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Vancouver to Kelowna Family Road Trip: Best Sightseeing Stops

Where to stop and what to see on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip: best sightseeing stops, cool attractions, places to eat, and beautiful parks and nature stops. 

Fairly short driving time away from Vancouver – only about 4.5 hours of actual driving – Okanagan’s Kelowna, Penticton, and Osoyoos are popular summer family destinations for road trips. Being a known local travel family here in British Columbia, we are constantly asked the same questions. Where to stop to take a break from driving and what are cool places to see on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip? In this post, we’ll give you a list of sightseeing stops, nature attractions, places to eat, and other interesting stops for your Vancouver to Kelowna family road trip. Whether you decide to take Hwy 5 or Hwy 3, your Vancouver to Kelowna stops are covered!

NOTE: I am specifically not including any Fraser Valley breweries or Okanagan wineries in this post, as it is important to be safe driving your family on a road trip. Once in Kelowna, you are welcome to take a tour of Okanagan wineries – just make sure you have a designated driver, or take a taxi/bus. Stay safe!

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Stops between Vancouver and Hope, on your way to Kelowna

On your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip, the “first branch” of your journey is Vancouver to Hope. From the town of Hope, you’ll have a choice of route. You can take Hwy 5 “Northern passage into Okanagan” via Merritt, or Hwy 3 aka “Southern passage” via Penticton. 

Here I’ll cover the Vancouver to Hope piece. And then, as the next step, I’ll break it down for you into two options: Hwy 5 or Hwy 3. 

Let’s go! 

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Fort Langley

Fort Langley, a charming little town next to the Fraser River in Fraser Valley, is located less than an hour's drive from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a popular tourist attraction and has plenty of cool things to do! There are a variety of museums, shops, ice cream cafes, restaurants, art galleries, parks, and trails in Fort Langley – everyone will find something special just for them. They even have a real historical fort here that your family can visit – Fort Langley National Historic Site.

If you haven’t been to Fort Langley yet, we recommend making a stop here on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip. Or, better still, visit some other time for a full day! Make a mini weekend road trip out of Fort Langley!

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip sightseeing stop at Fort Langley: minimum 2-3 hours

More info on Things to Do in Fort Langley

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Maan Farms Abbotsford Sunflower Festival 

Every year Abbotsford hosts a variety of flower festivals. If you go on your Vancouver to Kelowna Road Trip in May, make sure to stop at their Tulip Festival. Otherwise, in July – August you’ll find the fields full of sunflowers. 

Maan Farms is one of those farms that opens its doors for visitors to experience the flowers closely, and leave with a gazillion of stunning photos! 

In addition, your kids will enjoy berry picking, petting farm animals encounters, and other cool kids attractions. Maan Farms even has its own winery.  

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip fun family attraction stop at Maan Farms: 1-1.5 hours

More info on Sunflower Festival

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Westminster Abbey in Mission

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If for some reason your road trip to Kelowna is taking you through Mission, please make a stop at Westminster Abbey. This Benedectine Monastery was originally founded in 1939, and now is a beautiful array of religious architecture with stunning views of the Fraser Valley and Mt. Baker. At most times you can enter the main chapel, and even participate in the prayer if you feel like it. 

Side-note: Mission, BC is one of the “undiscovered” and underestimated destinations in our opinion. We love going hiking in Mission, for example. And its Hunter Trail can very well compete with the views of Bowen Lookout or St. Mark's summit.

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip religious attraction stop at Westminster Abbey: 30 min

More info on Westminster Abbey 

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Atchelitz Village in Chilliwack, BC

Atchelitz Pioneer Village is an open-air antique museum with a collection of beautifully restored old houses with even the tiniest details. You’ll find a large fleet of farm machinery, cars, and even steam engines here too! Typically the place is rather empty (‘cuz not too many people know about it), which is amazing for photography enthusiasts!  

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip historic attraction stop at Atchelitz Pioneer Village: 1 hour

More info on Atchelitz Pioneer Village

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Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve near Chilliwack, BC

Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve is a bird sanctuary located near Chilliwack, Beautiful British Columbia, and is an awesome stop on the way from Vancouver to Kelowna to take a stroll or to have a picnic. The Nature Reserve is home and nesting grounds to one of the most distinctive North American birds – the Pacific Great Blue Heron. There is much more to the wildlife here, however. While on our adventure we've seen many other birds, frogs, little fishes, a few bunnies, and even an awesome large raccoon!

Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve has a Rotary Interpretive Centre with wonderful educational bird-watching programs. 

In addition, there is access to the Chilliwack River, so on a hot summer day, your family can even take a refreshing dip. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip nature stop at Great Blue Heron Reserve: 1-1.5 hours

More info on Great Blue Heron Reserve

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Chilliwack Tulip or Sunflower Festival 

Similar to Abbotsford, Chilliwack is the flower festival capital of the Fraser Valley. Each year Chilliwack hosts the Tulip Festival in May, followed by the Sunflower and Dahlias Festival in July and August.  

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip stunning photography stop at Chilliwack Flower Festival: 1-1.5 hours

More info on Chilliwack Sunflower Festival

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Chilliwack Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm 

Not too far away, and along the way for your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip, there is another cool farm attraction stop you can make. The Chilliwack Corn Maze is one of the largest in Canada – it takes up the whole 12 acres! In addition, as at probably every pumpkin farm, your kids will find a petting zoo, carting, pumpkin patch, and a variety of kids' entertainment. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip fun family attraction stop at Chilliwack Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm: 2-2.5 hours

More info on Chilliwack Corn Maze

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Cultus Lake

Cultus Lake is one of the most popular swimming lakes near Vancouver. Indeed, the place is fantastic for families with kids! There are more than a dozen little beaches around the lake.

The water is super clean, and is remarkably changing color depending on the time of day! It looks amazing sky-blue turquoise from above, where at eye level it shines pure platinum. Beaches range from soft sandy at some locations and a bit bitter-rocky at others. 

Motorboats are allowed, there are special boat launch areas with parking. Kayaks, paddleboards, floaties are always welcome of course. 

Depending on the time of day, you can opt-in to visit the Cultus Lake Adventure Park and the Cultus Lake Water Park. There are plenty of other smaller attractions around, many ice-cream shops and great places to eat!

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip nature stop at Cultus Lake: 2-4 hours

More info on Cultus Lake

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Cultus Lake Adventure Park

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While Cultus Lake Water Park is best to be visited as a separate getaway entirely, the Adventure Park is worth a stop on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip. An excellent option to get your kids out of the car and unwind a bit from over 2 hours of driving. 

Here at the Park, you’ll find a variety of attractions for all ages. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip fun kids attraction stop at Cultus Lake Adventure Park: 2-2.5 hours

More info on Cultus Lake Adventure Park

P.S. If you have a few hours and feel like hiking – right next to Cultus Lake, you'll find Tea Pot Hill trail that's full of wonders! check it out!

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Teapot Hill Hike near Cultus Lake, BC

Love Alice in Wonderland? You're invited to a Tea Party at the Teapot Hill trail! This kids-friendly hike is at the top of our fun outdoor family activities near Chilliwack!

Teapot Hill is an easy 6 km to-and-from hike that leads to beautiful views of Cultus Lake and Columbia Valley. 

What makes Teapot Hill so unique is that there are little teapots and teacups hidden all around the path. Your kids won't even notice the 3-hour hike once the treasure hunt is on! We've found 92 teapots and teacups hidden along the trail, but we've heard that there are over 100+ of them! NOTE: The trail is an uphill hike, so make sure your kids have proper hiking footwear appropriate for the season. Teapot Hill has a firm place on our list of top unique nature places to visit with kids in British Columbia.

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip hiking and treasure hunt stop at Teapot Hill: 3-4 hours

More info on Teapot Hill hike

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Harrison Hot Springs

To get to the town of Harrison Hot Springs you’ll have to turn from Hwy 1 on your way from Vancouver to Kelowna and take a 20 min driving detour. Harrison Hot Springs is named this way for, well… for its hot springs. In the aftermath of the covid pandemic, however, these hot springs are not available to the public – you can only access the pools when staying at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. 

Never to despair! This cute little town is still worth a stop on your Okanagan road trip. There are plenty of cool things to do at Harrison Hot Springs! For example, you can enjoy Harrison Lake either from the town beach (including the on-the-water waterpark) or by hiking the WhippoorWill trail to Sandy Cove Beach. Or have lunch at Harrison’s unique restaurants: atmospheric German Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel or delicious Greek Milos Greek Taverna. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip place to stop at – Harrison Hot Springs town: 3-4 hours

More info on Harrison Hot Springs

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Spirit Trail near Harrison Hot Springs

Spirit Trail is a super-easy 1.2 km loop, which is located just a short distance off Hwy 1. This unique kids-friendly hike is known for its unusual wooden masks of faces that are attached to the trees all around along the trail.  

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip nature hike stop at Spirit Trail: 30-60 min

More info on Spirit Trail

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Bridal Veil Falls near Agassiz

Incredible Bridal Veil waterfall is a whopping 122 meters tall, and frankly magnificent all year round. It only takes about 10 min from the parking lot to get to the water, and you can come really-really close to it. Be careful in the winter though, as the rocks around the waterfall are seriously slippery.

Bridal Veil Falls Park is actually quite refreshing on its own. There are plenty of picnic tables next to parking, and it could be a great stop to have your afternoon lunch on a hot summer day.  

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip nature hike stop at Bridal Veil Falls: 30-60 min

More info on Bridal Veil Falls Park

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Town of Hope, BC

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Frankly, the Town of Hope is nothing much, just a few dozen houses, gas stations, coffee shops, and fast-food restaurants. Hope is, however, is your last decent stop prior to crossing the mountain ridge into Okanagan. 

On our road trips from Vancouver to Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, or Alberta, we always stop at Hope to fill up gas, get coffee and snacks, use the bathroom, and ensure we have the road trip music playlist downloaded for the next few hours. In some places along the road across the mountains, there is no internet or cell reception. 

Here at Hope, you’ll have to make a decision, whether your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip will take you through Hwy 5 (Northern passage) or Hwy 3 (Southern passage).

Depending on what route you chose, our list of suggested places to stop will look different. No worries, though, as we’ll address both!

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Where to Stop When Traveling from Vancouver to Kelowna through Hwy 5 via Merritt

Hwy 5 is the “Northern Passage” from Vancouver to Okanagan. You’ll be driving on a very well-maintained road, which is quite straight and has a good 100+ km/hr speed limit. This is the main road used by trucks too, so we don’t actually like it, preferring a much more picturesque Hwy 3. Yet Hwy 5 is definitely quicker. Let’s see what are the best places to make a sightseeing stop here:

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Othello Tunnels near Hope

Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park, near Hope BC, with its magnificent rocky terrain along forceful rapids of Coquihalla River, the majestic wilderness of the Hope-Nicola Valley Trail, is a unique place to explore and offers some of the most epic, yet still kid-friendly hikes in Fraser Valley. Located within the Park, the famous Othello Tunnels, a popular attraction with both locals and tourists alike, if not yet, then definitely should be on your list of places to stop on your road trip from Vancouver to Kelowna.

Othello Tunnels is a network of old abandoned railway tunnels and bridges that are running along the Coquihalla River. 

TIP: it is incredibly dark inside the tunnels, so we recommend you take a flashlight with you. The best option is a headlamp which leaves you with free hands, and that has a red light, rather than regular white light. The tunnels’ ceilings are being inhabited by bats: regular light will disturb them, the red one is ok though. 

IMPORTANT: In the past few years Othello Tunnels were actually on and off open and closed due to rockfall. Therefore you should check the official Park’s website for the current status before you attempt to stop there. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip stunning nature place to stop – Othello Tunnels: 1-2 hours

More travel info on Othello Tunnels

HERE is the official BC Parks site to check if Othello Tunnels are open

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Falls Lake  (mid-way from Hope to Merritt)

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Falls Lake is a cute little lake next to Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area, the hike to the lake is only about 1.5 km out and back trail. It is cute, but nothing special. Yet a good stop on your way to Kelowna (or back to Vancouver) to rest a bit from sitting in a car. 

NOTE: it is quite cold here even in the summer. When we stopped here in July 2020, there was still snow in the parking lot. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip cute nature hike stop at Falls Lake: 1-1.5 hours

More info on Falls Lake hike 

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Insulator Ranch in Merritt

Ok, so here is the most bizarre place to stop at on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip. Insulator Ranch is something of an open-air antique collection aka an art exhibit. You’ll find a farm where nearly 7,000 glass and porcelain insulators are on the amazing outdoor display.

IMPORTANT: In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, all visits to Insulator Ranch are by appointment only. If you would like to stop here, please call its creator Bob Scafe at 250-378-2787 to set up the best time.

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip unusual stop at Insulator Ranch: 30 min – 1 hour

More info on Insulator Ranch

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Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park near Merritt

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The beautiful park of Kentucky Alleyne is located only 1.5 hours away from Kelowna and is a perfect rest stop for your entire family on your road trip from Vancouver after crossing the mountains. 

Wide-open fields of rolling grassland, sparkling turquoise waters of the Alleyne and Kentucky lakes (yes! There are two lakes here!), and wildlife encounters – you’ll find some spectacular scenery if you make the stop in the summer months. Plenty of opportunities to have a stroll, to have a picnic, and to simply enjoy the views, sounds, and smells of nature. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip refreshing nature place to stop – Kentucky Alleyne: 1-2 hours

More travel info on Kentucky Alleyne

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Where to Stop When Traveling from Vancouver to Kelowna through Hwy 3 via Penticton

So to be honest, Hwy 3 is our favorite route into the Okanagan every time we go on a road trip. It is much narrower, and more wiggling, yet we find the drive more pleasant without having to crawl after trucks. 

There is a cool stop you can make at Princeton town, to refuel, have a snack, or buy local fruit and berries in the summer. 

We once took Hwy 3 on our way from Penticton to Vancouver, and passed Princeton right at the time a thunderstorm was starting beyond the mountain ridge, while the town was still lit up with the sun. Mind-blowing. If you haven’t yet driven Hwy 3, I recommend you do try it on your next road trip from Vancouver to Okanagan.

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E.C. Manning Provincial Park

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Named after Ernest C. Manning, Chief Forester of British Columbia from 1936 – 1941, this Provincial Park is a destination of its own. Dozens of hiking trails of all levels, warm Lightning Lake for swimming, a few river beaches, boat rentals, horse riding, a pub, and a restaurant, make Manning Park an awesome place to stop at on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip. 

Manning is also extremely popular in winter for its winter sports, providing a great less crowded alternative destination to Whistler and its winter activities. Its Manning Resort is usually already sold-out in mid-summer!

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip beautiful nature stop – Manning Park: 2-3 hours

More travel info on E.C. Manning Provincial Park

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Keremeos Columns Provincial Park

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The Keremeos area is famous for its naturally occurring basalt columns and is definitely a great unique nature stop on your way to Okanagan if you’d like some cool photos for your Instagram. You’ll have to take a hike through – an 11 km out-and-back trail is rated moderate, hence make sure your entire family has proper hiking shoes, including kids hiking shoes.  Also, here are some tips on how to get your kids to like hiking.

Keremeos is also extremely popular with rock climbers, so don't be surprised to find columns all covered in “spider men”.

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip unique nature stop – Keremeos Columns hike: 3-4 hours

More info on Keremeos Columns hike

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Skaha Lake at Penticton

Once you enter Okanagan, there is no reason not to stop at Penticton. In fact, our family actually prefers Penticton to Kelowna, as it is less crowded and cozier family-oriented in our opinion. The town’s main beach – Skaha Lake beach – is a great spot to take a swim, and to flex your muscles at volleyball, tennis, or golf. 

If you are looking for a snack, Nautical Dog Cafe at Skaha Marina is your best bet! They serve delicious breakfast and snacks and are located just 5 min walking distance off the Skaha Lake main beach.

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip summer swim stop – Skaha Lake: 3-4 hours

More info on Skaha Lake Park

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Sun-Oka Beach Park at Trout Creek

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Further, on your way from Penticton to Kelowna, there is another cool beach that is dearly loved by our family. Sun-Oka has soft sandy beaches, cool views of the Okanagan Lake, and enough shade that your family can have a lunch picnic break on your road trip. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip summer swim stop – Skaha Lake: 1.5-2 hours

More info on Sun-Oka Beach

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Kettle Valley Steam Railway at Summerland

How about taking your child for a ride on a real steam train? Easy! Just an hour from Kelowna, there is a unique old train attraction that will leave any toddler in absolute awe! Kettle Valley Railway runs its Steam Train twice a day: a 1.5-hour-long ride through the beautiful hills of Summerland. The train rides only twice per day. So you have to time your visit if you want to either ride the train or just come to the station to see it arriving, and take a few photos.
In summer 2021, the schedule was: 10:30 am and 1:30 pm departures. If you want to see it arriving back at the station, you’ll have to be there at 11:40 am and 2:40 pm accordingly. 

Vancouver to Kelowna road trip exciting old train ride stop – Kettle Valley Steam Railway: 1-2.5 hours

More info on Kettle Valley Steam Railway

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Vancouver to Kelowna Road Trip Concluding Notes

Fairly short driving time away from Vancouver – only about 4.5 hours of actual driving – Okanagan’s Kelowna, Penticton, and Osoyoos are indeed awesome summer family destinations for road trips. Yet, as you’ve just found out, there are plenty of curious and beautiful kids-friendly places to stop at on your Vancouver to Kelowna road trip. 

We hope our list was useful to your family. If you’d like to share some cool places that did not make our list, leave your comment, and we’ll be happy to go check it out!

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Once you make it into Okanagan, there are many awesome things to do in Kelowna, yet I want to highlight one of our favorite absolutely must-visit locations that you absolutely want to include on your to-do list. You guessed it, that's Kangaroo Creek Farm! 

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Kangaroo Creek Farm in Kelowna, BC

No, you don’t have to travel to Australia anymore to see and pet a real kangaroo! We have a Kangaroo Farm right at our doorsteps here in Kelowna, BC. Regardless of whether you have a child or not, you have to come to see it. Of course, every toddler will be blown away instantly.

Unlike a typical zoo, almost all the animals at the Kangaroo Creek Farm are ravaging the fields cage-free! Kangaroos, wallabies, ostriches, goats, capybaras, ducks, chickens, peacocks, rabbits, and even a large porcupine! Kids can also check out parrots, lizards, snakes, and turtles! Do check it out, I bet you won't ever regret it!

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And of course, a reminder to never miss out on our travel tips, the new exciting outdoor adventures in Beautiful British Columbia or anywhere else in the World! Sign-up for our newsletter!

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Check out next: latest outdoors and travel experiences in British Columbia

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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Share your pictures on social media! tag #PerfectDayToPlay to be featured on our Instagram! 

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Where To Stop and Best Places to See on Vancouver to Kelowna Family Road Trip:

• Fort Langley
• Abbotsford Tulip / Sunflower Festival
• Westminster Abbey
• Atchelitz Pioneer Village
• Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve
• Chilliwack Tulip / Sunflower Festival
• Chilliwack Cornmaze and Pumpkin Farm
• Cultus Lake
• Cultus Lake Adventure Park
• Teapot Hill Hike near Cultus Lake
• Harrison Hot Springs
• Spirit Trail near Harrison Hot Springs
• Bridal Veils Falls Park
• Hope
• Othello Tunnels
• Falls Lake
• Insulator Ranch in Merritt
• Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park near Merritt
• Manning Provincial Park
• Keremeos Columns Provincial Park
• Skaha Lake at Penticton
• Sun-Oka Beach Park at Trout Creek
• Kettle Valley Steam Train at Summerland

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