Kamloops Tourist Attractions
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Since the time of the trappers, Kamloops has been at the heart of the dry, high country of south-central British Columbia. First settled in 1811 at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, which here form the narrow Kamloops Lake, by the North West Company under the name of Fort Thompson, the town was later renamed "Kamloops" from the local Indian dialect for "meeting of the waters".In the 1860s this little settlement found itself in the throes of the gold-rush as the "Overlanders", a group of gold-seekers and pioneers, arrived here in 1862, who, embarking on a dangerous and exhausting three-month journey, crossed the Yellowhead Pass, hitherto virtually unknown, and followed the North Thompson River southwards into the heart of British Columbia.
Heritage Walking Tour
The Travel Info Center has leaflets for a heritage walking tour of the town center which still has many of its old buildings (courthouse, St Joseph's Church (1887), Chinese cemetery, reconstruction of Fort Kamloops in McArthur Island Park, and an old Canadian steam loco 2141 in Riverside Park).The Heritage Walking tour can be a pleasant stroll through Kamloops and very interesting, walking past the town's old architecture. The best place to start is probably from the museum. Many of these old buildings were built using local bricks.The oldest public building in Kamloops is the previously mentioned St Joseph's Presbyterian Church.
Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park
The Secwepemc Museum is primarily an Indian museum, concentrating on the culture of the local Shuswap, and the Salish Indians.Visitors can learn about the native legends and see artifacts and old photographs related to the Shuswap people. On display at the Secwepemc Museum are a birch bark and dugout canoes, and information on traditional native methods of fishing and hunting.The nearby Native Heritage Park is an outdoor area that offers more insight into the history of the native people of the area with the remains of an old Shuswap winter village.Also of interest at the Heritage Park is the Ethnobotanical Gardens.
Kamloops Heritage Railway
Kamloops Heritage Railway offers the Spirit of Kamloops railtour providing a round trip on the CN Okanagan Subdivision. Passengers have the option of riding in the open-air 'Hayrack' cars or reliving the past in a 1930 heritage coach ' Pioneer Park '. The Bill Miner gang reenacts the famous 1906 train robbery that took place just outside of Kamloops at Ducks. The realistic train robbery has the gang interact with passengers and crew. Following the robbery, the Ghost of Bill Miner himself will tell his story.The Spirit of Christmas Train allows passengers to journey back to a Christmas of old with carolers, hot chocolate, the 2141 steam locomotive and heritage train as they visit historic St. Joseph's church to bring Santa Claus back into town.
Kamloops Museum and Archives
The historic Kamloops Museum and Archives has exhibitions on how the Indians lived, the days of the pioneers and fur trappers, and life in Kamloops at the turn of the century.The museum has three floors which feature both a permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions. Specific topics covered at the Kamloops Museum include the Secwepemc people, ranching, boat travel in the old west, the railway, the gold rush, and more. The Kamloops Museum and Archives is a great place to learn about the entire history of the town and region.
Sun Peaks Resort (formerly Tod Mountain)
Sun Peaks Resort was developed in 1993 and was previously known as Tod Mountain resort, which is the name of the mountain. Sun Peaks Resort is a very popular skiing destination in the Kamloops area with runs for all levels of ability. The resort is about a 45 minute drive from Kamloops or 2.5 hours from Kelowna, both of which have airports.In the summer Sun Peaks offers a mountain bike park and a nearby 18 hole golf course. The resort offers a full range of accommodation options, including top end hotel. Restaurants, shopping, and other facilities are also part of the Sun Peaks Village.
St. Joseph's Historic Church
St Joseph's is the oldest church within Kamloops. The church was built by Catholic missionaries and the Kamloops Indian Band in the late 19th C. The church has been renovated and artifacts have been restored. St Joseph's is part of the Kamloops Heritage Walk, with more information available at the Kamloops Visitor's Centre.Next to the church is the cemetery and both the church and cemetery are open to visitors during the summer months. The interior has a beautifully restored guilded altar that is worth going in to see.
BC Wildlife Park
The BC Wildlife Park with its zoo is another attraction, and arguably one of the best that Kamloops has to offer. It has an ever increasing number of different species, including many native to Canada (e.g. bear, puma, moose, Wapiti, eagle and buffalo). The miniature railway is also very popular.The BC Wildlife Park has an impressive bear and otter exhibit. There are also lots of places and experiences at the zoo designed specifically for children.
Centre of the Universe
Tibetan Monks have determined that the Centre of the Universe is located at Vidette Lake in Deadman Valley, just outside of Kamloops. Geographic characteristics, mysterious sounds of choral singing, and the spontaneous starting of a fire without an ignition source were all tests that verified the authenticity of this site. This site is said to emit power from at least three spots, and is also a very special place for the local first nations.
Harper Mountain
Harper Mountain, 23 km (14 mi.) northeast of Kamloops, is a popular ski area in winter (425 m (1395 ft), difference in altitude).Harper Mountain caters mostly to locals and is a family oriented hill. This is a relatively small hill but it does not see a huge amount of traffic and can make for a fun outing in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. There is no accommodation at Harper Mountain and most visitors stay in Kamloops.
Kamloops Art Gallery
The Kamloops Art Gallery is a public art museum with a permanent collection and changing exhibitions of regional, national and international art. The gallery focuses on contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photography, video, performance art and more. In addition to the contemporary focus the Kamloops Art Gallery also houses some Canadian historic artworks.In addition to the exhibits the Art Gallery also hosts programs for both adults and young people.
Lac Le Jeune Resort
The Lac Le Jeune Resort, 25 km (16 mi.) south from Tod Mountain, has 100 km (62 mi.) of cross-country skiing courses, and a further 130 km (80 mi.) of marked ski trails on a high plateau.Located on the shores of Lac Le Jeune, the resort is a popular retreat in the summer catering to people interested in getting away to nature, fishing, or relaxing. The resort also offers a conference center for larger events.
Kamloops Cowboy Festival
The annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival is held in March as a celebration of western heritage in Kamloops. Considered the largest Cowboy Festival in Canada, the festival showcases the best in cowboy poetry, and western music, as well as cowboy artists and artisans.
Wanda-Sue Paddlewheeler (closed)
ATTRACTION IS CLOSED.
