11 Free Places to Visit in the Okanagan
Travelling to the Okanagan? Discover the joy of family bonding with my curated list of 11 Free Family Fun Things To Do During SummerThe Okanagan!
11 Free Places to Visit In The Okanagan
Is it crazy that I can now say that we’ve lived in the Okanagan for nearly 5 years? Kind of hard to believe isn’t it! If you’re new here and didn’t know we aren’t originally from this area, you can read all about how and why we moved here!
It’s safe to say that we are pretty familiar with what you can do around here and as a family of 5 we know how nice it is to not have to spend too much money to enjoy an outing! This blog post will cover some fun and free places to visit spring/summer as a family the next time you come to the beautiful Okanagan.
1. West Kelowna Splash Park & Accessible Playground
Need a fun place for kids to cool off and run around? Pack yourself a picnic and visit the splash park and accessible playground. Julia’s Junction is West Kelowna’s first accessible and inclusive play space, providing a place for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. Right next to it is the splash park which is a perfect way to stay cool on a hot summer day!
Address: 2569 May St, West Kelowna
2. Hang Out at Bertram Beach
If you’re wanting a shadier park to lounge at, Bertram Beach is the spot. Located farther away from the main city you can find picnic tables, a playground, walkout dock and swimming friendly waters.
Address: 5680 Lakeshore Rd
3. Visit Sun Oka Beach
Sandy beaches and lakeshore? Yes please! Located just off the highway in Summerland, Sun Oka beach is a lovely spot to catch the evening sun. Complete with a playground and picnic tables so you can spend the whole day there!
Address: Okanagan Hwy, Summerland, BC
4. Bike/Walk Myra Canyon Trestles
Take in gorgeous views of Okanagan Lake and surrounding areas while walking or biking the Myra Canyon Trestles. This 24km trail features old railway tunnels you get to ride/walk through and many trestles! Go as long as you wish the furthest distance we’ve been is 12km round trip as Elias was using a scoot bike at the time!
Address: Myra Forest Service Road, Kelown
images courtesy of Kelowna Now
5. Take a Hike up Knox Mountain/Paul’s Tomb
If your family enjoys the outdoors then a visit to Knox Mountain & Paul’s tomb is perfect especially if you’re staying close to downtown. Take in beautiful views of downtown Kelowna, the bridge and West Kelowna from Knox and learn the story of Paul’s tomb- also a great place to take a swim in Okanagan lake!
Address: 450 Knox Mountain Dr
images courtesy of City of Kelowna
6. Play at City Park & Stroll the Promenade
Downtown Kelowna’s city park has a little bit of everything that will fill up your day outdoors! From the fun playground and splash park to a sandy beaches, you can even walk the promenade after visiting many of the local restaurants and shops close by. All in one convenient area!
Address: 1600 Abbott Street
7. Bike Mission Park Greenway
Take a lovely stroll or bike ride along the Mission Park greenway and enjoy the shade and gorgeous views of East Kelowna. You can even stop to dip your toes into the creek when it’s hot or see salmon spawning in the fall. We like to start at Lakeshore Road.
Address: Entrance just off of Lakeshore Rd & Truswell Rd just past El Dorado.
8. Visit the Sncewips Heritage Museum (by donation)
Learn all the about the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the syilx people. Take in the rich history and cultural practices of the syilx people through a self guided tour (by donation) or a guided tour (fee).
Website: https://www.sncewips.com/
9. Ride the Rail Trail
Hop on your bike and enjoy a scenic ride along the Okanagan rail trail! It spans from Kelowna to Coldstream with gorgeous views and stops along local lakes.
Address: Trail begins in downtown Kelowna at Manhattan Dr at Ellis Street.
10. Penticton Farmers Market
If you love discovering local artisans and crafters a visit to the Penticton farmers market is right up your alley! Located right in the heart of downtown Penticton, you’ll love the cozy and movie-like vibes of this market.
Website: https://pentictonfarmersmarket.org/
11. Visit Osoyoos Lake
If you’re staying in the southern Okanagan region, you must visit Osoyoos Lake and all of the lovely little shops within the city! The sandy beach and lakeshore is perfect for building sand castles and swimming.
If it wasn’t already evident, the Okanagan is a beautiful place with many scenic viewpoints. I hope this resource helps you plan out your time in the Okanagan, stay tuned for another guide of family friendly activities! You may also like my list on where to eat vegan in Kelowna blog here!
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