Okanagan Valley Road Trip
If you are travelling by car, follow Coquihalla Highway from Vancouver to reach the Okanagan.
As you enter the region, visit Kekuli Cafe, in Merritt, an Indigenous owned and operated cafe that celebrates and brings together Indigenous culture and tradition through food.
Arrive in West Kelowna .
Here, you can enjoy a walk on the boardwalk along the water and end at the Gellatly Nut Farm. On your return enjoy the food from the Cove Lakeside Resort restaurant.
Learn about the terroir and the growing growing history of the valley at one of the original wineries of the region, Quails Gate Winery, and carry on enjoying the many wineries of the Westside Wine Trail
The Okanagan was know for its ability to grow a variety of fruit which is celebrated at you-pick experiences, like the one at Paynter’s Fruit Market.
Learn about the indigenous culture and traditions of West Bank First Nation and how they achieved to self government in 2005 at the Sncewips Museum. Don’t miss the opportunity to stop at Spirit of the Lake Native Boutique where you can shop from a wide range of locally sourced Indigenous art, jewellery, and gifts.
Cross the bridge into the city of Kelowna and further north into Lake Country.
Here you will find an excellent culinary scene along with endearing coffee shops like Bright Jenny and Sprout, breweries like Red Bird and The Office, distilleries like Forbidden Spirits, cideries like Upside Cidery, endless wineries like Tantalus Winery and Summerhill Pyramid Winery to only name a few, and even a Kambucha Brewery called MotherLove Ferments.
Some favourite stops to enjoy food in Kelowna are: Sunny’s Modern Diner, Bernie’s, RauDZ, Home Block Restaurant, Block One restaurant.
Enjoy a Cocktail from the new cocktail bar in town, the Ricco Room.
Along with the delicious flavours of Kelowna and West Kelowna, be sure to enjoy the many trails surrounding the area, like Myra Canyon on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, or dress in some extra layers and enjoy paddle boarding or kayaking on the Okanagan Lake and other lakes in the area.
If you are looking for indoor experiences that kids are able to enjoy, visit Energy Plex and Work of Art Pottery Studio.
Continue South through Peachland towards Summerland.
*Note Highway 97 is open to two lane traffic between Summerland and Peachland, expect 10-15 minute delays.
Walk down Peachland’s mainstreet that borders the Okanagan Lake where you will find coffee shops, restaurants, and local shops. The Gasthaus offers authentic German Food and a beautiful view of the lake.
If you are looking for a winery to enjoy some wine with a view, be sure to check out Fitzpatrick Winery, they are known for their sparkling wines.
Step back in time and explore Peachland’s past at the Peachland Museum.
Summerland is a quaint Okanagan city that is bordered by Giants Head Mountain that is home to some beautiful trails.
Enjoy the high quality wines along Bottleneck Drive including Haywire Winery
End your Okanagan Road Trip in Penticton as a base that will allow you to explore Penticton itself and the ones surrounding it, Okanagan Falls, and Naramata.
Penticton is a place that you can enjoy fuel free almost travel with locations easily accessible via walking or e-biking. Do something for the environment and your own health by leaving the car at home and reward yourself after a day of getting around by bike or foot with a delicious farm-to-table meal.
Enjoy breweries like Neighbourhood Brewing, and wineries like TIME Family of Wines and Poplar Grove in Penticton and Bench 1775 in Naramata, and Blasted Church in Okanagan Falls.
Enjoy beautiful hikes surrounding Penticton and the Kettle Valley Rail Trail through Naramata.
If you enjoy Rock Climbing, be sure to visit the Skaha Bluffs, a park that is travelled to by climbers from around the world.
