Tourism Kamloops has officially launched its 2026 season at Riverside Park with the return of the Loop’s Explore Station, featuring expanded programming, rental options and free bike valet service through the summer months.
The station officially opened May 15 and will operate six days a week through the Labour Day long weekend in partnership with the City of Kamloops.
Located beside the former winter skating loop in Riverside Park, the Explore Station acts as a central hub for both visitors and locals looking for activity ideas, event information and tourism recommendations throughout the city.
“So it’s sort of our adventure hub station,” Tourism Kamloops Director of Community Development and Engagement Lisa White told Radio NL. “Our ROAM team is here six days a week connecting with visitors and locals, sharing inspiration, excitement, stories, ideas, events of all the things that they can do and explore here in Kamloops while they’re visiting.”
White said the in-person interactions also provide valuable feedback for Tourism Kamloops about what visitors are looking for and what experiences are resonating most.
“Those qualitative discussions, those insights that we get from face-to-face connections with visitors and locals are so incredibly valuable,” she said.
This year’s Explore Station includes several returning and expanded features. Okanagan Affordable Rentals will once again offer paddleboard and kayak rentals beginning May 30, along with yard games and roller skate rentals. Bird scooters and e-bikes are also available nearby.
Tourism Kamloops merchandise, including water bottles, postcards and souvenir items, is also available on site.
One of the new additions this season is free secure bike parking, offered through support from the City of Kamloops and the Province of B.C.
“We’re so excited to be connected with the City of Kamloops to be offering free bike parking here in Riverside Park too,” White said. “So if folks want to come down and hang at the beach and they’ve made their way here on their bicycle, we can take care of it and keep an eye on it while they’re swimming or enjoying the beach.”
The Explore Station is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, with extended summer hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during July and August.
