Penticton: Water, Trails and Culture

Penticton combines experiences on the water with outdoor activities, scenic views and insights into local history. Families can choose between a day swimming at Skaha Lake, a trip along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and exploring a museum together, each offering a different focus. Visiting markets is another option that can help shape your stay.

On the Water at Skaha Lake

Skaha Lake Park in Penticton invites you to swim in the warm waters of Skaha Lake. The park also offers a variety of recreational activities year-round, including water sports. At Skaha Beach, you’ll find a long sandy beach, calm, warm water suitable for swimming, and a waterfront promenade. If you’re particularly interested in the beach, water conditions or promenade during a stay by the water, these specific features can help guide your choices.

Get Moving and Enjoy the Views

The Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail is a family-friendly attraction in Penticton and is suitable for cyclists and walkers of all experience levels. It offers different ways to get around during a trip. If you’d rather focus on a viewpoint, the summit of Munson Mountain offers panoramic views of Penticton and Okanagan Lake. The trail and summit viewpoint provide two different starting points for choosing your activities.

Discover History Together

The Penticton Museum & Archives features exhibits and interactive learning areas about the history and culture of Penticton and the South Okanagan. The permanent exhibit “Penticton: The Shaping of Place” explores the forces that have shaped Penticton throughout its history. In the interactive learning area, children can explore how science and history are connected with their parents and caregivers. There are different ways to approach a museum visit: focusing on the history of the place or on exploring and participating together.

The lower deck of the S.S. Sicamous also offers specific historical details: it houses the original steam boiler and steam engines. There is also a model of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and working miniature trains. For children and adults interested in machinery or railways, these are engaging topics that differ from the museum’s exhibits.

Market Offerings and Seasonal Dates

The Penticton Farmers’ Market offers fresh produce, meat, eggs and honey, as well as local food and beverage producers. The market also features crafts, artists and local beverage producers. It brings together a range of interests in food, drinks and handmade goods for you to discover during a visit.

The “Penticton’s Downtown Community Market” runs every Saturday morning for 17 weeks as part of its seasonal program—from the May long weekend to the first week of September. If visiting a market is important to your trip, you can take this period into account when choosing your travel dates. This information refers to the Downtown Community Market; no dates are provided here for the Penticton Farmers’ Market.

When choosing a holiday rental in Penticton, you can start by considering which experiences your family would most like to prioritize: swimming and water sports, cycling or walking, scenic views, museums or markets. The activities described offer different ways to get to know Penticton, without limiting your stay to just one type of activity.

More places for your travel inspiration: Oliver, Osoyoos, Tulameen, Kaleden, Princeton, Summerland, Hedley, Okanagan Falls.

For the broader travel overview: Okanagan-Similkameen.