Savvy travellers know that the months following the summer travel rush is the best time to plan a getaway in the Northern Hemisphere. You can enjoy many of the same sunny destinations without the huge crowds and high costs, and with slightly milder (and more bearable) temperatures.
Penticton is a prime spot to visit during the shoulder season of September and October. The summer weather extends right into the fall season, making it a paradise for four-season adventures. Plus, Penticton is compact enough that it’s easy to park your car and explore fuel-free…almost. With trails, wineries and more within close proximity, you can spend less time getting around and more time actually enjoying your vacation.
A city full of history and culture set within a B.C. region that’s full of breathtaking natural beauty, this hub of the South Okanagan is full of incredible things to see and do during the autumn season.
1. Set sail on the two lakes
Penticton is one of two cities (the other being Interlaken in Switzerland) in the world located between two lakes.
There are several ways to explore the stunning freshwater lakes of Skaha Lake and Okanagan Lake, including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, boating and sailing. Afterwards, you can cool down and soak up the early autumn sunshine on the sandy beaches.
2. Hit a hole-in-one
When in Penticton, golfers can choose to hit the links at traditional, parkland, challenging mountain tracks and unique desert-style courses, all of which are within a one hour drive.
There are four courses right in Penticton, including Penticton Golf & Country Club, with an additional 8 courses in the South Okanagan from Summerland down to Osoyoos, and the must-visit Farview Mountain and Osoyoos Golf Club. Some courses will stay open until December, so you can practice your swing until the end of the fall season.
3. Embark on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
The Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail connects Penticton to Naramata, Okanagan Falls, and all regions in between. The recreational trail network takes you through endless vineyards and orchards, with incredible panoramic views of the valley, the mountains and lakes throughout.
Choose your preferred active mode of transportation – be it walking, hiking, biking (stop by Pedego or Penticton E-Kruise for e-bike rentals, and Freedom Bike Shop for road, comfort or mountain bike rentals) or horseback riding – and experience one of Penticton’s most iconic outdoor attractions year-round.
4. Book a wine tour (or two)
With over 180 wineries that produce over 75 grape varietals, it’s no wonder the South Okanagan region has earned the moniker of “the Napa Valley of the North”.
Penticton is the perfect home base for wine tours, with approximately 90 wineries within a 20 minute drive. Through wine tour operators such as Cheers Okanagan Tours and Grape Escapes Wine Tours, you can sip on the different varieties of wine offered at each winery as you admire the surrounding vineyards and orchards during the peak of harvest season. Some can’t miss Penticton wineries include Red Rooster Winery, Township 7 Vineyards, Upper Bench Winery and Time Family of Wines.
5. Go brewery hopping
You know that Penticton is famous for its wine, but did you also know that it was also named as the craft beer capital of Canada?
In fact, there are more breweries per capita in Penticton than any other Canadian city. Beer drinkers can follow the eight craft breweries that make up the Penticton Ale Trail, from Tin Whistle Brewing, the original craft brewery of the South Okanagan, to Penticton’s newest brewery establishment, the family-run Yellow Dog Brewing, in the downtown core.
6. Learn about Penticton's local history
snpintktn (the nsyilxcÉ™n name that “Penticton” is derived from) or the Penticton Indian Band, is one of the seven member communities that make up the syilx Okanagan Nation, the original people to inhabit the land associated with B.C.’s Southern Interior.
You can learn more about Indigenous history and culture, which dates back thousands of years, through the permanent exhibit at the Penticton Museum & Archives, and by visiting the traditional pit house at the En’owkin Centre, located on the Penticton Indian Band reserve.
Those interested in marine history can explore Canada's largest surviving sternwheeler at the S.S. Sicamous Marine Heritage Park.
7. Visit the Penticton Farmers' Market
Market vendors proudly make, bake or grow all of the goods they bring to the Penticton Farmers' Market, which operates every Saturday until October. There are a variety of market stalls, offering everything from farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, preserves, local liquor, handmade crafts, clothing and jewellery, antiques, furniture and more.
8. Check out the fall festivals or events
As the host of over 30 gatherings annually, there’s always a festival or event happening, no matter what season it happens to be in Penticton.
This fall’s events schedule will include:
- Pentastic Hot Jazz & Music Festival from Sept. 6 to 8
- Penticton Dragon Boat Festival from Sept. 7 to 8
- SummerCamp Rib & Music Festival from Sept. 13 to 15
- Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic from Sept. 13 to 16
- Vancouver Canucks 2024 Training Camp from Sept. 19 to 22
- Penticton Beer Week from Oct 4. To 14
- Okanagan Fall Wine Festival from Oct. 18 to 19
- Penti-Con from Oct. 26 to 27
The drive between Vancouver and Penticton takes approximately four and a half hours. Or, you can hop on one of the daily direct flights offered through Pacific Coastal Airlines, which departs from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal and arrives at Penticton Regional Airport in less than one hour.
Visit www.visitpenticton.com for more inspiration for your next trip to Penticton.
