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Kamloops is a great city to do business in and an incredible city to explore. It’s the ability to book tee-times last minute, quick travel times, and relaxed atmosphere that has visitors booking weekend getaways from the Lower Mainland and Okanagan.
Here’s inspiration for your next road trip to make the most of 36 hours in Kamloops.
Friday
Tee off your weekend getaway at Tobiano Golf Course, just 15 minutes west of Kamloops off Highway 1. Ranked the #1 public golf course in BC and #13 best course in Canada, Tobiano Golf offers remarkable fairways among sagebrush and silt canyons.
Photo credit: New Parallel Productions
Trust us, you will lose a few golf balls in the afternoon; but, it’s well worth it on the incredible course overlooking Kamloops Lake. No golf trip is complete without a drink & appetizer at Black Iron Restaurant. Whether you choose to dine al fresco, or later in Kamloops, be sure to ask for patio seating and enjoy golden hour with the locals.
Saturday
Take a stroll to Kamloops Farmers Market on St. Paul Street. Half of the market takes place on the street, while the other half fills up the former schoolyard of Stuart Wood Elementary School. Grab breakfast to go from the bakery vendors, or pick a patio for breakfast along Victoria Street.
Locals tip: Visit the market before 9:30am while the temperature is still cool and to avoid the crowds.
Photo Credit: Candace Hansma
After a relaxed morning, pack your day bag for an authentic Indigenous experience with Moccasin Trails on the South Thompson River. Moccasin Trails offers guided canoe experiences with an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and Guide to share stories, songs, and Secewpemc culture.
Your Moccasin Trails tour offered views of the hoodoos along Shuswap Road, but it’s time to see them from a different perspective. Take a short & scenic drive along East Shuswap Road from the Highway 5 junction near Sun Rivers. After seven kilometres, there’s a small pull-out to see the hoodoos up close. Hiking this area is not allowed, but it’s a unique photo opportunity.
Photo Credit: Carmen Ruiz
Continue driving for 20 minutes and enjoy a wine tasting at Monte Creek Ranch Winery. Monte Creek Ranch Winery is one of four Kamloops-based wineries that are part of the Thompson Valley Wine region that creates award-winning wines.
Locals tip: Bring a basket of assorted farmers’ market finds and enjoy a picnic at the winery.
Photo Credit: Kathleen Fisher
Sunday Morning
If you want another taste of local markets, find your way to the Kweseltken Artisan & Farmers Market at the Kamloopa Powwow Arbour. This market runs on Sunday mornings from June 27 to October 31. Indigenous vendors from across the region sell products ranging from fresh produce to haskap berry juice.
Locals tip: The Kamloopa Powwow Arbour is a unique and sacred place for Indigenous communities. Please respect the territory and do not bring pets or alcohol onsite.
Getting Here
From Vancouver, take Highway 5 (“The Coq” as locals call it) via Hope and Merritt. The trip will take you from coastal forests to grasslands in a quick, scenic four-hour drive.
From Kelowna, we recommend taking Highway 97 for a two-hour drive via Vernon, Falkland, and Westworld.
Accommodation
Below are eight Chamber members that offer accommodation with a full-service restaurant onsite: