Skip to content

Floating and wine put region on the map

Lazing away the day on the river channel included in new Great Canadian Bucket List book
57577penticton1204-web-float
Floating the river channel has found its way onto a new bucket list.

What is probably on every Okanaganite's bucket list of things to do in the summer is bound to be getting a lot more attention.

Floating the Penticton River Channel has been listed as one of the 115 things to do to complete The Great Canadian Bucket List. The book was written by renowned travel writer and TV host Robin Esrock. It was published in October by Dundum Press and is described as the definitive list of things to do in Canada before you die, featuring one-of-a-kind travel experiences. Floating the channel was listed under quirky, underrated activities.

“We simply received a notice that said they had selected us for the book. We were, not surprisingly, thrilled to be chosen,” said Tracy Reis, promotions and sales manager for Tourism Penticton.

Esrock’s stories have been published over a dozen major publications worldwide including National Geographic Traveler.

A New York travel writer also has taken notice of the region. William Travis named the Okanagan the top wine destination in the Huffington Post.

“Okanagan wines are truly exceptional, and Penticton is an excellent place to start a tasting tour of more than 100 wineries in the region,” said Travis in the article that first appeared on Viator travel blog in February 2012.

The article explains the area is a summer hotspot and is “past the mountain-framed shores of Okanagan Lake to Vernon.”

“It’s always really affirming and really exciting for Penticton and Wine Country, and the Okanagan, to be included on these lists. It continues to raise the profile of the community and the region as a whole, as a top destination with really unique and distinct experiences both nationally and internationally. And these articles both highlight very distinctly Okanagan experiences — the Okanagan River channel float and our wine country experience,” said Reis.

Rounding out the Top 10 destinations around the world are Bordeaux, France; Finger Lakes, New York; Mendoza, Argentina; Willamette Valley, Oregon; Tuscany, Italy; Cape Town, South Africa; Napa and Sonoma, California; Barcelona, Spain and  at number 10 is Yarra Valley, Australia.

The story has been making its rounds on social media with almost 5,000 people sharing it on Facebook. This is at least the second time Penticton and the Okanagan Valley has been listed on the Huffington Post for travel locations. Previously the city was noted in the Top 10 travel destinations for 2012. Reis said articles such as these often draws more people to the Tourism Penticton website and an important part of the marketing strategy for the community.