Penticton

Penticton => (The 'Peach City') is a beautiful spot in the south Okanagan nestled between two lakes: The 155km long 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, while in the winter you may be hard pressed to find more than a handful of people on the streets after dark. Penticton's two largest industries are tourism and the growing wine/fruit industry.

Get in

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 4 hours from Spokane. Penticton is a 50 minute drive south from Kelowna.

Penticton has a small airport => with domestic flights from Vancouver and Calgary. US/National flights will land in Kelowna, 60 kilometers to the north. International flights will land in Vancouver where either a change of flight or an alternate mode of transportation will be needed to make it to Penticton.

Greyhound operates coach service with connections from all other British Columbia cities.

Get around

Car

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

• Best Choice Car Rentals, 249 Westminister Ave, +1 250 490-3339 =>.
• Budget Car and Truck Rentals, two locations: 2504 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton Airport, +1 250 493-0212 =>.
• National Car Rental, Penticton Airport, +1 250 493-7262 =>.

Bus

BC Transit => operates a local bus service in Penticton with 4 regular routes and a night route. Service ends at 6:00pm for regular routes and 9:00pm for the night route. There is no service on Sundays except for the Lake-to-lake shuttle. The local transit is generally only used by the elderly locals and school children. Fares are $1.75 which includes a 90 minute transfer. Ask the operator, as they generally will not offer one.

Taxi

Penticton taxi service is reasonable, a lake-to-lake trip will be around $12. The city is served by 4 different cab companies, all of which operate 24 hours per day. You will generally need to phone for a taxi, although they do tend to arrive outside the bars at last call.

• Courtesy, 492-7777
• Lake City, 492-0111
• Penticton Taxi, 492-5555
• Klassic Kabs, 492-6666

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/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:

• Freedom the Bike Shop, 533 Main Street, +1 250 493-0686 [http://www.freedombikeshop.com ]. $30/day.
• Bike Barn, 300 Westminster Ave, +1 250 492-4140 [http://www.bikebarn.ca ]. $35/day.

See

• The S.S. Sicamous paddlewheeler was the last commercial ship to operate on Okanagan Lake. Built in 1914 and retired in 1936, the large ship now spends its days drydocked on the edge of Okanagan Lake. The ship is open daily for tours in the summer, and includes a large HO scale model railway on the main deck, depicting the local Kettle Valley Railway. The smaller S.S. Naramata rests just behind the Sicamous. The two ships are located on the west end of Lakeshore Drive. Admission by donation.

• The Peach is a concession stand located at the foot of Winnipeg Street on Okanagan Lake shaped and painted as a giant peach. While it isn't that interesting in and of itself, it has an interesting history and is one of the most photographed spots in town. Film buffs may recognize it from the movie My American Cousin which was filmed in the Penticton Area. Note that this is actually the second Peach, as the first was pushed into the lake during the 1990 Peachfest riot (Note: The riot was an isolated incident, Penticton is really quite safe).

• Munson Mountain Park is home to the large 'Penticton' sign (a la 'Hollywood') that greets travellers coming in to town from the north. The sign was created with thousands of small white stones. The park itself affords visitors with stunning 360 degree panoramas of the South Okanagan valley. To get there head east on Vancouver Ave. and follow the signs.

• Penticton Ironman Triathlon, =>. The last Sunday in August sees Penticton pretty much shutdown as everyone moves to Lakeshore and Main Street to watch the thousands of competitors in this gruelling event. The triathlon includes a 3.86km (2.4mi) swim, 180km (112mi) bike, and finally, a full marathon of 42.2km (26.2mi). The professionals complete this in 8-10 hours.

• Art Gallery of the South Okanagan, 199 Marina Way, +1 250 493-2928. Contains a modest permanent collection of work by local and area artists as well as bone carvings by traditional Inuit artists. Also features moving exhibits and other special events. Admission $2, free Sa, Su.

• The Penticton Roundabout (junction of Front Street, Ellis Street, Marina Way, and Vancouver Hill) features changing art installations. A work nicknamed Frank (actually called The Traveller) caused controversy (and vandalism) with local puritans due to exposed genitalia. Today you can see Frank at his permanent home at Red Rooster Winery in Naramata, and the roundabout has a less contentious piece.

• Penticton Museum & Archives, 785 Main Street, +1 250 490-2451. Features over 8000 artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of Penticton's pioneers days, as well as local First Nations pieces. Located in the same building as the Penticton Regional Library. There is a gift shop on site. Suggested donation $2.

• Leir House Cultural Centre, 220 Manor Park Avenue, +1 250 492-7997. This beautiful 1927 house was once a nurses residence but now serves as the home of the Penticton Arts Council. Open to the public year round. Worth a visit just to see the grounds, with vintage stone walls and a relaxing gazeebo. Free

Do

Outdoors

Perhaps the best thing to do in Penticton is to join the locals at the beach, and enjoy the blisteringly hot summer sun. Okanagan Beach follows pretty much the entirety of Lakeshore Drive on Okanagan Lake, and is generally the more family oriented beach. Skaha Beach to the south on Skaha Lake is where Penticton's younger crowd go to see and be seen. Sudbury Beach is also on Skaha Lake, located west of Skaha Beach on the south side of Highway 97 and the airport.

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

• Pine Hills/Sage Mesa, 3610 Pine Hill Drive, +1 250 492-5731. Two different 18 hole courses set high on a plateau overlooking Penticton And The lakes.
• Pleasant Valley, 1701 Penticton Avenue, +1 250 492-6988 =>. This little par three course that is tucked away in a hidden valley is popular with the duffers. $10/9.
• Penticton Golf and Country Club, 600 Comox St, +1 250 492-5626 =>. Don't let the name fool you, the public is welcome. $27/9; $50/18.
• Skaha Meadows, Highway 97 South (just past the airport), +1 250 492-7274. Penticton's newest course is a 9 hole par 35.

There is also a family-friendly outdoor Mini Golf course (75 Riverside =>) just steps from the S.S. Sicamous.

Rock-climbers will want to check out the world-renowned Skaha Climbing Bluffs => just south of the city. Access is controlled, see => for maps and details.

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.

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 3 to 5 hours depending on water levels in the channel. Be sure to bring sunscreen or you will burn up! Coyote Cruises (215 Riverside, +1 250 492-2115) operates a shuttle bus service to transport you back to the parking area on the north side of town. They also provide tube rentals if you don't have your own. Free, $10 for raft and transportation.

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:

• Okanagan Fest-of-Ale (early April). This two day festival pairs local breweries with local restaurants to show off their wares alongside live entertainment. Hundreds of locals volunteer for the free beer ;)
• Penticton Elvis Festival =>(Late June). Despised by some of the locals, and criticized due to prohibitive costs, this festival brings the best of the best of Elvis impersonators to town. Some free events.
• Peach City Beach Cruise => (late june). This crowd favorite brings over 400 hot-rods and classic cars from all over North America to Lakeshore Drive. The road is closed to normal traffic allowing close up views of the cars. At night some of the drivers put on a smoke show to the delight of the crowd, though police seem to be cracking down on this lately. Lasts three days.
• Penticton Highland Games => (early July). Come watch the caber toss and other heavy events accompanied by traditional Scottish pipes, drumming, and dancing. If you have what it takes you can register and compete.
• Beach Blanket Film Festival => (late July). This unique festival invites people to lay down a blanket on the beach, bring a picnic and watch films on a floating screen in Okanagan Lake.
• Peachfest => (August). Long since stripped of its 'party get drunk' image of the past, Peachfest is now an event to be enjoyed by the entire family. Includes arts/crafts exhibits, food and drink, live entertainment, parades, fireworks and much more.
• Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival => (mid September). Various venues host live Dixieland, Jive, Swing, and other forms of Jazz music.
• Okanagan Fall Wine Festival (September-October). More of an 'Okanagan' festival than a Penticton one. Many wine-diner pairings featuring local wineries and restaurants. Several of these take place in Penticton.

Boating, sailing and watersports

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

• Penticton Marina, 293 Marina Way, +1 250 770-2000, gas dock 770-2286. Services Okanagan Lake.
• Penticton Yamaha and Marina, 124 South Beach, +1 250 492-8300. Services Skaha Lake.
• Castaways, beside the Lakeside Resort, +1 250 90-2033. Rents seadoos.
• Penticton Yacht & Tennis Club (Marina Way, +1 250 492-2853) organizes sailboat races, has a twenty foot sailboat available for rental, and provides moorage for boaters.
• The Casabella Princess (293 Marina Way, +1 250 492-4090 =>) offers leisurely one hour morning, afternoon, and evening cruises around Okanagan Lake on a 48 passenger paddle wheeler. The boat is fully licensed and snacks are available. Charters for special events available. Special wine cruises. Reservations recommended. $15 adult, $8 under 12, free under 3.

Winter

In winter, your best bet is to spend some time up at the local ski hill Apex_Alpine. Apex is about a 45 minute drive from town west on Green Mountain Road. You can also come cheer on the Penticton Vees BCHL hockey team, go for a skate or play some pick-up at the indoor McLaron Park Arena, or if the weather is cooperative, play a round of golf right through the year.

Buy

There is no shortage of stands along the beaches to sell tourists swimwear, sunglasses and other assorted knick-knacks. Main Street features a wide variety of shops and galleries, and Cherry Lane Mall has pretty much everything tourists and locals need for their day to day. Penticton also has a few big-block stores such as Walmart, Zellers, 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!

For the literary crowd, Penticton features the 5000 square foot Book Shop (242 Main Street, 492-6661 =>). This massive store stocks new, used and out of print/rare books on any conceivable topic, including a large section on local interest.

For traditional local gifts/souvenirs you can visit:

• Pennyfarthing, 310 Main Street, +1 250 493-2622.
• Plaza Card and Gift,1301 Main Street, +1 250 493-3133. Includes postal counter.
• Terwilligar's and We R Unique Two for one! 675 Main Street.
• Dragon's Den,12 Front Street, +1 250 492-3011.

Eat

There are many 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 10:00pm to get your dinner when restaurants start to slow down.

Highly recommended

• Salty's Beachouse,1000 Lakeshore, +1 250 493-5001, =>. A favorite for tourists and locals. Salty's has two floors; Downstairs is the main dining area where you can watch the cooks work in the open kitchen, or watch the world pass by on one of the best patios in the Okanagan. Upstairs is the Black Pearl lounge and oyster bar, featuring signature martini's and a variety of fresh raw oysters. Worth seeing is the collection of 'pirate' paintings hanging on the walls. The owner likes to crank reggae music. Menu includes salads, pasta, pizza, chicken, steak and seafood. Make sure you have reservations, as the lineup can queue well down the block at peak times in the summer. Menu available online. $12-$30
• Hooded Merganzer, 21 Lakeshore, +1 250 487-HOOD. A unique restaurant/lounge which is built on piles some several meters out in Okanagan Lake. Menu includes chicken, steak, fish and seafood. Great selection of fancy spirits and local wine. Semi-formal. Be sure to make a reservation in summer. $15-35.
• Villa Rosa, 795 Westminster, +1 250 490-9595. Some of the best authentic Italian cuisine this side of Napoli. Also, a very respectable wine cellar to complement your meal, including French/Italian wine and local products. Has a beautiful patio sheltered from the street with grape vines. $15-$40
• Theo's, 687 Main St., +1 250 492-4019, =>. Opened in 1977, this is one of Penticton's oldest restaurants. Theo's features Greek cuisine in a beautiful interior courtyard setting with great food and great wine. Menu available online. $13-$40

Other sit-down options

• Porta Vallarta Grill, 1000 block Lakeshore Drive. Great Mexican food, with friendly service (en Espanol if you prefer) and free salsa dancing lessons.
• Mon Thong, 2985 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 770-9791. Authentic Thai cuisine. Good prices, great food. Try an authentic Phad Thai.
• Front Street Bar and Bistro, 151 Front Street, +1 250 770-1949. Comfortable and casual dining.
• La Casa Ouzeria, 1090 Main Street, +1 250 492-9144, =>. Greek and Italian. Famous for fast lunches.
• Chinese Laundry, 123 Front Street, +1 250 492-2828. Cantonese and Szechuan. The only true choice for Chinese in Penticton.
• Zallas, 3480 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 493-3126. The decor in this converted gas station may not impress you, but the food and price will. Steak and seafood.
• Pasta Factory, 236 Martin Street, +1 250 492-6088. Good Italian food for when you can't afford Villa Rosa.
• Lost Moose Lodge, 2301 Beaverdell Road, +1 250 490-0526. Perched high atop Carmi Mountain, this steak and BBQ house will impress with views of the valley by day, and the lights of Penticton at night.
• Granny Bogners, 302 Eckhardt Ave, +1 250 493-2711. Fine dining, German and continental cuisine.
• Navratan, 413 Main Street, +1 250 490-4740. Authentic Indian cuisine. Popular with locals since it opened a short while ago.
• Ginza, 74 Front Street, +1 250 493-0303. Fine Japanese cuisine. Closed on Sundays.
• Dream Cafe, 67 Front Street, +1 250 490-9012. Multicultural menu. Vegetarian dishes.

For the less adventurous

Penticton also has all day breakfast chains: The Pantry, Dennys, and Rickys; large chain restaurants Boston Pizza, Earls, and Joeys Only; and every fast-food place you could ever want McDonalds x2, Burger King, Wendys, A&W, Subway x2, Taco Time, Quiznos Subs, Canada's favorite: Tim Hortons x4!

Local secret

For a delicious, quick, and inexpensive lunch try Il Vecchio delicatessan, 317 Robinson, +1 250 492-7610, where delightful old ladies will lovingly prepare you a fresh sandwich with your choice of bread and toppings. About $3-4 depending on how many toppings you want. Take-out only.

Drink

Legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19. The government store (Penticton Plaza, 1301 Main Street) sells beer, wine and spirits until 9:00pm. Cold beer and wine stores (6 in town) are open until 11:00pm, with modest selection of spirits. Nightclubs serve until 2:00am, but won't kick you out until 3:00am.

Pubs

One of the best places for a drink is the Barking Parrot bar and lounge in the Penticton Lakeside Resort (21 Lakeshore). Featuring one of the largest lakeside patios in the Okanagan and stunning views up Okanagan Lake, this is the only bar right on the lake in Penticton. Good selection of wine/beer/spirits, and also has a decent pub menu. Try a Bellini, a frozen drink to chase away the oppressive heat. Quite busy in the summer from 2:00 in the afternoon till Midnight, when people start heading for the nightclubs. Plays top 40 music with the occasional live show.

Other good bets are:

• Voodoos, 67 E. Nanaimo, +1 250 770-8867. About the only place in Penticton that caters to a more alternative crowd. Food and drink specials, live music, and a weekly open-mic jam night.
• Martini's, 260 Martin, +1 250 490-0304. Upscale with good selection of martinis (Go figure!), and imported beer. Dress code: no shorts or hats
• Black Pearl Lounge, upstairs 1000 Lakeshore, +1 250 493-5001. Martinis, beer, wine, port, and the world famous boat drink. Great views.
• Kettle Valley Station Pub, 1070 Eckhardt, +1 250 493-3388. Good food and good drink in this friendly railway themed pub.
• Barley Mill Brewpub, 2460 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 493-8000, =>. Try a sampler: Three types of beer brewed on premises, as well as a fouth seasonal brew. English style decor, pub menu.
• Copper Mug, Penticton Plaza, 1301 Main Street. Local haunt of Penticton's working class. Incredibly cheap food and drink specials change daily.
• Slack Alice's, 123 Front Street, +1 250 492-0188. Penticton's only show pub, for those who enjoy burlesque. Often shocks (and/or pleases) Americans because of the full-frontal. Last show 11:00pm. Cheap pitchers on Thursdays.
• Anthony's Pub and Lounge, 3502 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 492-5710. This two story pub features a very nice rooftop patio.

Nightclubs

There are only three in town and they are all pretty much the same. Loud top-40 music and the occasional live show. Covers are reasonable: $2-$7, more if there is a special event. Smoking is prohibited in all bars, but the three nightclubs have separate smoking rooms. The clubs start to get busy between 11:00PM-midnight in the summer. You may want to show up early to avoid the queue. If one is empty, try another, as all three are within walking distance of each other, and business generally depends on the nightly drink special. This doesn't apply as much in the summer when all three are generally packed. At 2:30am hundreds of drunken revelers pour out into the streets, causing a large police presence to keep the peace. Do not taunt the police unless you want to spend a night in the drunk tank! (Hint: you don't).

• Blue Mule, 218 Martin. The Blue Mule used to be a country bar, but they changed the format to get more business several years ago. You may still hear a few country songs throughout the night however. The Mule seems to be the most popular these days. Wednesday nights feature $2 highballs, the locals buy triples in a mini-jug to avoid long bar lineups. Three bars plus table service.
• Element, 500 block Main Street. One of the oldest in town, the Element changed it's name from Tiffany's years ago. Sometimes has special events such as live shows, ladies night, and foam parties. Fridays feature 75 cent highballs but the low prices can attract riff-raff. Two bars plus table service.
• Night Moves, 333 Main Street. This nightclub seems to be more popular with the 19-23 crowd. Two bars plus table service. Night moves has the largest dance floor of the three.

Local Secret

• Decoy's, 300 block Martin. Not much on decor or atmosphere, but has the cheapest and biggest (20oz) pints in town. Great for refreshing yourself on the way to the beach. Cheap food too.

Sleep

As with restaurants, the amount of accommodations available in Penticton is huge compared to the size of the city. Still, Penticton is hugely popular in the summer, and the area hotels can and will be fully booked, especially on long weekends. 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.

Campgrounds

There are a few campgrounds right in town for RVs and tenters.

• Oxbow RV Resort =>, 198 Skaha Place, +1 250 770-8147. Directly across the road from Skaha lake and the beach. Showers, laundry, power.
• Parkroyal R.V. Resort =>, 240 Riverside Drive, +1 250 492-7051. Full hook-ups, laundry, recreation hall, showers.
• Shade Tree Resort RV and Family Campground, 3901 Skaha Lake Rd, +1 250 492-5210. Across from Skaha lake, arcade, full and partial hook ups.
• South Beach Gardens RV Park =>, 3815 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 492-0628. Washrooms, showers, laundry. $28-$33.

Bed and Breakfast

• Arta Bed & Breakfast And Vineyard, 1120 Sutherland Road, +1 250 487-1247. Theme rooms, great views of Okanagan Lake. Internet access and library. $105-$135
• Vanilla Tree House, 1185 Spiller Road, +1 250 493-7745. Exercise room, internet access, hot tub. Vegetarian breakfast available. $140-$200
• Breeze Inn =>, 104 Lower Bench Road, +1 250 493-7782. Large suites near Okanagan beach, Front Street shops and restaurants, and the marina. $75-$150.
• Cormiers Studio =>, 497 Vancouver Ave, +1 250 493-3273. Close to downtown. Features art and sculpture gallery on site. $135
• Gibson Heritage House B&B =>, 112 Eckhardt Ave, +1 250 492-2705. Penticton's first designated Heritage House, built in 1906. Right downtown close to everything. Internet access. $135-$160.

Motels/Hotels

• Best Western Inn at Penticton, 3180 Skaha Lake Road, +1 250 493-0311, Fax: +1 250 493-5556, =>.
• Days Inn - Penticton, 152 Riverside Drive, +1 250 493-6616, Fax: +1 250 493-6615, =>.

Get out

• Go alpine skiing/boarding in the winter or mountain biking in the summer at Apex Alpine => Mountain resort. 33km (21 mi) west of Penticton. From downtown take Channel Parkway to Green Mountain Road follow it 22km before turning right at the Apex Guest Ranch. Snow tires are recommended in the winter.
• Ride the Kettle Valley Steam Train or relax in the lush Ornamental Gardens in nearby Summerland. Fifteen minutes north of Penticton.

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