Winter is the coolest season to experience British Columbia’s welcoming Thompson Okanagan region, one of Canada’s best kept secrets when it comes inclusive and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ2S+ travellers.
Located in the southern interior of the province, easily accessible by plane, or by car from Vancouver or Calgary, the area is composed of Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Osoyoos and is known for its dramatic landscape of rugged mountains and clear lakes — which appear even more magical during the winter months.
The season also transforms the region into an outdoor playground with skiing, snowshoeing and skating, with equally welcoming businesses and restaurants to enjoy with your friends and loved ones after an energetic day outside.
Here is everything you need to know to discover this B.C. destination in the months ahead.
Go cross-country skiing in Kamloops
Skip your hotel or resort’s fitness centre and get your cardio in at Mother Nature’s gym. Located 25 kilometres south of Kamloops, the Overlander Ski Club at Stake Lake Nordic Centre is home to 60 kilometres of trails that are perfect for any level of skier. Its offerings include gentle loops for beginners and more challenging courses for those who really want to work those leg and arm muscles. There is even five kilometres of trails set up for night skiing, so you can ski under the stars. Didn’t pack your skis and poles? No worries as Overlander offers rentals.
Suddenly into hockey thanks to the steamy, streaming series Heated Rivalry? While in Kamloops, be sure to check out the excitement of the Kamloops Blazers by catching a game at the Sandman Centre. It is just one of the hockey teams playing in the area, along with the Kelowna Rockets and Penticton Vees
Hit the slopes in Vernon
Vernon is home to some of the best powder in the Okanagan, and SilverStar Mountain Resort, just 20 minutes from town, is the perfect spot to experience it firsthand. On average, the resort receives more than 700 centimetres of snow a year, making it one of the premiere downhill skiing locations in the region. The resort features more than 1,300 hectares, 130 runs and 10 lifts. The only thing missing from its groomed trails are crowds of people.
After testing your skills on the powder-perfect chutes and runs, indulge in a rejuvenating treatment at Elevate Spa — SilverStar’s full-service Aveda concept spa. Then head back down the hill to your hotel in Vernon, then for some apres-ski nibbles at Mediterranean inspired Cabana Kitchen + Bar or with a wood-fried pie from appetite-filling Masiero Pizzeria Napoletana in before getting a good nights sleep.
Sample ice wine in Kelowna
Wine making is not only a warm-season obsession in Kelowna — it is nearly a year-long concern. When the temperatures fall a few degrees Celsius below freezing in the winter, it creates the perfect conditions for making ice-wine. There are more than 40 wineries set among the snow blanketed rolling vineyards of the Kelowna area, with several producing elegant and delicious ice wines.
Head for a tasting at Quails’ Gate Winery, where you can sample its Riesling Icewine, a bright wine with aromas of peach and mango that pairs well with cheesecakes — making it the perfect accompaniment to a Golden Girls-inspired evening back at your accommodations. Nearby, Summerhill Pyramid Winery makes several varieties of ice wine, such as its Ehrenfelser, Cabernet Franc, Zweigelt and Chalice varieties. It offers different wine tastings seven days a week, including one that is focused on its ice wines.
Try snowshoeing in Penticton
Located in the scenic Okanagan Valley, just 45-minutes from downtown Penticton, Nickle Plate Nordic Centre is a winter wonderland set against blue skies and snow-capped mountain views. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and explore its 22.5 kilometres of marked trails, all of which start at an impressive 1,850 metres above sea level.
Fuel up for your outdoor adventure at one of Penticton’s cozy cafes. For a hearty start, try The Bench Market for its famous all-day breakfast or Wayne & Freda, renowned for its loaded toasts and excellent breakfast sandwiches. For something a little sweeter, Petrasek Bakery is a beloved local spot for fresh pastries and coffee.
After your time on the trail, enjoy Penticton’s vibrant après-ski scene. The Hub on Martin is a great choice for live music and performances, while craft beer enthusiasts can visit family-run Yellow Dog Brewing, the dog-friendly Highway 97 Brewing, or Tin Whistle Brewing—named after the first locomotive on the Kettle Valley Railway—and discover why the city is known as Canada’s Craft Beer Capital.
Experience a spa day in Osoyoos
End your experience in the Thompson Okanagan by indulging in a little self-care and relaxation. Refresh your mind, body and spirit in Osoyoos with one of the treatments at Levia Spa or pamper yourself with a deep tissue or therapeutic massage (the perfect anecdote to all those winter activities) at Osoyoos Family Massage & Wellness.
After, learn more about the desert and the culture of the local indigenous peoples at NK’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. The state-of-the-art interpretive centre is built partly into the hillside and includes several exhibit spaces as well as a trail system through the desert that you can follow on a self-guided informative walk.
And no trip to Osoyoos would be complete without a visit to a local winery. Many wineries are open throughout the winter and will give tasters an intimate experience, often with the owners or winemakers themselves.
To discover all the amazing things waiting to be enjoyed by LGBTQ2S+ visitors to the welcoming Thompson Okanagan region this winter, visit travellingout.ca.
