Paddle Boarding in Lac Le Jeune

Paddle boarding is an amazing way to get a workout and immerse yourself in nature. One of the best locations, to go in the Kamloops area is at Lac Le Jeune. With a provincial located on the shores of the lake, Lac Le Jeune offers 8 kms of pristine water ideal for paddling. For those who are curious what paddle boarding is, it's when you stand up on a surfboard and use a paddle to propel yourself forward. The next step in your Lac Le Jeune paddle boarding adventure is to acquire a board. Three options are to borrow a friend's, and rent or buy one from a local dealer such as, Paddle Surf It. I'd recommend renting one because if you don't like the sport at least it's only in your possession for a few hours. Finally, when you reach Lac Le Jeune head to the provincial park where there is lots of parking and launching locations for your board. When on the water, I'd advise you to take a loop around the lake which is around 8 kms and filled with majestic views of the entire landscape. Nothing says summertime like getting out on a lake a experiencing the true fun of paddle boarding.

Farmer's Market

Some of my fondest memories of Kamloops Farmers Market are meandering my way through the various vendors with my grandma to buy fresh fruits and veggies for the week. As a little boy, the farmers market helped show me the faces behind the food we eat and what fresh foods actually look like. Whether you're looking to for the freshest fruit in the city, craft alcoholic beverages, delectable food trucks, exclusive jewellery or specialty jams unique to the Thompson-Nicola area; the farmers market is the perfect place to purchase products. In the city of Kamloops, there are two farmers markets, one on Wednesday and the other on Saturday. Subsequently, the Saturday market is located on 200 block of St Paul St. and the Stuart Wood schoolyard 8:30-12:30 (April 22nd to October 28th, 2017). As for Wednesday's, the market is on 400 block of Victoria St from 8:00-2:00 (May 3rd to October 25th, 2017). On another note,  some of the every one of  the products offered at the Kamloops Farmers Market is unique to Kamloops, fresh and supports the local economy. After all, the fresher the food, the better tasting and healthier it is.  In a nutshell, the Kamloops Farmers Market is an ideal location to buy fresh food and support local farmers/craftesmen. Not to mention, the market offers an interesting social experience. This week is time to make memories and expirience the tastes of Kamloops! 

TRU Basketball Courts

          What's better than sun, friends and a competitive game of pick up basketball? Recently, Thompson Rivers University added two new outdoor basketball courts to the university's campus for the public's use. A few days ago, my brother and I enjoyed the whole court to ourselves for an intense game of one-on-one. My first impression was one to remember as these outdoor basketball courts are a work of art. First of all, the courts are full sized and concrete with glass backboards and high quality netting. Furthermore, the "playgrounds" are located in the heart of TRU's campus and offer impressive views of Kamloops. During anytime of the day you can bring a ball and some friends for shoot around or some competitive fun. As a result, these outdoor courts are a substantial substitute for Tournament Capital Centre when the indoor basketball courts are reserved for practices. A strong distinction from TCC is you won't have to worry about playing on a crowded hoop or getting in anyone's way because the TRU outdoor courts are relatively unknown to the public. The peak time of use on the outdoor hoops is usually early or mid afternoon if you're looking to join in on a bit of street ball. Playing basketball is a fantastic way you and your friends can incorporate a new workout into your week.

Click here for a map of TRU if you're having trouble finding the courts!

   

Kamloops Bike Ranch

As a kid, the Kamloops Bike Ranch was the place where I learned to love the sport of mountain biking and progress my skills Whether you're into cross country, DH, BMX, or dirt jumping the Ranch offers a variety of trails/features for your riding style. There are many advantages to choosing the Ranch for your weekly ride. First of all, the Kamloops Bike Ranch offers some of the highest quality trails and features in the entire province. Furthermore, it can be used for free at any time of the day during riding seasons. As for the trails, if you're looking for a more mellow single track ride I'd recommend 'Three Amigos'. On the other hand, if dirt jumps and table tops are your thing I'd advise you to take 'Tumbleweed' if you're intermediate rider and 'Fist Full of Dollars' if yo're more experienced. When you reach the bottom, you have option of either biking up the switchbacks found on the cross country trail or pay $2 to shuttle the road. Another way you can enjoy the Kamloops Bike Ranch is by staying in the Bowl (look on map) which offers a variety of features that can be shredded from dusk to dawn. Why not head out to the Kamloops Bike Ranch and discover the true thrill of mountain biking today?