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The
Region of Thompson-Okanagan |
Accommodation Directory
Shortcuts: Kelowna
| Penticton |
Osoyoos | Vernon
| Kamloops | Shuswap
| Other Locations
Related Guides: Kelowna
| Penticton
| Osoyoos
| Vernon
| Kamloops
| Shuswap
| Thompson-Okanagan
The Thompson-Okanagan
is the regional name given to the central and southern interior of British
Columbia. The area follows the Thompson Rivers in the North, and the
Okanagan valley down to the US border in the South. It is a spectacular year-round
travel destination with a much milder climate than the majority of Canada. In
the summer, there are world-class lakes to enjoy, orchards to tour, trails to
bike, beaches to relax on, and more. The winter offers several prestigious ski
resorts full of "champagne powder" that falls in the mild and moist climate--creating
some of the best skiing and snowboarding on the planet. The spring offers flowering
orchard blossoms, and fall brings a bountiful harvest including the picking
of the grapes-- used in the incredible range of wines that are made in the valley.
The Okanagan provides every imaginable type of accommodation--from extravagant
inns, to small bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), to budget motels. Many of the unique
locations within the Okanagan are an easy drive away from each other, so visitors
can stay in one location and visit another quite easily. Although, it is advisable
to check a map as some areas in the northern reaches of the Thompson-Okanagan
are quite remote and separated from each other. There is a place to stay for
every price range and taste, and the WorldWeb.com
Travel Guides will help plan a perfect trip to centres in the area including
Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Osoyoos, and many more.
KELOWNA
The city of Kelowna is
the largest centre in the region and has developed into the commercial and business
hub of the Okanagan. Equipped with all the amenities of a major city, it includes
an arts centre, sports arena (for hosting events as well as the local hockey
team), lively nightlife, and a diversity of restaurants and activities for all
ages. Kelowna has managed to do all this, while keeping a strong commitment
to the local parks and bike trail system--designed to keep Kelowna a visitor
friendly city.
There are numerous festivals
throughout the year to enjoy including the Fall
Wine Festival and Snowfest.
Big
White Ski Resort is a short drive away and offers year-round activities.
With its location on the shores of Lake Okanagan, Kelowna provides a beautiful
location for business or pleasure.
Being a major centre, Kelowna has an array of motels and hotels to fit
many budgets or needs. Most of the major chains and motels will be found along
Highway 97 (Harvey Avenue through the city), with some interesting hotels and
motels residing near the water and beaches along Pandosy/Lakeshore Drive (follow
the east shore of Lake Okanagan south of the downtown core).
Because Kelowna is a major tourist destination, it supports many B&Bs, vacation
homes, resorts and inns, located around the city. If accommodation cannot be
found in Kelowna itself, be sure to cross the world's longest floating
bridge to the Westside/Westbank area to check out some great lake views
and beach front resorts, inns and B&Bs. Be sure to use the accommodation directory
to compare the different types of accommodation, and then use the Kelowna
Interactive Map to decide where in the city to stay.
KELOWNA
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
| BIG
WHITE ACCOMMODATION DIRECOTORY
PENTICTON
|
Kelowna to ... |
Distance |
Est.
Time* |
| Calgary |
600km (375mi) |
7 hr
|
| Vancouver |
370km (230mi) |
4.25 hr
|
| Vernon |
50km (30 mi) |
.75 hr
|
| Penticton |
70km (45mi) |
1 hr
|
| Kamloops |
165km (150mi) |
2 hr
|
| Osoyoos |
175km (109 mi) |
2.5 hr
|
| Shuswap |
110km (70 mi) |
1.5 hr
|
|
Kamloops to ... |
Distance |
Est.
Time*
|
| Calgary |
620km (385mi) |
7.5 hr
|
| Vancouver |
330km (205mi) |
3.5 hr
|
| Vernon |
115km (70 mi) |
1.5 hr
|
| Penticton |
220km (135mi) |
2.5 hr
|
| Osoyoos |
277km (177mi) |
3.25 hr
|
| Shuswap |
105km (35mi) |
1.25 hr
|
|
Pencticton to ... |
Distance |
Est.
Time*
|
| Calgary |
670km (415mi) |
8.25 hr
|
| Vancouver |
435km (245mi) |
4.5 hr
|
| Vernon |
115km (70 mi) |
1.5 hr
|
| Osoyoos |
57km (36 mi) |
.75 hr
|
| Shuswap |
175km (110 mi) |
2.25 hr
|
|
Osoyoos to ... |
Distance |
Est.
Time*
|
|
Calgary |
732km (455 mi) |
7 hr
|
| Vancouver |
397km (247 mi) |
5.75 hr
|
| Vernon |
225km (139 mi) |
2.25 hr
|
| Shuswap |
232km (146 mi) |
2.5 hr
|
|
|
|
Distance Table (*Estimated driving time) |
Penticton is located
between the southern point of Lake
Okanagan and Lake
Skaha. A channel connects the two bodies of water and spending the afternoon
tubing down the water between the lakes is a popular summer activity. As well,
Penticton hosts a large number of festivals and events each year including the
Penticton
Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival, Penticton
Peach Festival and the Ironman
Canada Triathlon. Surrounded by numerous wineries,
two
gorgeous lakes, and the Apex
Mountain Resort, Penticton is a recreational haven.
As with other areas in the Okanagan, there are many options when choosing accommodations.
Located just off of Highway 97 at the north end of town, Riverside Drive becomes
Lakeshore Drive on the shoreline of Lake Okanagan, offering lake views and lakeside
accommodations. Exit Highway 97 onto Skaha Lake Drive at the south end of the
city to view a range of accommodations near Skaha Lake. Don't be afraid to spend
a couple of minutes cruising around town as there are many types of accommodations
spread throughout the city. The Penticton
Interactive Map is useful for getting a feel for the city and in choosing
the location of choice.
PENTICTON
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
| APEX
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
OSOYOOS
Osoyoos is located in
Canada's only true desert. Learn about this fascinating landscape at the educational
Osoyoos
Desert Center. As well, the climate makes Lake
Osoyoos a perfect place for a swim, with the locals boasting of "The
Warmest Lake in Canada". The Annual Cherry
Festival is a tasty alternative to musuem hopping, and as with other
Okanagan destinations, several championship golf
courses surround the area, as well as a variety of vineyards--many
of which offer tours.
Osoyoos is located on the US/Canada border, and from here it is easy to drive
north to explore the lovely Okanagan valley, west to Vancouver
and the Pacific Coast, east to the spectacular and uncrowded Kootenay
Mountains, or south into Washington
State with its excellent national parks.
Osoyoos is a smaller centre but is still a popular tourist destination and
offers several lodging options. Highway 3 (Main Street in Osoyoos) offers a
good selection of the major chain hotels, as well as some independent inns.
Use the Osoyoos
Interactive Map to discover some B&Bs located throughout the city, and
remember that it is a smaller town so the beach is never far away.
OSOYOOS
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
VERNON
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Okanagan
Lake Beachfront
Photo Courtesy Janie Agar |
Vernon is located at the
northern tip of Lake
Okanagan in what is often referred to as "The Top of the Okanagan".
The area also includes Swan
Lake, and Lake
Kalamalka - known as the "Lake of Many Colours", and named by National
Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world. Silver
Star Mountain Resort is a short drive away from the town centre and
has year-round activities for the mountain enthusiast. Follow Highway 6 east
to Lumby and the
Kootenay Mountains,
which offer mountain retreats including fishing resorts, mountain cabins and
outdoor adventures.
The town offers very reasonable prices for accommodation year round, and may
be the perfect place to base an Okanagan vacation for the more price conscious.
Drive along Highway 97 through the heart of town for a range of both chain and
independent hotels, motels and inns to stay at. Check out the good selection
of camping and RV sites in the area, or follow Silver Star Road to explore the
various B&Bs to choose from. Use the Vernon
Interactive Map to discover more Vernon lodging choices.
VERNON
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
| SILVER
STAR ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
KAMLOOPS
Kamloops is similar
in size to Kelowna and is located northwest of the Okanagan Valley, situated
on the convergence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. Kamloops has very
hot summers and is a great place to work on a tan, perhaps while enjoying an
open air tour on the Kamloops
Heritage Railway. Surrounded by several excellent golf
courses and the all-season Sun
Peaks Resort, there are activities to choose from year round. As well,
Kamloops prides itself as being the "Tournament Capital of Canada" so chances
are there will be some sort of tournament in town contributing to excitement
during the day, and the nightlife after dark.
Located on the Trans Canada Highway, Kamloops offers a large range of accommodations
from highway motels and hotels, to downtown and riverside inns and B&Bs. Near
both the east and west ends of town on Highway 1 (Trans Canada) there are motel
villages, offering a range of both chain and independent lodgings. Venture off
the highway towards the centre of town and discover more hotels, motels and
inns along both the downtown Columbia and Victoria Streets. There are options
for every budget and taste, feel free to use the Kamloops
Interactive Map to discover where the lodgings in the area are located,
and then use the online room search to book an accommodation..
KAMLOOPS
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
| SUN
PEAKS ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
SHUSWAP
The Shuswap is an area
surrounding Shuswap Lake located just north of the Okanagan valley and east
of Kamloops. For information on this area please see the Shuswap Accommodation
Guide by clicking here.
SHUSWAP
ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY
WHEN TO VISIT
Summer
Summer is high season in the Okanagan. Seemingly endless hours of sunshine and
welcoming lakes draw large crowds and creates great demand for lodging. The
prices can be quite high at some of the resorts and lodgings, particularly in
the larger centres such as Kelowna and Penticton, but good deals can still be
found with a bit of research and planning. The local climate creates a long
summer season, and if the plan is to visit the Okanagan during the late spring
to early fall it is recommended to book as early as possible to ensure a room
and take advantage of any special deals available. However, the Okanagan is
busy in the summer for a reason, receiving nearly 2000 hours of sunshine between
late spring and early fall.
Fall
Fall in the Okanagan offers some great opportunities for travel. Crowds may
be noticeably less in the popular spots as the primary/secondary school, college
and university students are forced back into class in September, clearing up
the beaches and attractions. As well, the fall harvest in the orchards and vineyards
offer supreme roadside fruit stands, u-pick experiences and tours. Some lodgings
may offer shoulder season rates, and can be researched using the online room
search for the areas of choice. Because of the long, warm summers, the lakes
stay incredibly warm and are still perfect for swimming, boating, fishing and
many other lake activities.
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Snow
Ghosts at Silver Star Mountain Resort
Photo Courtesy Klaus Gretzmacher |
Winter
The winter low season in the area offers great prices for accommodations and
most centres are a short drive away from excellent winter playgrounds including
ski resorts, snowmobiling grounds, cross-country skiing areas and much more.
Okanagan winters tend to be fairly cloudy, as large, soft snow falls in the
mountains--creating the famous "champagne powder" that makes local ski resorts
popular winter destinations. Most of the larger lakes in the area, including
Lake Okanagan, never freeze over and create a micro-climate near their shores,
keeping temperatures mild in the winter.
Spring
Early spring mornings in the Okanagan are crisp and refreshing, and the rapidly
increasing temperatures coax the green grass and orchard blooms out of their
winter slumber much earlier than most areas of Canada. By late March the sun
is predominant and the spring bloom places a blanket of colour throughout the
area. Many sporting activities can be enjoyed, as golf courses begin to re-open,
ice retreats from fishing holes and the snow melts away. Early spring discounts
can be discovered by using the online search engines, and visiting in March,
April, and May is a good way to beat the summer crowds to the area.
MORE THOMPSON-OKANAGAN ACCOMMODATION LINKS
As well as the aforementioned centres, the Okanagan is comprised of many smaller
towns that can provide visitors with great deals on accommodations, with most
offering a host of B&Bs, vacation homes and cottages along with independent
inns or motels. Usually located near larger centres, these smaller towns can
provide convenient and economical accommodation options. Check out the Thompson-Okanagan
Interactive Map to explore the region and then feel free to browse local
Travel Guides to explore the accommodation options within some of the other
Thompson-Okanagan destinations including:
Summerland
Peachland
Oliver
Lumby
Princeton
Other Destinations
