Looking for domestic travel options in B.C. this summer? You’ve come to the right place.
Penticton, British Columbia, is a little slice of paradise in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Sunny weather, sandy beaches, mountain ranges, stunning lakes, and plenty of space to maintain physical distance — these are just a few of the hallmarks that local and domestic travellers come to see.
Aside from the supernatural B.C. lakes and landscapes, Penticton and the Okanagan Valley are widely known for having a variety of award-winning vineyards, an established community of craft and boutique stores, delicious farm-to-table food, a growing craft beer scene, and plenty of adventure sport and leisure activity operators.
But what’s open in Penticton to occupy your time or serve you a glass of wine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
We’ve put together this handy guide to help you set expectations. Read on to learn what a local vacation to one of British Columbia’s most popular tourist destinations could look like in the summer of 2020.
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Vineyards and Wineries
The good news: many wineries in Penticton are open for business! We won’t exhaust your eyes by listing the status of every single Okanagan winery here, but we will offer a short list of who’s open at the time of this post, and general guidelines for what to expect during your wine tasting experience.
Which Wineries Are Already Open Near Penticton?
- Township 7
- Four Shadow Vineyard & Winery
- Little Engine (by appointment)
- 3 Sisters Winery
- Origin Wine (reservations required)
- Westport Winery
- Moraine Winery (reservations required)
- Black Widow Wine
Guidelines for Tasting Rooms:
WorkSafeBC has sent rules and regulations to Okanagan wineries to assist with reopening plans. Many of the wineries in the region are also submitting applications to safely provide wine tastings on their patios.
One source told us that tastings might look a little more intimate this summer, as limited capacity and one-glass-at-a-time servings means that your sommelier will have plenty of time to discuss all your favourite varieties.
Each winery is a little different in their wine-tasting approach, with many setting up pre-pay options, giving wine flights, or even letting you keep the wine glass when you leave. Servers will stand at social distance and many will wear a mask and gloves — or may even be behind plexiglass.
The wineries we spoke with, including Bench 1775, Lake Breeze, Fairview Cellars, Hester Creek, and Burrowing Owl (read more about them here) intend to open their doors for tastings in early or mid-June, so book a trip to Penticton now to avoid missing out!
Check out the website of your favourite winery to get the most up-to-date details. Many B.C. wineries also recommend visiting uncorkBC to keep up to date on who’s open for tastings.
Restaurants Open In Penticton
With a variety of cuisines available, and many restaurants serving delicious food featuring locally sourced ingredients, getting a bite to eat is no problem in Penticton this summer. Check out each of the websites linked below to see the latest news on dine-in options as B.C. continues its 2020 restart plan.
For pub fare, The Barking Parrot opened its doors on June 1st with new physical distancing measures in place.
Many of Penticton’s most popular restaurants remain open for delivery and takeout, including:
- Skaha Pizza (with reduced hours)
- Brodo Kitchen
- Sushi Kojo
- Ashoka Indian Cuisine
For a finer-dining experience, the popular lakeview restaurant, The Hooded Merganser is targeting a mid-June reopen.
Boutique Fashion Stores
Looking for some retail therapy? Penticton has plenty to offer during the re-opening phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are three local fashion boutique stores we recommend, with information on what to expect.
- Three Wishes – Temporarily by appointment only. Give them a call during normal business hours or email anytime to set up your personal shopping experience. Three Wishes Boutique is located in the lobby of the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre, making this boutique store an extremely convenient visit for hotel guests on domestic holiday.
- Something Pretty – Open for walk-ins Monday to Saturday from 11:00am–5:00pm. Please adhere to social distancing policies. Something Pretty also offers online purchasing and local pickup.
- Mi Amor – Open for walk-ins Monday to Saturday from 10:00am–5:00pm with physical distancing measures in place.
For those interested in getting all their shopping done in one place, the Cherry Lane Mall remains partially open. Check out their shopping center map, which is frequently updated to show which stores are open for business.
Craft Breweries
The Okanagan Valley is home to a burgeoning craft beer scene, and Penticton is smack-dab in the middle of the action. Here are three of our favourite microbreweries on the Penticton Ale Trail, along with their reopening plans.
- Highway 97 Brewing Co. – already offering home deliveries and takeout, Highway 97 is planning to reopen for tastings in early June with social distancing policies and limited seating in the tap room.
- Cannery Brewing – this centrally located microbrewing is reopening with phase 2 of the BC Restart Plan. Social distancing practices, no more than six to a table, and reduced maximum seating capacities are mandatory requirements; so make sure you arrive early to get a spot, or call in advance for curb-side pickup.
- Tin Whistle Brewery – Customers get free delivery on any order over $60.00 from this craft beer house, which plans to open for limited servings in the tasting room this June.
Learn more about the craft beer scene in our post on 7 microbreweries you can’t miss when you’re in Penticton.
Parks and Beaches
In the city of Penticton, the situation continues to develop on a daily basis. The best source for announcements and updates on parks and recreation is the Penticton COVID-19 Toolkit. That said, plenty of walking trails and parks are open for a leisurely stroll or family picnic.
You can also take advantage of the private beach at Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre during your stay. Check out rooms and rates today!
Sports and Adventure
Adventure-seekers need not worry about finding their next thrill. Rental shops and adventure tour operators have implemented strict measures to protect customers from the risk of transmission.
Hoodoo Adventure, a popular tour adventure and rental shop in Penticton regularly updates their website with the latest information on procedures and practices implemented to keep customers safe. Book a private tour or sanitized bicycle rental by phone and online.
Other bike shops, like Main Street’s Freedom, are renting sanitized bicycles by reservation and appointment only, with no store walk-ins at the time of this post.
Penticton Golf & Country Club also remains open for business, with new measures in place to prevent transmission. Rakes have been removed from bunkers, hole depth has been reduced so that golf balls can be retrieved without removing the flag, and golfers are asked to arrive no more than 15 minutes before their tee times.
Grocery Stores and Other Retail
Major grocery stores such as IGA, Save On Foods, and Superstore are open for business with regular hours.
There are also a number of independent grocers in Penticton that remain open with regular business hours, including Quality Greens, a Penticton farmers market where you can get fresh, locally grown produce, baked goods, dairy, and deli foods. Social distancing policies and recommendations to wear a mask are in place at all of these grocery stores.
Canadian Tire, Rona, Shoppers Drug Mart, and government liquor stores all remain open with standard social distancing measures in place. All gas stations in the area remain open as well.
Lots To See And Do In Penticton
Penticton is an ideal location for couples, families, and even solo travellers to take a summer holiday this year. Your local vacation to one of Western Canada’s top tourism destinations can bring you the peace and relaxation you’ve been craving after a troublesome first half of 2020 — plus there are plenty of activities and stores to visit in the South Okanagan while you’re here.
So what are you waiting for? Take the vacation you deserve and start making up for lost time.
Special Packages Available Now
As if you needed any more reason to visit, you can now take advantage of two special offers from Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre.
Naramata Wine Tour
Get to know the best tastes of the Naramata Bench on a personal tour of five local wineries. Enjoy a full-day wine tour, complimentary lunch, and transportation to and from the resort during your discounted two nights’ vacation for two.
View the full package online and reserve your tour today.
Thompson Okanagan Staycation
Relax and unwind after a stressful winter season. Residents of the Thompson Okanagan region qualify for an exclusive staycation discount. It’s time to take a break — you deserve it!
View the details online and reserve your room today.
Penticton is certainly one of the best places to travel in 2020, but what if you’re concerned about travelling due to the risk of the virus? Read this article to learn what Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre is doing to help keep our guests safe.
*Please note that the COVID-19 pandemic is a developing situation and some of the information in this article could change based on new safety and security recommendations from official health authorities.
Offers mentioned herein are valid at the time of publication unless otherwise mentioned. For our most recent offers and promotions, please visit our ...
Offers mentioned herein are valid at the time of publication unless otherwise mentioned. For our most recent offers and promotions, please visit our ...
Just like guest safety, staff health and wellness is of the utmost importance at Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference ...
With the many uncertainties surrounding domestic travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is our goal to create a space where guests can feel ...