Explore the Thompson Okanagan Blog
The holiday season is in full swing, and there’s no better way to enjoy the winter than at festive events across the Thompson Okanagan. Whether you’re looking for light-ups, holiday parades, festive trees, winter markets, or ice skating, there is something for everyone.
The Thompson Okanagan is an incredible winter destination where adventure seekers, soft adventurers, and families can find fun in the snow at the different mountain resorts within the region.
Mount Robson, stands as the tallest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountain range, in the Thompson Okanagan region's northernmost part. The Mount Robson Park area is unique and a true representation of the British Columbia wilderness. This guide is created to explain best how to navigate and enjoy the new trails and open sections of the park in fall and winter!
Each one of these cafes has its own unique atmosphere and regardless of where you decide to stop one thing will be sure - you will enjoy fresh delicious food and drinks while enjoying the sites down to South Okanagan.
Fall is just around the corner and as the days get shorter and the leaves start to change, many in the Thompson Okanagan are serving up a taste of harvest this year.
Now that the weather is warming up, it is the perfect time to strap on your hiking boots and hit the trails while searching for one of the most magnificent natural wonders available - the waterfall.
The Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) in British Columbia, from Myra Canyon to Naramata Bench, offers a picturesque journey. Starting in Kelowna, the trail features amazing views, numerous trestles, and tunnels. Travel on just one section of the KVR or take your bike and ride them all. Stop along the way at vineyards for wine tastings, stay at some authentic lodges, and enjoy some restaurants and other amenities.
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.
There are several places to stay, play, and experience the Thompson Okanagan. Try out the following itinerary of inclusive spots when you plan your next visit to Kelowna.
Opportunities for Adventures Along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) is a historic railway that spans almost 650 km (400 mi) of connected pathways from Hope to Castlegar. One of my favourite paths is the Cold Stream to Kekuli Bay 20 km (12.5 mi) and Kekuli Bay to Lake Country 22.8 km (14 mi). These trails are flat and well graded making them easily walkable and accessible to mobility aids, or if you are interested in completing it in one day, it is perfect for a bike.
While the Nordic circuit and the positive effects of the practice can be enjoyed year-round, the Thompson Okanagan winter creates the perfect picturesque landscape to enjoy these outdoor thermal spa experiences.
Winter's arrival transforms the Thompson Okanagan into a snow-capped wonderland, where families and friends can enjoy adventures, food, and beverages.
Winter in the Thompson Okanagan brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and amazing local food and beverage festivals, events, and markets.
Explore the many great ski mountain resorts in the Thompson Okanagan region. When the resorts transition to summer they offer a new array of exciting warm-weather adventures. Among these, hiking is one of the many adventures that can be enjoyed on these famous mountains. From easy to challenging hikes, and opportunity for trail running, these mountains have it all.
The Okanagan is teeming with vineyards, wine shops, and restaurants ready to pair Okanagan grown food with a glass of wine. The Valley has eleven sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climates, or what the French call terroir. Find wines unlike any other popular wine destination. In the Okanagan you can find natural sparkling wine like Pét-Nat or traditional sparkling wine, to Frosé, big bold reds, orange wine, and everything in between. Here's a guide and suggestions to trying the best wine that the Okanagan Valley has to offer.
The North Thompson Valley is easily reached via Highway 5, known as the Yellowhead Highway, connecting Kamloops to Valemount. This region is surrounded by mountains, with cabins and camping retreats, fishing destinations and hiking to be enjoyed for days on end. Don't miss the chance to embark on a memorable road trip along Highway 5 this spring or summer, discovering the North Thompson region.
The Thompson Okanagan is the perfect place for the farm-to-table and slow food philosophy. Purchasing locally sourced produce, meats, and dairy products is a familiar practice for the casual eateries, family-friendly spots and fine dining experiences in the Thompson Okanagan. Food here reflects the people who grow it, make it, and serve it.
Enjoy the the many farmers’ markets throughout the region and the elements that go along with them. The Thompson Okanagan has a strong agricultural and artisan presence for us all to enjoy.
Fall in the Okanagan Valley is one of the best times to explore the region. The leaves are changing colour, the air is crisp, and the sky is clear with the sun shining bright. Fall is also one of the best times for wine touring in the valley and offers a front row seat to the fall harvest.
Fall is right around the corner and the Thompson Okanagan will soon be filled with endless forests filled with bold reds, yellows, and orange coloured trees. While you look up in amazement at the trees, remember to look down at the astonishing sights of one of Mother Earth’s great migrations of the salmon in the rivers below.
Beyond the wineries, farm stands, hiking trails, and cycling routes, plenty of opportunities to swim, kayak, canoe the lakes, and camp in the Thompson Okanagan! Learn about a few favourite Okanagan campsites picked from Hipcamp.
Spring has the Thompson Okanagan buzzing, literally and figuratively, with the excitement for warmer weather, longer days, and the sprouting of new flowers. While residents and travelers are getting outside to enjoy the sun, the bees have begun to leave their hives and are hard at work pollinating the many flowers, vineyards, and orchards in the region.
The Okanagan is known as a destination with many activities for adults to enjoy, like wine tasting at one of the many wineries in the area, but it also is an excellent place for families to enjoy with countless activities and attractions suited for families with young children. Find out more about a few favourite activities for you and your family to enjoy in this guide.
Julie Kimmel, Rural Economic Recovery Coordinator for the Thompson Region, shares her favorite stops along the Yellowhead Highway between Kamloops and Wells Gray Provincial Park.
Explore the visuals of celebrations around the Thompson Okanagan ranging from grand to quaint, exhilarating to peaceful, and everything in-between.
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Thompson Okanagan. Plan a fall vacation or staycation in the southern part of the Thompson Okanagan.
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Thompson Okanagan. Plan a fall vacation or staycation in the central part of the Thompson Okanagan.
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Thompson Okanagan. Plan a fall vacation or staycation in the Northern part of the Thompson Okanagan.
There is nothing quite like a summer road trip, especially one from the South Okanagan through to the beautiful, untamed wilderness of the North Thompson en route to the Canadian Rockies. Begin on Route 97 in Kamloops, then take Highway 5, known as the Yellowhead Highway, North to end in Valemount. Take your time along this route and enjoy the charming town along the way.
There’s nothing quite like the kind of hospitality you will experience at a Bed & Breakfast. Read about some of the Thompson Okanagan’s favourite B&Bs.