Kamloops Weekend Getaway Guide: Explore BC’s All-seasons Destination

Credit: Kristen Hilderman

Downtown Kamloops is just steps away from the banks of the Thompson River

Be it for adventure or for relaxation, in the middle of summer, winter, fall or spring, Kamloops can cater to your every whim

Kamloops is BC’s year-round destination city—no matter the season, there is always something to explore and experience. It’s as suitable for a low-key weekend as much as for a high-energy vacation. Depending on your travel style, you can stitch together just about any kind of getaway in Kamloops.

What to Do in Kamloops

Whether you’re conducting your own heritage house walking tour, or exploring the banks of the Thompson River, there’s plenty to see on foot in Kamloops.

The Kamloops Farmers Market runs three times a week—in three different locations—from April through October. The market features produce and goodies from farms and artisans within a 60-mile radius, including organic eggs, morels, Swiss hard, and this fall, some remarkably large squash.

Around the corner from the farmers market’s downtown location is the Kamloops Art Gallery. The impressive, modern gallery focuses on contemporary Canadian art, featuring many local artists, whose caliber of work is worthy of international galleries. Works from international artists are also exhibited in the gallery, including works from Takashi Murakami, whose artwork was featured on the cover of Kanye West’s album Graduation.

For those seeking activity and adventure, the Kamloops Tournament Capital Centre is a multi-sport facility with an Olympic-length pool (plus a kiddie pool,) athletic facilities and football field that will play host to the BC Lions training camp.

Kamloops is also home to over a dozen golf courses, one of the most recent additions being Sun Rivers Golf Resort. Sun Rivers is perched in the hills and offers breathtaking views of the Thompson River valley. The Sun Rivers clubhouse houses Hoodoo’s Restaurant, a dining experience different from your typical golf club cuisine. The locals refer to Hoodoo’s as “destination dining.”

A great family friendly Kamloops destination is the BC Wildlife Park. Go with the kids—or just the adults!—to marvel at some of BC’s most beautiful native creatures. (Read more about feeding the park’s wildlife in Animal Encounters in Kamloops.)

Kamloops is a hotbed for winter activity, including snowshoeing, dog sledding, skiing and snowboarding, and anything else that plasters a big smile on your face when it’s snowing out.

After a busy day out and about in Kamloops, unwind at the Sunmore Ginseng Spa for a unique relaxation experience infused with the healing properties of local, North American ginseng.

For more interesting ideas, check out Kamloops Tourism’s list of 107 Things To Do in Kamloops.

Where to Stay in Kamloops

Downtown Kamloops is overflowing with accommodations — and it’s the place to stay if you want to be within walking distance of the sights. The surrounding area has several bed and breakfasts if you’re looking for a more rural setting, but there’s a lot to be said for proximity when there’s so much to see in the city centre.

The Thompson Hotel offers the standard comforts you would find in any downtown hotel; the pillows are plush, the wireless is free, and the pool is…wet. A bonus for eco-minded travellers, the Thompson forgoes the selection of mini moisturizers and bath products for large-format bottles, all in the name of conservation. Located amid the action in downtown Kamloops, the Thompson is walking distance from several dining options and local attractions.

The Plaza Heritage Hotel features vintage-style boutique rooms with 1920’s charm. Every room has modern amenities, including cable television and free wireless Internet service. The Plaza is located in Kamloops’s city centre and steps away from dining and entertainment.

Located in downtown Kamloops, Hotel 540 is the city’s answer to modern comfort. In 2007, the hotel underwent a $12-million renovation, including energy efficient upgrades. And if you’re looking to party, the Lake City Casino is attached to the hotel.

For a comprehensive list of inns, motels, hotels and other places with beds, visit the accommodations section on Tourism Kamloops.

Where to Dine in Kamloops

Many of the hotels have in-house or adjoining restaurants, and while they are often great options, don’t neglect to explore the crop of bistros, pubs and spectacular dining in the area.

Beer connoisseurs will find themselves sated and saturated at the Noble Pig Brewhouse, a new restaurant in downtown Kamloops with an in-house brewery operation. Its innovative menu items—like the crispy deep-fried pickles—beckon to be paired with one of Master Brewer David Beardsell’s unique beer creations.

Just down the street, for your more traditional pub and casual restaurant fare, is Frick and Frack Taphouse, which hosts a bar of 103 different beers. If you’re up to the challenge, try their 6-pack taster—a 6-oz pour of six different beers.

For a decadent local bistro experience, visit Felix on Fourth for its outstanding rotating menu and selection of local reserve wines. And don’t forget to try the truffle risotto—you won’t be sorry!

If you’d like to peruse what other restaurants and pubs Kamloops has to offer, visit the restaurant listings on Tourism Kamloops, where you can see an extensive list of dining options organized by areas of the city.

See more photos of Kamloops in our Kamloops Weekend Getaway photo gallery

Kristen Hilderman is a born-and-raised BC girl, a Master of Publishing candidate at SFU and the digital editorial assistant for BCBusiness Online. She blogs at https://www.kage-g.blogspot.com about her insatiable appetite for books, live music, food and wine. Twitter