• Flying : A picturesque 1829 meter x 45 meter (6000 ft. x 150 ft.) asphalt strip joins the north end of Skaha Lake to the south end of Lake Okanagan. CYYF Penticton has all the amenities including car and aircraft rentals, shuttle service, fixed wing and rotary training schools, flight planning, Canada Customs, Ministry of Forests, repair & service shops, café, flying club, aircraft storage, the works! Regular air-traffic volumes are not commercially heavy, however future 737 traffic will pick up as Penticton grows.
   
• Typical weather conditions are second to none. Awesome beaches are just off the ends and downtown Penticton is to the immediate east side of the aerodrome, across the water channel and highway 97. A golf course lies along the airport' s west edge. Valley tours, heli-fishing, and aviation winery tours can be easily arranged. A 670 x 23 meter turf runway is also available for light single, ultralight, and microlight aircraft use.
   
• Runway directions are 16 & 34. Airport Advisory : MF 118.5 MHz & 119.6 for Kelowna after hours. Flight information enroute is 122.5 & 126.7. Local NDB is 290 khz, DME for 16 is 110.3 MHz Ch40, and the localizer for 16 is 110.3 MHz. Check ahead for applicable landing fees and tower operation hours.
   
• Eco Tours- The area is alive with rare bird species, wild fur-bearing mammals, brightly coloured plants, and vast forest. Guided operations are ready to take you out by kayak, bike, horse, 4x4, snowmobile, or helicopter depending on your desire. Self guided routes are easy to adventure on with use of the optional FSR, backload, lake, and KVR corridors.  Bring your identification books, binoculars, camera, GPS, and good friends along. Various valley-wide festivities such as the annual Meadowlark Festival are great opportunities to get out with other eco-adventure enthusiasts and experience the features of nature.
   
• Kiteboarding : Windsurfing : If the mix of wind and water gets you excited then you need to become more aware of the fantastic conditions that arise during the spring and fall months at the Penticton head of Skaha Lake. Hyper thermals, valley winds, and especially the odd squall give flysurfing enthusiasts ample speed and lift to generate lengthy airtime. Sudbury Beach at the south end of Penticton puts your truck and gear nicely at the waters edge. Prep sails, pump your bladders, and adjust straps on the clean sandy beach. It' will blow' you away!
   
• Kayak/Canoeing- You won' t be lake puddle crowded here! Skaha and Okanagan Lake offer extensive north or southbound shorelines straight out from Penticton. Lots of native pictographs, interesting geological features, steam ship era remnants, historic trails, and mythology surround the area. Okanagan weather is predominantly in the awesome range' and the lake is big! Ogopogo is usually spotted near Rattlesnake Island if you' re interested! If you would rather avoid the local lake monster then check out the lakes of the Okanagan Highlands just east of town or head a bit west along highway 3A. Paddlers paradise for sure!
   
• Skiing : Take your pick! For wicked summertime mountain bike sport or exhilarating wintertime downhill and cross-country adventure just head north, south, east, or west for an hour and you' ll find what you need. Apex Mountain rocks with great runs and resort facilities just west of Penticton, BC. For Mt. Baldy Alpine Village Resort head south to Oliver and hang a left, bring your frisbee golf equipment with you. Crystal Mountain is in Westbank to the north, and Big White is near Kelowna along Hwy #33. Big White can be reached by driving east from Penticton if you have an off-road capable vehicle or drive north on Hwy #97. For a circle visit head to Mt. Baldy, ski and stay the night then head east on Hwy #3 to Rock Creek, BC. Turn right onto Hwy #33 and drive up to Big White for another day and night of fun.  Then come back via Kelowna and catch Crystal Mtn. in Westbank. Tag on a visit to Apex once you get back to Penticton. See lots, ski tonnes, and go everywhere eh!
   
• Mountain Biking : Not only are there great runs all over the area but there' s a few excellent bike service and repair shops nearby to get you through the bumps along the way. Bike rentals, sales, and tours can be easily found. Featured riding trails include the Riddle Rd / Three Blind Mice trail system for those looking for a healthy workout and single track rush. If you like to do the scenic thing or like getting up some speed on a smooth straight stretch then you' ll be attracted to the section of TCT/KVR (Trans Canada Trail / Kettle Valley Railway Trail) from Naramata to Penticton and beyond. Either way, catch some fantastic views, see some wilderness, and show your pearly whites….all trails lead back to town where the pubs, good food, and refreshment await my friend!
   
• Motorcycle Touring : Plainly put, having a bike in the Okanagan makes sense! If you are wondering why then just take a look at the regular weather patterns and precipitation reports for Penticton, BC, Canada. Then take a close look at the less than straight and boring roads on your map. Many looking like they were designed by a drunken bulldozer operator!! This toadally makes for awesome riding! If you' re coming from the prairies you' ll be hard pressed to go back home due to the curves and swept changes in elevation. If you' re from the coast you' ll be happy to shed the raingear for more than 2 weeks. Wherever you come from, and whatever you ride, the alternative circle routes taking you from the Okanagan Valley to the Similkameen or Kettle River Valleys and back again along the alternative corridors will help you learn what the word sweet' really means!
   
• Highway Biking : The same lure for motorcycling here also applies to those of you that want to power yourselves from point to point. Popular day rides include a complete circle ride of Skaha Lake from Penticton to Okanagan Falls and back. Another hit is to ride the Naramata Bench from Penticton to Naramata and back. This isn' t a circle trip however it lends perfect opportunity to visit some superb wineries just off Naramata Rd. At the junction of Naramata Rd and the KVR/TCT you will find good food and refreshment available.
   
• Boating : House Boat rentals and paddle wheeler cruises can be booked right out of Penticton or bring your own boat. A fully equipped marina as well as several launch access points are positioned in and around the city. The lake is 118 km (72 miles) long with a surface area of 35, 000 hectares. Fuel up in Penticton or top off at Summerland, Peachland, Westbank, or Kelowna. Watch for the elusive Ogopogo, pictographs, and other wildlife around Rattlesnake Island. 
   
• Water Skiing & Tubing : Without a doubt Lake Okanagan is a premium BC wet stretch for wakeboarding, water skiing, and tubing. Bring your gear and show your stuff! Rentals and lessons are provided in Penticton and in Naramata Hire a dude to take you and your family out for an afternoon of great fun! Seasonal parasailing adventures for the whole family can be booked in Penticton as well.  
   
• Firearms Range : Indoor and outdoor ranges are provided just a few kilometres north of Penticton along highway 97 towards Summerland. Both indoor and outdoor ranges are provided for complete family fun. From .177 air-rifle to large bore, black powder, trap, silhouette, and archery practice. Partake in a firearms safety course or CORE (Conservation Outdoor Recreational Education) program. Become educated on equipment care, safety, bylaws, certification, physical & mental balance, and responsible practices. Check ahead for family open house and first timer dates and range fees.
   
• Heritage Tours : Dating back 1000s of years with the first human inhabitants and dating back millions of years to the first geological processes, which provided the volcanic rich soils and topography that caused those original settlers to referrer to this area as a place to stay forever' (the meaning behind the name Penticton), heritage tours around Penticton often compass a wide variety of sights to behold. The Heritage Maritime Museum, Penticton' s most prominent display, involves the SS Sicamous, SS Naramata, and SS Okanagan (remains). These 1910 CPR steam era ships now sit on the Okanagan Lake beach for you to visit. Follow the old Kettle Valley Railway by walking, biking, horseback riding, skidoo, or x-c skiing. Visit the numerous heritage buildings. Some provide bed & breakfast service. Others present art displays and fine dining. Connect your heritage tour with the surrounding towns of Naramata, Summerland, Kaleden, and Okanagan Falls by tracing the HBC (Hudson Bay Fur Brigade) Trail and the KVR or, by boat, CPR paddle wheeler routes. Ancient pictographs and volcanic formations will enhance your experience. Time travel is possible eh!
   
• Space Observatory : The oldest eco-friendly form of tourism. Boldly go and check out something you may have never seen before! Penticton' s smaller version of NASA, the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory awaits your family' s arrival. This large array of stellar image seeking dishes is impressive as is the desert topography which surrounds it. Just drive 15 min. south to Kaleden and Okanagan Falls, BC then turn right. The South Okanagan is well known for its dark' night time skies (low levels of radiating city lights and smog factors) which makes an awesome platform for amateur and professional telescopic viewing. Check out the annual Mount Kobau Star Party. Some innovative B&B accommodations provide extra features from simple telescopes to fully equipped mini-observatories.
   
• Camping/RV : Bring your rig right into town and enjoy the nearby lakes or settle in just out of town. Private and public camping services for tenting and RV travelers can be found all around Penticton. Book early for the summer as this is an attractive destination for those fleeing metropolis cities. Consider coming during the months from October to March....ask anyone from Canada' s prairie provinces!.
  
• Summertime is great however what a lot of people don' t realize is that Penticton weather during the fall and winter is regularly dry and beautiful. Heavy snow remains a few hundred feet above Penticton and Lake Okanagan It is common to see people out jogging, biking, boating, and walking throughout the winter here.
   
• Hiking : Footpaths and high stepping trails abound. Easy family orientated trails such as the KVR/TCT provide kilometres of easy, scenic, hiking, biking, and x-c skiing. Check out the Ellis Ridge Trail, Blue Mountain, or Okanagan Highlands Trail. Elk, Deer, Mountain Sheep, Moose, Bear, and Cougar can be spotted from the different hike trails around Penticton. Bring water because it gets quite hot here during June July & August. Thank goodness for the ample supply of lakes to cool off in.
   
• Mountaineering : Skaha Bluffs are the local rock climbing attraction. Several great routes to satisfy and there are some very keen organizations who can get you acquainted if you' re a first timer. Check out Penticton' s Skaha Bluff rock climbing scene. 
   
• SCUBA Diving : Only a few kilos northbound from Penticton along Hwy #97 you' ll discover a designated SCUBA Dive site at Soorimpt (Kickininee) Provincial Park. You can find dive equipment sales, lessons, and guides in Penticton. Get certified while you' re here!
   
• Farmer' s Market : Most of the surrounding communities have seasonally operated Farmer' s Markets. The Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys are known world-wide for outstanding quality fresh fruits, vegetables, cottage industry - artisan products, and natural healing remedies. Penticton' s Farmer' s Market & Artisan Market runs from May til October every weekend downtown near the big peach by the beach. 
   
• Theatre : Catch a movie at Penticton' s little movie theatre or take an evening to enjoy some of the live community theatre performances at the Cleland and Bare Bones venues. Penticton' s Beach Blanket Film Festival takes place in July during which you can sit on the beach and watch a floating movie….how cool is that eh!
   
• Festivals : Throughout the year it' s non-stop! Head up to Apex in February for the annual Uller' s Winter Triathlon. This is a 30 kilometer (18.64 mile) test of endurance featuring snow trail mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.
   
• Wine Festival months are January, May, August, and Sept/October every year.
   
• Try out some new lagers, drafts, and micro-brew varieties at Penticton' s annual Okanagan Festive Ale in April. Bring out the kids to take part in the International Children' s Festival. Celebrate nature with the special events of the Meadowlark Festival with your whole family. Fun really springs up around Penticton, BC during the merry month of May.
   
• June is an awesome time to celebrate the era of Beach Blanket Bingo' , & My American Cousin' . Penticton' s annual Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival and the ever popular Peach City Beach Cruise both happen in June. Whether you' re a rebel without a cause' or a Johnny angel' , you and your baby will surely dig the Presley sounds and sights of those spanking vintage cars.
   
• July is the month for the clans to come together and show their stuff at the Penticton Highland Games. A few evenings in July can be spent enjoying the floating movies of the Beach Blanket Film Festival on Okanagan Lake. August is all about Peachfest (since 1947), the newer Square Dance Festival and the high energy Penticton Ironman Triathlon.
   
• Groove to the music during the Penticton Jazz Festival in September and watch the racing vessels of the Dragon Boat Festival.
   
• Wine Tours : Welcome to wine-tour central! Penticton and the neighbouring communities of Summerland, Naramata, and Okanagan Falls combine to offer you a mega variety of wineries, vineyards, and wines to check out. You will not see them all in one shot! No, they are not all the same! From the Naramata Bench to the Oliver Ranch Rd stretch in OK Falls and along both Okanagan and Skaha Lake, the varieties of grape and land design for producing these international award winning wines are both unique and wonderful to see. Tours run seasonally. Everything from air-conditioned bus services to tour group outings on bikes can be readily arranged before you come or when you arrive. No expertise required, just bring an excitable palate. 
   
• Golf : Golf courses are located in town along Hwy 97 and just out of town in the Westside area as well as beside the Penticton Airport. Driving Range located at the north-west end of Penticton. The weather conditions bode well for year round golfing in Penticton as well as the rest of the South Okanagan. For the young at heart there' s mini-golf at the in-town waterslide park. After you try all of Penticton' s big courses, check out Summerland just up the highway for further golf adventure!
   
• Hockey School : One of the best hockey schools in North America. Youth through teen week long sessions involving on-ice and in seminar professional instruction courses take place. Check for exact dates and programs offered and join up. Go home with a taste of NHL possibility. You' ll never know til you try it eh!
   
• Recreation Facilities : 2 ice-rinks, general fitness and martial arts studios, waterslides, beachside water park, swimming pool, mini-golf, driving range, 7 tennis courts, theatre, several ball diamonds, firearms range, SCUBA Dive sites, Ski runs, and a plethora of trails and parks plus beach fire-pits are for your use when you come visit.
   
• Channel Rafting : Great if you can swim, but can you float?? This takes practice and you have all day to figure it out because the only white water here is whatever you splash at each other! Dog paddle is top speed and sunscreen is your major worry. Every year during the spring and summer you' ll notice all sorts of funky colours, shapes, and sizes drifting down the channel from okanagan Lake to Skaha Lake. A bus shuttle brings you back just to do it again! Bring your own creation or rent a tube for a few bucks. Soak it up eh!
  
• Paintball Action and adventure are added to this enhanced game of Tag' . Walk, bike, or drive over to this location just off Skaha Lake beach. Bring yourself or your entire crew and get ready to have a blast! Day or night the fun is safe and energy pumping. As long as you' re 10 or older, no matter if you' ve never tried it before or if you' re a seasoned veteran just drop in and give it a shot!
   
• Speedway Racing ' Penticton has an excellent quarter mile paved oval track for contestants and observers to enjoy. Day and night time action takes place on the hillside up along Carmi Ave. Check out the scene with awesome Hit to Pass racing plus race events for Dwarfs, Streetstocks, Babygrands, Hornets, and Sportsman class cars. Feature events include Freestyle Motorcross, Sportbike Extreme, and good ol Monster Truck excitement!
   
• Off Road FSR Exploring ' Drive up Carmi Avenue past the Hospital and beyond the speedway race track. When you pass the Garnet Fire Interpretive Site, the road turns to gravel and you are on your way into a vast network of fantastic forestry service roads. Bring a map and watch for cows! Many of these corridors are for active logging, especially during weekdays so keep an eye out for the trucks. Healthy amounts of wildlife to be seen including Bear, Moose, Elk, Cougar, and Deer. Connect to the R201 and head east all the way over to the Kettle River Valley' s KVR/TCT, Idabel Lake, Highway #33, Big White Ski Resort, and Beaverdell, BC .
   
• As an alternative, head west into Okanagan Falls or even connect to Oliver, Mt. Baldy Alpine Ski Village, Camp McKinney, Conkle Lake, and Bridesville, BC.
   
• Great 4-wheel drive routs also take you from Apex Mtn, west of Penticton, and over to Hedly, BC in the Similkameen Valley. Catch the Apex Mountain Jeep Jamboree in August if you' re out!
   
• Consider heading out with an off-road tour guide for safe, secure fun for the whole family.
   
• Geocaching : New finds await discovery! Some coordinates lead to wineries and others take you far beyond. If you' re and avid GPS adventure enthusiast then gather your posse and get tracking eh!
   
• Curling & Bowling : Toss in your talent at the rink or on the lanes. Weekend specials and family events are happening all the time. Check out the schedules and bring your rock!

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