Vernon's compact historic downtown along 30th Avenue is the commercial and social heart of the city — a grid of late-Victorian and Edwardian brick buildings with a mix of independent shops, cafes, breweries, and restaurants. The streetscape is unpretentious and ungentrified, which means rents are still low enough for interesting small businesses to survive.
The Vernon City Hall and the courthouse on 30th Avenue are the architectural anchors. The weekly Saturday farmers' market, held in the parking lot adjacent to the civic centre from May to October, draws producers from across the North Okanagan and is one of the best in the interior. Go early for the tree fruits, preserves, and fresh vegetables. The downtown is small enough to walk end-to-end in twenty minutes.