Rocky Mountaineer Magazine RM Magazine 2018 | Page 49

Kamloops Kamloops Lake is perfect for scenic picnics › › ingredients at The Art We Are, along with local artwork, artisanal crafts and live entertainment. Authentic Japanese flavours await at cozy Tiger Ramen, with housemade broths and noodles, and customizable spice levels for all tastes. Scoopz Ice Cream Parlour beats the heat with cones, milkshakes, banana splits and more, as well as plenty of toppings and dairy-free or peanut-free options. beeR & wINe PoPulation 103,800 time Zone Pacific MAIN ATTRACTION There are more than 100 rivers and lakes around Kamloops, and the largest of them all is Kamloops Lake. Cool off with a refreshing swim, or venture out a little farther in rented motorboats, Sea-Doos, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Pack a picnic and watch volleyball players at Pioneer Park Beach, within easy walking distance from downtown. Overlander Park Beach offers the biggest strip of sand in the area, drawing skimboarders, soccer players and happy canines. FIRST NATIONS For centuries, the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (“the people of the conflu- ence”) have lived and traded in the area of Kamloops—an English translation of the Shuswap term for “where the rivers meet.” Every July, the three-day Kamloopa Powwow fills the Secwepemc Powwow grounds with drummers, danc- ers, vendors and friendly competitions. The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Visitor information 250-372-8000 www.tourismkamloops.com Park features oral-history exhibits, ancient artifacts, reconstructed pit houses and the archaeological remains of a 2,000-year-old winter village. dININg › The Commodore Grand Cafe & › Lounge serves memorable meals like bangers and mash made with local elk, bison and venison, plus live jazz and funk on Fridays. Find paninis, quiches and gluten- free muffins made with BC-sourced The taps at Red Collar Brewing Co. pour a range of beers, from the easy-drinking Blonde made with aromatic Pilsner and French malts, to the summery Cherry Sour ale. At The Noble Pig, enjoy microbrews like the Fascist Pig Pilsner or the Munich Helles Lager. Monte Creek Ranch Win- ery is home to several award-winning wines, including their 2014 Riesling icewine and 2014 Cabernet Merlot. HIgHLIgHTS The Kamloops Artisan Market at McDonald Park, which takes place on Sundays throughout the summer, brims with local artwork, live music and artisanal crafts. From Canada Day (July 1) to the end of August, the free evening concert series Music in the Park showcases musicians from all over the world. Serenity-seekers visit a special site at the Vidette Lake Gold Mine Resort that monks from San Francisco have identified as the “centre of the universe.” Marvellous Murals Kamloops is as artsy as it is sunny—and with over 2,000 hours of sunshine each year, that’s saying a lot. get the best of both worlds with a self-guided tour of the Alley Art gallery. This collection of more than 20 full-scale back-alley murals by local artists features scenes that range from Incan ruins and Marilyn Monroe to mermaids and historic train robberies. New murals are added on an ongoing basis. Visit the downtown Kamloops website (www.down townkamloops.com/play/arts-culture) to find the gallery map, which also includes locations for public art installations like the “Rivers Trail Labyrinth” and “The Overlanders,” a bronze sculpture of the city’s first settlers. BY CHLOË LAI Rocky Mountaineer Magazine 2018 49