Updated June 2022
We know that your trip to Kamloops has been full of adventure – but everyone needs to plan for a bit of downtime while experiencing the best region in interior BC.
Plan a day of relaxation - leisurely breakfasts, mid-morning strolls, and light-filled afternoon drives. Here’s a recipe for a laidback day in and around Kamloops.
Spend the morning exploring back-alley murals downtown before hopping in the car for a scenic winery tour taking in hoodoo and river views along the way. As always, designate a driver and check the latest on business hours and operations before you go.
The Art We Are Cafe
Get a dose of creative energy along with your coffee at The Art We Are Cafe, a downtown gallery turned café. Art from local painters and photographers lines the walls and works of local potters and jewelers are on display. Brunch on bacon wraps, veggie quiche, or homemade spanakopita.
They have live music most Saturdays from 7pm to 9pm, local art all around the store, open mic night every second and last Wednesday of the month, art shows, and speaker series. Check out their Coffee House Confessions (little notes on the walls) – that grew into a performance event at Riverside Park during the summer of 2015.
Fuel up on caffeine and head out for your next stop on this Kamloops road trip.
Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market
In the spring and summer, with coffee in hand walk on over to the Kamloops Farmers' Market, which runs on Saturday (200 block of St Paul Street from 8:30am-12:30pm) and Wednesday mornings (400 block of Victoria Street from 8:00am-1:30pm). Once the weather gets cooler at the end of October, they will shift indoors but it is still worth the trip out for all the freshly made fruit, vegetables, and goodies.
Back Alley Art Gallery
Add a little activity to your day with a stroll around the back alleys of downtown. The Back Alley Art Gallery is one ff Kamloops most surprising and fun experiences. This self-guided tour leads you through the 31 murals; don’t forget your camera (your bound to find a few shots perfect for the ‘gram) and soak up the street art at your own pace.
For details on the art, the artists, and where to find each masterpiece, visit Downtown Kamloops Back Alley Art Gallery page.
Jamaican Kitchen
Start the afternoon’s 85-kilometre road trip with a quick jaunt across the Thompson River to Kamloops’ North Shore for lunch. As well as jerk pork and chicken, you’ll find curried goat and oxtail on Jamaican Kitchen's menu and classic Ting Caribbean soda pop.
Kamloops has a big selection of international eats – this surprises some of our visitors so make sure you add one of our unique restaurants to your ‘must-do’ list before you leave.
Privato Vineyard & Winery
Book a tasting in advance and head up Westsyde Road about 15 minutes to the boutique vineyard in the Thompson River Valley wine region. Owned by John and Debbie Woodward, Privato Vineyard & Winery specializes in Burgundian style wines. Want to keep your wine tour going? (We don’t blame you). There are 3 more wineries within a short drive that you can check out on your laidback afternoon.
Prefer cider? It’s all in the family at the adjacent Woodward Cider Co., where brothers Tim, Adam, and Ben Woodward make small-batch craft cider at Kamloops' first craft cidery. Want more of this vibe for your relaxing afternoon? You can also add a few more breweries to your list.
East Shuswap Road
Travelling back towards the city, cross the North Thompson River, take Highway 5 south, and turn left onto East Shuswap Road. Look out for Mount Peter and Mount Paul, Kamloops’ two iconic mountains, on the ridge to the left. Hugging the South Thompson River, East Shuswap Road offers rugged views of hoodoos, grasslands, and sagebrush—you might even encounter bighorn sheep.
Harper's Trail Estate Winery
Follow East Shuswap Road to Harpers Trail Winery, a beautiful spot with a river view. Take advantage of the outdoor tasting lounge and patio, or bring a picnic to enjoy with a panoramic view of the vineyard, rolling hills, and hoodoos. The 2019 Rose and 2018 Cabernet Franc both earned gold medals at the 2020 All Canadian Wine Championship.
Riverside Park
Time permitting, continue five minutes down East Shuswap Road to visit the boutique Sagewood Winery, open Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4pm. If the sun is hanging low, cross the river to the Trans-Canada Highway 1 and loop back to downtown Kamloops. At the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, Riverside Park is the perfect place to enjoy golden hour as the sunset casts a glow on the red, orange, and yellow autumn leaves.
You will probably even bump into a member of the Tourism Kamloops BOLD Street Team while you’re there. Come say hi!
