10 Reasons Why Penticton is an Awesome Place to Raise Kids

Imagine taking all the wonder and fun of a BC family vacation in a beautiful, entertaining place and turning it into your everyday life:

A place where the kids could walk to school, then you could go for a family kayak on the lake before dinner. Where there’s a festival or event every weekend in the summer and when it’s rainy, there’s always a museum, indoor pool or ice rink to enjoy. Where you can all ride bikes to the farmers market, get an ice cream, or catch the action of a hockey game. I bet Penticton came to mind when I mentioned a BC family vacation, now how about BC family living? Here are 10 reasons why Penticton is an awesome place to raise kids, plus a fun giveaway for the whole family to enjoy!

10 Reasons Why Penticton is an Awesome Place to Raise Kids

1. You’re surrounded by beaches and lakes

• Penticton is home to 7 public beaches
• Choose from two lakes: Skaha and Okanagan Lakes
• The summers are warm and sunny
• Great playgrounds and splash park options
• Lots of opportunities to play outside, get off screens (water sports, sandcastles, etc)
• You can rent boats, kayaks, paddleboards

2. It’s a place where kids play outside

• Draw with chalk, ride bikes, play street hockey
• Call the kids home when it’s dinner time
• Kids can walk to school
• Neighbourhood block parties (start your own!)

3. Living in a tourist town creates access to unique experiences

• Enjoy access to your own theme park: LocoLanding Adventure Park
• Penticton Speedway
• Group bicycles for up to 6 people (available for rent from Penticton Bike Rentals)
• Wibit water park in summer on Okanagan Lake (available in the summer)
• Visit the historic S.S. Sicamous

4. It’s a great place to ride bikes

• There are 120 km of spectacular hiking and biking on the famed Kettle Valley Rail Trail
• Lake-to-Lake Bike Route and other City routes, including riding along the Channel
• Two skate parks
• Bike pump track
• Mountain biking trails
• Play with friends on the streets

5. The city attracts large-scale festivals and events

Just a few of the most popular events for kids:

• Penticton Farmer’s Market: Every Saturday morning from April to October
• HaHaHa Kids Fest June 9-11
• Peach City Beach Cruise June 24-26
• Penticton Scottish Festival July 2
• Granfondo’s PiccoloFondo Kids’ Event July 13  
• Penticton Peach Festival August 3-7
• Shooting Star Amusements August 3-14  
• IRONMAN Canada August 28
• Santa Claus Parade Date (TBD)

6. There are so many things to do in summer

• Float the Channel with Coyote Cruises
• Bike rides
• Hiking
  • Including the kid-friendly Munson Mountain – home to the PENTICTON sign
• Great parks and hiking trails
• Swimming, paddleboarding, and of course ice cream

7. The fun doesn’t stop, all year-round

• Free outdoor skating rink
• Skiing / boarding at Apex Mountain Resort
• Cross-country skiing at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre
• Snowshoeing
• Penticton Vees hockey games in a 5,000-seat capacity stadium

8. Great amenities and indoor activities

• Hoodoo Adventures indoor climbing wall
• Community Recreation Centre pool with lazy river and waterslide
• McLaren Arena (indoor ice skating)
• Cheering on the Penticton Vees hockey team
• Busy Beans indoor playground
• Drop-in gymnastics programs (with Flip-PEN Gymnastics and Springers Gymnastics)
• Penticton Museum and Library

9. Eating local is easy

• Penticton has a deep roots in agriculture, from peaches and cherries to grapes and so much more. It’s home to one of the largest outdoor farmers’ and community markets in Canada! The Penticton Farmer’s Market is open Saturday mornings from mid-April to October with live music, lots of stands, food trucks, and more. Also, the Downtown Penticton Community Market features hundreds of vendors from May – September.

10. Less driving, more living

• Get from one side of Penticton to the other within 10 minutes.
• Kids spending less time in the car, more time exploring.
• No traffic or rush-hour commutes = more time with your family!

Enter to Win

Get a taste of Penticton living by entering to win LocoLanding Adventure Park day passes (family 5-pack) which can be used over multiple days (value $165).

Here’s how you can enter to win:

There you have it! 10 (and a few more) reasons why Penticton is a great place to raise kids. If you need anymore information or inspiration, follow Start Here Penticton on Facebook and Instagram.