10+ Dad-Approved Ways to Spend Father’s Day

Wondering what to do for Dad this year in Naramata?

If Father’s Day has snuck up on you and you haven’t had a chance to book a tee time for Dad, don’t worry. Naramata has endless options for you to treat Dad this Sunday- no pre-booking required. And while we’re all encouraged to #stayhome and travel just within our local communities, this weekend is the perfect time to staycation right at home.

Credit: Preserved Light Photography

Here’s our top 10+ Dad-approved ways to spend Father’s Day in Naramata - no tee times required.

“My ideal fathers day would be a hike up Creek Park. After we finish our hike, we’d stop in next door at Legend for a tall Ceasar. ”

— Ross Hackworth (owner/winemaker of Nichol Vineyards). **And if you can't dine in at Legend just yet, you can buy the goods and mix your own at home!

Credit: Legend Distilling (Facebook)

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• Go for a family bike ride: For a leisurely ride, the KVR is great for all ages. Stay close to Penticton and ride amongst the orchards, vineyards, and over the McCulloch Trestle (start at the parking lot at Poplar Grove Road), or start at the Arawana Road or Smethhurst Road access points for sweeping views down across the lake, as the trail winds through the rocky outcrops above the vineyards. For a cooler ride, the parking lot at Glenfir Station (en route to Chute Lake Lodge) provides a refreshing pedal through the Ponderosa forest. (If shuttling bikes proves tricky, park your car at your end point and let The Naramata Taxi Co. - outfitted with bike racks - drop you and your wheels off for an affordable, one-way adventure.)

• Try E-biking: Love the KVR, but not feeling the uphill ride? For a unique adventure, head up to Chute Lake Lodge, where you can rent E-bikes to explore the KVR. The pedal-assist feature ensures that the bike will handle the hard work, while you enjoy the endless views. (Bonus: the restaurant at the Lodge is open all day, so a post-ride Father’s Day lunch or dinner couldn’t be easier!).

• Take him out for brunch: What Dad doesn’t love brunch? Treat Dad to coffee and house-made muffins at Village Grounds, local-favourite The Grape Leaf for homestyle classics (including brunch right until 3pm!), or fill up at The Bench Market, known for their popular Bench Benny and fantastic coffee.

• Hit the beach : When the sun comes out, there’s truly no better place to be in Naramata than on the sand at Manitou. Pack a picnic and spend the whole day! Grab house-made sandwiches and cold drinks from the Naramata Store, and cheers yourself on the easiest Father’s Day ever.

• Take a hike: The 2.4km roundtrip hike to Naramata Creek Park waterfall is a family favourite, and stays cool even on the hottest of days. For a scenic viewpoint, the trail to the top of Munson Mountain is a classic, overlooking the iconic “PENTICTON” sign.

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“I’d start the day with a wonderful specialty coffee at Village Grounds - courtesy of my daughter, of course! Then, all three of us would spend the day in the pool and hot tub at home.””

— Peter Dooling (owner of Castlerock Bed and Breakfast)

Credit: @jeremyyappy

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• Get out on the water: Has Dad always wanted to try paddleboarding? The low crowds and warm weather will make this weekend a perfect time to learn! Local shop Sun ‘n Sup offers rentals and lessons, so even the newbies can try it out.

• Amp up your wine knowledge: Take the day to explore old favourites, or a new winery that you haven’t experienced yet! Most of the tasting rooms are now open (and require pre-booking your time slot), so plan out your day in advance and have fun selecting some new wines to bring home.

• Fill up with a casual dinner: At the end of a day filled with fresh air, nothing beats a patio with a casual, tasty dinner. Bonus - no dishes! If he’s craving hot wings or a juicy burger, the Naramata Pub & Grill always satisfies. Or, if you’d rather stay in, do what the locals do and pick up a pizza or two from Real Things Pizza.

• Spoil him with fine dining - at home! And no, you don’t have cook a thing. The culinary masters at The Bistro at Hillside Bistro have been creating weekly fine-dining menus to be enjoyed at home. Don’t miss the Potato Gnocchi “Poutine” and the Warm Mediterranean Salad with artichokes and roast chicken. Warm the meal up at home, set the table, and uncork a bottle of Dad’s favourite wine. (You can even add a well-paired bottle from Hillside’s wine shop on to your dinner order!).

• Beer and bites: If a pint of craft beer and nachos are more Dad’s style, Cannery Brewing is the perfect Father’s Day destination. Sit outside on the patio, and choose from their menu full of sharable treats for the whole family (don’t miss the chicken nachos with creamy jalapeno drizzle!), and naturally, plenty of house-brewed beers on tap. Not sure what to pick? Order a flight of 4 to sample …..and don’t forget to order a salted caramel brownie with maple stout ice cream before you go.

• Mix his favourite drink: If Dad isn’t the wine-drinking type, that’s okay! Mix up his favourite cocktail — or create something just for him! Legend Distilling has amazing cocktail recipes on their website, and all the small batch spirits can be ordered online and picked up. If Dad’s a coffee guy, be sure to try your hand at making the high-octane “Homestead Shaft”, featuring Blasted Brew coffee liqueur and locally-roasted Homestead coffee. If fruit-based spirit cocktails are more his speed, be sure to check out Maple Leaf Spirits - their kirsch-based maple liqueur is treat to sip on its own, no bartending necessary.

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Family bike ride on the KVR, at Little Tunnel looking down the lake towards Naramata. (Photo credit: Bernard Perez)

“We’d load up the kids and the bikes, and head up to the KVR - we like to park at Smethurst, and do the trip to Little Tunnel and back. In the late afternoon, I’d head into town to fill our growler at Cannery Brewing (we love the Sunblink Berry Sour!) and will grab jalapeno poppers and pizza and from Real Things for dinner - their chicken caesar pizza is our family’s favourite! ”

— Bernard Perez (Associate Consultant at IG Private Wealth Management/Naramata Dad of 2)

Ready to make some plans for Dad? Check out our list of which Naramata businesses are open and ready to help you make some memories!

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