Naramata, B.C.
Famous For Its Orchards and Vineyards
 Naramata is a small town in the South Okanagan valley. Situated about 16km(10mi) north of the bigger city of
Penticton
, this beautiful, quiet little place lies on the eastern shores of Okanagan Lake.
This tiny community is home to the largest concentration of wineries in all of British Columbia. There are a cluster of more than 20 wineries in this area known as the 'Naramata Bench'.
Like the rest of the Okanagan valley this area is sprinkled with many fruit orchards. Some of the fruit available include apples, apricots, cherries, plums and pears. There are definitely no shortage of healthy snacks to choose from for the entire family.
A stop at any of the fruit stands along the highway will provide you with so many choices. You must sample some of the fresh and mouth-watering treats here. You will not be disappointed!
Best Things To Do and See
For such a small community there are many things to do and exciting areas to discover. These are some of the best the area has to offer.
Visit the Naramata Museum and view local historical photos and artifacts from years gone by.
For a day to enjoy outdoors a trip to Manitou Park and Beach may be the ticket. Swimming, boating, sunbathing, or picnicking, this a popular place to soak up the scenery and the fresh air.
There are several hiking trails in the hills above the city. Make your way through the unspoiled habitat and experience the excellent view of Okanagan Lake below.
 An Orchard Tour through many of the vineyards may be on the horizon for some. Starting at the beginning of June each year most of the fruit in the orchards have begun to ripen. The best time to enjoy the delicious fruit is from mid-August through early September. This is world famous Okanagan fruit at its best!
A great place to stay or just to have a look at is the Naramata Heritage Hotel. Built in 1908, the hotel is now designated as a heritage site. It has been restored and is now a luxurios 12-bedroom Heritage Inn.
For the adventurous type take a walk to to the Kettle Valley Railway. This is an outstanding area for hiking and biking, and it is part of the Trans Canada Trail.
For the fisherman, McCulloch Lake provides excellent trout fishing. A great, quiet spot to totally relax!
Take a stroll through the Naramata Village. One of the quietest downtown areas you will find anywhere, this 2 block stretch has several restaurants, a few shops and some historical landmarks. Wander over to Wharf Park, a former old train dock site where lake barges once took on rail cars containing local fruit. This is a real cool place to visit!
With all of the wineries in ths area a wine tour might be an enjoyable way to spend some time in this wonderful community. You can do some taste testing and experience what the rest of the world is beginning to find out. That British Columbia, and more specifically the Okanagan Valley is producing more and more world class and award-winning wines.
A Little History
Naramata, meaning the 'Smile of the Manitou', was named after Naramattah, the wife of the great Sioux Indian Chief Big Moose.
The town was founded in 1907. It was a prime agricultural area and known as a cultural centre. People from across the Okanagan valley would come to enjoy concerts, plays, operas and regattas.
In 1910, a horse and carriage road was developed connecting the community to the city of Penticton to the south.
The wharf was a regular stop for paddlewheelers carrying freight and passengers up and down Okanagan Lake. In 1914, this small village was linked with the rest of Canada with the constuction of the Kettle Valley Railway.
This quiet and peaceful town is beginning to be discovered by more and more vacationers travelling through the Okanagan valley. Make sure you make it a stop on your next visit to the Okanagan!
Okanagan Valley Guide will be updated regularly. Please return often or bookmark this site. I will be adding more pages of exciting information for you.
Thanks for visiting.
See you soon!
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