#ExploreBC Road Trip: Penticton and Kelowna

4 to 6 Days / 847 km (526.3 mi)

Emma Choo, a.k.a. Instagram’s Vancouver Foodie, spent a week exploring the communities of Penticton and Kelowna in search of flavourful dishes, dining hot spots, tasty beer, and local wineries. Follow her journey and discover her foodie favourites on this Okanagan road trip.

Part 1: Begin in Vancouver

416 km / 4 hours 35 mins

Travelling east from Vancouver, take a slightly longer (but arguably more scenic) route along Highway 3 towards Penticton, a winding road flanked by expansive wilderness. Be sure to stop for a mid-trip break in E.C. Manning Provincial Park for incredible views in any season. While travelling this route, be prepared for rain or snow and follow all winter regulations, including mandatory snow tires between Oct 1st and April 30th. Plan, pack, and prepare for your trip in advance for a picturesque, worry-free drive.

Emma's highlights:

• Stop by Manning Park Resort to stretch your legs, breathe in the fresh winter mountain air, and grab a bite to eat at the Pinewoods Dining Room or road trip snacks at the Country Store.
• Stroll the small village of Cawston and pop into Twisted Hills Craft Cider for sips of organic fruit-forward ciders.
• Munch on German schnitzel and homemade sourdough with garlic butter on the outdoor picnic tables at Crowsnest Vineyards.

Part 2: Penticton

31 km / 43 mins

Never been to Penticton? Discover wineries along the Naramata Bench, breweries along the Penticton Ale Trail, and culinary favourites in this lakeside South Okanagan destination. Here you can pair top-notch dining and outdoor adventure with ease, exploring bike trails, hiking routes, and scenic lookouts between table reservations. Visiting in winter means easy access to Apex Mountain Resort, an ideal home base for a winter getaway that’s a mere 40-minute drive away.

Emma's highlights:

• Tour the Kettle Valley Rail Trail by bike. This old railroad once connected all the communities from Hope to Castlegar and is now a hiking, biking, and snowshoeing trail perfect for pairing with winery and brewery stops. Rent an electric bike from Freedom Bike Shop for easy touring.
• Hike to a waterfall in Naramata Creek Park for a walk through the wilderness.
• Gaze at artwork, and try orange wine, at family-owned Three Sisters Winery.
• Raise a glass to the vineyard views from the modern tasting room at Poplar Grove Winery.
• Stargaze from the Munson Mountain viewpoint.
• Tuck in for the night at Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre and take in impressive views of Okanagan Lake from the balcony.

Part 3: Chute Lake Lodge

94 km / 1 hour 33 mins

While Chute Lake Lodge feels a world away from downtown Kelowna and Penticton, the private cabins, resort rooms, and cozy yurts tucked into the nearby wilderness between these two culinary hot spots make it an easy overnight destination. Visit in winter for out-the-door access to snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. Or consider the twisting drive up the mountain along the Naramata Bench (in a four-wheel drive vehicle with winter tires, of course) part of the experience. Your reward? A sign at the lodge entrance that reads: “You Made It.”

Emma's highlights:

• Relax in the outdoor wood-fired barrel sauna, tucked beside the lake, to sweat out the toxins and rejuvenate the body.
• If you dare, jump into Chute Lake and then plunge quickly back into the sauna for optimal blood circulation and healing benefits.
• Hot tip: Pre-book your 25-minute session a few days prior to your arrival at Chute Lake Lodge to guarantee a sauna during your stay.

Part 4: Kelowna

390 km / 4 hours 20 mins

Rows of vineyards, sprawling hills, sparkling lakes, and a thriving culinary scene are just a few of Kelowna‘s best attributes. All in a day, you can indulge in a cozy brunch or café hang before dropping into an animal sanctuary, take a lunch break at a winery restaurant then hike in the hills in the afternoon, and go on a self-guided brewery hop through downtown prior to a fine-dining experience at the day’s end.

Emma's highlights:

• Views from the two-bedroom suite at The Cove Lakeside Resort. This lakeside resort is perfectly situated for easy strolls to nearby Willow Beach or Marina Park. The Gellatly Heritage Nut Farm is also close by and visitors can self-harvest fallen hazelnuts, walnuts, buartnuts, and chestnuts.
• Indulge with the Tranquil Reflection package from Beyond Wrapture Spa at the Coast Capri Hotel. The grape pip scrub, personal sauna session, and vinotherapy massage work together to exfoliate, improve blood circulation, and restore connective tissue for a relaxing experience.
• Walk the network of winding trails of the Crawford Trails area of Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park.
• Sip brews while bowling at BNA Brewing Co. & Eatery. This newly renovated brewery has a six-lane, 10-pin bowling alley for hours of fun.

Emma's Foodie Favourites in Penticton

Here are a few of Emma’s amazing foodie experiences in Penticton (all highly recommended).

• Try the Outlandish Shellfish Chowder at The Restaurant at Naramata Inn made with fresh Road 17 char and wild BC sablefish, alongside mussels, clams, foraged sumac, and potatoes in a cream-based chowder.
• Nibble on Winter Toast from Wayne & Freda, made with house-made beet hummus, fig jam, and roasted mushrooms topped with arugula, walnuts, spicy honey, and creamy blue cheese.
• Sip Moraine Winery’s 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir and Riesling.
• Pair Cannery Brewing Company’s chicken nachos with one of their seasonal ales.
• Buy a coconut-infused matcha latte from The Bench Market.
• Couple a Slackwater Brewing trout burger with their What the Fog!? NE IPA. Fun fact: This new brewery hot spot used to be a nightclub.

Emma's Foodie Favourites in Kelowna

Kelowna also offers its share of outstanding eats and treats, and here are a few of Emma’s favourites.

• Sip on a Hugo Spritz sparkling cocktail from Ricco Bambino wine bar (reservations highly recommended), sample authentic Italian pizza from Antico Pizza Napoletana, and snack on duck-fat popcorn with rosemary and Vancouver Island sea salt from Micro Bar & Bites.
• Taste wines from newly opened Frind Estate Winery on the shores of Okanagan Lake and wander the sleek and edgy tasting room at Mt. Boucherie Winery.
• Enjoy a wine-pairing experience at CedarCreek Estate Winery before sitting down for two-course dining at the winery’s Home Block Restaurant.
• Indulge in top-notch wines like the 2016 “Hans Estate” Malbec from Black Swift Vineyards, Zweigelt Icewine from Summerhill Pyramid Winery, and the 2019 sparkling Decota from Priest Creek Family Estate Winery.
• Enjoy a locally sourced menu at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails’ Gate.
• Taste camp-inspired dishes from Provisions Kitchen while sampling flights at Kettle River Brewing. Then visit Jackknife Brewing next door for tasters of their “weird beer.”
• Brunch at Krafty Kitchen + Bar, nibble on Saskatoon Berry Bannock at Kekuli Café, order espresso flights from Bright Jenny, lounge at spunky Pulp Fiction Coffee House, and sample fresh desserts with a modern twist from Karat Chocolate + Pastry Boutique.