Okanagan Funsite
The South Okanagan stretches from Summerland in the north, down Highway 97 to the US Border in the south. It embraces the communities of Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls (known locally as OK Falls), Oliver and Osoyoos.
The Okanagan Funsite will help you discover all the ways you can enjoy this beautiful destination. This site is an organic thing that will grow and develop over time.
Described by visitors as “One of the best summer family destinations in western Canada”, with all due modesty, we might also add it is one of the best fall destinations (wine touring and golf) and one of the best family winter destinations (skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tubing and tobogganing). And what the heck – it’s pretty darn nice in spring, as well!
The South Okanagan Has Festivals For Everyone
The Okanagan has a host of events for visitors to enjoy, including the Ironman Canada Triathlon, spring and fall Okanagan Wine Festivals, Penticton Peach Festival, Pentastic Jazz Festival, Peach City Beach Cruise and the Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival, Oliver Grape Stomp, Osoyoos Cherry Fiesta and too many more to list here.
While you’re here…
The South Okanagan offers tourists lots of things to do during their stay. Start with the spectacular beaches and crystal-clear Okanagan, Skaha and Osoyoos lakes for swimming, boating and fishing. Golf on one of a dozen terrific courses, hike or bike the Kettle Valley Trail; climb Penticton’s Skaha Bluffs; ski, snowboard or hike at Apex Mountain Resort. And there’s more.
With over 100 wineries, the South Okanagan is the destination-of-choice for savvy wine tourists. On the renowned Naramata Bench alone, just outside of The Okanagan, there are more than 23 wineries, while Oliver’s Golden Mile, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive, Black Sage Road and Okanagan Falls wineries all deserve a visit.
The Kettle Valley (KVR) Trail (part of the Trans-Canada Trail) lures outdoors enthusiasts with 160 km. of flat, rail bed trails for hiking and biking adventures, not to mention eye-popping scenery and vistas, small lakes, water ways and more.
The South Okanagan: What To Expect
The South Okanagan has a temperate, semi-arid climate, similar to the Mediterranean, and averages slightly more than 300 mm (12″) of precipitation annually. Summer days are very warm (temperatures above 30 °C are commonplace, but the humidity is low and nights are refreshing). Winters are blessedly short, with mean daily temperatures averaging just below freezing for about 8 weeks out of the year. The South Okanagan is sheltered from cold Arctic air in winter by the surrounding mountain ranges, making blizzards and freezing rainstorms very rare. There are more than 140 days a year frost-free on average.
Getting to the South Okanagan
Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) provides air service to and from Vancouver, British Columbia on Air Canada Jazz.
By road the South Okanagan runs along Hwy 97, about 4 hours from Vancouver, 6 hours from Calgary and 5 hours from Spokane. Kelowna is an enjoyable 40 minute drive north of Penticton and about an hour from the the US/Canada border crossing on Highway 97 at Osoyoos ( open 24 hours a day; other border crossings in this region are closed overnight).
