Penticton, BC Outdoor Activities

Surrounded by rolling mountains and the shimmering waters of Okanagan Lake, packs of go-karts spend their days chasing each other around Westside Superkarts’ challenging track. Under new management, Westside allows adult karts to navigate four hairpin and four banked turns at various speeds—basic single and double karts can hit 35 kph, performance karts are capable of 60 kph, and Extreme Elite karts reach velocities of up to 75 kph. Kiddie karts putter around a separate track, offering their young operators important driving tips, such as how to pass politely. After the races are finished, drivers may receive a personalized print-out or e-mail of their lap times, view them through a smart phone app, and have them posted to Facebook.

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.

Adventure Forever's certified mountain guides and first-aid responders enlighten beginning outdoorspeople and seasoned aficionados alike on the intricacies of ice climbing, rock climbing, and easy to difficult day hikes. During full-day treks and lessons, guides escort troupes of thrill seekers up frozen faces and climbing courses, plying their clientele with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle Mother Nature's vertical labyrinths. Each experienced guide carries years of wisdom, capably leading participants through regions stretching across Canada, the United States, and Middle Earth.

Only 15 minutes from Penticon, BC, Twin Lakes Golf Course stretches out over 285 acres of valley terrain, nestled among mountain slopes thick with deciduous trees such as firs and pines. The 18-hole, par 72 course takes advantage of its scenic surroundings by challenging golfers with elevated tees, which players summit with the help of shoes equipped with either cleats or spider feet. A long, treacherous sand trap lurks along hole 16’s left side, earning it recognition as the course’s second most difficult hole—just on the heels of hole seven, whose own sand trap and narrowed fairway make it the most challenging on the course. Players warm up at a driving range with six hitting stations or the chipping and putting practice areas before swinging through the course, and they can drop by the restaurant afterward to sip a micro-brewed foamer on the patio and gaze out at the players cartwheeling across the grass on holes 1, 9, and 10.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,867 yards from the farthest set of tees
• Course 71.9 rating of from the farthest set of tees
• Slope rating of 125 from the farthest set of tees
• See the scorecard