Kamloops
Kamloops Lake is perfect for scenic picnics
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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 &
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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