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Check out the specials at Penticton's Tiki Shores Beach Resort

Step aboard living Okanagan history on the steam ships of the Okanagan Inland Marine Heritage Park, Penticton.

The Crown Resort Motel on Okanagan Beach - only steps from the water. Charming rooms and suites to choose from. Click here for special savings

The Okanagan Sun Site
Fun, Attractions and Great Things to See, Do and Enjoy

The Okanagan is described by visitors as “One of the best summer family destinations in western Canada”. With all due modesty, we might also add it is one of the best fall destinations (wine touring and golf) and one of the best family winter destinations (skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tubing and tobogganing). And what the heck – it’s pretty darn nice in spring, as well!

The Okanagan Information

Nestled in south central British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, South Okanagan Wine Country includes the communities of Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Twin Lakes, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.

The Okanagan Has Festivals For Everyone

The Okanagan has a host of events for visitors to enjoy, including the Ironman Canada Triathlon, spring and fall Okanagan Wine Festivals, Penticton Peach Festival, Pentastic Jazz Festival, Peach City Beach Cruise and the Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival, Oliver Grape Stomp, Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta and too many more to list here.

While You're in the Okanagan...

The Okanagan offers tourists lots of things to do during their stay. Start with the spectacular beaches and crystal-clear Okanagan, Skaha and Osooyoos lakes for swimming, boating and fishing. Golf on one of a dozen terrific courses, hike or bike the Kettle Valley Trail; climb Skaha Bluffs; ski or snowboard at Apex Mountain Resort. And there's more. (Check out Things to in The Okanagan)

Eighty-eight wineries make the Okanagan the location-of-choice for savvy wine tourists. On the renowned Naramata Bench alone, just outside of The Okanagan, there are 23 wineries, while Oliver's Golden Mile, Summerland's Bottleneck Drive, Black Sage Road and Okanagan Falls wineries all deserve a visit.

The Kettle Valley (KVR) Trail (part of the Trans-Canada Trail) lures outdoors enthusiasts with 160 km. of flat, rail bed trails for hiking and biking adventures, not to mention eye-popping scenery and vistas, small lakes, water ways and more.

The Okanagan: What To Expect

The Okanagan has a temperate, semi-arid climate, similar to the Mediterranean, and averages slightly more than 300 mm (12") of precipitation annually. Summer days are very warm (temperatures above 30 °C are commonplace, but the humidity is low and nights are refreshing). Winters are blessedly short, with mean daily temperatures averaging just below freezing for about 8 weeks out of the year. The Okanagan is sheltered from cold Arctic air in winter by the surrounding mountain ranges, making blizzards and freezing rainstorms very rare. There are more than 140 days a year frost-free on average.

Getting To The Okanagan

Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) provides air service to and from Vancouver, British Columbia on Air Canada Jazz.

By road the South Okanagan runs along Hwy 97, about 4 hours from Vancouver, 8 hours from Calgary and 5 hours from Spokane. The South Okanagan 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.

The Okanagan is renowned as an ideal family vacation destination and Okanagan Lake provides great family fun on the water.

Today's Weather Report

Okanagan Visitors' Update Blog

Things to do the Okanagan

Okanagan Festivals & Events

Okanagan Golf Courses

Okanagan Wine Country

Visitors flock to the the Penticton Farmers Market for fresh local produce and artisan crafts.