Vernon BC is a town located in the south central part of the province in the Okanagan Valley north of Kelowna. One of the most popular things to do in Vernon relates to this location in the Okanagan Valley. The valley is also known for its wine country, and there are more than 100 wineries, cellars, and vineyards dotting the landscapes of the region. You can book package vacations that often combine both golfing and wine tasting or use car rentals for self guided tours of the wine country.

Many of the Vernon British Columbia attractions within the town feature special events and festivals. The town is home to the Winter Carnival started in 1961 and now the largest such winter celebration in western Canada and the second largest in North America; the largest is in Quebec City in eastern Canada. There is a Sunshine Festival in June and the celebrated Komasket Music Festival held over a long weekend in August. International headliners perform here on land sacred to the indigenous First Nations. Because of this, there is a no alcohol policy making the event very family friendly. More things to do in Vernon that feature art and culture include cinema viewings put on by one of the most successful film societies in the country (shown in a beautiful 1930s Art Deco-style cinema) and shows at the Performing Arts Center. In June, you can enjoy fabulous food and shop for excellent handcrafts at Creative Chaos, the largest arts and crafts fair in western Canada.

Vernon BC sits near the northern end of the Okanagan Valley, which stretches south for 155 miles all the way to the border of Washington State. Nonetheless, the town offers all the same visitor draws that do other valley towns like Penticton near the southern end and Kelowna around the center. These Vernon British Columbia attractions include Okanagan Lake and other lakes in the area, many of which have beautiful beaches that rival those on the west coast around Vancouver. Both the lakes and several rivers offer fantastic freshwater fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, and swimming. You can find rentals in Vernon that are charming lakeside cottages or even houseboats.

British Columbia Map

Visitors are able to get in some golfing at one of several Vernon golf courses, many of which have excellent golf communities and resorts. Look especially for the Predator Ridge Golf Resort, which boasts a 27-hole championship course and vacation rentals in suites or cottages. The two-bedroom craftsman cottages with full kitchens overlook the course and have access to the clubhouse, swimming pool, and hot tub.

At the top of the list of things to do in Vernon during the winter months is skiing. For Alpine skiing head to the Silver Star Mountain Resort or Big White Ski Resort in the Monahee Mountains. The Silver Star also has extensive Nordic cross-country trails as does the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. You can get a taste of the sports history and tradition of sports in Canada at a local curling or ice hockey championship or head out into the snowy wilderness on a dog sled or snowmobile. In the summer, you can enjoy fabulous hiking or mountain biking. Find Vernon British Columbia attractions a bit further afield in Glacier National Park Canada (not to be confused with the Glacier National Park in Montana a bit further south) and nearby Mount Revelstoke National Park, where you will find the unsurpassed beauty of the Canadian Rockies. The lush meadows of Mount Revelstoke are famed for their vibrant display of colorful summer wildflowers.