But Penticton's location between two lakes and surrounded by highlands and mountains ensures that outdoor recreation will always be a draw.
People still come to Penticton for swimming, boating, wind-surfing and kiteboarding, golf, rock climbing, hiking and cycling in summer and downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
Four-Season Recreation
While city life in Penticton is moving uptown, there's no denying the lure of the great outdoors. With Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha Lake to the south, beaches beckon sun-soakers and action seekers swim, boat and take advantage of excellent conditions for wind-surfing and kiteboarding.
Beyond the fertile agricultural lands and clay bank benches that border the urban centre, the terrain rises steeply in pine studded ridges with spectacular rock outcroppings and granite bluffs to the Okanagan Highlands where high country lakes are filled with trout and campers can pitch a tent at forestry recreation sites.
Backcountry roads and trails, including the KVR (Kettle Valley Railway) Trail and Three Blind Mice trails, hold endless possibilities for hiking and cycling while the Skaha Bluffs attract rock climbers from around the world. Winter brings on the champagne powder for downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Penticton is ideally situated as a base for country drives including a run to Vaseux Lake Provincial Park for outstanding bird watching and sightings of California bighorn sheep.
Food and Wine
Fruit production, particularly soft fruits like peaches, has always been a driving force in Penticton's economy. Farms and markets such as foadside stands, u-pick orchards and the Penticton Farmers' Market continue to be favourite stops for locals and visitors. Restaurants make a point of buying local produce, including the award-winning reds, whites, fruit wines and Icewines of the burgeoning Okanagan wine industry. Over 40 wineries are located within a 20-minute drive of Penticton, on the Naramata Bench, in Summerland and south of Skaha Lake around Okanagan Falls.
Comfortable Urban Design
Penticton is graced by the leafy streets of a well-established city. Downtown and facing Okanagan Beach on Lakeshore Drive, large historic homes reflect the prosperity of Kettle Valley Railway executives, early doctors and even a bootlegger. Smaller original arts and crafts bungalows have been carefully maintained or recently restored. Since many people come to Penticton to retire in a city with a mild climate, walkability and a vibrant downtown, there are lots of tidy low-rise condo complexes. The whole profile is people friendly with full public access to both lakes. Even resort condos now joining the skyline are low profile and set across the street from the beach.
Where to Start
Stop by the Penticton Visitor Centre, where friendly staff can offer information on things to do in Penticton, accommodation and dining recommendations, maps and brochures. For a great overview of Penticton, head to the top of Munson Mountain. The lookout in this accessible park provides the best view of the city, lakes, orchards, vineyards, highlands and mountain peaks beyond.
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