Summer is a perfect time to get outside, take an adventure, and make family memories. With two young boys, energy burner activities are key for weekend fun. And snacks... there must be snacks.

If you're exploring on a budget, here are four ways to enjoy outdoor family fun in Kamloops while maintaining social distance.

Go For a Pedal

Kamloops is known as a mountain bike mecca, but for the littles, we opted for a casual pedal along the Rivers Trail lining the South and North Thompson Rivers. It is fairly flat and we knew our 4-year-old could manage on his own bike. We parked at Riverside Park and made our way over the Overlander’s Bridge (the littles loved this vantage point) to Schubert Drive. While everyone kindly kept their distance, we were greeted with friendly smiles and warm “good morning’s”; the epitome of Kamloops’ hospitality. A stop at Scoopz Ice Cream was the perfect reward for our 4-year-old biker after 10km.

Play Mini-Golf

McArthur Island is home to a myriad of sporting events and it also serves up a fantastic free mini-golf course. We gathered our bikes, to the bike trailer, and made our way to the course on the West side of the park. Make sure to bring your own club and golf balls. The 18-hole course operates on a first-come, first-served basis, but families are respectful, giving each group a few minutes to get ahead. The boys had a great time and a little friendly family competition kept us laughing the entire time.

Cast a Line

No matter, which way you go, there are pristine lakes ideal for fishing. We have a small 12ft aluminum boat and opted to make our way 25 minutes west of Kamloops to Lac le Jeune where they have a small boat launch; perfect for a quick drop in the lake. Loaded with snacks, we settled in for a few hours of bird watching, singing, and making memories as a family. Just as we were about to reel in for the day, my little guy’s rod went down and he caught his first fish of the season. Squealing with delight and loaded with stories for his pals, it was a successful day on the water.

Hit up the Playground

I have never seen my kids so excited to visit a playground as this spring when they opened for the first time. Kamloops has many playgrounds to explore including a few with splash parks. Some of our faves are Albert McGowan, Prince Charles Park, Riverside Park, and McDonald Park. For an over the top day of fun, we love visiting the BC Wildlife Park for their playground, mini train, and water park.

Kamloops is full of family adventure and amazing opportunities to create new memories. Get outside, explore, and have fun.