Penticton has one of the best settings in the Okanagan: Okanagan Lake at one end of town, Skaha Lake at the other, and dry hills rising behind both. It is a summer town, but not only a beach town. The old Kettle Valley Railway, the Naramata Bench wineries, and the cliffs at Skaha Bluffs give it more range than many lakeside resorts.
In hot weather, the simple pleasures are hard to argue with: swim at Okanagan Lake Beach, float the channel, then end the day with local wine or beer. If you want a more active day, ride or walk the Kettle Valley Rail Trail above the lake, or head south to Skaha Bluffs for climbing and desert-edge hiking.
The town centre is practical rather than beautiful, but Penticton's geography does the heavy lifting. It is a good base for the south Okanagan, especially if you want beaches, wineries, and outdoor days without staying in busier Kelowna.