A Family Guide to Salmon Arm, Sicamous & the Shuswap

If you’ve been looking for a quintessential BC road trip with a little of everything: untouched landscape, delicious local eats, family friendly fun with a sprinkle of small town charm – look no further than the beautiful Shuswap region of BC’s interior! We spent 4 days exploring Salmon Arm and Sicamous, two lovely towns in the heart of the Shuswap and loved it so much we might just make it a yearly visit. Here’s all you need to know about your trip to this beautiful BC lake region.

The BC Bird Trail

You can find both Salmon Arm and Sicamous along the BC Bird Trail – the Shuswap is known to be one of the richest and most diverse areas for bird watching in all of British Columbia. And we experienced this first hand! The BC Bird Trail has an amazing app and website that serves as a fantastic guide not only for exploring birding, but also for learning about local wildlife and for recommendations for cafes, shops and things to do. We used the BC Bird Trail as a guide to help plan our adventure and build our itinerary, it was such a game changer! We discovered amazing places like the Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Area and got tips on great local eats and fun family activities. The BC Bird Trail made planning super easy and helped us make the most of our time in this stunning region.

Salmon Arm

In the heart of British Columbia lies the picturesque town of Salmon Arm. Surrounded by the tranquil waters of Shuswap Lake and the rugged peaks of the Monashee Mountains, Salmon Arm is a breathtaking natural haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike!

What to do:

Salmon Arm is a vibrant, lovely town full of kind people and unique businesses. Situated so closely to the shores of Shuswap Lake and a wildlife sanctuary, there is nature EVERYWHERE and so much to explore! Venture just steps from downtown and you can find yourself amongst rich marshlands, pristine meadows and beautiful forests. With mountains as your backdrop, you won’t believe how lovely it is. Here’s just a few of the things we got up to on our visit!

Explore Downtown Salmon Arm! Visit some of the local shops, take in the Saturday Farmer’s Market, eat great food at local cafes, and enjoy some downtime at Ross St. Plaza. The kids LOVED watching the trains rumble through the town! Here’s some of our faves shops: Forage General, (the most lovely flower, plant and gift shop! Sip tea or coffee while you browse their incredibly curated gifts or marvel at their beautiful bouquets). Wearabouts, (a fantastic selection of outdoor based clothing! Think Patagonia, Yeti, Levi’s…all the good stuff). The Candy Vault, (went in to look, came out with $40 of candy! Such a fun collection of candy from around the world, bulk candies and homemade fudge. Drool). The Book Nook, (we looove a good used bookshop! Found some great books for the kiddos here!) Wild Craft Mercantile (a cool, witchy, crafty experience! Come here for candles, tarot cards, and apothecary. Don’t miss our fave Element Botanicals, they make amazing natural creams and deodorant!)

Marine Peace Park and Salmon Arm Wharf: you can’t miss this iconic Salmon Arm destination! A great place for a picnic or a stroll along the 440ft long freshwater wharf. We went in the evening at golden hour and had the most magical walk, complete with rainbows, glorious views and beaver sightings!

Explore Raven (Foreshore) Trail and Christmas Island: cannot recommend this walk enough. Strolling along this beautifully maintained trail will take you through an incredibly rich wildlife reserve! Wide pathways, boardwalks over marshland, colourful wildflowers, beaver dams and birds…everywhere. One of the best spots for bird-watching in the Shuswap region, and maybe all of BC! The loveliest experience and a great way to enjoy the local nature and wildlife in the region.

DeMille’s Farm Market: a fun stop for everyone in the family! Visit the farm’s 1000lb pig (and her 800lb son!) feed the goats, and do some shopping for local produce and goods at the market. It’s such a charming farm experience, we never miss a visit here when we’re in the area!

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What to eat:

Anvil Coffee Collective: possibly the best matcha I’ve ever tasted! Incredible coffee and in-house baking with a lovely community feel, what more could you want from a coffee shop? We also loved the oat milk lattes and breakfast sandwiches. Cannot live without a great coffee shop and this one hit the spot.

Shuswap Pie Company: who doesn’t love pie?! With so many options to choose from, there’s something for everyone. We picked the chicken pot pie, (duh), steak and stout, and the curried veggie pie with key lime pie for dessert – YUM.

Night Cafe: a quirky, funky cafe in downtown Salmon Arm! Part art studio, part cafe and adorned with arm chairs and fun decor, we loved the vibe here. They serve delicious pizzas and crepes and great drinks, and they often host art classes and live music! A must visit for an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Weekends: craving poutine, Asian fusion dishes, or fried chicken? Look no further! With such a fun menu it’s hard to pick – so we ordered some of everything.

Where to stay:

There are a variety of lovely accommodations near Salmon Arm from cabins to hotels, but we loved our experience at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort. Located right on the shore of Shuswap Lake and literally steps from a wildlife sanctuary, it’s the perfect spot to use as your home base! It’s a beautiful building with many lake front views, a great indoor-outdoor pool, and easy walking distance to Salmon Arm’s downtown core. AND, if you happen to visit during a shoulder season, take advantage of the Stay and Save promotion.

Sicamous

We’ve often driven through Sicamous on our way through the area, but have never stopped long enough to truly experience this town. Boy were we missing out! Sicamous just happens to be the the most charming, lovely town with so much to see and do – it just takes an afternoon to realize it. With such a close proximity to Salmon Arm, (just 30 minutes down the road!) it’s an absolute must visit on your Shuswap road trip. Known as the houseboat capital of Canada, outdoor enthusiasts flock here to paddle in the waters of Mara Lake or swim in the Shuswap.

What to do:

Sicamous Lookout: an iconic Sicamous destination and one of the BEST views in all of the Shuswap! A short, 20 minute drive up a gravel logging road will take you to a fantastic lookout that was once a hang glider’s platform. We’ve been coming here for years to experience the most incredible aerial view of Shuswap Lake, Mara Lake, the Eagle River, Mara Mountain, and the town of Sicamous. *Safety: as the wooden platform is decommissioned, it’s not maintained. Stay well away from the edges and keep children and pets close. This is an active logging road, so stay to the right and ensure you have a vehicle that can handle gravel roads.

Sicamous Beach Park: did you know that Sicamous has white sand beaches?! Sicamous Beach Park is THE spot for a picnic, a play, or a summer swim. Set up on the sand for a beach day, cool off at the splash park, play at the playground or enjoy the beach volleyball courts. With scenic views and the most beautiful lake, this is definitely a gem of the Shuswap.

D Dutchman Dairy and Fruit World: Reuben has been coming to D Dutchman Dairy for their famous, fresh ice cream since he was a kid, and now we’ve made it a family tradition with our kids. With tons of amazing flavours to choose from, their ice cream is made from fresh dairy on site! Make sure to visit the cows and enjoy the children’s play area. Our faves are lemon pie (Brie) and tiger (Reub). Across the street is Fruit World, you’ll see the signs and the crowds. There is nothing like local BC fruit in the summertime!

River Front Nature Park: if you fancy a stroll through the woods, this family-friendly 2km walking trail will bring you through a forest of cottonwoods and alongside the Eagle River. The sound of the birdsong on this trail was so beautiful – such a peaceful nature walk that’s suitable for any age!

Sicamous Creek Falls: an easy walk for a big payoff! Just a 3 minute walk down a trail and some wooden steps will take you to breathtaking Sicamous Creek Falls. A lovely and shady spot with a beautiful view, it’s a great place to enjoy on a hot day (or any time of year!).

Shopping on Main Street: get a taste for small town life on Main Street, Sicamous’ shopping area! Grab a drink at Anvil Coffee Collective, get to know some of the locals and browse some of the thoughtfully curated, unique shops you can find here. Some of the shops you shouldn’t miss: Beach Chik, (an AMAZING selection of swimsuits, beach wear and lifestyle clothing, don’t miss it!) Hooked Decor, (lovely home goods and gifts), Wild Beauty Apothecary, (eco-conscious soaps, personal care products, jewelry and more!) and Linda’s Gifts and More (a great selection of gifts and local souvenirs!).

What to eat:

Blondies: delicious chai and coffee! A great place to grab a bite: smoothie bowls, in-house baked goods, sandwiches and more, plus toys and books to keep kiddos happy while you enjoy some downtime.

Anvil Coffee Collective: Sicamous residents rejoice, Anvil Coffee has come to town! Order a matcha latte with one pump vanilla, thank me later.

Moose Mulligans: a lovely spot right on the water. Sit outside on their fantastic patio and enjoy burgers, pizza and other yummy eats in one of Sicamous’ most beloved establishments.

The Narrows Smokehouse: ooooh boy. After a day of exploring and outdoor fun in Sicamous, make sure you come here hungry! All their meats are slow-cooked in-house and come with an assortment of homemade bbq sauces to enjoy. We ordered the platter with a side of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy, so much food and sooo much yumminess.

Don’t forget to check the BC Bird Trail app/website – Sicamous is on the Bird Trail! There are a few trails here for optimal bird and nature watching, as well as great suggestions for eats and shopping.