While enjoyable and welcoming at any time of the year, there is something magical that happens in British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan in late summer and early fall.
For a start, there is the amazing weather that will make you want to stay outdoors. Then, harvest season, when the delicious products of local farmlands and orchards find their way to markets and on restaurant tables across the region. And there is the grape harvest, as wineries bring in this year’s crop to transform into their next great vintage.
But what makes this region in the southern interior of B.C. even more special are how welcoming and inclusive the urban centres of Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Osoyoos are to the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Now is the time to plan you late-summer and early-fall visit to the Thompson Okanagan and experience it all for yourself.
KAMLOOPS
Nestled in near the heart of the province, and in the north of the Thompson Okanagan region, Kamloops is home to a vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community waiting to welcome visitors and show off their corner of B.C.
Start by checking into Rainbow Registered hotel Accent Inns Kamloops, where you can pick between rooms and suites with or without kitchenettes. Your base for exploring the city includes a fitness room, outdoor pool, laundry facilities and is pet friendly, so all members of you family will feel welcome. If the pool isn’t your thing—and the weather is good—check out the views at clothing optional Mission Flats Beach on the Thompson River.
Once you’ve got your fill of sunlight, pick out some fresh duds at Lys’s Thrift & Vintage, a curated thrift store on Victoria Street, and wear out to one of the events hosted by Rebellious Unicorns, a local queer-friendly company that hosts regular events, like drag queen bingo games, or at The Effie Arts Collective event venue—including comedy shows and music nights. For those who prefer the great outdoors, you can check out the picture-perfect sunsets while hiking in Kenna Cartwright Park, which is home to more than 40 kilometres of trails, or play a round of tennis or pickleball at Riverside Park
Whatever you decide, be sure to fuel up for your Kamloops adventures at Isigani Farm-to-Table and its menu full of dishes made with regionally sources ingredients, at Underbelly by the Pig, an upscale dinner of seasonally influenced Mediterranean cuisine, or beer-battered halibut, pretzel beef bombs and locally made beers at Bright Eye Brewing.
Before you leave Kamloops, stop into Far & Wide to check out some of its Canadian-made products, including many by 2SLGBTQIA+-owned brands, as a keepsake of your time in the city.
VERNON
An hour-and-a-half southeast from drive from Kamloops, Vernon is a situated amidst grassland hills, sweeping valleys and blue- and green-hued lakes—making it the perfect outdoor playground. Known as the trail capital of the province with more than 500 kilometres of pathways, it is home to several amazing viewpoints, such as those on the Grey Canal Trail and Middleton Mountain.
Even your stay in the city can be nestled in nature, like at Outback Lakeside Vacation Homes, a 60-acre pine covered property on Okanagan Lake that features designer homes, villas and cabins, or Prestige Vernon Lodge with its stunning garden atrium and indoor pool.
Once settled, explore the city starting at the Vernon Farmers’ Market to shop and sample artisan products and locally grown produce, unwind and try a little yoga with goats at Historic O’Keefe Ranch, enjoy a well-deserved cup of coffee while plating a board game at The Boarding House Café for board games and coffee, or popping in and out of local shops and boutiques in the charming downtown.
When you are feeling peckish—or thirsty—try Vernon favourites that include breakfast and lunch spot Eatology (which is vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan-friendly), a relaxed meal featuring local flavours at Midtown Bistro, a delicious wood-fired pizza and cider at Cambium Cider Co. or book a whisky or gin tasting experience with Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery.
While in the city be sure to check out the local events calendar with Tourism Vernon to see where to find live music and performances at one of the many restaurants and pubs or cultural venues, or there is an event, like its Fused Glass & Gewürztraminer or Paint & Pinot night, taking place at the Vernon Community Arts Centre.
KELOWNA
Located on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake, Kelowna may be the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, but, along with its cosmopolitan vibe, it is also surrounded by provincial parks, pine forest, vineyards, orchards and mountains—a perfect destination for enthusiasts of urban life and nature escapes. Plus, it is also home to a vibrant 2SLGBTQIA+ community and several Rainbow Registered and inclusive businesses waiting to welcome you during your visit.
Painted in bright colours that pop next to the backdrop of the tan-coloured hills, Hotel Zed is one of two registered accommodations in the community. Located downtown, it features lodgings equipped with kitchenettes, a seasonal pool, sauna, a fleet of free bikes—even roller skate rentals—and a rooftop patio (and it is across the street from the beaches and boardwalk). Also registered is centrally located Accent Inns Kelowna, which features standard rooms to suites with amenities that include a fitness centre, outdoor pool and onsite restaurant.
Once settled in, take to exploring the city and area on two wheels. Woman-owned and Rainbow Registered Velo Volt Mobile Bike Rentals offers guided and self-guided tours of the city—no matter if you are an experienced biker or beginner. Or head out on a self-guided e-bike tour of local wine and mead tastings with Lakeside Eco-Sports. Prefer being in nature? Head on a longer ride through the countryside on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and its impresive Myra Canyon section where you will pedal across 18 wooden trestle bridges.
Back in town, visit the Kelowna Art Gallery which is located in the city’s Cultural District and features four different exhibition spaces full of contemporary and historical Canadian art, drop into one of the several farmer’s markets for some fresh-from-the-farm produce and other local products, or learn more about the Okanagan Valley’s Indigenous cultures and history at the Sncewips Heritage Museum.
At night, pair a pint with a bite to eat at Lakesider Brewing, a craft brewery among the vineyards and wineries that hosts a drag bingo and karaoke, head for dancing, cocktails and shared plates at the perfectly named 2SLGBTQIA+ lounge Friends of Dorothy—which also host weekend drag brunches—or welcoming Red Bird Brewing for pizzas, including gluten-free and vegan options and, and corn tortilla tacos. For something completely different while in town, take in dinner and a show at Kelowna Actors Studio, a dinner theatre where you can dine on a four-course meal paired the compliment the show, including Sweeney Todd this October.
PENTICTON
The hub of the south Okanagan, Penticton in home to world-class wineries, a great food scene, outdoor activities and an active local community that is always ready to wish 2SLGBTQIA+ visitors a warm welcome. Best yet, this city is perched between two beautiful lakes, Okanagan to the north and Skaha in the south, which—along with being picturesque—are calling out to be enjoyed no matter the season.
Surrounded by farms, vineyards and orchards, visitors will have no shortage of places to savour Penticton’s late-summer and early-fall bounty. Not only are their more than 80 wineries to explore on your own or on a guided tour, but this is also the Craft Beer Capital of Canada. It is home to seven craft breweries, more per capita than any other city in the country, including the Rainbow Registered Abandoned Rail Brewing Co., located alongside the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, or the family-run Yellow Dog Brewing with its pet-friendly patio.
Discover why this area is one of the best farming regions in the country by popping by the downtown Farmers’ Market, open until October, or the Downtown Community Market, into September, to taste some farm fresh fruits and vegetables along with baked goods, preserves and handmade crafts. If the market is not on while you are visiting, you can still get a taste at one of the farm-and-table restaurants in the city, such as The Hooded Merganser, which sources produce from nearby Valley View Farm, or The Bench Market that uses, and also sells, local artisan goods.
Work off your meal by touring the Penticton Art Gallery and its exhibits featuring thought-provoking work by the local community and international artists or discover how goats can change your life during a visit with the miniature goats at GottaGoat Farm. For a more active afternoon, hop on one of the station-based electric scooters offered by Sparrow Scooters throughout the region and explore Penticton and its surrounding countryside, or head out rock climbing in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park with Skaha Rock Adventures or kayaking on one of the city lakes with Hoodoo Adventures.
OSOYOOOS
The southern most destination in the Thompson Okanagan, Osoyoos is a desert oasis known for its warm weather and wonderful lake that attract visitors throughout the year. September is a great time of year to discover this community, with its annual Pride parade and Pride Arts Festival attracting 2SLGBTQIA+ visitors from across the region on Sept. 6.
Start with a culture fix by visiting the Okanagan Art Gallery that specializes in showcasing the beautiful art of the South Okanagan, Boundary Country and Similkameen region, and discover more about the area’s rich history at the Osoyoos Museum, which houses more than 4,000 pieces. There is also the Osoyoos Desert Centre, where you can learn about the ecology in this corner of B.C., and the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre that promotes desert conservation and showcases the culture of the Okanagan’s Indigenous people.
After, stop by the Osoyoos Farmers’ Market that operates until early-October to check out some of the recently harvested fruits and vegetables, just down main street from the market is Gino’s Coffee House, a cozy stop bursting with flavourful menus. If you are closer to wine time than coffee time, enjoy a lake view at 15 Park Bistro with glass of local wine and seasonal food flavours. Drop into The Curator, a boutique in Osoyoos that sells vintage treasures, art, jewelry and local crafts. (Keep your eyes open as several local businesses that are 2SLGBTQIA+ welcoming have stickers posted on their storefronts.)
Being surrounded by nature—and great weather—Osoyoos is the place for outdoor adventures. Both Wakepilot and ATB Watersports rent paddle boards and kayaks so you can paddle out into picturesque Osoyoos Lake, or head into the hills or desert on a horseback adventure with Indian Grove Riding Stables or Sun Hills Riding Centre.
Recharge from your day exploring with a delicious meal featuring locally-sources ingredients, such as the Indigenous-owned and inspired The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry that includes dishes inspired by the fall harvest, bite into a handmade sandwich and salad at Barn Owl Eatery, or opt for a pre-booked, farm-to-table culinary experience at Backyard Farm Chefs Table that features multiple courses.
To discover all the amazing things waiting to be enjoyed by 2SLGBTQIA+ visitors in the welcoming Thompson Okanagan region, visit travellingout.ca.
