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7 Reasons Why You Should Plan a Stop in Salmon Arm, BC
Have you ever driven the Trans-Canada Highway between Vancouver and Calgary? If you have and you’re like me, chances are you barely gave Salmon Arm a passing glance as you whizzed through.
But trust me, after closer inspection on my part, I think there’s much to recommend a stop. And if you’re driving between Vancouver and Calgary it’s the perfect half way spot to get out and get a bite to eat, stretch your legs and go for a walk.
Here are 7 GREAT reasons why you should plan a stop in Salmon Arm, BC.
- PIE – need I say more? The Shuswap Pie Company, on Alexander Street, a one minute detour from the Trans-Canada Highway, offers a fabulous selection of baked on the premises pie, reminiscent of the Savary Island Pie Company in Vancouver. Plus they brew a great cup of coffee. Doors open at 7:30am Monday to Friday, 8:30am on Saturdays.
Inside the Shuswap Pie Company
- Farm animals and farm fresh produce. If you have screaming kids in the back of the car and you’re about to go crazy or even if you don’t have kids, pull off at DeMille’s Farm Market, the first place you hit as you enter Salmon Arm going east on the highway. You can’t miss their water tower. Kids will love the petting farm and you will love the ambiance of the store and all the fresh produce. Pick up supplies for a picnic lunch or just browse the store. Prices are way better than Calgary and very fair, especially considering the quality.
Inside DeMille's Farm Market
Ostriches at DeMille’s Petting Farm – but don’t put your fingers near these guys!!
- Fresh, local and handmade. Stop by the Blue Canoe Bakery Cafe at 121 Shuswap Street NW. Want to talk about passion for the farm to table concept! Al and Sandy the owners live their passion every day. I loved their sundried tomato/free range roast chicken sandwich on homemade bread. How could I not? Look for fresh homemade soup and delectable treats everyday too.
- Candy – For the candy lovers out there, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven if you walk into the Candy Vault on Hudson. If I were a kid my eyes would be bugging out of my head – and I’d be racked by indecision. Look for old style candies from the 50′s and 60′s to candy I’ve never heard of. Continue your sugar fix with caramel popcorn and ice cream cones.
- Drink a local beer. The Barley Station Brew Pub which you can’t miss on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway offers a variety of beers made on the premises. As they say on their website - reduce your environmental footprint – the beer only has to travel 50 feet. The sampler of beer is a great way to share and the food is good too.
A sampler of the Barley Brew Pub beer
- Freshly made cheese If you like cheese, and you don’t mind a small side trip driving the back roads near Salmon Arm then head for Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm. There is signage on the Trans-Canada Highway at the western end of Salmon Arm pointing you in the right direction. They offer a DVD about how they make their cheese – fascinating actually – and then you can sample before you buy. Gouda is obviously for sale but they make a lot of other dairy products too including a great yogurt, feta and Quark cheese. You’re welcome to walk the farm too – pat the goats and say hello to the cows.
Gort's Gouda pairs nicely with the local wines
- Head for the Nature Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and walk along the shores of Shuswap Lake. The bird life through here is wonderful and there are some great views too. The path is flat and an hour is all you really need.
Walking the nature trail along the shores of Shuswap Lake
Have you been to Salmon Arm??
Leigh McAdam
HikeBikeTravel
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Shuswap Tourism did introduce me to some of these places but these are definitely my recommendations!!
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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11 Responses to 7 Reasons Why You Should Plan a Stop in Salmon Arm, BC
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
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leighmcadamtravels at gmail dot com
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Now I can’t think of any reasons NOT to stop in Salmon Arm next time I’m driving through!
Gillian @OneGiantStep recently posted..Monday Moment: German Beer Radish
@Gillian The food is REALLY good in Salmon Arm.
You had me at pie. And THEN you had me at cheese!
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..An Insider’s Look at Prostitution in Amsterdam’s Red Light District
@Christy I’d be really happy just hitting the pie shop too!
Oh the Blue Canoe! Now you’re making me crave one of those delicious sandwiches. Did you happen to stop at Larch Hills Vineyard? They have the best lemony pinot gris. Well worth a trip up there.
Vic recently posted..SOS Children’s Village Run
I’ll stop there. Your reasoning is very convincing:)
Good Salmon and Good craft beer? Ok, I’m sold.
The British Columbia Coast is high on my priority list. Everything here looks so verdant, and the food looks like it’s right up my alley
Erik recently posted..New Zealand- Chapter One: Christchurch in One Word: Broken
Erik: Ths Shuswap area is a little bit of foodie heaven and well worth a stop if you explore between Calgary and Vancouver.
I was already sold on the Salmon Arm before you got into the 7 reasons — any town with a name like that deserves to be visited. But all that wonderful food and drink really sealed the deal. I would love to drive between Calgary and Vancouver. Nice to know of a great place to stop along the way.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..Featured Museum: All About Shoes in Toronto
If you want something a bit fancier, the restaurant at The Prestige Harbourfront Resort does amazing seafood. You sit overlooking the nature reserve, which is full of deep green marsh plants, and the food is really unexpected. It is not super fancy, summer dresses are more than acceptable, and the atmosphere is light.
When I went I had scallops on a chicken breast with hollandaise sauce on it as a main, so unbelievably good. The price point was pretty good too, we had a fair bit of fruity cocktails with dinner and everything came under $100 easily.
@Beth Thanks for that great information. I had a look at the nature reserve for the first time in June and really very lovely. I also had a wonderful meal downtown – forget the name of the restaurant but an old bank building on the corner with an outside patio.