It’s Spring and you know what that means! The seasonal businesses in the Thompson Okanagan are opening and getting ready to welcome you. Farmers’ markets, wineries, cideries, golf courses, fruit stands, and so much more. Here is a Spring guide for the best local food and drink the Thompson Okanagan has to offer.

Farmers’ Markets

The Thompson Okanagan has over 20 farmers markets in almost every part of the region. They are the perfect place to experience slow-food and farm-to-table freshness. Not only are the markets filled with produce but they also include local vendors, small businesses, and artisans so you can support local. In peak Spring and Summer you don’t even have to go to the grocery store! Learn more about what the Farmers’ Markets have to offer by visitng our “Farmer's Markets in the Thompson Okanagan” blog:

Images by Kelly Funk

Wineries, Ciders and Distilleries

It’s wine tasting season! The wineries of Thompson Okanagan are open and gearing up for another great season. Spring is the perfect time to tour wineries before the summer rush. With more than 80 varietals planted in BC, you are bound to find the perfect taste, body, and texture of wine to fit your preferences. The Thompson Okanagan is such a unique place to grow wine with four beautiful regions all expressing their own flavours and wine styles. You can embark on a guided, or self-guided tour to the Similkameen Valley, Okanagan Valley, the Shuswap, or the Thompson Valley, and experience what the wines of B.C. have to offer.

Many wineries have events, tours and unique tasting experiences to offer you more than just a tasting throughout the Spring and Summer. By going to your favourite winery or city event pages, you can see what is happening at the local the wineries.

Guided and Self-Guided tours

There are many great wine trails that are the ultimate guide when it comes to first time tasters, or visitors looking to find a new spot. Wine trails offer you the chance to take yourself on a self-guided tour to as many stops as you like. There are even guided tours that often follow the wine trials’ routes to make your journey safe and fun for all. Some of these guides can be found on city event pages:

Wine tour companies

If you wanted to drive your self, or only stop at a few here are some great wine trails to follow

Kamloops Wine Trail - @kamloopswinetrail

Scenic Sip - @scenicsip

Westside Wine Trail - @​​westsidewinetrail

Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive - @bottleneckdrive

Naramata Bench Wines - @naramatawines

The Heart of Wine Country  - @theheartofwinecountry

Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country - @uncorkthesun

Similkameen Indep. Winegrowers - @Similkameenwine

Keep an eye out for special events throughout the Spring and Summer seasons. Book a reservation to guarantee your spot for a tasting and find details about your favourite wineries tasting fees and operating hours on their website.

Looking for more than just wine?

If you're looking to expand your wine tour, the Thompson Okanagan has more to offer than just great wine – Throw in a stop at a cidery along the way. Or better yet, a distillery! There are so many great cideries and distillers next door to your favourite wine shops. Often cideries have great patios, snacks and areas to hang out. It can be a great family outing, with many cider houses having games, and room for kids to run around. Distilleries can be a great choice for a date night, or a unique happy hour. With 23 different distilleries to choose from, you are bound to taste something different in everywhere you travel to. Upgrade your bar with award winning spirits, support small businesses, and taste local flavours.

The season for patio sipping and vineyard hopping is here!

Fore!

The greens have been groomed, the club houses are open and the sun is out. It sounds like golf season.

The golf courses of the Thompson Okanagan are ready for you! There is a golf course in every single region of the Thompson Okanagan, with Kelowna having the second most golf courses in B.C. Come and enjoy the beauty of golfing in the Thompson Okanagan and experience views of vineyards, mountains looking over lakes, and manicured and desert-like fairways.

Image by Darren Robinson Image by Destination BC/Andrew Penner

Try golfing in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and Shuswap for some well-known, breathtaking courses. Or venture outside those cities for hidden gems and quiet courses.

The Thompson Okanagan is open and ready to welcome you this Spring and Summer! Check out accommodations on cities websites and make sure to reserve your spots at your favuorite wineries to guarantee a spot.

Written by Caroline Peterson

A local who went from the lower mainland to the Okanagan. As a student with a passion for tourism, she aims to highlight the Thompson Okanagan experience with a fresh, adventurous perspective.