THINGS TO DO IN PENTICTON FOR FAMILIES
Things for kids to do in Penticton and Naramata
Known for sun, sand, and delectable wines, Penticton is the perfect place to spend a relaxing vacation; but what about the kids? They won’t want to just lie on the beach and they certainly won’t want to join your wine tour. Despite the reputation, Penticton is a family friendly city with plenty of activities for people of all ages. From adventure parks to beaches, playgrounds, and parks, there are many options for a fun filled day.
Book a pedal car with Fun City Rentals and pedal up and down lake shore. Fun for all the family with rentals of 2, 4 and 6 person pedal cars.
Visit the Peach on the Beach for ice cream and cake.
Watch race cars zooming around the tracks – at the Penticton Speedway
Visit the Penticton Farmer’s Market from 8:30am to 1pm
Rent a stand up Paddle Board and try your hand at staying upright on the water
Rainy Day Activities for Families
Go on a self guided tour of the Art Galleries in Penticton
Did you know Penticton is home to 8 art galleries? They are all downtown, and within easy walking distance. Admission is free, and there is a cafe at the beginning and end of the tour. Click here to see an online map: Self Guided Art Gallery Tour
Visit Canada’s Largest Surviving Stern Wheeler
A chilly or rainy day is also the perfect opportunity to take a tour of our very own S.S. Sicamous! Kids love watching the trains on our model railway and exploring our 4 decks, while the adults can browse and appreciate the luxurious beauty of this Queen of Okanagan Lake. From the outside of the decks a scenic view of the lake is also available, a perfect spot for cool family photos!
Visit the Penticton Museum
Admission is by donation, and displays change regularly. kids love playing in the 3D sandpit. The library is also in the same building, so you can easily combine a visit.
Visit the “Time Flies” Indoor Play Area
For days when you would rather be indoors, take a trip to Penticton’s only indoor playground, Time Flies Indoor Play. While you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and some wonderful food, kids can burn off energy in their bouncy house, on the wood play structure, or the interactive play floor. The café also includes a reading corner, art centre, train table, puzzle wall and snacks for quieter times. Babies and toddlers can enjoy the soft area to move around and play freely in a safe environment, with soft seating for adults.
Hoodoo Adventures Indoor Climbing Wall
Kids – Your day pass is for the whole day so come back as many times as you like! Shoe rentals are optional. You only need harnesses if you choose to use the ropes as outlined below. Children under the age of 10 must be closely supervised at all times and though we are always watching for safety purposes, we cannot be babysitters and are not responsible for your children should they choose to leave the building.
If you have never climbed before this facility may be a bit of a mystery as to how it all works, so here’s a (somewhat) quick rundown…
Bouldering – this can be done by a single person any time that we are open. Our bouldering walls are 15′ high with a cave feature and the rest of the gym including archway is marked with a green line that can be climbed to without ropes. Anyone can drop in anytime and boulder, no experience necessary!
Using the ropes – It takes 2 to climb top rope (meaning use the ropes and go to the top of the wall) one person to belay (keep the climber safe on the other end of the rope) and another to climb. If you and/or your kids would like to top rope then you and a partner or parent will have to learn to belay. Kids can learn to belay from the age of 12 (12-14 years will require a backup belayer until given permission by staff to operate without). Learning to belay doesn’t take long, if you would like the full Intro to Climbing Course you can see details below, if you just want to learn to belay we will be running belay only sessions every hour on the hour, again see below for more detail. We also offer a belay service on weekends from 10am-3pm for drop-in participants, the only cost for this is the cost of the harness rental.
The Penticton Swimming Pool & Community Centre
Penticton has a swimming pool, with heated children’s pool and a Jacuzzi area too.
Children’s Theatre at the Cleland
If you are lucky, you can catch one of the performances from the Children’s Showcase, held at the Cleland Theatre. Visit the website for details on shows and upcoming events.
Summer Activities for the Family
Hike or Bike on the Kettle Valley Railway Trails
If you are a nature lover, then the KVR trails are a must see! The railway was built in 1915 and provided essential service to the Okanagan Region, although it is now abandoned, still it is a very popular route, especially for bikers. There are poison ivy markings around to protect hikers, and beware that wild animals can creep out to surprise you. Be sure to bring your camera for the amazing scenery. Learn more about hiking on the KVR Bikes can be rented from Hoodoo Adventure, and Freedom the Bike Shop, among many others.
Whether it’s enjoying a day on the beach or exploring one of our unique attractions, Penticton is a beautiful place with plenty to offer for everyone.
Skaha Lake Park and Beach
Recently announced as second best in Canada by TripAdvisor, Skaha is a wonderful beach to spend a sunny day. Apart from the warm, sandy beach which is perfect for building sandcastles, Skaha also features a large, grassy park with plenty of picnic areas. As well, there are 2 playgrounds, a waterpark, various sports courts, a duck pond, and a concession serving Tickleberry’s famous ice cream.
Bounce and Play on the Children’s Water Wibit
At the other side of town, Okanagan beach runs all along Lakeshore Dr. and features over a kilometre of golden sand, many local businesses, a playground, and the Wibit which is an inflatable water park that floats on the Okanagan Lake. The recent addition to Penticton has been incredibly popular as kids can climb, splash, and play for hours!
LocoLanding Adventure Park
Just down the road from Okanagan is LocoLanding, a family owned adventure park that includes many fun and unique attractions. Go classic with a round of mini golf on their elaborate 18 hole course, or try something more exhilarating like their high level ropes course! The park also includes bumper boats, go karts, and a variety of inflatable games; this year, they are planning to add a whole new attraction: Jump n’Slide. For a treat on a summer’s day, the boat shaped concession serves 8 different flavours of soft serve ice cream. The friendly atmosphere and abundance of activities for children of all ages makes LocoLanding an exceptional place to spend a day and make some memories.
Go Zip Lining at the ZipZone (Peachland, BC)
Driving to Peachland from Penticton takes only half an hour, but you will get to experience “Canada’s Highest Freestyle Zip line”. ZipZone provides zip line fun for kids as young as four years old (prior arrangements need to be made for more than two kids), and discounts are easily given for big parties, participants of civic or military service, and returning guest. There are six different lines available, and also a “Leap of Faith” Free Fall Challenge for anyone enjoys an adrenaline rush. After an hour or two of gliding in the air, families and friends can relax in the Family Fun zone that is included in the tour.
What are we missing? If you have suggestions for fun or free activities for families, please get in touch. We’d love to add them to the list.
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