As a life-long British Columbian, Penticton and the southern Okanagan scream summer and wine tasting to me… but until recently, I hadn’t spent much time there. Oops. I was missing out.
Penticton is a great place to base yourself for a summer visit to the Okanagan. It’s a cute and walkable city that sits between two big lakes, making it a clear beach destination with sand, kayaking, ice cream, etc. But there’s lots more to Penticton too.
My favourite part of the visit was an easy e-bike ride up into wine country with great views. Our turn around point was an old railway tunnel, which was really cool. I was also surprised by how relaxed everything felt. No one was in a hurry to get somewhere – everyone was just chilling out at the beach, on the patio, or at a winery.
I also discovered that Penticton is a great place to base yourself for day trips to nearby towns like Naramata and Osoyoos, home of Canada’s only desert!
In this post, I’ve got everything you need to know about visiting Penticton in summer. These tips work for spring and fall, too.
This post includes:
- A map of Penticton that includes all the places I mention in this post.
- Best things to do in Penticton in summer: beaches, wineries, biking, kayaking, day trips, and more.
- Where to eat in Penticton: My picks for the best restaurants and cafes
- Where to stay in Penticton: The places I stayed at and loved
- Summer in Penticton basics: How to get there? How long to spend? What’s the weather like? And lots more.
This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.
Hey there: Thanks so much to Visit Penticton, Destination Osoyoos, and Discover Naramata for hosting some of my experiences on my trip. All opinions in this post are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. – Taryn
Map of Penticton
To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Penticton for you. It includes every place I mention in this post.
The 10 Best Things to do in Penticton in Summer
There are dozens of things to do in Penticton during the summer months. Here are my top 10 picks of things I recommend.
Hit the Beach
Penticton is sandwiched between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, so it is definitely a beach town. Both lakes have sandy beaches. Since it’s a bigger lake, the water in Okanagan Lake can be a bit colder than Skaha Lake. But on a hot day, it’s wonderfully refreshing.
On the Okanagan Lake side of town, you can swim at Okanagan Beach along Lakeshore Drive. It has a roped-off swimming area, washrooms, and trees for shade. It’s within walking distance of downtown Penticton.
On the Skaha Lake side, there is a long stretch of sand at Skaha Lake Park. Like Okanagan Beach, it has a swimming area, washrooms, and shade trees. But it also has a playground and a water park, so it’s great for kids.
Stroll the Promenade
One of the first things I did when I arrived in Penticton was stroll along the Promenade on Okanagan Lake next to Lakeshore Drive. It stretches for several kilometres along the shores of Okanagan Lake from the S.S. Sicamous Museum in the west to the marina in the east.
The path is a great place to enjoy the views of the lake and the huge Penticton sign on Mount Munson. The people watching is also excellent. Be sure to stop for some ice cream at Lickity Splitz or Tickleberry’s inside the giant peach.
Continue past the pier and Penticton Lakeside Resort into Okanagan Lake Park to check out the cute Ikeda Japanese Garden. It is maintained by volunteers.
Don’t miss the yellow-bellied marmot colony in the rocks at Marina Way Park. They are so cute! These members of the groundhog family don’t typically live in cities, but these marmots didn’t get the memo. Please don’t feed them – human food is junk food for wildlife and can make them sick.
Visit Wineries and Breweries
Penticton is at the heart of the Okanagan’s wine country. There are wineries on the edge of town as well as on the Naramata Bench northeast of the city. I’m not a wine drinker, so I didn’t visit any wineries on my visit. However, friends have raved about wine tasting here.
Since the wineries are spread out along winding roads, booking a wine tasting tour can be an easy and safe way to do it. You’ll get time at several wineries and a guide to be your designated driver.
- This Naramata half day small group wine tour includes visits to four wineries. All tasting fees and a tip for your drive is included in the tour price so you don’t need to worry about getting your wallet out!
- Or book a private tour with a wine expert who will drive you in your own vehicle and help you create the perfect itineray for your group.
There is also a very strong craft brewery scene in Penticton. While the town has a population of about 37,000, it has seven craft breweries!
I only had time to visit two breweries on my trip: Cannery Brewing and Abandoned Rail Brewing.
Cannery Brewing has a huge taproom as well as a cool outdoor space called the Backyard. Be sure to try their seasonal beers. My friend loved their Darkling Oatmeal Stout.
Abandoned Rail Brewing is just outside of Penticton on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. They have some indoor seating but the best spots are in the shade of their little orchard.
Bike the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
By far the best thing I did on my trip to Penticton was biking the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. We rented e-bikes from Pedego Penticton, which made the bike ride very low effort – I didn’t really even sweat (which is a miracle for me!)
The Kettle Valley Railway once stretched for hundreds of kilometres across southern British Columbia from Hope to Midway in the West Kootenays. After the railway was abandoned, it became a recreational trail. The section in Penticton starts near downtown and traverses the hillside wineries along the Naramata Bench.
I biked as far as Little Tunnel, which is a cool old train tunnel you can bike through. It has spectacular views overlooking Okanagan Lake. It has picnic tables so you can enjoy a lunch break – we brought sandwiches and snacks from The Bench Market, which we passed on our ride out of Penticton. We also stopped for delicious apple slushies at Abandoned Rail Brewing on the way back. It’s right next to the trail.
The ride is gently uphill all the way to Little Tunnel, but with the assist from the e-bikes, it was relatively easy. We spent about 4 hours on the trail, which included time for lots of breaks for photos, lunch at Little Tunnel, and hanging out in the shady orchard at Abandoned Rail Brewing.
Shop the Farmers’ Market
I spent a fun hour wandering around downtown Penticton to check out the booths at the market. Every Saturday in the spring, summer, and fall, several blocks of Main Street turn into a huge outdoor market. Actually, it is two markets that set up next to each other:
The Penticton Farmer’s Market focuses on fruit, veggies, baking, preserves, and crafts. Everything at the market is made, grown, or baked by locals.
The Downtown Community Market features crafts, clothing, food trucks, jewellery, antiques, and tons more.
Go Kayaking
I was excited to explore Penticton from the water. We rented kayaks at Pier Water Sports next to the Penticton Lakeside Resort. The sit-on-top kayaks were perfect for splashing around on a hot day.
It was a bit windy when we went out (which is common in the afternoon), so we stuck close to the shoreline and paddled along the beach towards the S.S. Sicamous, then past the resort to the marina. It was cool to see the city from the lake. And it was nice to get some chill time on the water.
Hike Munson Mountain
As soon as I spotted the huge white letters spelling out “Penticton” on the side of a hill Hollywood Sign-style, I knew I wanted to go up there. We made the short drive out of town to Munson Mountain Park.
It’s an easy walk from the parking lot to a great viewpoint with benches. If you’re up for it, you can follow a trail uphill to an even higher vantage point directly above the Penticton sign. The view from the top is incredible. You can see the town of Penticton to the south and Okanagan Lake stretching away to the north.
While researching this article, I found out that Munson Mountain is actually one of Canada’s Historic Places – the sign dates back to 1937.
The path to the lower viewpoint is only 200 m. The full trail up to the top viewpoint and back is about 1 km and is fairly steep in places. Allow about 30 minutes.
Float the Channel
When I told friends I had been to Penticton, a few of them asked if I had floated the channel. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time for this famous Penticton experience… but I guess that just means I’ll need to go back!
A seven-kilometre-long natural lazy-river channel connects Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake. Locals and visitors have been floating the channel for decades. You can bring your own tube or rent one locally. Coyote Cruises offers a tube and bus combo that includes floatie rental and a ride back to the start.
Chill out in Naramata
The sleepy village of Naramata is just 20 minutes north of Penticton. The hills above the village are home to over a dozen wineries. I spent a relaxing day in Naramata, swimming at the quiet local beach, chilling out in the garden at The Village Motel, and wandering the quaint streets.
The sunset views in Naramata were incredible because it faces west across Okanagan Lake. (Penticton’s beaches face north (Okanagan Beach) or south (Skaha Beach), so the sunsets aren’t as good.)
We loved the pizza at Real Things and coffee in the morning from Just Baked.
Discover Naramata has put together some GPS-guided audio tours, which sound really cool. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try them on my trip. Next time, I want to try their tour that includes the hike to Naramata Falls and the garden tour in Naramata Village.
Take a Day Trip to Osoyoos
The town of Osoyoos is just one hour south of Penticton, and it’s a gorgeous drive past several lakes and through orchards and vineyards. If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can book a day tour to Osoyoos that hits the desert highlights. Osoyoos is also home to Canada’s only desert. It makes a great day trip from Penticton.
If you’re just visiting Osoyoos for the day, there are a few key places I recommend visiting.
Osoyoos Desert Centre
The first is the Osoyoos Desert Centre. This conservation area has exhibits and a 1.5-kilometre-long walking trail that highlights the unique flora and fauna of the Okanagan Desert. I took one of their guided tours, and I definitely recommend it. I learned so much about how the plants and animals survive this harsh landscape. And speaking of a harsh landscape – bring a hat, water and sunscreen. It’s hot out there with no shade.
Spotted Lake
You also can’t miss Spotted Lake, known as kłlilx’w to the Syilx people. It’s located on the side of Highway 3 just outside of Osoyoos. The lake evaporates in the summer, leaving behind concentrated minerals that look like spots. It’s a sacred place for the Syilx, so you can only see the lake from the roadside pullout. But that’s ok, because it has a great view.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Lastly, I recommend the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. It’s a great Indigenous museum just outside of Osoyoos. They have a small indoor museum with exhibits about the culture and history of the Osoyoos Indian Band. But I enjoyed the self-guided outdoor exhibits the most. Several trails wind through the desert to a reconstructed village and other hands-on displays. The trails also have great views of Osoyoos. I spotted lots of wildflowers too.
Where to Eat in Penticton
Penticton and the surrounding area have tons of restaurant options. Here are a few that I recommend.
Wayne & Freda
Wayne & Freda is a cute coffee shop located inside a former auto repair shop in downtown Penticton. They have a huge sunny patio. This is a great place to start the day: their breakfast sandwich is amazing. I also loved their spring toast. It’s an avocado toast with pesto and lots of veggies. They also have sandwiches if you’re here at lunch.
The Bench Market
Stop at the Bench Market to pick up takeout lunch on your way to bike the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. The cafe is on Vancouver Street just outside of downtown Penticton. They have great sandwiches and a well-stocked deli. Or stay and eat on their cute patio. They serve breakfast all day, too.
Cannery Brewing
Cannery Brewing in downtown Penticton has a huge taproom and a fun outdoor seating area called the Backyard. They have lots of craft beer on tap (of course). It’s easy to try a few kinds by ordering a flight. For non-beer drinkers like me, they have wine, cider, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options like craft soda and kombucha.
If you’re hungry, they have classic snacks like charcuterie boards and pretzels alongside substantial sandwiches. We had the Santa Fe nachos – they were huge and delicious.
Abandoned Rail Brewing
Head to Abandoned Rail Brewing just outside of Penticton to eat and drink in the orchard. It’s right on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, and their huge bike rack was stuffed with dozens of bikes on my visit.
They serve craft beer, but we went for their famous apple slushies, which really hit the spot after a bike ride in the sun. While we were there, we saw lots of people ordering their wood-fired pizzas. I’ll have to go back to try them. The prosciutto blackberry brie pizza sounds incredible.
The Hooded Merganser
If you’re looking for something a bit upscale with an incredible view, eat at The Hooded Merganser. It’s right on the Okanagan Lake… actually it’s in the lake since the restaurant is built on pilings over the water in front of the Penticton Lakeside Resort. The menu features elevated classics like lamb chops, steak frites, and parmesan-crusted halibut. They also have great pasta – my mushroom cannelloni was such a delicious umami bomb.
Real Things Pizza
If you’re in Naramata, get pizza from Real Things Pizza. It’s take-out or delivery only (no eat-in), but that just means that you get to eat dinner next to the water at one of Naramata’s beaches. Or in the garden at The Village Motel, like we did. Their pizzas have lots of fun flavour combinations, many of which were developed by their staff of local teenagers. Or you can get a classic Hawaiian like I did. (Yes, I believe pineapple belongs on pizza – don’t yuck my yum.)
Just Baked
Also in Naramata, don’t miss Just Baked. It’s a tiny coffee shop and bakery in The Village Motel. They have great scones, but I couldn’t resist eating one of their decadent brownies for breakfast!
The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry
If you’re looking for something different, head to The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry. It is located at the Indigenous-owned Spirit Ridge Resort just outside of Osoyoos.
The upscale food is Indigenous inspired and guided by their four food chiefs: the bear, the fish (salmon), the root (bitterroot) and the berry (Saskatoon berry). I had an incredible salmon eggs Benedict made with bannock, and my friend enjoyed a bison burger. One of the best parts of the restaurant is the view of Osoyoos and the lake from the patio.
Where to Stay in Penticton
There are tons of hotels, motels, and resorts in Penticton. Here are two that I stayed at recommend.
Penticton Lakeside Resort
I spent two nights at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. We stayed in a suite in the new West Wing Tower. I couldn’t believe how huge the suite was! It had an enormous bedroom as well as a big living room and a patio. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave us views of the lake and a park.
The resort has several different room types, many with lake views. They also have a few restaurants on the property, including the Hooded Merganser.
We really enjoyed how central this hotel was. It was an easy walk to the beach, the farmer’s market, and tons of restaurants.
The Village Motel
I spent the final night of my trip at The Village Motel in Naramata. It’s a retro bungalow-style motel with rooms arranged around a central garden courtyard. The rooms are cute, but they are small. However, you won’t mind because you’ll want to spend all of your time in the garden.
When we arrived in the late afternoon, several of the other guests were lazing around the garden quietly reading books and drinking wine. It looked so relaxing that we joined them immediately! I loved listening to the birds in the trees. We even spotted an owl!
There is an adorable coffee shop, Just Baked, on the property. Or you can pick up pizza from Real Things just up the road – that’s what we did for dinner. The rooms have kitchenettes, too, if you want to cook.
Penticton Basics
In this section, I’ve got practicalities for a summer visit to Penticton. It includes getting there, getting around, weather, what to pack, and more.
How to Get to Penticton
Penticton sits along Highway 97 in BC’s Okanagan region. Like most people, I visited Penticton by car. It’s an easy drive from major centres like Vancouver (4.5 hours), Calgary (8 hours), and Kelowna (1 hour). I like to use DiscoverCars to book car rentals since the site lets you compare prices across different rental companies.
You can also fly directly to Penticton from Vancouver via Pacific Coastal Airlines and from Calgary and Edmonton via Westjet. There are even more routes into Kelowna, which is only one hour away. On my trip, my friend flew into Kelowna and I picked her up. She said it was a short and easy flight.
You can also get to Penticton via public transportation. The Ebus goes from from Vancouver to Kelowna. From there, transfer to route 70 on the Okanagan Similkameen Transit System.
Getting Around Penticton
One of Penticton’s tourism slogans is that they are “fuel free… almost”. You can get around to most places in town by walking, biking, or paddling. For most of my trip, my car stayed in my hotel’s parking garage!
While you can drive to some of the day trip destinations in this guide, like Osoyoos or Naramata, you can also take the bus instead. (BC Transit Route 40 goes from Penticton to Osoyoos and Route 10 goes to Naramata.) If you want to go wine tasting, booking a small-group or private wine tour is your best bet since you won’t have to worry about drinking and driving.
How Long to Spend in Penticton in Summer
I spent a long weekend in Penticton, and I think that’s the perfect amount of time for a visit. In three or four days, you can see the highlights without being too rushed. However, I do wish I had been able to stay longer and just chill out. A week would have been ideal.
Summer Weather in Penticton
Penticton has similar weather to other destinations in the south Okanagan.
Summers are hot and dry. The average temperature from June to September is 14°C to 30°C (56 to 87F°); however, some days can be much hotter. It also rarely rains during the summer, about twice a month. Once the sun goes down, it cools off a lot.
What to Pack for Penticton in Summer
Penticton is pretty laid back, so you don’t need to pack anything too fancy. If you plan to visit some of the nicer restaurants or wineries, pack a cute summer dress or a pair of khakis and a button-down shirt. But otherwise, casual wear is fine.
The summer sun here is no joke. Bring sunscreen and a sun hat. You should also pack a water bottle since it is easy to get dehydrated in the heat. I use a Hydro Flask bottle because it is insulated, so it keeps my water cold.
This is a lake town, so bring all your beach stuff: swimsuit, sandals, sun hat, etc. Most hotels and resorts provide beach towels.
If you plan to bike or hike, bring a small backpack, hiking shoes, and quick-dry clothing. I like to wear a long-sleeved sun hoodie since it means I don’t have to constantly reapply sunscreen. I’ve got a list of my favourite sun hoodies, but my top pick is the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake.
Indigenous Context in Penticton
The southern Okanagan, including Penticton, Naramata, and Osoyoos, is the traditional territory of the Syilx Okangan Nation (pronounced “see-yil-th”) who speak nsyilxcən. The Nation comprises seven member communities, including the Penticton Indian Band and Osoyoos Indian Band.
The name Penticton comes from the nsyilxcən word snpintktn, which is often translated as “a place to stay forever”. However, a more accurate translation is “a place where people have always been all year long” since this area is rich in hunting, fishing, and gathering in all seasons.
Today, the Syilx still live in the southern Okanagan and continue to practice their traditions and culture. It is important to be respectful of Indigenous lands, culture, and traditions when you visit. If you want to learn more about the Syilx, visit the Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, run by the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Final Thoughts
I was surprised by how much I liked Penticton. I think it was the laid-back atmosphere. I’d love to go back and spend more time there. On my next trip, I’ll probably do more biking, and I’d like to float the channel. But other than that, I’m looking forward to just soaking up more of the summer vibes.
Do you have questions about visiting Penticton in the summer? Ask away in the comments, and I’ll help you out.
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