Things to Do in Okanagan

As the sun’s rays reach across British Columbia, breakfast is being served, coffee and all, in the middle of Shuswap Lake. Though it's been cooked aboard one of Waterway Houseboat Vacations’ watercrafts, the diners devouring their morning meal still have the overwhelming sense that this is what it feels like to spend quality time in the wild. That combination of coming together as a group while communing with nature is Waterway Houseboat Vacations’ raison d'être and has been since its founding in 1968.

Dedicated to outfitting aquatic sojourners with the most lavish, well-equipped vessels possible, the company's proprietors had their own fleet of houseboats built up in their Sicamous-based boat yard. Each masterpiece of engineering is embellished with luxurious amenities such as hot tubs, fireplaces, and gold-plated shoulder parrots, each of which fight for boater attention with lake-adjacent activities such as swimming, hiking, water-skiing, and fishing. While eager to introduce visitors to the scenic beauty of the Shuswaps, the company simultaneously aims to uphold a dedication to environmental stewardship, preserving their beloved home with initiatives that include stocking boats with biodegradable soap and spearheading a comprehensive recycling program.

The crown jewel of Hopscotch Festival Kelowna is the tasting hall, where guests assemble to sip, sample, and learn about a massive variety of premium beverages. In its fourth year in Kelowna, the festival will showcase an expanding list of more than 160 libations, which patrons can convert from a jingling fanny pack full of tasting tokens to sips poured into their souvenir tasting glasses. Domestic and international beers can quench thirsts in styles such as Grolsch, Hop Head IPA, or Mort Subite Kriek Lambic. Tongues can taste the single-malt Scottish fruits of the Glenlivet 15, matured in French oak, or the Dalmore 12, hailing from the Firth of Cromarty.

The staff at Gyro Beach Watersports believes "fun in the sun" is the only way to take full advantage of a summer day. Staffers dedicate their workdays to launching clients into the sparkling water of Okanagan Lake, whether they are paddling in a one-seat kayak or jumping atop a 13-foot water trampoline. At the Giant Water park, located 250 yards from the shore, swimmers leap on bouncy platforms, slide down inflatable equipment, and walk air-filled balance beams, happily slipping into the welcoming, cool lake. For relatively dry fun, the staff pairs visitors with inflatable rafts for relaxing soaks in the sun, or standup paddleboards for on-water gondolier training.

Heritage Ranch immerses visitors in its idyllic woodlands crisscrossed by old dirt trails over which horses pull carriages, wagons, and sleighs that look as though they've rolled straight out of history. Under the tree canopies, couples can devote their time on the ranch to one another with romantic date night packages that combine carriage & sleigh rides with dinner and wine at Westlake Grille. The sound of laughter from children and families can be heard during trail rides as they wend through the property's 217 acres of parkland—equivalent to one clydesdale football field—and camps keep the good times coming during the summer.