Cultural tours in the Thompson Okanagan reflect the region's Aboriginal culture along with the spirit of early pioneers and workers.
Take a guided cultural tour to learn about life in a desert at Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre and life as a pioneer at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum, or ride the Kamloops Heritage Railway and re-live a historic train robbery. Guided tours of the murals in Vernon and Mascot Gold Mine are some of the other tour options also available.
There are many self-guided cultural tour opportunities as well, including historic ranches and a 2,000 year-old Aboriginal village site.
Aboriginal Tours
At the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, take a guided or self-guided walk through one of Canada's only deserts and (safely) get eye-to-eye with a rattlesnake.
Experience singing, dancing and colourful traditional regalia at the annual Kamloopa Pow Wow in Kamloops (July/August). This three-day event draws thousands of participants and spectators.
While in Kamloops, learn about Aboriginal culture with a self-guided walk through Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park. View artifacts, cultural displays and the remains of a 2,000 year-old village site.
Guests at Quaaout Lodge in Chase can take cultural tours focussing on traditional Shuswap First Nations activities. Make a birch bark basket, bake bannock around an open fire, and listen to stories in an open kekuli pit house.
Heritage Tours
Learn about pioneer life and culture in Salmon Arm at the R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum. Take a guided tour of a firehall, school, church, blacksmith shop or a forest look-out tower.
At Kamloops Heritage Railway, ride the steam train and watch as masked cowboys on horseback re-create the famous Billy Miner train robbery. After the action-packed ride, take a guided tour of the restored 2141 locomotive and other rail stock. The Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland also features steam train rides and sightseeing tours.
Step back into 1800s roadhouse life at the historic O'Keefe Ranch near Vernon. Go on a stagecoach ride or on a guided tour of the original O'Keefe mansion and interact with performers in period costume. Be sure to visit the General Store; kids will love the selection of old-fashioned candy.
At Historic Hat Creek Ranch (Cache Creek), re-live the gold rush and learn about Aboriginal culture. Take a stagecoach ride along the original Cariboo Wagon Road and wander through the ranch, barn and outbuildings. Also on-site is a recreated Shuswap First Nations Village, where band members in traditional regalia share their culture and history.
Or, learn about gold rush history and culture with a guided tour of Mascot Gold Mine (in Hedley). Walk the original miner's road and then descend 589 steps to the mine that's perched on a cliff nearly 1km/0.6mi above the valley floor!
Art Tours
In Vernon, walk in one of Canada's largest outdoor public art galleries. Vernon Murals highlight scenes from local history including railways, paddlewheelers and pioneer life on guided tours and offer rentals of mp3 players for self-guided narrated tours.
Kelowna Neighbourhood Tours
Kelowna has heritage neighbourhoods perfect for self-paced walking tours (tour maps are available from the Visitor Centre). Both Abbott Street and Marshall Street feature a wide variety of housing styles popular over the last 100 years.
Or take a self-guided walking tour of four Kelowna museums within a two-block radius: Okanagan Heritage Museum, BC Orchard Industry Museum, BC Wine Museum and the Okanagan Military Museum.
Driving Routes
Follow a pre-planned driving route to tour historic towns like Midway and Greenwood or to take in the area's famous vineyards and heritage sites.
Practical Points
- High season for most attractions is usually May to September and tours often run daily. During low season, tours can run infrequently. Most self-guided tours can be done year-round.
- Some tours may require a minimum number of participants or advance booking. It's best to call ahead to check for schedules and availability.
- Visit local Visitor Centres or museums for walking tour brochures, maps and information on tour operators and help with trip planning.
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