This article was published on May 13th, 2018

Guys, for a thirst-quenching vacation, it’s time to take a sip of Penticton! From the pines to the vines, and from the lake to happy hour, Penticton offers a robust assortment of libation and amenities to take your taste-buds and holiday experience desires on an exciting adventure. World-class, award-winning wines, beer, spirits, cider, combined with shopping, dining, adventure, and relaxation-– Penticton offers an incredible array opportunities to sip, taste, explore, and relax your way to vacation heaven.

Lovingly becoming known as ‘Palm Springs North’, Penticton is an LGBT-friendly mecca with hot summer sun. This lakeside city is a relaxing destination with an older demographic, and plenty of awesome real estate opportunities to take retro properties and re-imagine them into incredible designer homes. Penticton is one of Canada’s hot spots – not just for record-breaking temperatures (just moments away from one of Canada’s only 2 deserts – yes, there are deserts in Canada!), but also for being centrally located in Canada’s largest wine region.

Make visiting Penticton a full weekend experience with ample things to experience in the region. There is hiking, rock climbing, a BMX bike track, boating, swimming, water sports, golfing, hiking, art galleries, museums—not to mention plenty of great eateries and alcohol establishments.

Or, Make it a full day adventure – start the morning hiking up Munson Mountain, home of the historic PENTICTON sign that greets people to the south Okanagan city, then head up to the mountains for a fun morning of mountain biking. Fresa, aromatic ponderosa pines and sage brush cover the mountainsides. 3-Mile Beach, along the Naramata Bench, is a clothing optional beach for those looking to get some tan on their skin.

At lunch, stop along the many wineries on the Naramata Bench for wine tasting. Have lunch on the patio overlooking Lake Okanagan in one of the many restaurants. Perhaps you may even spot the legendary Ogopogo, an illusive creature said to lurk in the waters.

In the afternoon, float down the Penticton Canal on inner tubes, from Lake Okanagan to Skaha Lake, which takes a leisurely approximate 2 hours. It’s a great way to soak up the sun, hang out with friends, and relax with a beverage. Spend the evening at one of the many boutique restaurants along the lakeside, or at Bufflehead and The Hooded Merganser restaurants at Penticton Lakeside Resort, having pizza and beer. Later in the evening, mingle with the new friends at The Barking Parrot at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, a regular hot spot for locals.

The City of Penticton is a stop along the BC Ale Trail for craft beer enthusiasts. Each spring Penticton hosts the Fest of Ale, a craft beer festival featuring breweries from all across BC. It is one of the largest craft beer events in British Columbia.

Meanwhile, Okanagan wines are very approachable and have great price points. There are over 70 wineries in the immediate area surrounding Penticton, Canada, along with 2 craft breweries, 4 distilleries (vodka, gin, liqueur, whiskey), and 1 cidery. There are many tour companies that offer guided tours to the wineries, and hop-on-hop-off shuttle services, along the Naramata Bench. Join a wine club at one of the wineries to get special rates and access to limited edition wines not available to the public. Many wineries have patio restaurants, gift shops, live music, wine tasting, limited edition wines, picnic areas, and cheese pairing.

Sophisticated gay men will fall in love with the beauty and spirit of Penticton and the Okanagan region. It’s quickly becoming a great place to invest in and visit, and drink due to the multiple possibilities for fun, all year long.

When it comes to places to stay, the Penticton Lakeside Resort is the flagship hotel, located on Lake Okanagan. The property features a brand new multi-million dollar guest suites tower, private beach and marina, on-site restaurants and night club, and stunning views of the lake and mountains.

Penticton is an LGBT-friendly destination. Best known for its wine-touring, sandy beaches, and outdoor summer activities, Penticton is one of Canada’s top hot-spot vacation destinations. Start planning your trip to Penticton today: www.visitpenticton.com.