The Okanagan is a popular summer vacation spot, and it's not hard to see why. Hot sunny weather, gorgeous cool lakes, wine country, and lots to do with the family. Since it's so popular, it can also be very crowded and expensive to visit – why not try something else this year?
Kamloops has similar weather to the Okanagan, has lots of outdoor activity spaces, and, at the junction of five major highways, it’s the perfect stop-over spot when traveling to visit with family anywhere in the province! Being right in the middle also makes Kamloops a great place for your family to stay while taking short day trips to Clearwater, Heffley Lake, Sun Peaks, Harper Mountain, and more great locations.
While Kamloops doesn't boast a lake within the city, it does have the South Thompson River flowing through the middle of town and ample sand-bar beaches to set up and relax on. There are several public splash parks and outdoor pools around town to help you cool off.
Kamloops features free concerts in Riverside Park every evening in the summer, as well as an art gallery that has free admissions every Thursday! There is a twice-weekly farmer's and artisan market in downtown Kamloops, and once a week, the Kweseltken Farmers & Artisan Market is held at the Kamloopa Powwow Arbour. Kamloops also has its own collection of wineries, craft breweries, and distilleries for the adults in the family to visit. For the whole family you can take in the BC Wildlife Park, the Kamloops Heritage Railway, Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park, and the free-to-visit Little Farmers Petting Zoo.
As Canada's Tournament Capital, Kamloops has loads of outdoor sporting spaces which are freely available for public use when they aren't booked for tournaments. These spaces include baseball diamonds, tennis courts, volleyball courts, longboard parks, several disc golf courses, and even a free 'bring your own gear' mini-golf course! Outdoors enthusiasts will also find family fishing at one of the 100-plus lakes surrounding Kamloops, hiking, and biking trails in and around the city, and plenty of options for geocaching and bird watching.
Another draw to the Kamloops region is that, on average, hotel accommodations are 30 percent less expensive than similar accommodations in Kelowna, Penticton, or Summerland. If you’re considering a visit
to Kamloops, check out tourismkamloops.com for resources including the Luv’n the Loops Pass – a free, digital savings pass for instant discounts at attractions, restaurants, and shops.
Try something different this summer and discover new locations and family traditions!
Summer events in Kamloops
Trista is a stay-at-home mom and loves to share her discoveries about how to make life in Calgary work for families of all kinds.
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