Hidden Gems in the Okanagan
Cafés, wineries, trails, beaches and more that are easy to miss — each card says why it’s a gem.
How we pick our Hidden Gems
Every Hidden Gem is chosen by hand, one place at a time. We look for spots that are easy to miss: small independents, places off the main strip, or somewhere a local tourism, parks or community source points to as a lesser-known find. Each one has to be worth the trip on its own merits. Star ratings and review counts don’t decide it, and the list isn’t ranked: “Mixed” order changes every day. Every card tells you why it made the cut.
Open Now is based on each place’s listed hours. Hours can change for holidays, seasons or special closures — check with the venue before you go.
Results
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Rustlers Table
Closed · Opens 11 AM
Rustlers Table is a working-farm restaurant in Vernon that pairs serious farm-to-table dining with an actual farm walk.
Why it’s a gem: A ranch-side restaurant at historic O'Keefe Ranch with a patio and Sunday brunch.
Dog-Friendly Patio Kid-Friendly Great for Groups Happy Hour
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Cools Pond Park
Cools Pond is the North Okanagan's easiest birding stop: a small rural wetland on L&A Road just north of Vernon, with a short, flat pathway running the length of the…
Why it’s a gem: A small rural wetland north of Vernon that's the North Okanagan's easiest birding stop.
Free to Visit
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The Bistro - by Intermezzo
Closed · Opens 3:30 PM
The Bistro - by Intermezzo is the smaller, quieter sister location of Intermezzo, overlooking Swan Lake in Vernon.
Why it’s a gem: Intermezzo's smaller, quieter sister bistro overlooking Swan Lake.
Vegan-Friendly Vegetarian-Friendly Patio Kid-Friendly +4 more
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Teassential
Closed · Opens 10 AM
Teassential is a specialty Vernon tea shop with creative, imaginative flavour blends and one of the best tea selections around.
Why it’s a gem: A specialty Vernon tea shop known for imaginative house blends.
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Chill&Go Tacos
Closed · Opens 10 AM
Chill&Go Tacos makes authentic Mexico City-style tacos in Vernon, with organic, locally sourced ingredients and fresh tortillas handmade every day.
Why it’s a gem: A family-run Vernon taqueria with fresh chilaquiles and real home-style Mexican cooking.
Kid-Friendly
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Rocky Ridge Park (Turtle Mountain)
Rocky Ridge Park is Vernon's quickest 360-degree view: a small Regional District park on the summit ridge of Turtle Mountain, in the Alexis Park neighbourhood on the…
Why it’s a gem: Vernon's quickest 360-degree view, a short climb to a ridge-top park most visitors never find.
Free to Visit
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BX Creek Trail & BX Falls
The BX Creek Trail follows BX Creek from the mountains above Vernon down to the valley bottom, and its centrepiece is BX Falls.
Why it’s a gem: A 9-metre waterfall in a little canyon just minutes from downtown Vernon, reached by a short trail and stairs.
Dog-Friendly Kid-Friendly Free to Visit
All places on this page, A–Z (92)
- A Touch of Austria
- Anthony Buchanan Wines
- Baccata Ridge Winery
- Beat Patisserie
- Bertram Creek Regional Park
- Black Widow Winery
- Bonamici Cellars
- Brigade Trail & Priest Camp Historic Park
- Buffalo Rouge Brewing Co.
- BX Creek Trail & BX Falls
- Castoro de Oro Estate Winery
- Cedar Creek Park
- Chabendo Gelato
- Chaibaba
- Chill&Go Tacos
- CODE Wines
- Controlled Entropy Distilling
- Cools Pond Park
- Dickinson Family Farm
- Echo Bay Vineyard
- Fairview Cellars
- Farming Karma Fruit Co.
- Father Pandosy Mission Heritage Site
- Fox & Archer Wines
- Gellatly Heritage Regional Park
- Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park
- Glen Canyon Regional Park
- Gratify
- Hardy Falls Regional Park
- Hidden Chapel Winery
- Hidden Lake Recreation Site
- Hidden Vines Family Estate Winery
- Inkaneep Provincial Park Campground
- Kalamoir Regional Park
- Kaleden Hotel Park
- Kaloya Regional Park
- Kasugai Garden
- Kettle Valley Winery
- Kickininee Provincial Park
- Kingfisher Interpretive Centre
- Kitchen @ Ve Oh Lay Acres Honey Wine & Farm
- KJ Coffee Bar
- Kopje Regional Park
- Kuipers' Peak Mountain Park
- La Casa Bianca Winery
- Lariana Cellars
- Liber Farms & Winery
- Lumby Golf Club
- Mabel Lake Golf & Country Club
- Mackie Lake House
- Manitou Park
- Maude-Roxby Wetland (Bird Sanctuary)
- McKinley Mountain Park
- Mill Creek Regional Park
- Mocojo Winery
- Mount Conkle Park
- Munson Pond Park
- Naramata Creek Park Waterfall Trail
- Nuyens Park
- Okanagan Falls Museum (Bassett House)
- OKGN To Go
- One14 Coffee Co.
- Osoyoos Oxbows Trail
- Pamplemousse Jus Natural Winery
- Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden
- Powell Beach Park
- Raymer Bay Regional Park
- Rigour and Whimsy
- Roche Wines
- Rock Ovens Park
- Rocky Ridge Park (Turtle Mountain)
- Rotary Beach Park
- Rustlers Table
- Sarsons Beach Park
- Scorched Earth Winery
- Shannon Lake Golf Club
- Shuswap Cider Company
- Solvero Wines
- Sparrowgrass Field & Flower
- Summerland Ornamental Gardens
- Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club
- Teassential
- Tender Hope Winery
- The Bistro - by Intermezzo
- The Flealess Hound Pub
- The Gallery Winery
- The Ridge Pub & Restaurant
- Thomas Hayes Ecological Reserve Trails
- Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park
- Vaseux Lake Provincial Park
- White Lake Grasslands Protected Area
- Yuki Sushi
Only after parks, waterfalls and quiet beaches? See Secret Spots →