36h Date in Kamloops Day 2

Rested and recharged after a flurry of 7 dates yesterday and our night at the Sandman Signature - we woke up ready for day 2 exploring Kamloops with Tourism Kamloops and Luv ‘n Loops.

We had such a blast visiting our favourite haunts, as well as trying several new-to-us spots yesterday, we can’t wait to share our day 2 adventure with you so you can start planning your very own Kamloops adventure!

7. START THE DAY WITH A GOOEY, HOMESTYLE BREAKFAST AT AMSTERDAM RESTAURANT

IG: @amsterdamrestaurant

First thing on day two, we were off to the races for 36h date #7. Another scrumptious breakfast in the ‘Loops, this time at the darling Amsterdam restaurant. This hot spot is known for its classic breakfasts full of big flavours and just the right amount of sweet and savoury. 

Our go-to is, of course, anything that comes with a pannekoek, which is a beautiful Dutch pancake that’s somewhere between a pancake and a crepe. You can fill them with fruit, sausages, eggs, veggies, cheese, or just sprinkle them with sugar. 

Other notable dishes? The Montreal Eggs Benedict (sauteed mushrooms and bbq sauce – need we say more?), the Cinnamon French Toast, Banana Pecan Belgian Waffles, and Poffertjes, mini fluffy pancakes dusted with icing sugar and served with real butter. Seriously, add this stop to the list. There’s also an incredible lunch menu!

8. TREAT YOURSELF TO SERIOUS SPA TIME AT THE PEACEFUL YOUR ESCAPE DAY SPA

IG: @yourescapedayspa

After our experience at Your Escape Day Spa, we’re pretty sure every date should include cocooning in a heated blanket while having luxurious lotions and potions gently brushed onto your face.

For date #8, the beautiful people at Your Escape Day Spa, specifically the lovely Kesiena, treated Oliver to a total pamper session with rounds of serums, creams, cleansers, and hot towels. A shoulder and arm massage and then rounds of moisturizers and other hydrators to plump and perk.

Like many guys, Oliver’s daily routine consists of bar soap and whatever creams of mine he steals, so his skin drank up all these beautiful creams and essentially sparkled for the rest of the day.

We would highly recommend checking out this magical spa; they offer many different services, from facials to nails, and all at a really good price. Their health precautions are A++, and the total zen of it all as soon as you walk in is beautiful.

We are definitely adding couples pampering to our regular date lineup because it’s reallllllllly hard not to feel squishy and happy walking out after!

9. SWING BY IRON ROAD BREWING FOR LOCAL BREWS AND A TASTY LUNCH THAT BITES BACK

IG: @ironroadbrewing

Zero regrets stopping here for lunch on day two! These nachos were the ultimate. Layers of fresh tortilla chips, heaps of cheese, fire-roasted corn, feta cheese, cilantro, house crema, lime with a side of salsa and sour cream, and to top it off, house-made chorizo to hit all the right notes.

Bonus: Iron Road makes a mango habanero hot sauce that’s tropical fire in a bottle. It brings you in with the sweet and lightly punches your tastebuds all the way down.

We paired the eats with brews, obviously! We tried the Jabroni Italian Pilsner, Apricot Juice Train, and the Smoked Porter. They were all exceptional and hit the spot in the best way. Fun fact about me? I am super picky about beer. Shocker, I know. I am so over high-hop tasting, bitter tasting beers, and while Oliver is still having a love affair with sours and fruit beers - all I want is a nice, smooth, bright beer that you can drink more than a pint of at a sitting. These delivered.

You can also try out the empanadillas, tacos, and Oreo churros to go with your brewski’s!

10. VISIT KAMLOOPS MUSEUM FOR A LOOK INTO KAMLOOPS LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE

IG: @kamloopsmuseum

One of our favourite dates thus far was our stroll through the Kamloops Museum. They have seasonal exhibits and a series of permanent displays that are always fascinating to pore-over.

Currently, the museum has a display featuring the impact and history of the local Japanese community here in Kamloops and their role in our history.

It’s truly fascinating how intertwined the Japanese community is with the history of Kamloops, and it was amazing seeing the stories behind places we’ve seen and explored around Kamloops that we had no idea was tied to their community.

The museum is currently creating a permanent display of the stuffed animals we saw early last year and loved the chance for an up-close look at. It’s still in progress, but I snapped a pic of it in progress (which you can find here).

And then, for all my woo girls and fellow rock lovers, the minerals of B.C. display has had a lighting upgrade and is always a fan favourite in our house! 

The museum was date #10 on our 36 hours of dates and was easily one of our favourites.

11. LET YOUR INNER CHILD RUN RAMPANT WITH ARCADE AND OLD SCHOOL GAMES AT FUN & GAMES KAMLOOPS

IG: @funkamloops

Retro arcade fun!

Who doesn’t love a classic arcade and games establishment? Makes us feel like kids again! We were delighted to find there were a number of old-school games right out of our childhoods at Fun & Games Kamloops. Even more delighted to find they still use tokens and tickets from the days of old! There is just something oh-so exhilarating about winning big and all that tickets come shooting out.

Plus, we’re hella competitive.

There is a great coupon in the Luv’n the Loops passport for a discount when you purchase tokens, so you can check out the fun on the cheap if you add this to your itinerary!

There is also an adult lounge with billiards, etc., if arcade games are not your jam. But let’s be honest 0 who doesn’t love the thrill of a pinball machine when you hit it just right?

12. GO FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER AND COCKTAILS AT THE SWANKY CORDO RESTO + BAR

IG: @cordorestobar

Our 36 hours of dates are winding down! We are sad to see it end, but an ultra-romantic dinner at Cordo Resto sure is a great pick-me-up, especially when accompanied by a gin flight as gorgeous as this one. And featuring alcohol-free gin! These cocktails were big on taste and had all the boom pow of their boozy cousins without the foggy head the next morning, which is perfect for us as we have one more stop to make after this.

More on that soon; let’s get back to the Cordo. Set in the beautiful Delta Kamloops, it’s one of the best date spots in Kamloops. We enjoyed the Fully Loaded Croquettes and a Prime Rib Dinner with all the fixings, including a bomb Yorkshire pudding the size of Carl’s head.

This is Carl. You’re welcome for the #cattax.

13. GIGGLE THE NIGHT AWAY WITH AN EVENING OF COMEDY AT THE SAGEBRUSH THEATRE

IG: @snowedincomedytour at the @sagebrushtheatre

Live performances - but make it #pandemicsafe.

For our last date (we can’t believe it’s the last one!) of our 36 hours of dates in Kamloops, our friends at Tourism Kamloops and Luv’n the Loops set us up with tickets to the Snowed in Comedy Tour.

The show was hilarious, and it was honestly great to see a live show again. The Sagebrush has a number of live shows in the upcoming weeks that would be a great break from the day-to-day humdrum if you feel safe doing so! We’re happy to report that the venue is kept at 50% capacity, all attendees have to be double vaccinated and thoroughly scanned at the door, masks are worn for the entire show, and everyone is spaced to their party as much as possible.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming live shows at the Sagebrush Theatre and consider taking in a show. There is just something so special about sharing that experience live.

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And that’s all, folks! We hope you had a blast coming along on our 36h Date, in partnership with Tourism Kamloops and Luv’n the Loops. If you missed the first part of this adventure, check our dates 1 - 6 here.

We are so excited to keep working through all the remaining date ideas that were suggested, and with the Luv’n the Loops app there are lots of opportunities to save money while doing so.

Thank you so much for following along! Beth & Oliver of Exploring the Okanagan