Kamloops

Coming from a Secwepemc word meaning “meeting of the rivers”, the unique city of Kamloops sits at the intersection of the North and South Thompson Rivers. Situated in a desert-like valley, locals take full advantage of the mild climate by staying active on the city’s extensive hiking trails year-round. Its vast backyard is home to chiselled hoodoos and silt bluffs, making for unforgettable views as you explore its ancient terrain.

Sports are a way of life in warm and cold months alike, swapping skis for runners when the time calls. Kamloops is a golfer’s paradise, featuring the most golf courses per capita in the entire country on bright green courses that juxtapose brilliantly against the waters. Kamloops Lake is the perfect place to beat the heat in the summer, where locals paddle and cruise across its shimmering surface. Just outside town, nearby Shuswap Lake is one of British Columbia’s top recreation areas in the summer for boating and water sports.

The Kamloops area might be desertic, but that doesn’t stop the Thompson Valley from producing excellent wines, flavourful beers, and crisp ciders just a few minutes from town. Foodies will marvel at Kamloops’ selection of regional and international fare, toting innovative flavours that source local ingredients.

Kamloops maintains strong ties to its Indigenous culture, hosting the annual Kamloops Powwow, the largest gathering of Indigenous people in Western Canada. The city proudly promotes its Indigenous heritage at various museums and markets, keeping alive thousands of years of tradition and history.