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I Finally Did the Summerland Steam Train Wine Tour in BC
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items If you've been staring at photos of that vintage train winding through Okanagan vineyards and wondering whether it's actually worth the trip, this is everything I learned the hard way. For couples planning a BC wine country weekend or friends looking...
Sections
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Planning Your Summerland Steam Train Wine Tour
Best Wineries Near the Kettle Valley Railway
Where to Eat in Summerland After Wine Tasting
What to Pack for an Okanagan Wine Train Day
Side Trips Worth Adding Near Summerland BC
Planning Your Summerland Steam Train Wine Tour
I booked two weeks out and almost missed getting seats because I didn't realize how fast summer dates fill up. Here's what I wish someone had told me before I started clicking around.
Grab tickets the second summer dates drop. I waited and nearly got stuck on a random Tuesday when half the wineries were closed.
Kettle Valley Steam Railway
Swing by before you do anything else. The staff handed me a paper map with personal winery picks that Google never would have surfaced.
Summerland Visitor Centre
Pair the train ride with the tasting add-on. Doing them separately cost my friend an extra $40 and she got the exact same pours I did.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway: Trademark of the Reading & Northern Railroad
Stay here if you want to walk to dinner after a full day of tasting. My partner and I stumbled back from the restaurant in three minutes flat.
Summerland Waterfront Resort Hotel
Fill up here before heading to the wineries. I ran almost empty near Bottleneck Drive and the next station was 25 minutes away.
Owners of Super Save Gas property will operate station
Toss in a craft beer stop between wineries. My palate needed a break and the local pilsners around here are surprisingly crisp.
Giant's Head Brewing
Use this instead of driving if you plan to actually enjoy the tastings. One couple in our group drove and the designated driver looked miserable all day.
Garbage Transfer Station
Best Wineries Near the Kettle Valley Railway
The train route basically drops you into wine country's lap, but not every winery nearby is worth your limited afternoon. These are the ones where I actually bought bottles to bring home.
Try the Hush rosé on the patio. The name alone started three conversations with strangers and the wine backed up the hype.
Dirty Laundry Winery
Get the Gewürztraminer if you think you only like reds. I was a stubborn Cab drinker until this bottle rewired my brain.
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
Keep this one for a quieter tasting. While everyone crowds the big names, this small spot let us sit and actually talk to the winemaker.
Thornhaven Estates Winery
Bring a camera because the vineyard overlooks the whole valley. I got my best photo of the trip here without even trying.
Sage Hills Wine
Start your self-guided tasting route here. The staff gave us a suggested order for hitting nearby wineries so we didn't zigzag all over the map.
Summerland's Bottleneck Drive
Sneak this in for anyone in your group who doesn't love wine. My brother-in-law finally stopped complaining once he tasted the dry apple cider.
Summerland Heritage Cider Co.
Snag a bottle of their Integrity if you like bold reds. I shipped two home and they lasted exactly one dinner party.
Video Game Console Generations Explained (1st to 9th)
Where to Eat in Summerland After Wine Tasting
By 5pm I was starving and slightly buzzed, which is a dangerous combo for choosing restaurants. These spots saved me from making a regrettable pizza decision.
Sit on the rooftop patio and order the brisket tacos. After six wine tastings, something savory and heavy was exactly what my stomach needed.
18+ Music Bar
Bring your nicest casual outfit for a lakeside dinner here. We showed up in hiking clothes and felt just slightly underdressed next to everyone else.
Shaughnessy's Cove
Grab a fresh loaf and some pastries before your train ride. This sourdough on the morning of the tour kept me from getting wrecked by the first tasting pour.
True Grain
Ditch the sit-down plan if you're short on time. Two fish tacos from here took five minutes and honestly rivaled restaurants I've paid triple at.
Taco Club
Use this as your coffee base camp. I needed serious caffeine before the afternoon winery round and their cortado hit perfectly.
Vanilla Bean Bakery & Cafe: Helena Bakery, Helena Cafe
Try the lamb if it's on the menu that night. My partner ordered it on a whim and spent the rest of the trip talking about it.
Zias Menu - Casual Dining & Seafood Delights
Pick up fruit syrups and dried fruit as souvenirs here. Way more original than another fridge magnet and my coworkers actually used the cherry syrup I brought back.
Summerland (TV Series 2004–2005)
What to Pack for an Okanagan Wine Train Day
I showed up in sandals and a white shirt like a fool. Learned several lessons about what actually works for a day that's half vintage train, half vineyard hopping.
Keep this filled and drink between every tasting. I forgot water on my first winery day and the headache hit before dinner even started.
32 oz Wide Mouth Flex Cap - Tonal Black
Wear these instead of sandals. Vineyard paths are gravel and dirt, and my friend's cute slides were destroyed by winery number three.
Men's Tree Runner NZ - Everyday Sneakers
Bring a pair you won't cry about losing. Okanagan sun is relentless in July and I watched someone's expensive pair slide off the train railing.
Wayfarer Street Neat Sunglasses in White On Black Frame
Toss this in your bag even if it's hot. The train runs through a canyon where the temperature dropped fast enough to make me regret my tank top.
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Packable Insulated Jacket
Use this as your day bag for bottles and snacks. It folds flat when empty and opens wide enough to fit two wine bottles standing up.
Daylite Tote Pack
Slather this on before the train departs. I skipped reapplying and my nose looked like a strawberry for three days after.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen
Bring a small notebook to jot tasting notes. I relied on my phone and by winery four, all my notes said ‘good’ and ‘really good’ which helped nobody.
Cahier Journals Set of 3 Kraft Brown
Side Trips Worth Adding Near Summerland BC
We had an extra day and almost wasted it sitting by the hotel pool. Instead we drove 20 minutes in each direction and found spots that honestly rivaled the wine tour itself.
Swim here the morning after your wine day. The cold lake water after a day of tastings felt like hitting a full body reset button.
Okanagan Lake Provincial Park North Campground
Get there early on Saturday morning for the best fruit. The peaches in July were so good I ate four before making it back to the car.
Penticton Farmers’ Market
Try beginner climbing routes if you want something physical. My arms were sore the next day but it was the best counterbalance to all the sitting and sipping.
Best trails in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
Rent bikes in Penticton and ride the old rail corridor. The trestle bridges are wild to cross and way more dramatic in person than any photo suggests.
Kettle Valley Rail Trail
Drive this if you want a second day of tastings without repeating wineries. Completely different vibe from Summerland, smaller and more intimate.
Naramata Bench Wine region
Stop here on your way south. The line looks ridiculous but moves fast, and the portions are big enough to split. Or don't split. I didn't.
Tickleberry's
Walk through here in the late afternoon when the light gets golden. It's free, it's quiet, and after two days of go-go-go it was exactly the slow moment I needed.
Summerland Ornamental Gardens: Home