Things to Do in Kelowna & Okanagan Valley

Spain has always been known for its naval history and accomplishments, from military to exploration. The Royal Museum of Feluccas showcases several large barges used by the royal family to navigate the Tagus River. The ships utilized by Spanish royalty, ornately decorated royal feluccas, can be seen just outside of the Spanish capital at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aranjuez. Visitors can view the boats of Charles IV, Ferdinand VII and Elizabeth II, as well as a beautiful gondola that once belonged to King Philip V.

The long, narrow boats are gloriously detailed and were used in ports and on rivers.  Most date back to the 17th century. There are also small historic items and old photographs of the era, marking a fascinating glimpse back in time. Be sure to explore the expansive royal gardens that surround the museum.

Tel Aviv’s Museum of the Jewish People (Beit Hatfutsot) tells the ongoing 4,000-year story of the Jewish people from the past into the future. The permanent collection includes exhibits on trailblazers and heroes of Jewish history, Israel’s War of Independence and the past and present of synagogues.

At the heart of it all is the Core Exhibition — a story through the eras of Jewish life and history through a collection of dioramas, murals, models, film and multi-media displays on topics like family life, community, martyrdom, faith, culture and the interaction between the Jewish people and their host environments throughout the world.

As of 2016 the museum is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, which will culminate in a new 66,000-square-foot permanent exhibit in 2019 — this reinvented space will place greater emphasis on narrative, identity and participation.

Even though the Civil War in El Salvador ended in 1992, it still feels current, ongoing, and real, at Perquín’s Museum of the Revolution. For one thing the guides who work the museum were onetime guerilla fighters—risking their lives in tunnels and jungles to fight for the rights of the poor. When visiting this moving, informative museum, see remains of the downed helicopter that killed Colonel Monterossa—the leader of the Atlacatl Battalion responsible for the El Mozote massacre. You’ll also find craters created by bombs supplied by the US military, as well as weapons used by guerrillas to battle the government army. As this section of country was pro-FMLN, it also housed the influential Radio Venceremos, which helped to spread the leftist message throughout the rural communities. Nearby, another site has hand-dug tunnels where guerrillas would hide in the hills, and visitors are welcome to climb in the tunnels to feel the cramped, dark sense of space guerrillas endured every day. While the drive from San Salvador to Perquín is lengthy—over three bumpy hours in total—it’s a journey that’s more than worth the reward for learning these tales from the war.

Amsterdam’s museum quarter – or Museumplein – is home to the three most important and revered museums in Amsterdam – the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, and the Van Gogh Museum. The surrounding area also features some exclusive shopping, the largest city park in Amsterdam (the Vondelpark), along with a whole host of other attractions. 

The Museumplein is a place that attracts Amsterdam’s visitors and locals in equal measure – where international art-lovers mingle with local children playing football on the grass. In 1999 the main square was transformed from a simple 19th-century paved square into a large field with a pond at its centerpiece. 

Located to the south of the Museumplein, Amsterdam’s world-famous Concert Hall can accommodate up to 2000 people and is international recognized for its outstanding acoustics. Between the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum sits Coster Diamonds, where visitors can discover the process of polishing and cutting diamonds on a free guided tour. Meanwhile, the nearby P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street is home to some of the world’s most chic and exclusive fashion outlets – and is one of the most expensive shopping streets in The Netherlands. 

With a capacity of 2,854 between two concert halls, the Musikverein is home to the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. It was constructed on the Vienna Ringstrasse, in elegant Neo-Classical style, by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, and as well as having some of the best acoustics in the world, it is considered one of the loveliest concert halls in Europe. Inaugurated in 1870 by the Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph, the Musikverein is famous for its elaborate Golden Hall, the ornate, gilt-clad auditorium with a frescoed ceiling, dripping chandeliers and luxurious balconied stalls. The Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year concert has been broadcast all around the world from here since 1959. A chamber-music hall is used for smaller events.

A night out at the Musikverein is a dressy affair, so don’t turn up in jeans and sneakers, even if you’ve bought a last-minute standing ticket. Concerts are held most evenings and the packed repertoire includes a mixed bag of works by the likes of Brahms, Mozart, Dvořák and Tchaikovsky played by guest orchestras from all over the musical world.

With a string of world-class museums running along the banks of the Main River, Frankfurt’s Museumsufer, or Museum Embankment, is one of Germany’s most important cultural hubs. Thirteen museums call the Museumsufer home, housed in a series of beautifully restored 18th-century villas that line the waterfront of Sachsenhausen between the Friedensbrücke Bridge and Dreikönigskirche Church. 

The first museums to open up along the riverside were the Städel Art Institute, the Liebieg Sculpture Museum and the Museum of Communications, but by the 1980s the city had proposed the idea of creating an entire boulevard of museums. Today, residents include the Giersch Museum, the German Museum of Architecture, the German Film Museum, the Museum of World Cultures, the Museum of Applied Art, the Jewish Museum and the Icons Museum. Best of all, those visiting multiple museums along Museumsufer can make the most of combined or discounted tickets, and the embankment also hosts the summer Museumsuferfest, an annual Night of Museums and a weekly Saturday flea market. 

Museum Our Lord in the Attic (Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder) is one of the oldest museums in Amsterdam. The attic of this 17th century canal house conceals a secret church, where Catholics of the Dutch Reformed Church who were unable to worship in public held their services.

A merchant purchased the building during this period, and he and his family lived on the ground floor. Catholic masses were officially forbidden from 1578 onwards, but the Protestant governors of Amsterdam generally turned a blind eye, as long as churches such as this one were unrecognisable from the outside.

The lower floors of the building became a museum in 1888 and today contain refurbished kitchens and other rooms housing a collection of church paintings, silver, and various religious artifacts. Visitors can explore the building’s narrow passageways and stairways while marveling at the ornate furniture and works of art. The church organ, located opposite the altar, was built by Hendrik Meyer in 1794 especially for the church, and is still regularly played.

The Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia focuses on the art and history of Bulgaria during the communist period from 1944 to 1989. The museum was opened in September 2011 and includes a statue park and indoor exhibition space. More than 70 statues and busts of former socialist leaders, including a giant statue of Lenin that once stood in the center of the city, have found a new home in the park. The statues generally include only the title, creator, and in some cases the town where the statue came from. There is also a red star that once topped the Socialist Party headquarters.

The gallery has art on display that focuses on the socialist period. There are 60 paintings and 25 easel representations. Some of the art depicts life during World War II while other pieces show socialism in the country, including some scenes of happy life under party rule. There is also a video hall for screening documentary films and newsreels from the communist times.

Sweeping down from the lively Port Sultan Qaboos to the 16th-century forts of Mirani and Jalali, the Muttrah Corniche marks the seafront boundary of Muscat’s Old Town. Walking or driving the coastal Al Bahri Road covers one of Muscat’s most scenic stretches, sandwiched between the lapping waves of the Gulf of Oman to the north and the looming Al Hajar Mountains, which separate the neighborhoods of Old Muscat from the modern city in the west. 

Start out from the harbor where wooden dhows jostle for space with modern cruise liners and the circular towers of Muttrah fort keep a watchful eye over the bay. From here, the road runs east for around 3km along the coast, passing by the famous Muttrah fish market and souk and Al Lawatiya Mosque, with its striking gold-dome topped minaret, before jutting inland through the historic city gates of Old Muscat center. The leafy Al Riyam Park and the golden sands of Al Bustan Beach also lie along the Corniche, breaking up the sprawl of dazzling white architecture and making ideal dolphin-spotting areas.

Many Americans recognize Alexander Hamilton as the face of the $10 bill, and also perhaps as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury who fatally lost a duel against sitting U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. But few know that Hamilton actually started his life here on the tiny isle of Nevis.

The Museum of Nevis History occupies the building where Hamilton was born. The small museum sits along the waterfront of Charlestown offering visitors a glimpse not only at Hamilton’s life on island, but also memorabilia from Captain Horatio Nelson who also lived on island after marrying the widow Frances Nisbet of Montpelier Estate, and exhibits about the geological creation of the island and the native islanders’ history precolonial times.

The cultivation of olives and the production of olive oil have been vitally important to Greece for centuries and hills covered in silver-leafed olive trees form an iconic part of the landscape. The country’s homage to its most important crop opened in 2002 in Laconia, one of its main olive-producing regions, and offers an informative take on the cultural and economic importance of olives as well as taking visitors step by step through the process of producing olive oil, soap and other by-products. As well as ancient amphorae used for transporting olive oil, mill stones and flat-bottomed Byzantine storage jars, highlights of the exhibition include clay tablets from the 14th century BC, which are inscribed with the health-giving properties of olive oil. 

A variety of olive presses from all across Greece date from ancient times right up to the industrial age and include examples powered by water, steam, diesel and even by animal. Among the olive trees in the museum grounds are several sizeable presses, including replicas of ones from prehistoric, Classic and Byzantine times. A small store offers a range of local, organic and flavoured olive oils for sale as well as handmade soaps.

Travelers looking to get in touch with Dominica Republic’s deep European roots will find the Museum of the Royal Houses a must-see stop in Santo Domingo. This 16th-century building was once home to the administrative offices of the Spanish colonies.

Two distinct structures—the South and North buildings—were designed to house the first court of the New World, the offices of political leaders and the workspace of the comptroller. Visitors can wander the grounds and explore the labyrinth of rooms, which include displays on early legislation, the office of the chief judge, historical ceramics, military function and old world family life.

Housed in a historic 15th century former monastery, this museum holds an impressive collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings. The Prisenhof has a fascinating history; after its use as a convent it served as the residence for William of Orange, who was murdered (bullet holes still visible) in the house by a fanatic in 1584. Operating today strictly as an art museum, its collection consists mostly of 17th century paintings and Delftware ceramics. There’s also rich period furniture, tapestries, portraits, pottery, and fine gold and silver items that give a sense of Dutch aristocracy.

Themes from the time period, including the life of Prince William of Orange and the House of Orange-Dassau, the city of Delft, and the Dutch Uprising, are all well represented in the art. The interior also gives visitors the chance to experience Dutch life much as it was in the 16th century. Interactive multimedia and video presentations do a great job of bringing the history to life.

The Museum of the Island of Cozumel (Museo de la Isla de Cozumel) sits on the waterfront in downtown San Miguel de Cozumel. Inside the historical building are a wealth of displays, all well signed in both Spanish and English. Its four permanent exhibit rooms offer an overview of the island’s geography, ecosystems, history, and culture.

The museum’s exhibits begin on the ground floor with Cozumel’s natural history. Fine examples from the island’s famed coral reefs are a must for snorkelers and divers eager to learn more about the underwater world. Other highlights include interactive exhibits about Cozumel’s cultural heritage and its history of pirate attacks. You can also see Cozumel’s transformation from a sparsely populated Caribbean island into an internationally known tourist destination.

Visit the Museum of the Island of Cozumel independently or as part of a guided history walking tour that provides a great overview of San Miguel de Cozumel’s waterfront and downtown.

The Museum of the Island of Cozumel is an easy walk from the Playa del Carmen ferry pier or the Plaza del Sol. Simply head north along the waterfront on Avenida Rafael Melgar and the museum is on your right, between Calle 4 and Calle 6.

 

The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and there isn’t really a bad time to visit. If you want to avoid the crowds, arrive in the morning. Winter brings large numbers of travelers to Cozumel, and the weeks before and after Easter are some of the busiest.

Set aside some time to eat at the excellent Café El Museo, a casual restaurant located on the second floor above the museum. Enjoy fresh seafood, authentic Mexican dishes, and fabulous Caribbean Sea views from the lovely covered patio, which must have been a favorite spot for guests at what was once Cozumel’s first upscale hotel.

Madrid is full of beautiful museums with both classic and modern art on display, but the outdoor Museum of Public Art showcases another side of the Spanish art scene. The open-air museum, uniquely situated under a bridge in the middle of the city, features 17 pieces of abstract sculpture by (until now) undiscovered artists. It is a public space used both for recreation and for the discovery of unique local art. Two generations of Spanish avant-garde artists are represented, from Joan Miró, Julio González, and Alberto Sánchez in the 1920s and '30s to the pre-Civil War artists such as Eduardo Chillida. 

Groundbreaking art blends seamlessly into the existing structure of the city and is accessible to anyone and everyone, which makes this unique museum particularly notable. Aside from the sculptures, be sure to check out the murals, gardens, and waterfall that make up this beautiful outdoor space.

Suzdal’s Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life is an open air museum dedicated to showing how Russian peasants lived in centuries past. Just a short walk across the Kamenka River from Suzdal’s Kremlin, the museum consists of about 20 wooden buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, including log houses, windmills, churches and a barn. Set up like a small village, the museum sits on the site of St. Dmitry’s Monastery, one of the oldest in Suzdal. Visitors can go inside three houses, as well as the 18th century Transfiguration Church, notable for its dome covered with silvery aspen shakes.

The museum is also home to a variety of cultural activities, including weaving demonstrations, pottery making and folk singing. Museum staff wear traditional costumes and English speaking guides can explain how the various buildings were used and provide insight as to how Russian peasants lived.

The Vienna Museum of Technology is a place to play with science. The museum prides itself on being a showplace for technological developments past, present, and future. By regional, and even international, standards the museum boasts unique collections. The collections include exhibits from the fields of transportation, energy, heavy industry, everyday life, mobility, media worlds, and musical instruments. In addition to the collections, interactive demonstrations and live laboratories enriched with graphics, experiments, films and texts provide educational entertainment for adults, kids, families, and groups. The museum’s unique multimedia presentations show the influence of Austria’s technological achievements on its modern society, economy, and culture. 

A highlight is the high­ voltage demonstration in which a ‘singing’ Tesla coil creates extremely high voltage that forms lightning bolts – and they play music! The electricity from the coil’s discharge gets channelled in such a way that the lightning itself becomes a speaker, playing a musical repertoire ranging from ‘The Blue Danube’ to ‘Smoke on the Water’. Several other technological innovations and regular special exhibits make a visit to this museum a worthwhile experience for visitors of all ages.

Muttrah is a district and former fishing village in the Muscat province of Oman with a long history as a center of commerce in the region. Souq Muttrah, a traditional bazaar still operating today, is one of the oldest marketplaces in the world. Its history dates back to the age of sail, when Muttrah was an important trade location between India and China. Set against the backdrop of the Muttrah harbor, it is still a center for trading and shopping today both for locals and visitors. It is named “Al Dhalam” (‘darkness’ in Arabic) for its many crowded stalls and lanes where little sun hits. Housed under a timber roof, it maintains its traditional Arabic feel. A labyrinth of alleyways, spices, perfumes and stands, it is one of the most popular attractions to visit in Oman.

Stroll alongside the Port Sultan Qaboos (Port Muttrah), one of the main commercial ports of Oman. Barter for silks, precious metals, antiques, spices, incense or jewelry in the souk, stop for an Arabic coffee or a fresh fruit juice, explore the local fish market and be transported to both the past and present of the country’s culture.