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Murray Foubister
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Autumn in Kamloops...at the junction of the N & S Thompson Rivers
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Free concerts at Sun Peaks
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Hiking Sun Peaks
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Sun Peaks Hiking Tour
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Kamloops Free Concerts
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Andrew Bowden
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Kamloops Heritage Railway and their single steam locomotive 2141
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Murray Foubister
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Kamloops Lake from Tobiano Golf Course
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Kamloops Ribfest
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Perry Mack
The Not So Dusty Trail - Kamloops
Voyager Canoe Tours
By Perry Mack
Known for rodeos and movie locations, Kamloops is the capital of the Thompson-Nicola District, which 45,279 sq km area of untamed wilderness, and entertainment. Mankind provides greats like the Kamloops Blazers and Sun Peaks Resort, while supernatural British Columbia steps up to the plate with summer playgrounds like Kamloops Lake and the mighty Thompson River.
Launch your boat at Bruker’s Marina to enjoy 52 sq km of Kamloops Lake for towed watersports, or trailer your fishing boat to access one of a hundred lakes within an hours drive, to land the hard fighting Kamloops rainbow trout, whitefish or Dolly Varden.
Scuba divers love Johnson Lake, the ‘Caribbean of the North’. Not for the tropical fish but the for the emerald green clear water, some of the clearest in BC.
The city is the epicenter of outdoor recreation with 13 golf courses nearby, world-class hiking and biking, as well as adrenaline sports like skydiving, whitewater rafting and rock climbing. There’s also more sedate but very enjoyable horseback or helicopter tours.
Kamloops is a city that loves to host events and tournaments, roughly one hundred every year.
Sun Peaks host the 5K Foam Fest Saturday June 17 where runners (like family and friends) stumble/run/laugh their way through 22 obstacles, mud and of course foam. Or for something more demanding, Sun Peaks also hosts the Reebok Spartan Race Canada where entrants sweat and struggle over up to 12 miles and 30 plus obstacles including mud, walls, rope, fire and barbed wire (ouch)! Among many other activities at Sun Peaks is the free summer concert series with 54-40 and Trooper already booked.
Free Music in the Park happens every night from 7-8:30 pm at the Rotary Bandshell at Riverside Park. Bring a picnic basket of goodies to munch on under the shade trees and let the kids burn off the calories in the playground, or cool off in the nearby waterpark. Riverside Park is also the venue for Moonlight Movie Nights in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Who doesn’t love trains? Doesn’t matter, just go. The Kamloops Heritage Railway experience is a one-hour train ride pulled by a 1912 locomotive. The ride includes entertainment and snacks.
Another item on your bucket list might be a pow wow. If it’s not, it’s because you didn’t think of it yet. Go big at the Kamloopa Pow Wow, end of July at the Tk'emlups Indian Band Powwow grounds along the No. 5 Yellowhead Hwy. It’s a spectacular celebration of first nations heritage with storytelling, song, dance and traditional regalia.
Foodies love Ribfest Aug 11-13, which coincides with car lovers ‘Hot Nite in the City’, where 13 blocks of the city are closed to display hundreds of vintage vehicles.
We would be remiss to omit the next cultural icon. When the sun and water have finally taken their toll and it’s time to breathe in the cool air-conditioned environment of the great indoors, visit the Kamloops Art Gallery. This is the principal gallery for the southern interior, with 20,000 + sq ft, including 4500 sq ft of exhibition space supporting the contemporary visual arts.
On average Kamloops sees sunshine 316 days out of the year. So make your ‘water’ way to Kamloops this summer to enjoy all your favourite watersports, and enjoy so much more off the water from this welcoming and vibrant visitor paradise.
- Sun Peaks Resort - www.sunpeaksresort.com
- Kamloops Heritage Railway - www.kamrail.com
- Tourism Kamloops - www.tourismkamloops.com
- Kamloops Art Gallery - kag.bc.ca