Marina Way Beach
Location: 267 Marina Way (on the northeast side of Penticton)
Pros: Secluded cove, lots of beautiful park spaces nearby
Cons: A bit small compared to the other beaches in Penticton
You might be wondering…where do locals go to the beach in Penticton? Especially when it’s a busy Saturday in the summer? Well I don’t mean to fully spill the beans but I am indeed going to spill the beans. Read on to see why Marina Way Beach is a favourite beach spot for locals.
Marina Way Beach is a beautiful sandy beach on a sheltered cove. It is on Lake Okanagan but because it is on a cove it is a bit more sheltered and warm than the main beach on Lake Okanagan. Nearby is the equally impressive Marina Way Park, which has four acres of well-maintained greenspace. There are picnic areas, the Xeriscape Garden and a little further along is the Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden. The Xeriscape Garden is a beautiful demonstration of plants that are indigenous to the Okanagan region, therefore are more mindful of water conservation. If you want to escape the sun head to the Japanese Garden and spend some time with the koi amongst the water features and shady pathways.
The beach itself is small but less frequented than the other popular beaches in town. There is a floating raft and slide in the water so kids have fun beach accessories built right into the environment. The water entry is long, shallow and sandy which honestly is the only way I’ll enter a cold lake. There is a free parking lot right between the beach and the Marina, as well as a few free two hour parking spots along Marina Way.
As for nearby food options, Marina Way Beach has just a handful of options. But they are good options! Right on Marina Way is the Prague Cafe, which has excellent coffee, baked goods and sandwiches. A bit up the way is the Bench Market. It is a hike up Penticton avenue (a literal hike; that street has a serious elevation gain) but well worth it for a delicious breakfast, lunch or snack.
Activities near Marina Way Beach
- Boat rentals at the Marina through Penticton Boat Club
- The Penticton Tennis Club is just around the corner and available for visitors
- Slide in the lake and floating raft
- Xeriscape Garden
- Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden
- Penticton Art Gallery
Restaurants near Marina Way Beach
- Prague Cafe (right on the beach!)
- The Bench Market (a bit of a hike up Penticton Hill but well worth it for a takeaway beach picnic!)
