- TEDDSON / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
By Carol Atkins
Once we completed our tour of the Okanagan lakes, Ed and I, the kids and Sadie, our faithful Lab, continued on to visit Kamloops, BC. We knew all about the ski resorts from Ed’s experience as a ski instructor while in college, and had heard it is a great place to vacation year round.
Our whole family loves animals, so we figured we would start with a visit to Kamloops Wildlife Park. Ed was hoping Sadie would make some friends in the wildlife arena. That wasn’t going to happen, since she refused to get out of the minivan! I guess dogs have their instincts about such things. The kids read the sign on the grizzly exhibit and saw that there was supposed to be two bears in the enclosure, but we could only find one. My husband insisted grizzlies don’t climb trees, but the one that was up in the branches and eyeballing us from afar had probably not been told that. Wandering peacocks, cheeky squirrels, birds of prey, petting zoo, train ride and mini museum, provided believable scenery along a great walking trail. The kids especially liked the miniature train and playground. There was a hands-on activity center that allowed us to learn more about the vast array of animals we saw. The best part was eating a take-out dinner with wolves native to the area, but when it came to spending the night we decided to check into the local Accent Inn instead rather than camping out in the wild.
The second day we took a tour of Kamloops Heritage Railway. We had heard there was a Heritage Steam Train that tours the valley, so we bought our tickets ahead of time to make sure seating. Good thing we did, because the train was sold out Friday evening! Engine #2141 dates back to the 1900’s and we all had a great opportunity to experience transportation the way it was over 100 years ago in an open air cabin! The hour-long train ride was fun and we got to experience a “hostage taking” with action from Billy Miner and his gang of outlaws on horseback! They hopped on the train about half way through and scared the bejeezus out of Ed by taking him hostage. Luckily, we were able to get him back. The kids and I thought it was pretty funny, since it was quite unexpected. We learned a little history too. For many years the 2141 engine sat in Riverside Park until it was lovingly rebuilt by an army of volunteers. Although our departure was delayed due to the arrival of the Rocky Mountaineer scenic train, that in itself was interesting to watch. Local volunteers riding horses greeted the passengers as they disembarked. Several people in period costumes mingled with those of us waiting to ride the steam train. Once aboard, we were able to move through the open and closed cars to the back of the train where we enjoyed spectacular views from the caboose including historic St. Joseph’s Church, the river and the lights of the city. We had a blast!
, located along the banks of the stunning South Thompson River. It has both an inside and outside viewing experience for visitors. The tour of the museum offers a rich history of the life of the Secwepemc peoples, who are indigenous to the area. We began by watching a video on “The Land of the Secwepemc” which gave us an overview of the area. Then we immersed ourselves amidst beautiful artifacts and displays within four galleries next to the welcome center. Once the tour was complete, we walked our bikes along the Heritage park trail, which consists of the archaeological remains of a 2,000 year old Secwepemc winter village. There are four reconstructed winter pit-houses, and summer tulle mat lodges which feature various unique food preparation structures. The best part was capturing a video of the Coyote Sk’elep and her pups living in the area. We were told she doesn’t come out that often, so we were fortunate to see her. Tommy plans on using it for a science project at school. As much as I like animals, both Sadie and I were much happier returning to the Accent Inn rather than camping out that night.
And it wouldn’t be a trip to Kamloops without at least one visit to a ski resort, even in the summertime. Sun Peaks is this unexpected gem tucked into the mountains surrounded by semi-arid desert and hills. As you climb higher into the mountains green forests and quaint farms are the backdrop and finally, Sun Peaks appears at the top. It is a great place to visit with beautiful mountain vistas silhouetting powder blue skies. It is open year round with lots of cute shops and restaurants. We decided to tour the area with a bike ride around town, and found our way onto a trail through the forest. It felt really good to get some exercise, since I hadn’t gone for a run since the Okanagan. We saw fantastic log homes and sweet condo-style living, and the views of the groomed slopes and wild flowers were spectacular. After the bike ride, we took some time to enjoy the tram through town and a picnic lunch. We were enchanted with the beautiful scenery, the fun atmosphere and lovely village. A band was playing in the square and many people sitting around enjoying the sunshine and a cold drink. What a lovely way to end our tour of Kamloops.
Author: Carol Atkins is a freelance writer for AccentInns.com and has been traveling the world for much of her life. She enjoys of all types of travel adventures including island hopping, cruising, cycling and being lazy on the beach :).