Photo: Contributed

The City of Vernon is looking at ways to enhance the tourist experience in anticipation of the completed Okanagan Rail Trail.

City staff have identified the growing number cycling tourists as the group they would like to target.

Once completed, the trail would connect communities from Sicamous to Osoyoos placing Vernon in a unique position, right in the middle.

"We can make us a destination point," explained Vernon mayor Akbal Mund." 

The idea is to make Vernon the jumping off point for cyclists wanting to go for a ride to the north or south. 

As it is being developed the cycling corridor runs right through downtown Vernon.

Staff proposed developing wayfinding signage that would help cyclists navigate the area; council discussed taking it one step further by incorporating Vernon's rich history. 

"With the wayfinding signage, we can direct people coming to the community to all the heritage sites we have," says Mund. "We could become the focal point of both trails."

Tourism Vernon already promotes cycling routes tied to food and wine experiences, the idea would be to include the trail and historic sites as well. 

"There a lot of things to consider," says Mund. "We'll see how they work out."