Parks and the outdoors in Penticton

17 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Penticton.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Drink
Barking Parrot
Bar and lounge, featuring one of the largest lakeside patios in the Okanagan and stunning views up Okanagan Lake, this is the only watering hole 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.
Drink
Decoy's
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. $3.50 pints (cash only).
Eat
Hooded Merganser
A unique restaurant/lounge which is built on piles above 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.
7AM-midnight$15-35
See
Munson Mountain Park
The home to the large 'Penticton' sign (a la 'Hollywood') that greets travelers coming in to town from the north. The sign was created with thousands of small white stones. The original stones have since been replaced with letters made of concrete. The park itself affords visitors with stunning 360 degree panoramas of the South Okanagan valley. Views to the south are accessed by an easy paved trail to the lookout. The panoramic views require walking up the hill, but there are plenty of benches to rest at and take in the view.
Do
Pier Water Sports
They have 11 years of experience on the water and feature boat and seadoo rentals, wakeboard and waterski lessons, parasailing, banana boat rides and a 42-foot party barge you can rent daily. Take it for a tour down the lake during the day or have a party on it in the evening. It has an onboard barbeque and bathroom.
See
S.S. Sicamous
This 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.
9AM-9PM in high summer, shorter hours at other seasonsAdults $6, seniors and youth $4.50, children 7-13 $3.50, children 6 and under free
Eat
Salty's Beach House
A favourite 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 martinis 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, outstanding appetizers, pasta, pizza, chicken, steak, fresh fish, and for the indulgent, crab & lobster. Make sure you have reservations, as the lineup can queue well down the block at peak times in the summer. Most times a short wait will reward you with a seat. Menu available online.
Licenced till midnight$12-30
Do
Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
The park is adjacent to Skaha Lake on the southern edge of the city. Access is controlled and a daily access fee is charged to hike into the bluffs, further information, including maps, is available on the park's website. "Skaha" as it is known among climbers, has over four hundred established routes with a near equal split of traditional (gear) and sport (fixed bolt) lines that range between 5.6 and 5.13b.
See
The Peach
A concession stand 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. This is the second Peach, as the first was pushed into the lake during the 1990 Peachfest riot (The riot was an isolated incident, Penticton is really quite safe.)
Do Not mapped
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.
Do Not mapped
Casabella Princess
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.
Do Not mapped
Okanagan Fall Wine Festival
September-October
More of an 'Okanagan' festival than a Penticton one. Many wine-diner pairings featuring local wineries and restaurants, stretching from Osoyoos (at the US/Canada border) to Vernon at the northern end of Lake Okanagan. Several of these take place in Penticton.
Do Not mapped
Peach City Beach Cruise
late June
This crowd favourite 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.
Do Not mapped
Penticton Peach Festival
Peachfest, August
The week after August long weekend. Long since stripped of its 'party get drunk' image of the past, Peachfest features a whirlwind week of family entertainment at Okanagan Lake Park, including a pancake breakfast, sandcastle competitions, music concerts, one of BC's largest parades, plus a kiddies' parade, food vendors, crafts, fireworks, and an annual Square Dance Festival.
Do
McLaren Park Arena
Go for a skate or play some pick-up.
Do
Penticton Yacht Club and Marina
Services Okanagan Lake.
Do
Penticton Yamaha and Marina
Services Skaha Lake.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Penticton (CC BY-SA 4.0).