Known for its fascinating small-town culture, Kamloops, British Columbia is a welcome break from more tourism-heavy towns along Canadian rail tours, and in April will host its own Wine Festival for travelers and locals alike.

Kicking off with a five-course gourmet dinner at Thompson Rivers University, food and wine connoisseurs can get a taste for the week's attractions with dishes prepared by the school's Culinary Training Department. Each course will, of course, be paired with a wine.

Later in the week, tasting beginners can attend a four-hour seminar at the Kamloops Art Gallery to learn how to pair food and wines. No meals are safe from the grape beverage, and visitors from train trips across Canada can wake up to the Bubbly Brunch event and sample the best sparkling wines in British Columbia, or pair decadent pastries with various dessert wines at Motivo Cafe.

The Wine Festival will close out with the massive tasting event at the Kamloops Convention Center where more than 150 wines will be available for sampling.