10 Cool Things to Do in Penticton & Naramata, BC!
Looking for cool things to do in Penticton & Naramata? We got you covered!
From wine tasting to sunbathing and all the breweries and good eats in-between, Penticton, BC is a seriously cool local getaway, whether you need a weekend trip or a longer escape from it all.
We fell in love with the chill vibes, beautiful weather, and were honestly surprised at just how many cool spots and things to do in Penticton there were!
Best Wineries in Naramata / Near Penticton
Okay, let’s start with the obvious: the best thing to do in the Penticton area is go wine tasting! The Naramata Bench is full (and we mean full) of amazing, world-class wineries (the New York Times just wrote about them here).
One very important thing to note, though, is that because of Covid-19, most wineries are requiring reservations right now. So make sure you plan, and call, ahead!
Cool Things to Do in Penticton #1: The Naramata Inn
For our trip, we stayed for one night in wine country at the adorable Naramata Inn and then stayed in Penticton proper for the rest of our trip! Naramata is only a ~15 minute drive from Penticton, so you can easily spend the day in wine country while staying in Penticton, or vice versa.
The inn just opened in June, and it’s easy to fall in love with. We felt like we were living in a Hallmark movie, all the design and details were just too cute!
If we could give you recommendation for Penticton/Naramata, it would be to enjoy a life changing meal at the restaurant at Naramata Inn. The menu is focused on “hyper local,” showcasing a snapshot of the region at the current time through their expertly curated wine list, local agriculture, and seasonal menu.
We’ll have a whole blog post about our experience here coming soon, because it was just THAT amazing!
#2: Wine Tasting at Joie Farm
We could also write a whole blog post about wine tasting in Naramata (and maybe we will), but for now we just wanted to give you a few of the wineries we visited on this trip! We loved the tasting room at Joie Farm, and went home with quite a few bottles too!
#3 Little Engine Wines
If you’re looking for some seriously good wine, Little Engine is where you want to go. We absolutely loved the vibe in the tasting room, it was like a modern lounge surrounded by vines, but the wines really steal the show. We also loved how approachable and educational the wine tastings were, and that the owner Steven was doing tastings with guests!
Other notable wineries to visit include Hillside Winery, Poplar Grove, and Three Sisters! We also stopped in at the local Legend Distilling, which had the best backyard views and space for eating and drinking (pro tip: buy the olives, they’re amazing).
Where to Stay in Penticton, BC:
After staying in wine country, we spent two nights at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, which we loved! The resort is located right on the lake, is super modern and updated, and offered a ton of space with the perfect location.
We definitely enjoyed that the hotel had it’s own private beach on the lake, and we loved being able to order drinks right to our lounge chair!
Cool things to do in penticton #5: Coffee at Wayne & Freda
Now, when people think of Penticton, BC, they probably think about wineries and the lake. But did you know that Penticton actually has a really cool food scene too? There were sooo many cool spots for us to discover, we definitely didn’t run out of things to do in Penticton during our 4 day trip!
The coolest of them all has to be Wayne & Freda, the local coffee shop with a huge patio and delicious toasts. Start your day here in the sunshine outside, or cozy up inside with a warm Americano.
Cool Things to Do in Penticton #6: Bike the Kettle Valley Road Trail
Okay, now one of most fun things to do in Penticton came as a total surprise to us! We rented e-bikes from Freedom Bike Shop to bike the KVR Trail, and we had THE BEST TIME.
The Kettle Valley Railway used to be all train tracks, but once the train wasn’t needed anymore, it was turned into this epic trail that runs from Penticton to Kelowna!
Now, you could totally bike this on a regular bike (like most people were), but it was so much more fun on an e-bike, because we got to just enjoy the epic views and scenery without all the effort. The trail runs behind the Naramata wineries, so it was extra nice to stop in for a wine tasting after a bike ride, and not have to work up a sweat! It’s about $80 to rent an e-bike for the entire day, and we 10/10 recommend it!
Cool Things to Do in Penticton #7: Penticton ale trail
Love a good craft beer? You’ve come to the right place. Penticton ranks among the top Canadian cities for breweries per capita, and Lonely Planet recently named Penticton the “craft beer capital of Canada.”
There are 7 breweries that you can explore in Penticton, we only made it half of them, but were very impressed at both the ~ vibes ~ and the beer. Slackwater Brewing was our favorite, they had an incredibly delicious menu, and a big open space which is perfect for social distancing (not to mention a rooftop patio).
Other faves include The Cannery (check out The Backyard behind it for food trucks and outdoor beer space) and Bad Tattoo. Neighborhood Brewing is set to open soon, from Vancouver’s Yellow Dog, so it’s safe to say these are all very cool things to do in Penticton. You can learn more about all of the breweries through the Penticton Ale Trail!
BEST RESTAURANTS IN PENTICTON, BC
When it comes to where to eat in Penticton, you have a lot of really great options! But one of the best restaurants in Penticton is definitely Elma - a Turkish inspired menu made from local ingredients.
The two-storey, waterfront restaurant not only offers impeccable views, but an incredible menu of dips, vegetables, savoury meats, and the best cocktails! We love shared plates, and we couldn’t get enough of the hummus, zucchini fritters, brussell sprouts, steak…we could eat here forever, and we will definitely be returning time and time again.
Cool Things to Do in Penticton #9: Brunch at The Bench Market
You know you’ve found a gem when there’s a line up of locals dying to get in. We arrived for Sunday brunch at The Bench Market around 9am, so that’s a sweet spot if you want to get in before the locals all show up!
Their store features all local BC products, and we loved that their menu was super gluten-free and vegan friendly. We took some baked treats home with us in the car (including GF cupcakes), and almost cried when we ate the chocolate chip cookie for the first time. It was PERFECTION! Definitely stop in at for brunch at The Bench while you’re in Penticton.
#10 Pizza Napoletana at Tratto
If you’re looking for some really good, really legit pizza in Penticton, Tratto is where you have to go. Enjoy your pizza right out of the fire, and sip on a local beer, cider, or wine while you cut your pie with scissors - the crust is that perfect!
(If you’re celiac, you might want to opt for the Angry Vegan next door instead, no gluten-free pizza here).
#10 Wine Tasting at Time Winery & Kitchen
A cool thing that we loved about Penticton, is that you don’t have to go out to wine country to go wine tasting! Time Winery & Kitchen is an urban winery that makes all of their wine on-site, in the city, in a former movie theatre.
This is such a great option, because you can get your wine in without having to co-ordinate a DD or a safe ride back from the wineries - you can just walk from your hotel! We really enjoyed their wine tasting and snacks, and we even learned how to sabre a bottle of wine, Napolean-style.
Well, there you have it - 10 super cool things to do in Penticton & Naramata! We honestly had the most perfect trip, and we barely even mentioned the beach and the lake in this post, which goes to show you just how much there is to do here.
If you’re looking for a local getaway in BC this fall, and you like good food and good drinks, Penticton won’t disappoint! We can’t wait to come back, and you can discover even more at Visit Penticton’s website.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at @localwanderer for even more travel inspiration and places to go!
This post is in partnership with Visit Penticton