The Best Things To Do In Penticton With Kids (During Summer)

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Penticton has a lot to offer this summer

Are you thinking about a summer road trip for your family in the South Okanagan? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best things for kids to do this summer in Penticton.

I’m not sure why it took us so long to visit Penticton. We’ve visited nearby KelownaOver the years, Vernon and Kamloops have been visited many times. Penticton & Osoyoos, on the other hand, were often overlooked. Last summer, we spent a full week in the region.

We’re happy to report that Penticton exceeded our expectations.

Penticton is open all year. This blog post focuses on summer travel.

Spend the day on Okanagan Beach

Penticton is a popular summer destination for many people. Okanagan Lake. This popular lake is approximately 135 km in length, stretching from Vernon to Penticton.

Okanagan Beach, located on Lakeshore Drive at the heart of Penticton, is the most popular Penticton beach. Skaha Lake Park, however, is considered by some to be the best Penticton Beach.

Okanagan Beach offers a kilometer of sand beach that is ideal for swimming. The public washrooms are nearby, and there is free parking.

Above is an image of the Okanagan Beach in Penticton. Lakeshore Drive is home to many shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as hotel/motel accommodations.

Wibit Penticton – Floating water park

Wibit is a popular floating water park in Penticton. It’s located on the west end of Okanagan Beach on Lakeshore Drive.

This floating obstacle course features slides, bouncy bouncy bridges, and jumps. It’s only open in the summer due to the cold water temperatures in the winter.

Penticton Water Park Pricing and Information Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Penticton Wibit provides and requires lifejackets.

Get on the Water

Okanagan Lake has a lot to offer water sports enthusiasts. Head to Pier Water SportsRent Seadoos or speed boats. Kayaks and paddleboards are also available. You can rent even a 24 passenger “party barge”Spend the day with your family and friends on the lake.

It’s located on the east end of Okanagan Beach, near Penticton Lakeside Resort.

SS Sicamous Museum & Heritage Park

The SS Sicamous Stern Wheeler is one of Penticton’s most iconic landmarks. It’s the largest surviving stern wheeler in British ColumbiaIt is now a Museum.

This Penticton attraction is located at the western end of Okanagan Beach along Lakeshore Drive. You’ll find plenty of free parking near the ship and on Lakeshore Drive. Allow 45 minutes to finish the self-guided tour of the ship.

Learn about the History of the SS Sicamous Stern Wheeler Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Creperie Ooolala is located directly beside SS Sicamous Heritage Park.

Loco Landing Adventure Park

Loco Landing Adventure Park is one of the best places to spend an afternoon in Penticton. It’s a small amusement park located near Okanagan Beach.

Check out the list of LocoLanding attractions Here’s how to get in touch with us.

We recommend that you purchase the Value Pack (see above). The Value Pack includes one visit per activity. At the time this article was published, the price per value pack is $39 Check out ticket prices Here’s how to get in touch with us.

The fact that you can do the activities over several days is a nice feature. We visited the park twice, as we did not play Mini-golf the first time.

Monkey Motion Jumper is a popular attraction with our boys.

The park has a 18-hole miniature golf course with waterfalls. caves and train trestles.

LocoLanding Adventure Park Penticton has a Go-Karts track.

Braydon reached the top of the High Level Ropes Course. It’s an adrenaline pumping activity for kids!

Crazy Shakes in The Peach Ice Cream Shop

The Penticton Peach offers legendary shakes and treats. It’s located on the east end of Okanagan Beach, near the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

The Giant Peach is only open during the summer months.

Crazy Shakes offers a Peach menu. Here’s how to get in touch with us.

River tubing on the Penticton River Channel

The Penticton Channel River is a fun and unique way to spend your summer in Penticton. It takes about an hour to float the channel, but this can vary depending on how fast the water flows.

It’s a very popular activity on a hot summer day in the Okanagan.

Coyote Cruises provides visitors with tube rentals and shuttle transportation back to the starting location. Rent single or double tubes as well as 4-8-12 person Party Islands.

Check Tube and Bus Combo Prices Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Tickets for Penticton river tubing can be purchased at the ticket counter pictured above.

Coyote Cruises busse pick up and return guests to the starting place.

Coyote Cruises offers a comfortable four-person floating tub.

Munson Mountain Trail

This is a short walking trail that you can access from downtown Penticton. Here’s how to get in touch with us). It offers stunning views over the lake and mountains.

Munson Mountain was recognized in 2016 as being one of Canada’s Historic Places.

The photo above was taken at Poplar Grove Winery which is located near Munson Mountain Park.

Here is also the giant Penticton Sign. The closer you are to the sign, however, the more difficult it is to see or take photos. It’s best to view the sign from downtown or the lake.

Kettle Valley Rail Trail

The Kettle Valley Trail (KVR) is actually part of the Trans Canada Trail, said to be the world’s longest network of multi-use recreational trails. McCulloch Tressle is the most popular part of the trail in Penticton. It’s about 5 km round-trip.

The trail starts at Penticton. It continues all the way up to Naramata. This easy walking route offers stunning views overlooking Okanagan Lake. The path also passes by the big Penticton Sign on Munson Mountain.

Kettle Valley Rail Trail – Learn more Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Wine tasting at Naramata Bench

Penticton has a reputation as one of the top wine regions in Canada. Most of the Penticton wineries can be found along Naramata Bench. It is located just a few kilometres to the northeast of Penticton.

It will take several days to visit all of the Penticton and Naramata Bench wineries, so it’s best to pick a few.

If you plan to indulge, it’s best to book a Penticton wine tour so that you avoid driving. It’s also a fun way to meet other wine lovers.

We love wine tasting at the Okanagan Valley.

It’s easy to visit several unique wineries within a short distance. Many wineries offer restaurants with panoramic views over Okanagan Lake. This is a great place to watch the sunset.

Hillside WineryExclusively made from Naramata grapes, this hand-crafted wine is sold exclusively by Naramata.

The Tasting Barn of Elephant Island Winery, Naramata in British Columbia.

Fresh Fruit picking

Due to its ideal growing conditions, Okanagan Valley hosts several orchards. What better way to taste fresh fruit than by picking your own apples or cherries, peaches or apricots?

Penticton Ale Trail – Craft Breweries

Don’t worry if you don’t like wineries. Penticton has several breweries. Penticton Ale Trail.

Below is a listing of Penticton Breweries and Brewpubs

~~Bad Tattoo Brewing~~ (pictured above – now closed, unfortunately)
Cannery Brewing
Highway 97 Brewing
Slackwater Brewing Company (pictured below)
Abandoned Ale Brewing Co
Neighbourhood Brewing
Tin Whistle Brewery
Barley Mill Brewpub
Yellow Dog Brewery (coming summer 2024 – taking over Bad Tatoo Brewing location)

Did you know that Penticton is one of Canada’s best kept secrets when it comes to craft beer? In 2020, it was recognized as Canada’s craft beer capitalLonely Planet

Bad Tattoo Brewing ~~You can learn more about this by clicking here.~~The beer was served in a spacious outdoor area where guests could enjoy the sun and its delicious beer.

Note: – this location is permanently closed. Yellow Dog Brewing, the original location in Port Moody (BC), will take over this location. Opening expected in summer 2024.

The food truck at the brewery serves beef brisket Poutine.

Lickity Splitz Ice Cream

Lickity Splitz is another popular Penticton Ice Cream Shop. It’s located across the street from Okanagan Beach on Lakeshore Drive. You can find it by looking for the giant penguin sculpture pictured.

How many ice cream cookies are there?Do you think you could eat?

Explore Penticton with a 2, 4, or 6 person bike

Renting a bike for 2, 4, or 6 people is a great way to discover Penticton. The bike shown above is a two-person bike that can also accommodate a small child.

Check out options and pricing at Penticton Bike Rentals

Penticton Skate Park

The Penticton Skate Park is a well-maintained park for skateboarding, bikes and scooters. If you or you’re kids like to skate or freestyle bike, bring your boards and bikes on your Penticton road trip.

The park is directly adjacent to LocoLanding Adventure Park.

Shop, Eat and Wander downtown Penticton

Penticton has many shops, cafés and restaurants. Start your walk by the intersection Main Street and Front Street.

You can learn more about it here. Penticton Farmers MarketThe event runs every Saturday, from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM. It begins in April and ends in October. It’s located on the 100 Block of Main Street. More information Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Penticton Peach festivalPenticton Peach Fest is an annual South Okanagan Valley Tradition that began in 1947 to celebrate the peach crop. Penticton Peach Fest: More information Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Skaha Lake Park

Located on the southside of Penticton. Skaha Lake ParkPenticton is home to another popular Penticton Beach area. This is the place to be if you plan to RV or camp.

Skaha Lake has several RV parks, including Barefoot Beach Resort Oxbow RV Resort South Beach Gardens Tents and RV Park.

Kettle Valley Steam Railway

Kettle valley steam railway is actually located in Summerland. This is about 20 minutes to the north of Penticton. Given it’s close proximity, we feel it should be included as a family friendly attraction in Penticton.

Kettle Valley Steam railway: more information Here’s how to get in touch with us.

Ikeda Japanese Garden

This Japanese Garden should be visited in April or May when spring blossoms are at their peak. It’s not a big park, but it has a peaceful garden with reflection ponds and shady trees.

Consider a quick trip to the nearby Penticton Art Gallery.

Visit the new District Wine Village

Looking for an unforgettable wine tasting experience in South Okanagan. Check out this new one-of -a-kind District Wine VillageThe nearest airport is Penticton 30 minutes south.

It is the first Wine Village in Canada. It’s located in the town of Oliver, which is half way between Penticton and Osoyoos. On our summer road trip, we stopped by while driving between Penticton and Osoyoos.

Watch this short videoWe have a few photos from our visit to the District Wine Village.

Penticton Restaurants

Penticton has a wide variety of restaurants, breweries, and cafes. What you choose to eat depends on your budget and dining preferences.

Here’s a few of recommendations for Penticton restaurants:

Loki’s Garage – hipster brunch spot serving tasty Bennies, Hashes and Chicken & Waffles (see photo below).
Wayne & Freda Coffee Shop – smoothies, toasts, sandwiches and bowls.
Hooded Merganser restaurant – sit on the patio for waterfront views of Okanagan Lake.
Pizzeria Tratto Napoletana – traditional Italian pizza.
Salty’s Beach House – lakefront bistro serving fresh oysters, brunch, burgers, bowls and salads.
Pasta Factory – family restaurant serving every kind of pasta dish as well as steaks and ribs
The Black Antler – fancy burgers and sandwiches, steaks and shareable plates, brunch, salads and bowls.
BRODO Kitchen – lunch spot serving artisan soups, salads, bowls and sandwiches.
TIME Winery & Kitchen – built within a revitalized movie theater, Penticton’s first downtown winery, serving charcuterie, share plates, fancy fries, salads, burgers and special Sunday dinner menu.

Above photo – Braydon devouring Chicken and Waffles at Loki’s Garage.

Where to stay in Penticton

The most popular accommodation on Okanagan Lake. Penticton Lakeside Resort. This is where we stayed on our Penticton vacation.

The property is located on the beach as advertised. It’s an older building but the rooms are clean and renovated. We would highly recommend staying at this hotel.

Note – the indoor pool is The following are some examples of how to use cold. If a pool is important to you, keep this in mind when choosing a hotel. It has a spa, which is nice. We could not stay in the pool for more than a couple of minutes before we ran back to the hot-tub.