Three-Day Getaway: Penticton

By Tiffany Lewis April 10, 2025

Overlooking Penticton | Visit Penticton/Nathan Penner

Penticton has all the right ingredients for a perfect getaway. Relax on soft sand, splash around in one of two massive lakes that bookend the city, and tour more than 80 wineries within 20 minutes of town. The surrounding mountains offer opportunities to stay fit, and your adventures are fueled by farm-fresh food complemented by locally crafted drinks. And once you’ve sampled what Penticton and the immediate area has to offer, point yourself north or south and the beauty of the Okanagan Valley stretches on.

Day 1: Penticton

Aerial view of the Skaha Lake sandy shoreline surrounded by trees and grass and backed by forested mountains

Penticton on Skaha Lake | Melissa Barnes

Situated between Okanagan and Skaha lakes and bordered by vineyards and orchards, Penticton boasts stunning vistas in every direction. Start your day with breakfast at The Bench Market, where your morning java is made from locally roasted organic beans. Enjoy their all-day breakfast menu, and be sure to try the house-made granola.

Sufficiently fuelled and ready for adventure? Gear up for a bike ride along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail with Hoodoo Adventures. The gentle grade allows for a leisurely pedal through tunnels, along rocky bluffs, and past vineyards—each backed by panoramas of Okanagan Lake.

If you’d rather play in the water than admire it from above, pick a lake and head to the beach. Swim in the calm, clear water, go slow on a stand-up paddleboard or in a kayak, or rent a motorized watercraft and zip around the lake. Get a treat from the giant peach-shaped concession stand on Okanagan Lake, or, on Saturdays mornings from mid-April through October, find your culinary bliss at the sprawling Penticton Farmers’ Market.

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Kettle Valley Rail Trail, Destination British Columbia | Skaha Bluffs, Kari Medig | Okanagan Lake Beach in Penticton, Melissa Barnes

To indulge in as much of the local food scene as possible, you’ll need to work up an appetite. Take a hike in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, or bring your gear and climb the well-known bluffs. This park is a respected climbing destination with dozens of routes (such as Blazing Buttress and Rattlesnake Ledge). Brag about your achievements over a High Five Hazy IPA and a Smash Burger at Yellow Dog Brewing.

Lay your head at the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre before setting out the next morning to explore neighbouring communities.

Day 2: Naramata

View looking out over the vineyards, Okanagan Lake and Naramata from Munson Mountain

The Naramata Bench | Kari Medig

This small community on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake is known for its agricultural endeavours. Naramata is made up of farms, orchards, and some of the best wineries in the Okanagan Valley. Visit Therapy Vineyards to sip Super Ego, a Bordeaux-style blend, or Freudian Sip, a popular, off-dry white. Poplar Grove winery on the Naramata Bench boasts a glass-walled tasting room with gorgeous views over Okanagan Lake, and their on-site restaurant is a must.

While you’re in the neighbourhood, stop by Forest Green Man Lavender for a wide range of lavender products, including hand-made lavender soaps and essential oils distilled on the farm. Check out the charming village with its general store and artisan shops, and imagine life in one of the community’s many lakeside cottages. The 1908 Naramata Inn is a favourite overnight option.

Day 3: Summerland

A steam train crosses a raised trestle bridge. Forests are visible in the foreground and background.

Trout Creek Trestle Bridge | Summerland Chamber of Commerce

On the other side of the lake is Summerland, home of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. A restored 1912 steam locomotive leads the charge along 16 kilometres (10 miles) of track built between 1910 and 1915. Highlights include crossing the Trout Creek Bridge 72 metres (238 feet) above the canyon, and the route’s vineyard, orchard, and lake views. In summer, enjoy the Great Train Robbery, where a gang on horseback “robs” train passengers to benefit local charities.

Summerland | @lukelelee

Another way to take in the sights is to climb to the top of Giant’s Head Mountain. The south face of this ancient volcano was carved by glaciers, and resembles a giant’s profile. If you’re feeling ambitious, hike up from ground level; if you’re in it primarily for the 360-degree view, drive up to a picnic area. From there it’s about a 10-minute hike to the summit.

No visit to Summerland is complete without a stop at Summerland Sweets. This family-run business was started by a researcher at the local Federal Agricultural Research Station. Ted Atkinson began making fruit jelly candies on his orchard in the early 1960s, and when he retired he turned his hobby into a business. Passed down to subsequent generations, Summerland Sweets has grown into a successful operation offering fruit syrups, jams, and an assortment of fruit wines produced by Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery, launched in 2008.

Getting Here

Penticton is located along Highway 97 in the Okanagan Valley, about five hours from Vancouver. There are a couple of ways to get here. Follow Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) to Hope, then take Highway 5 north to Merritt. From there Highway 97C connects to West Kelowna, and Summerland is about 45 minutes south.

Alternatively, from Hope follow Highway 3 through E.C. Manning Provincial Park and the Similkameen Valley, and take Highway 3A north from Keremeos. The 3A connects to Highway 97 about 15 minutes south of Penticton. Another option is to fly into Penticton Airport or to Kelowna International Airport and rent a car.

Originally published in July, 2017.