Tourism Vernon, Vernon, BC
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VERNON BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA 2020–2021 OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE tourismvernon.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 6 8 OUR STORY SPRING SUMMER 10 12 14 FALL WINTER GOLF 16 20 22 LAKE WELLBEING ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES 24 27 28 PROVINCIAL PARKS CAMPING BIKING 30 32 36 38 ARTS & FOODIE LOVE AT PLAYTIME CULTURE HEAVEN FIRST SIP 2 | tourismvernon.com Due to COVID-19, many event dates have changed. For up-to-date information, visit our website. 40 44 54 RESPONSE FULL & CELEBRATIONS TO COVID-19 HALF DAY & EVENTS ADVENTURES 58 60 62 BEST BEACHES BEST TRAILS BEST FARMGATE 63 64 66 BEST U-PICK BEST FAMILY BEST WINTER OUTINGS ACTIVITIES 67 68 69 BEST SPRING BEST SUMMER BEST FALL ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES 70 77 86 PLACES THINGS TO DO PLACES TO STAY TO EAT 87 89 90 PLACES SERVICES MAP TO SHOP 3 p cyap. kwu ala. “You have all arrived. We are here.” The Syilx/Okanagan People welcome you to their unceded territory that is united by a common language, nsyilxc n. The territory extends throughout the Okanagan and Columbia River watersheds, north to the BC/Alberta border near Kinbasket Lake, down the Selkirk Range to the State of Washington following the Columbia River Basin, west to Lake Chelan to the Cascades summit, then north that includes parts of the Nicola, Salmon, and Spallumcheen (Shuswap) Rivers. DISCLAIMER: This guide was originally prepared pre-COVID-19. Every effort has been made to update our guide; however, some information may change as the days and weeks go by. Please contact the businesses directly for up-to-date information. In this guide you will also find some feature stories on how some of our Vernon businesses have responded in order to keep you safe while visiting their establishments. Travel to, in, and around Vernon, is based on guidance from the Centre for Disease Control and the Provincial Health Services Authority. Please visit their website at bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases- conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/travel for information on travel Please note, many of our iconic photos within this guide were taken pre-COVID-19. MIDDLETON MOUNTAIN TRAILS 4 | tourismvernon.com Due to COVID-19, many event dates have changed. For up-to-date information, visit our website. OUR STORY Our story is one that includes you. Indian Reserve Commission Agreement Check out our events section on page Vernon and surrounding area have more signed by Canada and British Columbia. 54 for more information. You can also than enough to share. We love it when The Commonage area includes Predator visit our website calendar. you come here for fun and relaxation. Ridge and the Allan Brooks Nature calendar.tourismvernon.com In the spring, you’ll find fields and Centre and extends east of Okanagan Lake to Kalamalka Lake. Hike, bike, In the warmer months, enjoy live music, valleys bursting with blooms. Summer outdoor theatre, sports tournaments, is the time to enjoy our warm and drive, or walk along Commonage Road, which was originally a stagecoach route and festivals. There’s plenty of hiking inviting lakes. In the fall, experience and biking on our world-class trails too. a harvest season like no other. In the starting in 1890. Keep your eyes open winter, take home tales of champagne and you’ll spot a vast variety of birds Soak up summer on our sun-drenched powder snow and horse drawn sleighs and wildlife that call this area home. beaches. Come back when the snow high atop a mountain. We have The Okanagan Rail Trail is a great falls to enjoy a winter wonderland activities for all seasons! place to explore in any season. Opened sought-after by visitors from all over the in September 2018, we invite you to world. The Vernon Winter Carnival has Explore by car, or start walking and so many fun things to do, you’ll forget discover what’s around the next corner. explore 50 km of outdoor exploration. Hike, walk, or bike this old CN Rail it’s cold outside. Head outdoors for a Hike, bike, snowshoe, or cross country day of snowy adventure. ski on our trails. Rolling hills, majestic corridor that connects our North and mountains, beaches, and sunshine are Central Okanagan communities. You’ll This is Vernon. It’s a place where the perfect backdrop for your visit to learn about the Syilx (Okanagan) people tall tales are created. Whether it’s a Vernon, BC. and their traditional territory. There are morning on our world-class links, an over 22 parks and 21 recreational and afternoon on the champagne powdered Our history is rich with tales of cultural points of interest within 500 m slopes, or a day on the lake, this is the the Interior Salish First Nation, fur of the trail. place where you become the author of traders, miners, Oblate Missionaries, your own story. the Hudson’s Bay Company, ranchers, Pick an adventure and go! We have politicians, and farmers. Take a walk world-class resorts, boutique shopping, Explore our endless mountain and and watch our story unfold in front live theatre, music, championship golf lakeside trails, where raptors soar over of you on the 29 murals that grace courses, wineries, cideries, meaderies, ancient grasslands. Taste the flavour our buildings. These larger than life distilleries, breweries, and terrific of our region at boutique and estate paintings depict our history, culture, markets and restaurants. Come in any wineries to the north and south, the folklore, and scenery (downtownvernon. season and you’ll find there are plenty craft cideries, craft brewery, meadery, com/attractions). There’s even a theatre of ways to relax, recharge, activate, and award-winning distillery. themed mural at the Powerhouse and energize yourself. We invite you We invite you to come and make Theatre that depicts the history of the to immerse yourself in an Okanagan Vernon your home away from home as Powerhouse in Vernon. holiday, Vernon style. you enjoy everything we have to offer. We celebrate a lot of things here. We A major part of our history is the #ExploreVernon Commonage Reserve. It was first have events year-round so come visit established in 1876 as part of the joint anytime and take in an event or two. 5 ACTIVATE YOUR SPRING DAVISON ORCHARDS / ZEN SEEKERS-NANCY SHIELDS 6 | tourismvernon.com Due to COVID-19, many event dates have changed. For up-to-date information, visit our website. Nothing beats the sweet smells of spring. As you explore our grassland and lake trails by foot or bike, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views as you take an easy hike around the city or a cycle through Ellison or Kalamalka Lake Provincial Parks. Discover Okanagan Single Track Trail, part of a corridor that runs from Penticton to Vernon. Come have fun and celebrate everything mountain biking in our region during the Vernon Bike Festival. There is a movie night, a bike party, a cross-country race, the Rail Trail Art Festival, and a demo day at Ellison Provincial Park. This is the best way to experience Vernon’s vibrant mountain bike culture. For more info, go to okcycling.com. Hiking is a great way to see the natural wonders in and around Vernon. We have trails that start in the city and head along the historic Grey Canal irrigation channel. Take a stroll down the cedar-lined trails of the riparian zone that borders BX Creek and Falls Trail. Hear the roar of the water as it rushes down from the mountains during spring thaw. Get your greens at one of the Vernon area’s five golf courses that range from a quick nine- hole to a 36-hole championship course. Once you’ve explored our trails and golf courses, take a stroll through downtown Vernon. You’ll find over 250 retail locations and over 50 restaurants and cafés. Grab a picnic to go and enjoy the fresh air in one of our four city parks. Relax at Justice Park off 30th Avenue, or take the family over to Polson Park where you’ll find gardens, a pond and an iconic floral clock. While downtown, be sure to check out the Vernon Public Art Gallery; which has been set up for social distancing. 7 ACTIVATE YOUR SUMMER KALAMALKA LAKE / DESTINATION BC/ANDREW STRAIN 8 | tourismvernon.com Due to COVID-19, many event dates have changed. For up-to-date information, visit our website. Being outdoors is where it’s at in Vernon place to get fantastic views of Vernon’s in the summer. Beaches, lakes, outdoor three major lakes and the cityscape. adventure, fishing, mountains, orchards The Vernon Farmers’ Market is the place full of fruit, fresh vegetables, and farmers’ to get your fresh picked fruit, preserves, markets are all here for you to discover. gourmet food, vegetables, eggs, dairy Summer vacation in Vernon means you’ll products, meats, seafood, crafts, art, probably run out of time before you run out plants, flowers, gifts, and baking. They’ve of things to do. Whatever you decide, make been going strong for over 30 years and sure you pack sunscreen and a hat. Check out are open Mondays and Thursdays from our local festivities and be prepared to have 8 am to 1 pm at Kal Tire Place. There fun! are safety measures in place so you can Bask in the sun and have some water fun shop while still social distancing. See their at one of the many area beaches. There are COVID-19 page for more information. pet-friendly beaches at both Kalamalka Lake vernonfarmersmarket.ca/covid-19.