Are you looking for a great way to spend a day in the Okanagan this summer? What better way than a road trip? These five drives are all short, easy journeys that take in the beautiful scenery and treasures of the Okanagan! Pack a lunch and some snacks, put on some driving tunes and enjoy!
1. Highway 3 and Manning Park
The longest of our trips takes you to Manning Provincial Park, on Highway 3. The route to this stunning park takes you south through the valley, along Lake Okanagan and Skaha Lake and into the Similkameen Valley. You will enjoy stunning lake and mountain views, passing many fruit stands and wineries along the way. The park itself is a great place for a short hike or walk to stretch your legs and take in the mountain air. There are great picnic sites as well as a lodge with a restaurant. If you want to extend your stay, the Park offers camping and overnight accommodation in the lodge. A great way to experience the Okanagan, the Similkameen and mountains all in one day!
2. Skaha Lake
This shorter drive takes in everything that makes the Okanagan a tourist delight. Whether you are visiting us or being a “tourist at home”, this trip has it all. You will drive along Lake Okanagan, with the option of stopping for coffee or treats on the lake in Peachland, into Penticton. From here, follow Skaha Lake to the small town of Okanagan Falls. You will pass beaches, golf courses, vineyards and wineries. Stop for lunch at a local winery and ice cream at Tickleberry’s just south of Okanagan Falls.
3. A Wine and Food Tour Through Kelowna
The Okanagan is a wine and food hotspot. With abundant local products and over 200 wineries, this is the perfect setting for a day trip taking in outstanding food and great wine. There are many options – a trip to Lake Country to visit Ex Nihilo, Arrowleaf and Ancient Hills wineries, with a lunch stop to take in the stunning vistas from the patio at Grey Monk Winery; a tour through South Kelowna along Lakeshore Drive to taste the wines at Cedar Creek, Tantalus and St. Hubertus, with lunch overlooking the lake from Summerhill Winery; or head to West Kelowna and taste the wines of the Hatch, Quail’s Gate and Mission Hill while enjoying a delicious lunch on the patio at BluSaffron at Volcanic Hills. Enjoy the wine and food of the Okanagan!
4. Float the Canal
Drive south along Lake Okanagan and spend a summer day floating the canal to Skaha Lake! Penticton is known as the float capital of Canada. The canal connects Lake Okanagan with Skaha Lake and is a very enjoyable day in the sun. Bring your own float or rent a tube and spend an hour leisurely floating through Penticton. You start at the north end and float to Skaha Lake. There is a shuttle bus to take you back to your starting point. A great way to spend a lazy summer day in the Okanagan!
On the way back, or on the way down, stop at a fruit stand and pick up fresh seasonal fruit, and stop at a winery for a bottle of Okanagan wine. A truly Okanagan day trip!
5. Lake trip to Sicamous and Salmon Arm
The Shuswap, houseboat capital of Canada is less than an hour and a half from downtown Kelowna. The drive though Lake Country and Vernon is beautiful, with the deep colours of Kalamalka Lake a highlight. You can stop at any number of wineries and fruit stands along the way, and enjoy the cottage country feel of Mara Lake. If you are a golfer, Predator Ridge is worth the trip. If not, a picnic, some fishing or a house boating experience on Shuswap Lake is a great way to spend the day. Boat rentals are readily available. Enderby boasts having one do the last drive-in movie theatres in the country – stop by at night and enjoy a movie in your car before heading home!
Experience the Okanagan and enjoy one of these great day trips! Do you have another favorite Okanagan destination? Let us know on our Facebook page!
