Your family-friendly guide to summer in Kamloops
Overlander Beach
Dylan Sherrard
Kamloops is rich with family-friendly adventures, from free music to animal encounters, topped off with a double scoop of locally made ice cream. The sun is out and there’s still plenty of summer vacation ahead, so it’s time to unplug and build those classic summer vacation memories as a family.
Kamloops is the ideal home base for your come-as-you-are family vacations to the BC interior, so make the most of your summer with our guide to family-friendly summer stories.
Riverside Park Playground
@miguel.ports
Park yourself at the park
Hitting the local playgrounds and splash parks makes for a great day out, and Kamloops has plenty of options! Here’s two of our favourite, kid-approved and recommended local parks:
- Riverside Park: Located at the meeting place of the North and South Thompson rivers – from which Kamloops gets its name! – this park is the place to be on hot summer days. In addition to a lifeguard-staffed beach, Riverside features an extensive splash park and popular playground. If you want to kick it up a notch, kayaks and paddleboard rentals are available by the concession stand. With the frequent presence of food trucks and Scoopz Ice Cream Parlour across the street, Riverside is the perfect destination for a family day out! On summer evenings you can catch free music in the park at the bandshell, and the park is host to a number of exciting events through the summer.
- Prince Charles Park: Another local favourite, Prince Charles Park features a large wading pool alongside its tot-friendly playground. The wading pool deepens gradually while remaining shallow, and water cycles through constantly so it’s always fresh. With plenty of large, shady trees and open fields, this park is perfect for picnics and a pick-up soccer game. Through the summer, you can catch Theatre Under the Trees in the far corner of the park, with family-friendly performances that are sure to delight!
Not quite what you’re looking for? You can find more parks and pools on our website.
Battle Bluff, Lac du Bois Grassland
Dylan Sherrard
Hit the trails
Kamloops is famous for endless skies and a diverse, semi-arid landscape of rolling grasslands and towering hoodoos. Whatever your family’s stamina looks like, we’ve got a trail to hike or bike.
Top family hikes:
- Kenna Cartwright Park provides extensive, dog-friendly trails to hike or bike, all within city limits! Trails are clearly marked and rated throughout the park, so you always know what you’re getting into. Grind up the Tower trail or meander along Red-Tailed Hawk for stunning panoramic views of the city. As BC’s largest municipal park, Kenna Cartwright is a must-do for family hikes!
- Head out into the Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area for lakeside shade at Isobel Lake. This flat, wheelchair-accessible interpretive loop is a hit with local kids, and the lake itself is stocked with rainbow trout for the anglers on your team. For a moderate challenge, the trailhead for the Eagle Eye Lookout is near Isobel Lake, making it a great spot for a day trip!
All Wheels Pump Track, Kamloops Bike Ranch
Peter Wojnar
Mountain Biking for the whole family:
Kamloops has terrain for everyone, so pump up those tires and get some family rides on the books this summer.
- The Kamloops Bike Ranch is a dream for families who ride together! With a range of trails and features for riders of all levels, this is the perfect place to get the kids hooked on mountain biking. Shuttle service is available in the park so you can get the most out of your day. From thrilling, flowy downhill trails to skills parks and a brand new all-wheels pump track, this is one park you can’t miss.
- The KBRA Progression Park makes it easy to introduce little ones to cross-country biking! The kids-first trails, conveniently located next to the Dufferin Elementary School, are designed for young, beginner riders.
BC Wildlife Park
Mary Putnam
Live the wild life (with local wildlife)
Want to meet an owl? Spot a spirit bear? The BC Wildlife Park is a Kamloops gem, providing rehabilitation and care to animals that have been injured, orphaned, or are otherwise unable to survive on their own. The park is home to the largest Burrowing Owl Breeding program in the world, an important part of the endangered species survival plan.
The Wildlife Park’s extensive education programs provide opportunities for safe wildlife encounters while promoting conservation efforts. Visitors are always welcome to explore the park on their own, or book a guided tour. Loop the park via the Wildlife Express Miniature Train, grab lunch at the cafe, and be sure to stop at the playground and splash park!
Kamloops Museum & Archives
Kathleen Fisher
Find some AC
If the weather’s not cooperating, chances are the kids aren’t either! Don’t let conditions keep you cooped up – we’ve got lots of great indoor activities for the whole family.
- Zaaz Eatery & Play provides indoor play areas for littles ones, from designated baby and toddler zones to obstacle courses for older kids. Imagination zones provide opportunities for story-based play, while the Music and Art spaces encourage creativity in all forms. Overstimulated kiddos can take a break in the calming sensory room for help regulating big feelings. Grab lunch at the eatery, with menu options for the whole family.
- The Children’s Museum, located at the Kamloops Museum and Archives, provides educational, interactive fun for families. Get hands-on with history, and check out the rest of the gallery space as well. Check their website for up-to-date info on current and upcoming exhibitions.
- The Kamloops Art Gallery hosts studio programs for all ages, including summer art camps, beading circles, and other workshops. Located in the TNRD Civic Building alongside the Library and Amplified Cafe, this is a great family destination for the afternoon! Check out programming at both the Gallery and Library, and grab an amazing latte while you’re at it.
- Just around the corner, you’ll find the Big Little Science Centre, with labs and hands-on spaces for kids to learn and explore. Check out robotics and coding clubs, plus many other “how things work” events.
Mantles Restaurant & Lounge, Sun Peaks Grand
Sun Peaks
Family day trips
Kamloops’ central location in the BC Interior makes it a great place to set up camp, park the trailer, or check in for room service while exploring the region! With an abundance of lakes, mountains, resorts and parks in the area, there’s endless opportunities for adventure. So pack a lunch and find your new favourite day-trip around Kamloops.
- Sun Peaks: 45 minutes north of Kamloops, Sun Peaks village and mountain resort feature gorgeous alpine hikes and mountain biking, made accessible by chairlift. With restaurants, shops, and fun events waiting for you at the end of the trail, it’s easy to spend the day together on the peaks! Stop by Heffley Lake on the way back for an afternoon swim, or find paddleboard, canoe and kayak rentals at the Lakeside Resort.
- Wells Gray Park & Clearwater: An hour and a half north of Kamloops, the village of Clearwater provides a gateway to the famous Wells Gray Provincial Park. The drive to Clearwater is stunning, and you don’t have to go far into the park to find incredible hikes. Moul Falls, Trophy Mountain, and Helmcken Falls are all within day-tripping distance! Grab food in Clearwater and stop by Dutch Lake for a swim before you head home.
- Hat Creek Ranch:An hour east of Kamloops you’ll find yourself traveling back in time at the Historic Hat Creek Ranch Provincial Site. Now operated by the St’uxwtews Pesuten Heritage Society in collaboration with the Bonaparte First Nation, you can experience the stories and traditions of local indigenous communities, in addition to Gold Rush history. The onsite restaurant has your back for meals and ice cream!
- Adams River: Under an hour from Kamloops, adventurous families can hit the Adams River for whitewater rafting through Tsútswecw Provincial Park. While much of the park is closed for fire recovery, there are still great opportunities to support local business recovery in the area!
Riverside Park
Olsen Imaging
Now’s the time to get those summer stories in before it’s back to school! Kamloops offers plenty of family-friendly, kid-approved activities to make some core memories together
Be sure to tag us @tourismkamloops with #explorekamloops on social media in your summer adventures! We’d love to see what your family gets up to in Kamloops.
