CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 534

RECREATION
Paul Lake Provincial Park
This small provincial park northeast of Kamloops is a relaxing, grassy, tree-shaded spot
to take a picnic, go swimming in warm Paul Lake, or camp. And the drive out there, fol-
lowing Paul Creek past scrub-covered rolling hills and flower-filled meadows, is an en-
joyable ramble through the countryside. At the park's day-use area you'll find the best
beach, picnic tables, toilets, and changing rooms. Before settling down at the beach, take
the 1.6-kilometer (one-mile) trail through a forest of Douglas fir out to a bluff overlooking
the valley. To get to the park, head north of Kamloops five kilometers (3.1 miles) on High-
way 5, then 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) east on Paul Lake Road.
Sun Peaks Resort
North of the city along Highway 5, the self-contained Sun Peaks Resort (250/578-5474 or
800/807-3257, www.sunpeaksresort.com ) is worth visiting in summer for the Sunburst Ex-
press chairlift, which takes the hard work out of reaching the alpine for hikers and bikers.
From the top of this lift, it's easy to descend back to the village on foot in less than an hour,
but if the weather is good, consider exploring higher elevations, including the 2,152-meter
(7,060-foot) summit of Mount Tod. Mountain bike enthusiasts have many options, but
the most popular destination is McGillivray Lake, accessed along a wide 6.2-kilometer
(3.8-mile) trail from the village. Ride the lift all day for adult $18, senior $15, child $12 (or
pay $39, $33, $23, to access the lift with a mountain bike). Other activities include golfing
a shortish resort-style 18-hole course ($80), tennis, horseback riding, and fishing. High sea-
son for the resort is wintertime, when three high-speed lifts whisk skiers up the mountain.
One of these—the Sunburst Express—links up with more lifts that access intermediate and
expert terrain above the tree line and an easy eight-kilometer (five-mile) cruising run back
to the village. The total vertical rise is 882 meters (2,900 feet) over almost 1,490 hectares
(3,678 acres) of terrain. Facilities at the resort include eateries, a rental shop, and the Snow
Sports School. Lift tickets are adult $79, senior $63, child $40. On-mountain accommoda-
tion packages are good value—from $120 per person per night, including a lift ticket.
ENTERTAINMENT
Within the Thompson Hotel complex, Noble Pig Brewhouse (650 Victoria St., 778/
471-5999, 11:30am-11pm Mon.-Sat., 3pm-10pm Sun.) is Kamloops' premier brewpub.