Best of qathet: Advice for Visitors

Mini Golf and ice cream tops "Best thing to do with kids" category. (Photo courtesy of Putters)

Best hotel or B&B

#1 Old Courthouse Inn

#2 Beyond Bliss Suites

#3 Beach Gardens

Best campground for relaxation

#1 Haywire Bay

#2 Inland Lake / Kent’s Beach

#3 Dinner Rock

Best campground for a good time

#1 Haywire Bay

#2 Willingdon Beach

#3 Kent’s Beach

Best Hike under an hour

#1 Valentine Mountain

#2 Stillwater Bluffs

#3 Kelly Falls

Staff notes: Willingdon Trail normally wins this category, but it’s still off limits due to the ongoing construction on the new sewage facility. The trail may be open again by September.

Best local product to take camping

#1 Townsite Beer

#2 Pollen Sweater

#3 One Light fire starter

Best trail to cycle for beginners

#1 Inland Lake

#2 Penticton Trails

#3 Blue Trail

Best trail for the fearless rider

#1 Mount Mahoney

#2 Death Rattle

#3 Fairies Wear Boots

Best Souvenir – free

#1 Beach Glass

#2 Seashells

#3 Pictures of Sunsets

Best local souvenir – paid

#1 Pollen Sweater

#2 Thick shirt

#3 Townsite Beer or Townsite beer swag

Best realtor

#1 Neil Frost

#2 Josh Statham / Megan Westie

#3 Dustin Villeneuve

Best reason to move here

#1 The people

#2 The outdoors

#3 The slower-paced lifestyle

Best answers: Escape the rat race • Ideal for raising a family • Music • SOME of the people • Vibrant, forward-thinking multiaged community • You hate getting things done on a reasonable timeline and want to live an island-style life on the mainland. Hang loose, braddah. We have a real community here!

Best reason to stay away

#1 BC Ferries

#2 The housing crisis

#3 Gossip

Best answers : Fear of a good time • Crazy highway drivers • Crime • Facebook groups • Grizzlies • Family doctor shortage • Drugs • Name change • Rain • Rednecks • Too much nature

Best must-see attraction

#1 Sunshine Coast Trail

#2 The Hulks

#3 The Patricia Theatre

Best answers : Sea lions • Trinket Trail • Popeye • Cran Bar

Best thing to do with kids

#1 Putters Mini Golf & Ice Cream

#2 Camping / Beach

#3 Miniature Train at the Farmers’ Market

Staff notes: For the master document for keeping your kids moving this summer, see Page 67.

SIMPLE PLEASURES: Willingdon Beach can’t be beat for a one-stop summer family outing: The beach and dock, the qathet Historical Museum, the Forestry Museum, The Beach Hut, the new playground, the campground, Popeye & Olive, and the soon-to-be-reopened Willingdon Beach Trail (Photo courtesy of Putters)

Best Beach

#1 Mahood’s

#2 Donkersley

#3 Palm

Staff notes: Each beach is completely unique. Need shade? Mowat. Low tide with kids? Mahoods. Volleyball and ice cream? Willingdon. Wedding facilities? Palm Beach. The best beach, basically, is the best for you, at this moment.

Best Festival or Event

#1 Blackberry Fest (After a two-year COVID hiatus, Blackberry Street Party is back August 19!)

#2 PRISMA (Next: June 2023)

#3 Townsite Jazz Fest (Next: April 2023)