November 4, 2019

How to Spend a Weekend in Penticton

How to Spend a Weekend in Penticton
This is a bit overdue, but wow has life gotten in the way! Curtis and I went to Penticton mid-September right before we packed up our house and moved out. It was a perfect long weekend getaway from Vancouver. Penticton and the Naramata Bench is home to more than 80 local wineries, six craft breweries (more opening up soon!), a cidery, three distilleries, and more than thirty festivals every year. Meanwhile, you are surrounded by beautiful lakes, stunning beaches, and an extensive trail network amongst mountain terrain. Something for everyone!

A scenic 3.5-hour drive, you can leave the city on a Friday and be there for just after lunch. I’d suggest hitting up Wayne and Freda for a coffee and sandwich. Such a cool spot situated right downtown gives you some Abbott and Kinney vibes! I had the apricot toast (seasonal) and Curtis had their breakfast sandwich. I stole a bite and it was purely delicious!

Walk around the lakeside with your coffee to go and then go check in to your accommodations. We stayed at Above the Beach Bed and Breakfast above Skaha Lake. Deer walked through the yard and you had great views of the lake below. The owners are so hospitable, and I spent most of my evenings in the clawfoot tub.

For dinner, I suggest either Time Winery and Elma Restaurant. We went to Time Winery downtown the first evening, had a fresh, vibrant dinner of roasted carrots and ribs. But do start with their truffle fries, they are to die for! What they are really known for is their wines, we bought a bottle to take home of their Meritage Red, which Curtis will enjoy by himself haha.

What is really special about their location is that it was an old movie theatre they renovated and turned into their city winery and restaurant. You can see the space if you take a tour in the back, really neat to see that they kept some features.

If you are lucky to be in town while the farmers market is on each Saturday, I highly suggest visiting. Grab some fresh, seasonal vegetables or fruit, local honey—all grown or produced in the South Okanagan. Grab a pastry to walk around with and even browse some local artisans wares.

Afterwards, rent an e-bike and take a trip on the Kettle Valley Trail. This trail is really popular with the locals, but it’s easier to go with the e-bike up the mountainside to the tunnels. The views from up there are spectacular of the lakes, and you go through wineries along the way. It’s comprised of tracks of the now decommissioned railroad system that offers almost 650 kilometres of connected pathways throughout the region that’s open year-round.

When you are back in town, stop at the Cannery Brewery for a cold beer and their famous nachos! The patio is huge, dog-friendly and the inside is spacious too for the cold weather months.

Freshen up at the B&B and then head back into town for dinner at Elma Restaurant. Vancouverites came back to open up this family restaurant specializing in Turkish cuisine. Curtis and I enjoyed cocktails (mocktail for me!) and a few amazing plates of Turkish food. The menu is meant to be shared with the table, which means you can order more dishes to sample. The space itself is beautiful, you can’t miss it on the street, two levels with bright, modern finishes and a large patio. It’s something out of a big city like LA or London. I wish we lived closer to go more often, it was that good!

I didn’t get the best photos at night, but this is what I recommend ordering when you go. Their Turkish flatbread, marinated feta, pan seared prawns, charred red pepper dip, and dessert. We were there for a soft launch still, so the menu has changed since we were up, but literally I don’t think you can go wrong!

Before leaving town the next day, stop at Il Vecchio Deli and grab a sandwich for the road. Fresh buns, deli meat and even Italian snacks, it’s highly recommended by the locals.
Il Vecchio Deli Penticton
Penticton is great to visit in the summer, but if you don’t go for fall, you’re missing out! The foliage and fall events are a must to see and do. You can score great deals on accommodation and have a more intimate experience at many of the local vineyards, wineries, and orchards, as there are fewer people visiting from out of town.
How to Spend a Weekend in Penticton