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Kamloops |
Thompson Okanagan |
British Columbia
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| Kamloops, British Columbia |
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Placed conveniently on the Trans Canada Highway between the major cities of
Calgary
and Vancouver,
Kamloops
is a haven for anyone who loves the outdoors. No matter what season, there is
always something to do here. A summer can be spent on one of several golf courses,
hiking or mountain bike trails, and in winter the skis can be brought out for
a run through the powder-covered hills. Unique festivals and special events
occur throughout the year, and if timed properly, visitors can catch one of
the numerous sports tournaments that earn Kamloops its title of 'Tournament
Capital of Canada'.
Located in the Thompson
Okanagan region of British
Columbia, Kamloops' name comes from a Secwepemc native word meaning
the meeting of the waters. Fitting, as Kamloops is where the North and South
Thompson rivers flow into one. Mounts Peter and Paul overlook the
city, which is spread over and around mountains and rivers. Parks are everywhere,
and within the city there are river beaches to loll on.
A great place for a scenic drive with a great view, and some of the best sunsets
in the country, Kamloops is definitely worth visiting.
Climate and Transportation
Although it's so close to the rainforest of the B.C. coast, Kamloops has
a very different climate: one far more arid and desert-like. However, for fans
of warm weather, there is nary a place in Canada
that has a better year-round weather report than Kamloops. Winters are mild,
particularly for Canada, and summers hot. The average summer temperature is
around 30 ºC (86 ºF), but during July and August
the mercury can spike up to 40 ºC (104 ºF) or higher.
However, being an arid climate it's a dry heat, so it rarely becomes too stifling
to go and enjoy the outdoors.
There are several ways to get to and from Kamloops. Driving is relatively easy,
as the junction of the Trans Canada Highway and Coquihalla Highway is just west
of the city. A small airport is located in the Kamloops North Shore area,
and several airlines have scheduled flights in and out. Greyhound
has bus service to Kamloops, and VIA
Rail also runs through the city. Kamloops is also one of the stops on
the popular Rocky
Mountaineer Railtour, which travels through the British Columbia and
Alberta
Rockies. Getting around Kamloops itself is no problem, as city buses
run to almost every area of the city, even the neighborhoods that are far from
the city centre.
What To Do
Golf
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| Eagle Point Golf and Country Club |
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From the novice to the seasoned pro, any golfer would be pleased to shoot a
few rounds in Kamloops. There is no shortage of golf courses in the area, and,
regardless of skill level, it will be easy to find one to suit everyone's tastes.
Sun
Rivers Golf Resort,
set against the backdrop of Mounts Peter and Paul, is an 18-hole championship
length course. It provides a spectacular view of the city, and exceptional golf.
Tucked away just outside Kamloops in the rural district of Barnhartvale is
Eagle
Point Golf and Country Club. It's a quiet setting, and lots of trees
provide shade on warmer days. Designed in the Scottish links tradition, players
of all skill levels will enjoy the 18-hole course. The clubhouse has a full-service
lounge, making it a great place to unwind.
Sun Peaks Resort
About a 40 minute drive north of Kamloops is
Sun
Peaks Resort. They have lots of recreational activities suitable for
almost everyone, regardless of the season. In winter it is a ski hill, welcoming
visitors from all over the world. Several chair lifts take downhill skiers and
snowboarders to the top of the mountain, and cross
country ski trails are open.
Snowmobile tours (complete with hot dog roasts) are also available. Summer is
a different story at Sun Peaks Resort. The hills come alive with the sounds
of hikers and mountain bikers, and adrenaline junkies can go paragliding or
whitewater rafting.
Alpine
Blossom Season runs weekends in July and August. The Sun Burst Chair
lift climbs to the summit of Mount Tod, and thousands of blossoms gild
the mountain. Hiking and mountain bike trails let visitors get closer to the
blooms, and live musicians and other performers have shows in the village at
the base of the mountain. There are several
restaurants in Sun Peaks,
and there is no shortage of vacation packages available from the resort.
Riverside Park
Riverside
Park is a beautiful nature getaway right in the heart of the city. The
beach is open for swimming, playing and sandcastle building, and a children's
water park is just up on the grass. The garden opens up in spring and summer,
and there are lots of picnic tables and trees to relax under. At the west end
of the park is
Sport
Mart Place. It is the home to the Kamloops Blazers Western Hockey League
team,
and concerts and other events are held there. Riverside Park houses many
summer festivals and events.
Music
in the Park runs nightly from the beginning of July to the end of August.
Every night, a different kind of music performance takes place at the bandshell,
with everything from jazz and country, to rock and roll and classical. It's
a great opportunity to catch some of the area's music talent, as performers
come from all over the BC Interior.
At the end of July is the
River
Family Festival. This draws thousands of people each year, and is a
great day out for the whole family. A sandcastle building competition, street
performers, water activities and more happen all day long, and admission to
the festival is free.
Hot Nite in the City
Another unique free event in Kamloops is
Hot
Nite in the City. For one night in August, Victoria Street is shut down
to traffic, but still full of cars. Almost every kind of vehicle imaginable
is on display, from classic cars and street rods, to muscle cars and lowriders.
Stages are set up along the street, with local bands performing throughout the
evening.
Dining
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| View of the Thompson River |
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For a great meal, Kamloops has a number of distinctive restaurants.
Chapters
Viewpoint is worth frequenting for the view alone. Set on Columbia Street,
their dining room wall is one long row of windows, giving diners a phenomenal
view of the city looking down to where the North and South Thompson rivers meet.
Their menu, with everything from New Mexican to pastas and seafood, will have
something suitable for either a romantic night out or a quick lunch.
Forster's
Prime Rib House, set in Forster's Convention Centre and Hotel, is very
easy to get to, as it's located just off the Trans Canada Highway. They have
a dinner theatre facility, and there are various performances throughout the
year. While prime rib is the specialty, they also have pastas and vegetarian
fare.
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Kamloops |
Thompson Okanagan |
British Columbia
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