Anyone ever been to Kamloops, BC?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m taking my first international trip for my job and am going to the enchanting burg of Kamloops in British Columbia, Canada.

I’m really excited about going but I have heard that this is kind of a humdrum little place and am wondering if any Dopers can give the scoop on anything fun to see or do in the city or nearby.

I am traveling with a group of fellow employees, so I don’t think I will get much “alone” time, but it would be nice to know some of the good places to eat or find local entertainment.

We will be there for 2 weeks in mid-October. I’ve already checked out some web sites, but I think it’s best to hear from actual residents or people who have been to the place to get the best info.

Thanks in advance!!!

2

Good to hear we’ve got more people coming to our fair city. It’s true that it isn’t really a “happenin’ metropolis”, but there are certainly things to see and do. It would help if I knew more about what kinds of things you are looking for : nightclubs, museums, cultural events, seedy bars … ? If you are coming in mid-October, you should probably plan for cool weather. I remember years with a skiff of snow on the ground by Halloween - on the other hand, it may be quite warm, you never know around here. What part of the city are you staying in? Will you have a car to get around? Let me know a little more, and maybe I can recommend better.

3

I spent several hours there in February 1987, waiting at the bus terminal for a late bus. It was cold and dreary. I’m sure the town itself has some interesting things to offer, but I didn’t see any of them.

4

I live in Kamloops and so do a few other Dopers.

I wouldn’t call it “humdrum” but it’s not the most exciting place you’ll ever visit I’m sure.

What kind of stuff are you interested in? Definitely don’t get your hopes up about the shopping!!!

5

Hmm, well I was hoping for maybe a cute little downtown that might have some quaint boutiques??

My first concern is about what kind of restaurants the town has to offer…since we will be hotel bound I’d like to steer away from fast food joints as much as can be helped. Any local mid-priced places that might be good?

Also I am a sports nut, so any sports bars that might be showing NFL games on Sundays would be GREATLY appreciated.

I don’t think I will have a rental car…if we do, it would be a “group” car and we’d probly have to herd around together. And you know how much fun it is to try to get a group of more than 3 people to agree on what to do, where to go…especially a group of WORK people! :rolleyes: So I’d be interested in what the public transportation is like also. I think I will be off on Sunday/Monday the weeks I am there. Don’t know where we are staying yet, but would probably be a “national chain” hotel like Best Western or similar.

I am up for anything of local interest…museums, art galleries, other local attractions. I don’t know much about Canada, might there be an interesting history museum? Things of that nature.

Thanks for your help so far!!!

6

If the group does rent a car (and I think they should, at least over one of the weekends), then consider driving south to Kelowna; better shopping, and most importantly, some of the best vinyards and wineries in North America, many with their own restaurants.

(Apologies to the 'Loops dopers–I’ve been there and stayed there many a time with friends–it’s not a bad place, but it is lacking in stuff to do! Of course, there is always the regimental museum of the Rocky Mountain Rangers…)

7

I note that there’s a Holiday Inn Express in Kamloops–they’re generally very clean and reasonably priced (if somewhat generic).

I’ll leave it to the local Dopers to guide you on to some local nightspots and dining–maybe someone will even suggest a mini-dopefest!

8

No, but I’ve heard it’s fantasia. [d&r]

9

To my knowledge there’s nothing very interesting in the city, but it’s a beautiful region so check out one of the provincial parks in the area.

10

I stayed in Kamloops for a couple nights during a BC road trip a year or two ago. The city was kind of boring but the surrounding area is nice. If you have a free weekend, I would highly recommend getting a rental car and doing a winery tour down the Okanagan Valley. Make sure to keep an eye out for Ogopogo.

11

You should be in town during the time of the Salmon Run. This is a “Major” run year, so several million Salmon will be returning to the Adams River. The Adams river is about an hour from Kamloops, If you Google Roderick Haig-Brown Park you’ll get much more information. I live just accross the street from it. Many people from all over the world come to see nature in all it’s spectacle. Kamloops itself IS a um…quiet place. Two weeks? :smack: It’s a nice enough place, but bring a book.

12

The salmon run!
Haven’t thought about that in years! (my family always vacationed at Adams Lake, and one year they dragged us out of school in October to see the salmon run. My grandmother, god bless her, took 6 rolls of film of dead fish)

I was going to tell you Kamloops is unbearably hot (it always seems so when I am there) but if you are going in October I’m sure it will be pleasant.

13

Well, if you’re relying on public transportation, I would recommend staying downtown if possible. The buses really stink - infrequent and poor routes. Most of the hotels are in the Southwest or East, and those are strip-mall, highway, pedestrian unfriendly areas full of Wal-Marts and Pizza Huts and the like. There is quite a nice hotel downtown - The Plaza www.plazaheritagehotel.com. Downtown is nice to walk around, you can check out some of the smaller, unique shops and coffee shops. There is also Riverside Park quite near, which has nice views of the rivers, it’s always a nice place to go.

There is a city museum downtown www.city.kamloops.bc.ca/museum/index.shtml, which is okay, more interesting (in my opinion) is the museum of the local native peoples www.secwepemc.org/museum.html, it might be difficult to get there without a car, though. Also, the art gallery and public library are downtown in the same building. The library has free internet, newspapers, etc. - all the public library usuals. The gallery sometimes has interesting exhibits.

If you are a sports nut, try to get to a Kamloops Blazers hockey game while you’re there. Hockey is pretty big in the city, and the games are usually good (not NHL standards, of course, they’re teenagers : ) There are sportsbars all over town. One downtown is The Thirsty Dog on Lorne St. They’re likely to be playing any game you might be interested in.

As for restaurants, there are lots downtown on Victoria St. - there’s Sanbiki (Japanese), The Hot House (Mexican and vegetarian), Ric’s Grill (steakhouse - a bit pricier, but good food), Kelly O’Bryan’s (an Irish-pub atmosphere)

Also, don’t forget to check the local newspapers (especially the free ones) for events going on once you get here. There’s usually live music, sometimes the film society has interesting movies, plays, etc.

Hope you have a good time!

14

Another Kamloops doper weighing in. You know how surreal it is to open this forum after reading threads like, “Anyone been to France/Iceland/Easter Island?” and seeing your hometown listed?

You will, indeed, be in Kamloops during the Sockeye Salmon Run. Chase throws a bit of a festival every four years and you did luck out. Yes, they migrate every year, but every fourth year’s stock dwarfs that of the other years. Chase expects millions upon millions of fish to fly up the Adams River. It’s an interesting thing to see, and the Fraser Canyon is a really astonishing bit of rock.

For restaurants, I would absolutely point you towards the aforementioned Sanbiki. It’s my favourite place in town. They use locally grown and organic ingredients, are very open to dietary restrictions, and make the best damned sushi from here to Vancouver. It’s really reasonably priced, but get there early or late, because their tables fill up fast. Don’t even bother with the other Japanese restaurants in town. Victoria Street, downtown.

For a fancy-pants thing, I’d point you at Paradiso, also on Victoria Street. It’s fondue and tapas, and a meal for two usually gets you into the eighty dollar range. They have a fondue ‘experience’ called the Big O. This will get you a five course meal where you pick some dishes, and their fantastic servers mix it up at your table.

For middle-of-the-road fare, Kelly O’Bryan’s appetizers are great, but their food isn’t anything to write home over. The beer, however, is cold and flows freely. Hot House Bistro has some amazing Mexican dishes. Minos is the best Greek in town, hands-down, but don’t order the paella unless you have two others to share it with. Seriously. Large. For something a bit traditional, Peter’s Pasta is the local favourite. Obviously, pasta. Great wine selection. Peter’s wife makes all the pasta amd sauces on-site, and Peter himself is usually out hob-nobbing with the customers. Nothing really beats fresh pasta and fresh sauce. Get reservations.

During the school year, the University (Thompson Rivers) has a film night every Friday. I can’t remember if it’s free or practically nothing, either way, they show indie films, documentaries, classics - whatever strikes the guy’s fancy at the time. I’ve seen everything from old film noir to Wal-Mart documentaries to Ikiru playing there. It’s in the Clocktower Theatre. Seats are comfy.

Like bananabop recommended, if you do want to check out a museum, check out Secwepemc Cultural Centre. The displays are more interesting and insightful and the guides are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and friendly.

But yes. Kamloops is definitely just a humdrum little place on the junction between two highways. If you look around, though, there’s some nifty stuff around. There’s a lot more, but my brain is a little foggy right now. My email and MSN info are in my profile if you want some more information. Which I am happy to give. Clearly, I enjoy talking.

15

Thanks so much bananabop and FoldupRabbit!! That’s exactly what I was looking for!

The Salmon Run (oddly) sounds cool to me, I have never seen something like that, except on Discovery channel, etc. I hope we will have some time to perhaps check that out.

The bad thing again is that I’ll be with workmates, cow-orkers if you will, the entire time so I don’t know how much free time we will be getting.

I may email you later Foldup, thanks for the offer!!

16

I too had that odd feeling about someone mentioning our little corner of the world in a post. It IS a small world, after all.

May I ask, hello Kitty what general area of the world are you from?

Hey to all the other Loopers . I didna know there was anyone else in the area but me. :slight_smile:

17

Exactly what I was thinking!

So now I know of 5 Kamloops Dopers … how bizarre.

18

Here’s another Kamloops Doper chiming-in!!

I’ll list my favorite restaurants:
Chinese - Kirin Mandarin
Sushi - Oriental Gardens
Steak - The Keg with Ric’s being a close second
Casual - Boston Pizza
Greek - Hands down Mino’s
Dim Sum - Barbecue Kitchen (don’t judge this book by its cover)

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned going to Sun Peaks resort for a visit, it’s a world class ski resort about an hour away. There won’t be snow there in October, but there’s still a lot of things to do there.

We have an okay mall at the top of the hill named Aberdeen Mall, and a brand new “cookie cutter” (for the lower mainland at least) strip mall in Sahali.

I recommend staying away from the North Shore (unless you are going to Barbecue Kitchen or Mino’s). There’s just nothing to go there for.

Where will you be working? That may dictate what part of town you’ll be staying. I work downtown and we always have contractors and consultants working here from all over the world and they almost always stay on the top of the hill. All the newest hotels are there (maybe you’re coming to work for my company??). I recommend the Hampton Inn. There is a Ric’s grill up in that area, a pub (“On the Rocks”), 5 minute walk to Aberdeen Mall (there’s also a 8-plex theater there).

Most out of town/country contractors that come here go to Sun Peaks, then spread out from there. Kelowna is 3.5 hours away, Vancouver is 4 hours away, Rogers Pass is 4 hours away. We’re pretty central.

Anyway, hope that helps…

MtM

19

I didn’t mention it because October is sort of the least-fun time to visit Sun Peaks. It’s winter, but not enough for skiing, but too much for anything else. I don’t know how much of it is open during that time of year, so I didn’t say much. I was kinda hoping someone more familiar with it would comment.

And wow, that’s a ton of Kamloops dopers.

And you really ought to try Sanbiki. Everyone ought to. We love the private booths at Oriental Gardens, but the sushi isn’t as good.

20

So HelloKitty, I wanted to find out how your visit to Kamloops was?

Where did you stay?
Where were some of the places you ate?
Did you do any touristy things?

What were your impressions of our booming metropolis?

MtM