Three-Day Okanagan Getaway: Kamloops to Vernon

Kamloops and Vernon, each blessed with an abundance of lakes and trails, offer access to unlimited outdoor pursuits with plenty of culinary delights to fuel your adventures.

Battle Bluff | Andrew Strain

Day 1: Kamloops

Kamloops is a meeting place, with the city’s name an English-language interpretation of the Secwepemc word T’kemlups, “where the rivers meet.” Here, the North and South Thompson rivers come together, and the city is a literal crossroads for highways 1, 97, and 5.

Similarly, adventure seekers have options in every direction. The city is surrounded by a nearly endless number of hiking trails through desert-like landscapes covered in sagebrush and watched over by towering hoodoo rock formations. And mountain bikers can experience freeriding at its best on some of the more than 270 local trails. Golfers are also spoiled for choice here, and the scenery from the green is spectacular.

Prefer the water? There’s plenty of that, too, with 100-plus lakes nearby. Rent a motor boat, SUP, or kayak, or hire a fishing guide and cast a line for rainbow trout or kokanee salmon (Kamloops is a major fishing hotspot).

No trip to Kamloops is complete without a stop at the Noble Pig, where you can linger on the patio over a flight of craft beer and one of the best soft pretzels you’ll ever eat. Enjoy an after-dinner stroll along the Thompson River at Riverside Park, then recharge for the night at Delta Hotels Kamloops and take in the views from the rooftop pool.

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Downtown Kamloops, Tanya Goehring | Tobiano Golf Course, Andrew Penner | Bright Eye Brewing, @nathanielatakora

Monte Creek Ranch Winery | Andrew Strain

Day 2: On the Road

Some of the best road trip memories can happen in between destinations, and the journey from Kamloops to Vernon is no exception.

Just east of Kamloops you’ll find Monte Creek Winery with its vineyards straddling the South Thompson River. Sample reds, whites, and rosés at Monte Creek’s tasting room, enjoy a scenic picnic on their sprawling grounds, or dine at the open-air The Terrace Restaurant.

Closer to Vernon, immerse yourself in settler history at Historic O’Keefe Ranch. Tour the O’Keefe family home and the one-room schoolhouse, get lost in the corn maze, shop at the General Store, and try your hand at being a blacksmith. Extend your stay by spending a night in one of O’Keefe’s glamping tents.

Kalamalka Lake | Jordan McGarth/Tourism Vernon

Day 3: Vernon

With three nearby lakes offering water-based fun and parks and trails a stone’s throw away, Vernon is another don’t-miss outdoor adventure destination.

Camp near the beach along Okanagan Lake and explore the shoreline in a canoe or kayak. Strap on water skis and go fast in a motor boat, or slow things down with a sunset dinner cruise.

There’s no better place to SUP than the clear, blue-green waters of Kalamalka Lake, and the wetlands around Swan Lake mean incredible opportunities for bird watching.

Visit the Vernon Farmers’ Market, one of the longest-running markets in the verdant Okanagan Valley, and sample the wares of more than 100 local vendors. Continue your tasting tour at Davison Orchards, where you can take a tour the farm, visit the animal barn, and enjoy a slice of homemade fruit pie on the patio. Tip: Don’t leave without a litre or two of Davison’s fresh-squeezed apple juice to enjoy over breakfast with a view after a restful night at The Castle at Swan Lake.

Davison Orchards, Andrew Strain

Getting Here

Kamloops is located in the Thompson Valley at the junction of highways 1, 97, and 5, approximately four hours from Vancouver. Follow Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) to Hope, then take Highway 5 north to Kamloops. Or add an hour to your journey by staying on Highway 1 along the scenic Fraser Canyon.

Alternatively, you can fly into the Kamloops Airport and rent a car.

Originally published in August, 2017.