Next door to the city of Armstrong is Vernon, where you can enjoy the vibrant city nestled inside a beautiful outdoor landscape. Check out the travel guide below for a comprehensive list of things to do in Vernon!
Looking for other nearby trips? Check out these local day trips close to the Vernon area.
Eat and drink
There are tons of delicious eateries, breweries, and cideries in the area. Here are some of our favorites, though!
- Cambium Cider Co: Cider made from apples grown on the orchard right outside. They also host live events!
- The Med: Eclectic Mediterranean food with mouth-watering seasonal specials.
- Eatology: Hands down the best breakfast in town!
- Fresh Lemongrass: This is my absolute favorite Vietnamese place in town.
- Midtown Bistro: A great lunch spot.
- Intermezzo: Delicious Italian food, perfect for date night.
- Martin Brewing Company: Delicious beers brewed in house featuring local flavors, too.
- The Fig: A bistro with delicious sandwiches.
- Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery: They make delicious liquers, whiskey, gin, vodka, and more.
Things to do with the family
- Davison Orchards Country Village: The best apple cider around! Make a day of visiting the cute shops, the petting zoo, and take a ride through the orchards in the fall while stopping for U-Pick apples!
- Planet Bee Honey Farm and Honeymoon Meadery: Delicious raw honey and tons of learning opportunities for the kids. It’s right next to Davison Orchards, too!
- Allen Brooks Nature Center: There are lots of learning opportunities for families, including an interpretive center and events.
- Okanagan Science Center: There’s always fun exhibitions on, providing hours of entertainment for the kids. They also host haunted houses in the fall!
- Okanagan Rail Trail: Bike, walk, or run this beautiful trail network along the lake. Bring a swim suit and stop for a dip, too!
- Historic O’Keefe Ranch: Step back in time and experience what life used to be like here by visiting the ranch that was founded in 1867.
- Silver Star Mountain Resort: Known of course for the skiing, this beautiful mountain has things to do year-round. There’s hiking, biking, skiing, skating, tubing, and more. There’s also tons of great restaurants to check out, too.
- Vernon Public Art Gallery
- Vernon Winter Carnival: Western Canada’s largest winter carnival!
- Splashdown Vernon: The local waterpark featuring slides and other attractions.
- Sovereign Lake Nordic Club: This beautiful trail network is perfect for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Check out local events: The City actively posts local events happening here. Check out live music, festivals, and more!
Date nights
Honestly, most date nights for us include a trip to one of the local parks or mountains and some local food. But, if you’re looking for something to do outside of this, here are some fun options.
- Golfing:
- Sparkling Hill Resort and Spa: Treat yourself to a few nights at this stunning resort or visit the spa for the day.
- Public Mural Art Walk: Use Vernon’s Mural Map to check out the beautiful artwork around the city.
- Board Game Cafe: The Boarding House Cafe is a fun date spot for couples into board games.
- Ceramics Crafting: Color Time Studio has paint-your-own-ceramics options for an alternative date idea.
- Escape Room: Beyond Belief Escape Rooms is a super fun date idea!
- A movie: Check out a movie at Galaxy Cinemas. For a more old-school experience, visit the Towne Theatre, which is an old-time cinema.
Shopping
There are lots of cute shops in town, but these are a few of my personal favorites. If you have an afternoon to spend in the area, I highly suggest grabbing a coffee in the downtown area and spending the afternoon walking and window shopping!
- Vernon Farmer’s Market: This outdoor market runs from April-October every Monday and Thursday from 8:00am-1:00pm in Kal Tire Place.
- Village Green Mall: This is the biggest shopping center in the area, hosting lots of brand-name stores.
- Hiking and outdoors stores:
- Surplus Herby’s is by far my favorite outdoor store in the city. Their hand tied flies are exceptional quality and they always have great sales.
- Valhala Pure Outfitters
- Wearabouts Clothing
- Monashee Outdoors
- Polished Mercantile: Hand selected quality goods, including home decor and clothing.
- Kaleco Clothing: Eco-friendly and earth conscious goods, including home goods and clothing.
- The Vibe Boutique: Locally made and other specialty goods.
- Scattered Goods: Cheap craft and home supplies!
- Antique Shopping: Head to Blast from the Past Antiques or Distinctive Decor Antiques.
- Wildflowers General Store: Cute garden and home goods.
- Record Shops: Visit Dogwood Records or Record City.
- Vernon Teach and Learn: As a teacher, I love this store. I also shop for gifts for the children in my life here.
Parks and beaches
- Ellison Provincial Park: Camping, swimming, and beaches.
- Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park: One of the most well known lakes for it’s expansive trails and vibrant turquoise color in the summer.
- BX Creek Falls and Trail: A great dog park with short hiking trails.
- Polson Park: A local park with events, a pond with tons of birds, and lots of play area for the kiddos.
- Kin Beach: A smaller local beach with a park for the kids.
- Kalamalka Beach: The larger local beach with a pier and volleyball nets.
- Swan Lake Nature Preserve and Trails: Easy trails perfect for the family.
- Kekuli Bay Provincial Park: Less beach room, but often less busy.
We hope this list has been helpful for your search of things to do in Vernon!
FAQs about things to do in Vernon, BC
Is Vernon BC worth visiting?
Yes! Vernon is an excellent hub for art, nature, and culture. Whether you’re searching for family trips, a date night out, or something to do with friends, there are plenty of options. Check out the guide for specific ideas.
What is Vernon well known for?
Vernon is well known for it’s beautiful scenery, including turquoise lakes, mountains, and rivers. Because of the landscape, there are tons of year-round activities to do.
