Travel
The reason fewer travellers used Kamloops airport in January
KAMLOOPS - There were nearly 1,300 fewer travellers who came through the Kamloops Airport last month than the January before and it is believed the lower oil prices may be to blame. In January 2015 nearly 27,800 people came through the gates at Fulton Field, down from the more than 29,000 that travelled in January...
American travel writer predicts Kelowna the Next Big Thing
KELOWNA – A story written for a weekly newspaper in Colorado is getting some love on social media in the Okanagan. Travel writer Amiee White Beazley has an article in the Aspen Times predicting Kelowna will be the Next Big Thing calling it the Boulder, Colorado of 40 years ago, but with the added bonus...
COSAR tips for back country travel
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With the risk of avalanche slowly increasing over the last week in the regions surrounding the Thompson-Okanagan, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue have some tips to help keep you safe in the back country. Avalanche.ca reports the risk of avalanche to be “considerable” in the Kootenay Boundary and South and North Columbia regions....
Cheapest last-minute Christmas vacations on a beach
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The spirit of Christmas is supposed to be with you wherever you go, so who says you can’t celebrate the holidays with a mojito on a beach somewhere? If you’re ill-prepared for the holidays and impulsive when it comes to travel, the top two all-inclusive locations that won’t break the bank in December...
What you need to know if you’re coming to Boonstock
PENTICTON - If you’re heading out to Penticton this weekend for the Boonstock Music and Arts Festival you may have some questions about the grounds, booze, and what to do in town while giving your liver and ears a break. Here’s the low-down: ACCESS The festival grounds can only be accessed from the North side...
Tourism marketing succeeds in Penticton despite funding setback
PENTICTON - Tourism officials say tourism is not in danger this season despite a pending court decision for the lawsuit between the City and the Penticton Hospitality Association regarding provincial funds. Earlier in the season, provincial hotel tax funds were frozen because of an ongoing dispute with the city and the hospitality association about how...
YLW readies for busiest time of the year
KELOWNA – With a combination of holiday vacation travel and unsafe driving weather, Kelowna International Airport is poised for the busiest time of the year. Airport spokesperson Jenelle Hynes says from now until Jan. 5 they expect more than 100,000 passengers. “To put that in perspective,” she says. “October was a record-breaking passenger month with...
Penticton airport expansion delayed
PENTICTON - A new bidding process for the planned expansion project at the Penticton Regional Airport is in place after the first one was considered unsuccessful. There is no deadline for when the process will be complete, however Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Transport Canada are working to complete the design and the...
Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Summit heads to Penticton
PENTICTON - The tourism industry is about to get a major boost thanks to a tourism summit expected to draw close to 200 industry leaders comes to town in December. The two-day Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit held at the Lakeside Resort will host international and national speakers who will cover best practices for boosting the...
The Fintry Queen is coming to Penticton
PENTICTON - The Fintry Queen has found a new home on the south shore of Okanagan Lake, after spending years docked in a Kelowna bay. The city of Penticton agreed to a license with Fintry operators, the Okanagan Lake Boat Company, on Monday night. The five-year agreement will cost a total of $70,000 for moorage...
Local singer thinks Penticton is quite somethin’
PENTICTON - Karin Vallee's three-year love affair with Penticton was so inspiring she transformed it into a song about the town between two lakes. Last week, Vallee, 28, recorded her song “Penticton, you’re quite somethin’” and posted it to YouTube for all to see. She sings of beaches, wine and the small town vibe Penticton...
Lost, confiscated and forgotten at the Kelowna airport
KELOWNA - Wallets, passports and designer bags—among hundreds of other lost items—are collected, meticulously logged and stored by the Kelowna International Airport each month. Only some find their way back home. Reuniting items with their owners is always the goal, says airport spokesperson Jenelle Hynes, it’s just not always the reality. Some items are given...
Mount Baldy expected to reopen for skiing this season
PENTICTON - Mount Baldy may be up-and-running this season despite financial setbacks that kept the ski resort closed last year. The company that has been handling the Mount Baldy foreclosure account, G-Force Real Estate, says the only thing left to do is assemble all the required pieces to re-launch the resort this upcoming season. A...
Mount Baldy foreclosed, assets for sale
SOUTH OKANAGAN - Mount Baldy Resort and its assets are up for sale after being slapped with a foreclosure notice. Located east of Oliver and Osoyoos, the resort was closed during the 2013-14 season because of financial difficulties. G-Force Real Estate issued a press release last week that said the resort’s assets including land lots,...
Penticton airport runway to be repaved; passengers accommodated
PENTICTON - The airport runway maintenance project starting next week will impact flights and could potentially have a negative impact on visitors' perceptions of Penticton. Air Canada, the main airline that flies out of Penticton Regional Airport, is jumping through hoops to make sure passengers are properly accommodated, the city's Colleen Pennington said. According to...