Ever wonder how you are going to entertain your family while vacationing in Sicamous?
As a mother of 3 children aged 10, 12 and 14, I have first hand knowledge of tried, tested and family approved things to see & do. After interviewing my family, this is our Top 10!
#1 Boating
If you ask my kids what their #1 favorite thing to do is, they will tell you - BOATING!!
Our family is big into surfing and tubing behind the boat, floating in Turtle Bay, shuttling the kids to get ice cream and fuel up at Papa Sicamous Marina or Red's Rentals in the channel. Then pull up to Moose Mulligans to enjoy a pint and meal on the patio overlooking the water. Best family vacation memories!
If you have ever been to Mara Lake or the Shuswap, you are well aware of its beauty, vast lake system and warm waters. A marvel that brings vacationers flocking to our region every summer.
Don't have a boat? No problem! There are a number of boat rental places in Sicamous to choose from. Reds Rentals & Marina, Bull Dog Boat Rentals, Get Wet Rentals, TowJammerz.
#2 Ski & Board @ Revelstoke Mountain Resort
We are an avid ski family and our favorite mountain of all time is Revelstoke Mountain Resort. To the left are my girls this past winter after shredding the Back 40 Glades of the Ripper all day!
This mountain definitely has a threshold as it has some pretty challenging terrain. However, the opening of the Stellar Chair this past year has opened up some new terrain for the beginner skier or boarder.
We also love making our way to Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon. This is an excellent winter family resort which is geared to entertain the entire family with a ton of activities such as; skiing, snowboarding, Tube Town, cross country skiing, Mini Snowmobiles, bowling, out door ice skating and much more!
Our convenient location in Sicamous puts you at either mountain in approx. 45 minutes, giving you opportunity to experience both resorts while on vacation.
#3 Beach Day
Pack up the coolers with drinks, pick-nick lunch, paddle boards, beach toys and head down to the beach!
We are always up for a friendly game of volleyball at the sandy beach volleyball court in Swansea Point or... build a tee-pee out of drift wood with the kids.
You will typically find as at our favorite beaches in Swansea Point, Mara Lake, where many of our vacation homes are located. Swansea Point is a very special little community with a boat launch and vast public beaches. Here you will find 7 different public beach accesses; each beach has something different to offer it's visitors, such as BBQ grills, play parks for the kids, beach volleyball nets and pick-nick tables.
There are other amazing beaches for you to enjoy in the area as well. Check out Sicamous Beach Park located at the south end of Finlayson street. This park offers a designated swim area, playground, splash water park, picnic tables, volleyball court and washrooms. The perfect place to play or relax while watching the boats head up the lake or wave to the train conductors as they pass by. During normal circumstances (not during Covid-19 pandemic) they bring Music in The Park; a free Monday afternoon event that brings Canadian Artists to come to share their music with the public. This is also the location of Canada Day Long Weekend Fire Work Show... truly a must see!
#4 Snowmobiling
Did you know that Sicamous was voted by riders the #1 Sled destination in Canada?
Sledding brings many vacationers to our area from December through April to enjoy 4 local mountain ranges;
Queest Mountain
Excellent for the intermediate rider, with easy groomed trails and forestry roads up to a warming cabin. Its vast open meadows offer spectacular views of both Shuswap and Mara lakes.
Blue Lake
Blue Lake is a groomed trail located at a lakefront cabin, with beginner to experienced trails.
Eagle Pass
This challenging alpine trail can reach an average of 40 feet of snow a year and is a hill climbers dream with breathtaking views from its peaks.
Owls Head
Just 3 minutes from downtown Sicamous, these trails lead to a log cabin and a varied riding terrain for everyone from novices to extreme sledders. With an elevation of over 2000 meters, Owlhead ensures good riding until late spring.
Make sure before you plan your trip, visit SledSicamous.com for snow reports, to plan your routes, brush up on safety tips and prepare yourself for the terrain and provisions for your day.
5. Sky Trek Adventure Park
If you and your family are thrill seekers, you will love this aerial adventure park!
They have a variety of challenging obstacles course; ropes challenge course, climbing walls, the Sky Drop, the Sky Climb, and giant swing right in the middle of an enchanting old growth rainforest.
My personal favorite is the giant swing that pulls you back up high into trees and then suddenly lets you go. It is absolutely terrifying and exhilarating as you free fall 15 meters as you swing through the forest! The one that makes most pee their pants with fear? The Ski Drop; a controlled base jump from 39 feet in the air!
Top Tip! There is an adult and child rope challenge course. Unless your kids are tall enough to join you on the adult course, they must go to the kids course and you have to sit back and watch. I am hoping my girls are finally tall enough this year so that we can do the adult course together. Not to worry... you can still experience all that the Adventure Tower has to offer together as a family; with climbing walls, Ski Drop and swing.
Another plus to visiting this park, is that it is located right beside the Enchanted Forest; it's sister attraction and also a MUST SEE. Great for the whole family to "Discover the magic in an enchanted old growth forest and its 350 handcrafted fairy tale figurines and structures. Climb BC’s tallest, grandest treehouse! Explore a giant cedar stump house, a castle and dungeons!"
This attraction is approx a 25 minute drive north on Trans Canada HWY from Sicamous. Your family can easily visit both parks in one day!
6. Kangaroo Creek Farms
If the weather isn't keeping you on the boat or the beach, I recommend taking this road trip to visit the exotic and domestic animals at Kangaroo Creek Farms. Check out the kangaroos, wallabys, capybaras, exotic birds, pot belly pigs, sugar gliders and more!
Not only can you learn about all the animals on the farm, you actually get a chance to feed and pet the animals and even snap a pic... if they let you!
We recommend going early in the day because apparently, the joeys get a little feisty later in the afternoon and have been known to punt a guest!
The farm is open to the public for a fee from March to October.
7. Hyde Mountain Golf Course
I personally don't golf. But I can attest to the beauty of this mountainside golf course.
My favorite thing to do here is take the boat and park at their marina. Call up to the club house for a ride on a tricked out golf cart and head on up to the restaurant. The Hyde Mountain Restaurant has a fantastic view overlooking Mara Lake, great food and the most amazing cocktail!
For those who DO love to golf, like my partner and oldest boy, Hyde Mountain Golf Course is a more challenging course with amazing scenic views. The fourth hole, nicknamed the "Geronimo" is a 483-yard par four from the back tees!
8. Salmon Arm Waterslides
The kid in all of us loves waterslides, don’t they?!
About a 25 minute drive from Sicamous and you and your family can be racing down the Salmon Arm Waterslides
Slated to open on June 27th amidst Covid-19, there will be new protocols that the owner has put in place. Spacing between riders and spacing between tables will be expanded 3 times the usual size, and amped up cleaning of the facility and washrooms.
9. Licks & Splits + Main Street Shopping Excursion
Located on Main Street in Sicamous, Licks & Splits has the best soft ice cream in town with a ton of different flavors and nothing beats their banana split!
Main Street offers a number of great little shops to find that perfect souvenir, local art, lake toys or beach clothing. Check out Beach Chik and Black Dog Clothing Company. They recently opened up their new location next to the IDA, and they sell top brands of women, men and children's apparel.
I also recommend popping in to the Sicamous IDA; they have some surprisingly fantastic gift-ware, clothing and flower shop. Then, make your way over to the Shuswap Ski & Board across the street for water toys, bathing suites, life jackets etc.
While you are there... trek on down to the After Dark Distillery to get a tour and tasting of their Monashee Mountain Moonshine, which includes vodka, gin and 8 flavors of moonshine. My personal favorites are the Apple Pie and Coffee flavors. Ok, this maybe not for the kids, but it sure is fun for mom and dad!
9. Kelly's Go Karts
This is so much fun and should maybe be a little higher on this list. Our kids beg us to take them to Kelly's Go Karts every summer.
It is pretty good value for all family to go racing around the track.
Its nothing fancy, but they have cars for adults, kid carts, and double seats for you to ride with the little ones.
The guys that run the track are really great guys and even give your kids a drivers license for the track!
10. Hiking
There was some debate in my family for #10 spot on the list. Mini Golf in Sicamous was also a contender. But Hiking is the winner in this battle for tenth place.
Sicamous Creek trails is one of my favorites. I love the easy hike down to the enormous boulders with rushing waters (pictured right). Or you can hike up to the top for a more intense workout. Top Tip! Bring a jacket as it can be quite cool.
I also recommend driving up to the Sicamous Lookout up Queest Mountain which gives you a birds eye-view of Shuswap and Mara Lakes. You also might encounter a hand-glider or two hurling themselves off the platform stationed there and soaring about.
There are a ton of trails for you and your family to explore. For more info, I suggest visiting Shuswap Trails website for a complete list and description of all of them!
I hope you found my Top 10 List of Things to See & Do helpful in planning your next family vacation.
Thanks for visiting!
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