Harper Mountain, 23 km (14 mi.) northeast of Kamloops, is a popular ski area in winter (425 m (1395 ft), difference in altitude).

Harper Mountain caters mostly to locals and is a family oriented hill. This is a relatively small hill but it does not see a huge amount of traffic and can make for a fun outing. There is no accommodation at Harper Mountain and most visitors stay in Kamloops.

The Travel Info Center has leaflets for a heritage walking tour of the town center which still has many of its old buildings (courthouse, St Joseph's Church (1887), Chinese cemetery, reconstruction of Fort Kamloops in McArthur Island Park, and an old Canadian steam loco 2141 in Riverside Park).

The Heritage Walking tour can be a pleasant stroll through Kamloops and very interesting, walking past the town's old architecture. The best place to start is probably from the museum. Many of these old buildings were built using local bricks.

The oldest public building in Kamloops is the previously mentioned St Joseph's Presbyterian Church.

The historic Kamloops Museum and Archives has exhibitions on how the Indians lived, the days of the pioneers and fur trappers, and life in Kamloops at the turn of the century.

The museum has three floors which feature both a permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions. Specific topics covered at the Kamloops Museum include the Sekwepemc people, ranching, boat travel in the old west, the railway, the gold rush, and more. The Kamloops Museum and Archives is a great place to learn about the entire history of the town and region.

Kamloops RV Park & Dolphin Waterslides, with waterchutes, whirlpools, etc., is about 20 km (13 mi.) from the town center, on the TransCanada Highway, and is a good place for a swim to cool off during the relatively dry, hot summer. It also has a miniature golf course.

The campsite has about 85 serviced sites and 20 sites available for tents.

The Kamloops Wildlife Park with itsl zoo and leisure pool is another attraction, and arguably one of the best that Kamloops has to offer. It has an ever increasing number of different species, including many native to Canada (e.g. bear, puma, moose, Wapiti, eagle and buffalo). The miniature railway is also very popular.

The Kamloops Wildlife Park focuses on native Canadian species. The zoo has an impressive new bear and otter exhibit. There are also lots of places and experiences at the zoo designed specifically for children.

The Secwepemc Museum is primarily an Indian museum, concentrating on the culture of the local Shuswap, and the Salish Indians.

Visitors can learn about the native legends and see artifacts and old photographs related to the Shuswap people. On display at the Secwepemc Museum are a birch bark and dugout canoes, and information on traditional native methods of fishing and hunting.

The nearby Native Heritage Park is an outdoor area nearby that offers more insight into the history of the native people of the area with the remains of an old Shuswap winter village.

St Joseph's is the oldest church within Kamloops. The church was built by Catholic missionaries and the Kamloops Indian Band in the late 19th C. The church has been renovated and artifacts have been restored. St Joseph's is part of the Kamloops Heritage Walk, with more information available at the Kamloops Visitor's Centre.

Next to the church is the cemetery and both the church and cemetery are open to visitors during the summer months. The interior has a beautifully restored guilded altar that is worth going in to see.

From May to September the paddlewheeler "Wanda Sue" takes people on trips along the Thompson River.

These two hour cruises are very fun and informative, with information on the history of the region. The Wanda Sue is a replica of a sternwheeler. The cruise is a relaxing way to see the scenery along the Thompson River. The cruise leaves from the Old Yacht Club Public Wharf, located onRiver Street, where tickets can be purchased on the spot or in advance.