Nestled on a bend of Okanagan Lake between the gentle folds of surrounding mountains, Penticton is a city well situated for forays in the Okanagan Valley. With a climate much milder than other parts of the province, visitors are drawn to not only the bountiful outdoor opportunities available here but also, with a number of wineries spread out through the region, a taste of the local best. Just north of the US/Canadian border, the valley is home to desert, lush orchards and wilderness in turn.
Summer sees Penticton busiest, with boaters dotting the lakes during daylight hours. Sandy beaches are perfect for lakeside picnics, and locals like to float the channel that links Okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake to the south. Several lakes, many of them long fingers of water like Okanagan Lake or Kalamalka Lake, dot the region for those hoping to find some time away from developed areas.
Gusted with breezes, these stretches of water are also popular with windsurfers. Mountain bikers rumble along dirt tracks in the mountains around town, and rock climbers itching to scramble up to great heights won't want to pass by the bolted routes along the Skaha Bluffs.
When winter temperatures drive everyone but the ducks off the lake, snow bunnies head to the slopes of Apex Mountain Resort for powder runs to suit all ages.
Penticton is 226 miles from Spokane, Washington, and 260 miles east from Vancouver.
