Manning Park | Princeton | Tulameen | Coalmont | Hedley | Keremeos | Cawston Similkameen Valley Travel Experience Guide British Columbia | Canada SimilkameenValley.com SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST RUSTIC. REAL. Discover the allure of the Similkameen Valley where the opportunities for adventure are larger than you could imagine Taking a break from biking the KVR Trail near Tulameen 2 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen | 3 4 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY CONTENTS Facebook: SimilkameenBC | Instagram: Similkameen What’s Inside 7 Our Story 12 Similkameen Must Do List 20 Map 26 Similkameen Life 28 Food + Wine to Savour 39 Events All photography by Darren Robinson © unless otherwise stated. Main image this page: Biking the KVR Trail near Princeton. Front cover main image: The Similkameen River outside Keremeos. Below: A delicious sip with a view at Clos Du SimilkameenValley.com Soliel, Keremeos. Copyright 2019 © Similkameen Valley Planning Society. A partnership of Black Press, Similkameen Valley Planning Society (SVPS) and Thompson Okanagan Tourism (TOTA). Project Management: Symphony Tourism Services of TOTA Princeton 169 Bridge Street, Princeton, BC | 250.295.0235 Design: Roger Handling terrafda.com Keremeos 417 – 7th Avenue, Keremeos, BC | 250.499.5225 Copywriting: Darcy Nybo alwayswrite.ca Advertising sales, ad design, printing and distribution by: Keremeos Review and Seasonal Information Booth Similkameen Spotlight, divisions of Black Press. Hedley 712 Daly Avenue, Hedley, BC | 250.292.8787 SUPER, NATURAL BRITISH COLUMBIA and VISITOR CENTRE and all associated logos are registered trademarks of [email protected] Destination BC. Printed in Canada SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen | 5 6 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen Our Story The Similkameen River is the heart of our Valley, here we offer something just a little different. This is our story... The Similkameen River is the thread that connects the communities of this valley SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen | 7 imilkameen izzle Canada’s Only Hot Pepper Festival Saturday, Sept 21, Keremeos Family Dance Memorial Park 6pm Friday, Sept 20 www.similkameencountry.org 8 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY OUR STORY Rock, fishing, picnicking and of the Hudson Bay Brigade. Carved by the River relishing the beauty of where Listen to our stories unfold we live. We’ve been happy to at the Hedley Heritage Imagine the tales you’ll lush orchards, and vineyards share it with generations of Museum, the Snaza’ist tell after a visit to the that morph into semi-arid travellers. We’d love to share Discovery Centre, and Similkameen to experience grasslands. Take your time, it with you. Princeton’s unique Museum. the history, the places, and breathe it in, feel the sun, Marvel as our curators the people. Come explore and taste the bounty of our History, Legends and bring the past to life. At the the stunning scenery of this valley. Lore Grist Mill and Gardens our rugged and rustic land and The best way to explore Legends abound of the stories are set to music at the welcoming spirit of the is to follow the river that Similkameen First Nation, their summer concert series. people. Spread your wings runs through the heart of the Granite Creek Gold Rush Discovering the past in in the Similkameen and our valley. It’s where you’ll in Coalmont, and the days Keremeos is now a lot easier. uncover local lore told by the find us, floating by Bromley The South Similkameen very pioneers who continue Museum has moved to its to shape our story. Always photogenic — an new, larger location on 9th old church near Hedley Avenue. The Heart of Our See, taste and learn about Valley the Lower Similkameen The Similkameen’s raw, from our local experts. Gaze natural beauty is a reminder in awe as you stand under of how powerful water can a 100-year-old apple tree. be. Marvel at this valley Savour the flavours of multi- carved by the Similkameen generational organic farms, River over 200 million years orchards and vineyards. ago as it made its way down Discover sustainable farming the Cascade Mountains. All with a tour and lunch around you will see open at Harker’s Organics in ranchlands and meadows Cawston, or shop at Parsons of alfalfa waving in the Farm Market in Keremeos. breeze, with craggy cliffs, Our history is steeped in ➤ Sunset adds colour to the end of another beautiful day SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen | 9 SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY OUR STORY exploration and discovery. Exploring the hoodoos near Princeton Walk in the footsteps of our Cultural events display the heart and pioneers, fur traders and soul of the valley prospectors. In Princeton, hike the gentle railway grades of the historic Kettle Valley Rail Trail, a part of the Great Trail (formerly the Trans Canada Trail). Create your own legends filled with grit and adventure along the wilderness trails of China Ridge, Manning Park, Cathedral Lake Park, and the Hudson Bay Company Brigade Trail. Slow Down – You’re in ET2media Photo the Similkameen Time moves a little slower Connect to Our Arts in the Similkameen. Feel and Culture free to wave as you explore Explore a cultural arts scene the valley, we love to wave as varied as the landscapes back. Ask for directions, we of the Similkameen Valley, enjoy helping people get to bursting with music and food, their next adventure. We rodeos and aboriginal dancers, may even tell you a bit about fiddle players and renowned ourselves, our ancestors, Canadian performers and up and how we came to live and comers. in this exquisite valley. Our Springtime is rodeo unforgettable experiences season, when the dusty air may surprise you, but our is alive with the scent of hospitality won’t. BBQ sauce and bulls at the Come and visit any time. Chopaka Rodeo, the Elk’s Plenty of wildlife live here, Rodeo, and Princeton’s Stan including eagles, deer, elk, Thompson Memorial Rodeo. moose, bear, mountain goats Come see our cowboys in and big horn sheep. In winter action. visit Manning Park for alpine Be serenaded at the Grist and cross-country skiing, Mill and Gardens summer snowshoe and cross-country concert series featuring ski the China Ridge Trails Canadian names and rising or try ice fishing in one of acts. Watch as Princeton’s our many lakes. In spring Veterans Square Gazebo our valley blooms with comes alive in summer colour and our rodeos thrill. with an art and music Take in countless summer experience every Saturday. events from wine festivals to Purchase some local art at the endurance races, from a First Sunflower Gallery or the Red Nations Pow Wow to the Post Art Gallery in Princeton Princeton Show ’N Shine. In and at the One Eyed Budgie the fall taste your way across in Keremeos. Celebrate the the lower part of the valley Traditional Music Festival at our harvest events, sample when it hits the streets our award-winning wines, of Princeton in August, and sink your teeth into or explore the richness of Deer love the grassland and open forest just-baked pies made of fruit country typical of the Similkameen our rural life at Princeton’s picked that morning. Agricultural Fall Fair. 10 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen SIMILKAMEEN VALLEYTHE OUR ESSENCE STORY OF THE VALLEY OUR STORY to Hwy 5A, which takes you Electric Car Charging Princeton Visitor Centre Getting Here south to the Similkameen. Recharge your own batteries – 169 Bridge St., EV Plug Travellers from Calgary, as your car is being charged. (J1772), CHAdeMO DCFC, The Crowsnest Highway (BC AB can get here from BC Take your time at a wine 2 Tesla Model S / Model Xs, Hwy 3) runs straight through Hwy 3A which links the tasting or explore the shops CCS DCFC ports. the Similkameen Valley. It Crowsnest to Penticton. From and businesses of downtown. The Copper Pit Restaurant travels from Manning Park the US, enter the valley at the There are charging stations – 157 Vermillion Ave., Tesla to Osoyoos in the Thompson- junction of Highways 97 and throughout the Similkameen Model S / Model X ports. Okanagan Region of BC’s 3 near Osoyoos. Valley. Most are free, some KEREMEOS – LEVEL 2 AND Interior. The valley is 180 km charge by the hour, others DC FAST (112 mi) end to end. Hours to Drive are by donation. You can access BC Keremeos Municipal Hall, 702 4 St., CHAdeMO DCFC, Highway 3 from Vancouver, Calgary to Princeton 9 hrs MANNING PARK RESORT – CCS DCFC ports, $0.35/kWh. BC via the Trans-Canada DC FAST Kamloops to Princeton 2 hrs Use the Greenlots RFID card Highway 1 in Hope. From Manning Park Resort, 7500 to activate. Jasper, AB, drive west on Kelowna to Princeton 2 hrs Hwy #3, CHAdeMO DCFC, Clos du Soleil Winery, 2568 Hwy 16 to Hwy 5. Then drive CCS DCFC ports south to Merritt, and connect Vancouver to Princeton 3.5 hrs Upper Bench Road, EV Plug (J1772), Tesla Model S / Model PRINCETON – LEVEL 2 AND X ports. DC FAST Princeton Plaza, 114 Tapton CAWSTON – LEVEL 2 Avenue, CHAdeMO DCFC, Seven Stones Winery, 1143 CCS DCFC ports. Open 24 Hwy 3, Tesla Model S / Model hours, $0.35/kWh. Greenlots X ports RFID or App required. Station ID #33084 Find closest charging station at pluginbc.ca or tesla.com. SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen | 11 Must Do List The mountains, rivers and valleys of the Similkameen beckon you. Enjoy our great outdoors. No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, be prepared. Follow the three Ts – trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors (adventuresmart.ca). Paddling the river at Red Bridge just outside Keremeos 12 | SimilkameenValley.com #similkameen SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST Immerse yourself in the Similkameen River The Similkameen River is the heart of our valley.