Under Two Hours From Kelowna Is A Charming City With Lake Fun, Tasty Restaurants, And Mountain Views

British Columbia is well-known for its mountains. From the Coast Mountains along the Pacific shore to the eastern Canadian Rockies, Canada's westernmost province is swarming with summits, which support thriving hiking, skiing, and outdoor adventure scenes. But some people may not know that British Columbia is also a land of lakes. More than 20,000 lakes can be found around the province, offering aquatic fun in the form of fishing, boating, swimming, and paddling. Many of the most spectacular sit in the south-central region: narrow, spindly bodies of water formed by ancient glaciers. One of these lakes is Shuswap Lake, and at the tip of its southwestern arm sits a charming town perfectly placed to enjoy the area's waterways and great outdoors: Salmon Arm.

Salmon Arm is a small city of just under 20,000 with a quaint downtown and a scenic wooden wharf that's said to be the longest in the country. This is a town that lives for being outdoors and enjoying British Columbia's abundant nature. With the lake right at its doorstep, water sports are number one here, from swimming and sailing to fishing, all set against a spectacular backdrop of rolling mountains and forest-covered hills. But the mountains surrounding the lake and city are also prime places to get outside and explore, with hiking trails, mountain bike routes, and spectacular views of the lake from above.

On top of all that, Salmon Arm is a gastronomic goldmine. With farms, orchards, and wineries dotting the countryside around town, a fish-filled lake, and the bounty of the Okanagan less than two hours away, Salmon Arm has a fantastic farm-to-table dining scene that serves up all kinds of good grub to hungry adventurers.

Getting to Salmon Arm is fairly straightforward; visitors can fly into Kelowna International Airport (YLW), which connects to major hubs like Vancouver International (YVR), and then drive roughly an hour and 40 minutes north to Salmon Arm. Along the way, you'll pass through idyllic communities like the beautiful city of Vernon. Alternatively, you can fly into Kamloops Airport (YKA) and then drive an hour and a half east. Either way, you'll quickly find yourself in scenic Salmon Arm and the outdoor fun can begin.

First stop is Marine Peace Park, just a short walk from downtown. Sitting on the lake edge, this waterfront park is most famous for its 440-foot-long wharf, which arches out into the water. Standing at the end of the wharf, you're treated to unobstructed, sweeping panoramas of the mountains and hills rimming the lake. There's even a seasonal concession stand where you can purchase a snack to enjoy alongside the view. Keep your eyes peeled for cool bird species as well; Salmon Arm sits along the BC Bird Trail.

Most of Salmon Arm's lake fun can be found a 10-15 minute drive north at Canoe Beach, one of the best spots for a classic beach day. Facing Bastion Mountain, Canoe Beach Park has everything beachgoers need: a sunny strip of sand, parking, a cafe, a gear rental outfitter, a kid's play area, picnic tables, volleyball courts, restrooms, and even an off-leash dog-friendly area. Swimmers can go for a dip in the designated swimming area, while paddlers can rent kayaks and SUP boards at the seasonal Canoe Beach Cafe & Water Sports shack. For more water fun, you can head to the nearby riverfront community of Enderby to go floating along the Shuswap River or head to lovely Summerland on the shores of Okanagan Lake.

Long days sailing, swimming, or paddling around Shuswap Lake quickly work up an appetite. Luckily, Salmon Arm's food scene is more than up to the task of keeping hungry lake-goers satiated. To start the day on the right foot, head to a cafe or bakery for some coffee and a tasty baked good to fuel up. The Shuswap Pie Company is a local favorite, serving housemade pies made with local fruits like apple and cherry to go alongside a latte or cappuccino. Anvil Coffee Collective is another popular spot, with breakfast sandwiches and brewed coffee drinks. And of course, you can also pop into that ever-popular Canadian favorite, Tim Hortons.

Come lunch, you can opt for a sit-down meal at any number of local eateries or order something grab-and-go from a food truck. From sushi to Indian to Chinese, there's a wide variety of cuisines to choose from. One must-try spot is The Yukon Smash, a popular food truck slinging smash burgers, poutine, and hot dogs. Robust burgers, sandwiches, wings, and flatbreads can be found at the Barley Station Brew Pub, best enjoyed alongside a housemade beer.

Home to several local breweries, Salmon Arm is a featured stop along the BC Ale Trail. So when happy hour rolls around, head to Ricochet Brewing or return to Barley Station for a refreshingly cold craft beer. If beer isn't your beverage of choice, there's also cider at Northyards Cider Co. or wine at Marionette Winery outside town. Then comes dinner. Andiamo Ristorante Italiano is the local go-to for Italian fare, with a solid selection of pastas and entrees featuring proteins like wild Coho salmon. Cahoots Restaurant is the prime spot to try seasonal, farm-to-table dishes, and Nineteen05 Kitchen & Raw Bar serves up hearty steaks, sushi rolls, fish and chips, and much more in a window-lined dining room close to Marine Peace Park.