Things to Do in Kelowna & Okanagan Valley

It might seem surprising that a cemetery features on Zagreb’s list of top tourist attractions, but the exquisite Mirogoj Cemetery is no ordinary graveyard. Laid out in 1876 by acclaimed German architect Hermann Bollé, the 7-acre plot is renowned as one of Europe’s most beautiful cemeteries, fronted by a grand 500-meter long neo-Renaissance arcade and set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Medvednica.

Strolling the tree-lined walkways through Mirogoj Cemetery unveils an elaborate series of mausoleums and chapels, landscaped gardens and monumental statues, most notably the Bollé-designed Chapel of Christ the King; the modern Crematorium and Urn Grove; and sculptures by Ivan Mestrovic and Mihanovic. Read the inscriptions on the ornate tombstones and you’ll recognize the names of many of Croatia’s most prominent artists, politicians and soldiers, including playwright Miroslav Krleza, American NBA basketball player Drazen Petrovic, poet Petar Preradovic, Croatia’s first president, Franjo Tudman and, fittingly, Hermann Bollé himself.

One of the largest miniature parks in the world, Miniaturk opened in 2003 on the northeastern shore of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Covering 60,000 square meters, the park features 120 models of structures from throughout Turkey. It is divided into three sections: Istanbul, Anatolia and Ottoman territories that today lie outside of Turkey.

The Istanbul section includes models of 57 structures, including the Aya Sophia, Rumeli Fortress, Suleymaniye Mosque, Tomb of Sinan, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Galata Tower, each built to scale at 1/25th of the original size. The Anatolia section features 51 models, including the Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, the Great Mosque in Diyarbakir, traditional stone houses in Mardin and the Mount Nemrut ruins.

Finally, the former Ottoman territories section includes 12 structures, including the Mehmet Ali Pasha Mosque in present-day Cairo, the Mostar Bridge in present-day Bosnia and several tombs that can be found today in Romania, Kosovo and Budapest.

Another highlight of the park is the Panorama Victory Museum, dedicated to the Turkish War for Independence. The park also includes a 400-seat amphitheater, a gift shop, playground, labyrinth and life-sized chessboard.

With its grand neo-Renaissance façade presiding over Roosevelt Square in Zagreb’s Donji Grad (Lower Town), the Mimara Museum (Muzej Mimara) is impossible to miss, but the dramatic building is more than just a pretty face. This is the city’s biggest and most important art history museum, housing over 3,750 works, including paintings, sculptures and crafts, spanning over three millennia. The permanent exhibition is made up of the personal collections of Wiltrud and Ante Topić Mimara, an extraordinary assemblage of artifacts bequeathed to the city in 1987.

Elements of the collection come from all around the world, including Persian carpets, ancient Egyptian glassware, elaborate Renaissance altarpieces and archaeological finds from Greece, Rome and early-medieval Europe. Highlights include an enameled 13th-century crucifix, a series of ancient Far Eastern artworks and paintings by Dutch artists Rembrandt and Ruisdael, Spanish painters Velāzquez and Goya, and other famous names like Rubens, Van Dyck, Manet and Caravaggio.

With a name that translates into English as "Lake of Love," you might be tempted to dismiss Minnewater as a little clichéd. That would be a mistake, however, as this canalized lake is genuinely charming and can even create the feeling of traveling back in time to Bruges’ medieval heyday.

The lake is surrounded by trees and old brick houses and the adjacent Minnewater Park is often the site of live musical performances during the summer months. You will likely spot many swans on the lake, they are one of Bruges’ symbols, but be warned that they can be known to be quite territorial. The best views of the Minnewater can be had from the 18th-century bridge that crosses the lake.

Minnewater is certainly a romantic place to stroll around with someone special, but anyone can appreciate the peacefulness and scenery and it can make a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city center. The best time to visit is the early morning when it is at its most peaceful and a light mist still hangs over the lake.

The MINT, short for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys, Museum of Toys opened in 2006 as the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to toys and children’s memorabilia. The private museum is owned by Mr. Chang Yang Fa, a citizen of Singapore and passionate collector of toys.

Today, the museum houses the largest collection of vintage, rare and one-of-a kind toys in the world -- a collection that includes some 50,000 specimens collected from 40 different countries. Toys on display run the gamut from the familiar (Batman and Popeye) to more obscure pieces from Europe and Japan. If you’re looking for something specific, you’ll find a collection of China-made toys on the second floor, the Childhood Favourites collection on the third and exhibit space dedicated to characters on the fourth.

If you get hungry, the museum houses three eateries. Mr. Punch Restaurant serves up 1920s-inspired dishes, the Rooftop Bar specializes in cocktails and snacks, and the Sidewalk Bar makes for excellent people watching over a cold drink and a casual bite to eat.