Penticton

Penticton (The 'Peach City') is a beautiful spot in the south Okanagan nestled between two lakes: The 155 km Okanagan Lake to the north, and the smaller Skaha Lake to the south. Tourism in Penticton is largely seasonal. In the summer, tourists double Penticton's population to 60,000. In the winter things used to be very quiet, but now that World Cup Freestyle Skiing stops at local Apex Mountain every winter, the winter scene is picking up.



Understand
This area has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Salish group of First Nations people. They called their settlement in this area snpintktn which loosely translates as 'a place to stay forever' and gives Penticton its name. The first non-native settler Thomas Ellis preempted land in Penticton in 1869 and started a very successful cattle ranch. With the arrival of engineering marvel Kettle Valley Railway the boom in Penticton had begun. Penticton became a municipality in 1908, and a city in 1948.

Climate
Penticton's climate is well suited for agriculture, and thousands of fruit trees were planted all along the west and east bench areas overlooking Okanagan Lake. From cherries in early July to apples and pears in early September, Penticton has always been a large producer and exporter of non-citrus tree fruit. Many local oldtimers decry the trend of ripping out perfectly healthy and productive orchards for the more lucrative vineyards which supply grapes for the regions more than thirty boutique wineries. Today Penticton's two largest industries are tourism and the growing wine industry, which threatens to eclipse the fruit production industry.

Penticton's climate and geography is a northern, four-seasons version of what some call Mediterranean. Large clay banks, benches, and scrubland skirt the mid-level mountains that frame the valley on the east and west sides. Summers are hot with an average temperature of 27°C, and peaks of 35-40°C are not unheard of. The large size of Okanagan Lake tempers the climate in winter which sees an average high of 0.9°C in January. It can and does snow occasionally, but generally only during December and January will it accumulate in modest quantities. You can check the snow level with a quick glance to the mountains, which will have a white apron about half to three-quarters of the way up. Penticton gets about 2000 hours of sun per year, which is a higher average than Rio de Janeiro.

By car
Most travellers will arrive in Penticton by automobile. Highway 97 is the major north-south route through the city. Travel times are about 4 hours from Vancouver, 8 hours from Calgary and 5 hours from Seattle or Spokane. Penticton is a 40-minute drive south from Kelowna. The US/Canada border crossing to the south on Highway 97 is open 24 hours a day; other border crossings in this region are closed overnight.

By bus
Intercity bus service is available in Kelowna, which can be reached using BC Transit route 70 (see "Get around" section below.)

Airlines

 * Operates flights to Penticton from Vancouver (50 minutes).

By car
This is your best bet if you wish to visit the area's many wineries, which are generally out of town a ways. Car rentals:

By public transit

 * Operates bus route 20 from Monday to Friday between Penticton and Okanagan Falls.
 * Operates bus route 30 from Monday to Saturday between Pencticton and Summerland.
 * Operates bus route 40 from Monday to Friday between Penticton and Osoyoos with stops in Okanagan Falls and Oliver. Travel time to downtown Osoyoos from Osoyoos is 1 hour 30 minutes, from Oliver is 1 hour 5 minutes, and from Okanagan Falls is 45 minutes.
 * Operates bus route 50 three days per week between Penticton and Princeton with stops in Keremeos. Travel time to Penticton from Princeton is about 1 hour 40 minutes and from from Keremeos is about 50 minutes.
 * Operates bus route 70 from Monday to Friday between Penticton and Kelowna with stops in Summerland, Peachland, and West Kelowna. Travel time to Penticton from Kelowna is about 1 hour 5 minutes and from Summerland is about 20 minutes.
 * Operates bus route 70 from Monday to Friday between Penticton and Kelowna with stops in Summerland, Peachland, and West Kelowna. Travel time to Penticton from Kelowna is about 1 hour 5 minutes and from Summerland is about 20 minutes.

On foot and bike
Penticton's compact size lends itself to biking or even just walking around. It will take about 15 minutes to bike from lake to lake, and just over an hour for the same journey on foot. There are walking and biking trails on both sides of the River Channel, and a painted bike lane on a major north-south corridor of the city.

Bike rentals:

Outdoors
Perhaps the best thing to do in Penticton is to join the locals at the beach, and enjoy the blisteringly hot summer sun. follows pretty much the entirety of Lakeshore Drive on Okanagan Lake, and is generally the more family oriented beach. to the south on Skaha Lake is where Penticton's younger crowd go to see and be seen. and are also on Skaha Lake, west of Skaha Beach on the south side of Highway 97 (Caution: Sudbury is used as a kitesurf launch during the off-season.). is a good bet when the crowds at the other beaches are getting you down. Just north of town, follow Naramata Road north, turn left at Three Mile Road, and follow down to the lake. If you walk along the beach to the north you will find an unofficial nudist area.

Golfers will find themselves at home, with four golf courses in the city limits, and several more just beyond:

Rock climbers will want to check out the renowned Skaha Climbing Bluffs in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park. Skaha.org has more information on climbing in the Penticton area.

Cyclists and hikers will want to visit the stunning Kettle Valley Trail which follows the old railway grade from Penticton through Naramata's bench wineries, and farther along, a system of tunnels and trestles leading all the way to Castlegar and beyond, some several hundreds of kilometers. Part of the Trans Canada Trail which bills itself as the longest recreational trail in the world. You can also travel the railway grade on the opposite side of the lake 10km to Summerland which is gatewayed by the dramatic Trout Creek Railway Trestle, the highest in British Columbia.

Another traditional pastime in Penticton is floating down the River Channel, which is a small shallow river that flows south from Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake. This leisurely trip takes from 2 to 3.5 hours depending on water levels in the channel. Be sure to bring sunscreen or you will burn up! If you have your own flotation device and can work out the logistics of getting a ride and keeping your valuables dry, you can do the full channel for free.

Festivals
Penticton is also a city of events and festivals. Indeed, in the summer there is rarely a time when there isn't some sort of festival going on. Dates and venues can change from year to year, check the websites for current information. A brief survey of the major festivals includes:





Boating, sailing and watersports
With two lakes ten minutes apart, Penticton is a great place to bring your boat if you have one. While you cannot boat from lake to lake, they both have launches and marinas for fuel and supplies.



Winter

 * In winter, your best bet is to spend some time up at the local ski hill Apex Mountain Ski Resort. Apex is about a 45-minute drive from town west on Green Mountain Road.
 * If you go further north, Big White and other ski resorts are reachable in a day, and there is Mount Baldy to the south.


 * The team plays at:
 * If the weather is cooperative, play a round of golf right throug the year.
 * If the weather is cooperative, play a round of golf right throug the year.
 * If the weather is cooperative, play a round of golf right throug the year.

Wineries
There are numerous wineries in the area surrounding Penticton to go wine tasting. See "Drink" section.

Buy
There is no shortage of stands along the beaches to sell tourists swimwear, sunglasses and other assorted knick-knacks.

Main Street
Main Street features a wide variety of shops and galleries. Penticton also has a few big-block stores such as Walmart, London Drugs, Staples, etc. These can all be found by driving along Main Street. If you reach the other lake, you've gone too far!



Gifts and souvenirs
For traditional local gifts/souvenirs you can visit:

For a more meaningful, intoxicating, or just plain tastier souvenir visit one of the area's many wineries, and one of the many fruit stands dotted along the highway and backroads that sell local products.

Seasonal markets also operate, selling predominantly food but also local wares and wine.



Eat
There are over one-hundred places to eat in Penticton, servicing pretty much any taste or budget. In the summer you will do well to ensure reservations, or else you may have to wait until well after 10PM to get your dinner when restaurants start to slow down. Many places cut back hours or close entirely in the winter.



Penticton also has all-day breakfast chains: The Pantry, Denny's, and Rickys; large chain restaurants Boston Pizza, Earls, and Joeys Only; and every fast-food place you could ever want McDonald's, Burger King, Wendys, A&W, Subway, Taco Time, Quiznos Subs, Canada's favourite: Tim Hortons!

Drink
Legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19. The government store (Penticton Plaza, 1301 Main Street) sells beer, wine and spirits until 9PM. Cold beer and wine stores (6 in town) are open until 11PM, with modest selection of spirits. Nightclubs serve until 2AM, but won't kick you out until 3AM.

Wineries and viticulture


The Penticton area has many wineries, and indeed more seem to spring up everyday. The terroir of the Naramata Bench is considered the premier wine growing region of British Columbia for its climate and geography (though growers in the Golden Mile region of Oliver to the south may disagree). The popularity of this relatively new industry has driven the price of local products well over the price of a comparable French or Italian bottle. Most wineries offer free tastings and tours, and will almost certainly sell their products directly. To be sure of the best quality look for bottles that sport the VQA designation, which ensures authenticity of origin, and a minimum standard of quality during grape growth, harvest, and production.



Breweries
Back in its heyday, Penticton had three nightclubs in town, but with changing times they have all shuttered down and turned into microbreweries. So many in fact that Penticton is a part of the BC Ale Trail and has the beginnings of a Brewery District.

Most breweries are focused in the downtown core. Some notable breweries include:


 * Barley Mill Brewpub, See above under Pubs.

Sleep
As with restaurants, the amount of accommodations available in Penticton is disproportionate compared to the size of the city. Still, Penticton is very popular in the summer and the area hotels can and will be fully booked, especially on long weekends and Ironman weekend. Prices listed here are high season, as this is when most visitors come. Low and shoulder season rates may be drastically lower depending on the facility. The listings here are but a mere smattering of what's available.

Stay safe
There is not much to worry about in Penticton. The streets are generally safe after dark and the huge number of tourists on the streets ensures you are never alone. The biggest safety issue may be the occasional bar brawl that occurs when the clubs close. Make sure you do not get involved or you will end up spending the night in jail.

If you are hiking or biking in the surrounding hills be aware the area is home to rattlesnakes and bears. The snakes, easily detected by their distinctive rattle, do not attack humans unless you enter their space and/or startle them — such as abruptly walking into one along a trail. If you hear the rattle, understand it as a warning and keep your distance; the snake's bite can be fatal. Similarly, black bears inhabit the region surrounding Penticton and are happy to avoid humans unless surprised, cornered, and/or their cubs are threatened. Bear attacks are extremely rare but if you spot a bear in the area, it is best to steer clear. Cougars are being spotted by the locals more.

Go next

 * Go alpine skiing/boarding in the winter or mountain biking in the summer at Apex Mountain Ski Resort located 33km (21 mi) west of Penticton. A small mountain with some of the best advanced terrain in the interior. From the Channel Parkway turn west on Green Mountain Road and follow 22 km before turning right at the Apex Guest Ranch. Snow tires are recommended in the winter. Lifts run weekends in the summer for mountain biking (beginner to advanced) and hiking/sightseeing.
 * Go rock climbing at the Skaha lake bluffs.
 * Ride the Kettle Valley Steam Train or relax in the lush Ornamental Gardens in nearby Summerland. Fifteen minutes north of Penticton.
 * If you haven't had enough sun and heat, head 45 minutes south to Osoyoos where the average temperature is even hotter, and wander through Canada's only true desert.
 * Okanagan Beach (Sunset Strip) offers para-gliding, canoe, boat and bike rentals.