Things to Do in Kelowna & Okanagan Valley

The Old Harbor, or Oude Haven, of Rotterdam is the city’s first port, dating back to 1350. Today, the Old Harbor is an entertainment center of Rotterdam, with a unique mix of old and new structures and a collection of terraces and restaurants to enjoy some time to relax in the bustling city.

Rotterdam’s Old Harbor is home to a number of old sailing ships that harken back to the heyday of the city as a trading port. Alongside the harbor stands Het Witte Huis (The White House), recognized as the first skyscraper of Europe. Standing 45 meters, the White House was built in 1898, and was not only the first, but also the highest skyscraper in Europe.  

The ten-story, art nouveau-style building was designed by Dutch architect Willem Molenbroek, and stands on 1,000 piles that keep it from sinking into the soft soil. It is one of the few buildings in Rotterdam to have survived the German bombing campaign of May 14, 1940.

The Old Harbor used to be the home of the Plan C business complex, built in 1880. This complex combined shops, offices and homes around central arcades, allowing shoppers to remain dry even during the rain. This complex was, in fact, one of the first shopping malls similar to the malls of today. Unfortunately, most of Plan C was destroyed in the bombing, and only the railing and some underpasses of the complex remain today.

Taking its place around the Old Harbor are the restaurants and modern apartments that the Old Harbor is known for today. Chief among these are Rotterdam’s Cube Houses, built in 1984.  These houses, designed by Piet Blom, look like giant yellow blocks, tilted on their side and raised up on poles. The cube house complex is known as the Blaakse Bos, or Blaakse Forest, as each of the houses can be seen to look like a tree. One of the cube houses is open to the public, or you can spend the night at the Stayokay hostel, which is located within one of the cubes.

The area around the harbor has now been transformed into a center for dining and nightlife in Rotterdam. There are thirteen restaurant and cafes that surround the harbor, along with a CitizenM hotel. 

Surrounded by ancient stone city walls, it is easy to get lost in the winding alleyways of Old Jerusalem — lost in another time, another place, another world. That is what is so special about the place: outside of being of utmost sacred significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims, the Old City maintains its historic feel and tangible spirituality. The Western Wall, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are all located within its walls. The Via Dolorosa, where Jesus is said to have walked to his crucifixion, can still be traced here. There is both a sense of chaos — with bustling souks and busy streets — as there is a deep sense of calm and peace. 

Built by King David in 1004 B.C., the Old City of Jerusalem has one of the most fascinating histories in the world. Its walls were constructed in the 16th century by the Ottomans. The city is divided into four main quarters, each with its own distinct feel: the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Armenian quarters. Pilgrims of many world religions can be found on its streets, as well as present day residents who call Jerusalem home.

Inaugurated in 1880 Frankfurt’s Old Opera House (Alte Oper) was among Germany’s elite opera houses during its 20th-century heyday, but by 1951 the building had been badly damaged by fire and a new Opera house had sprung up to take its place. Further damage was sustained throughout the war years and it wasn’t until 1981 that the Old Opera House, saved from demolition by a public petition, was reconstructed and reopened.

With its exteriors and entrance hall restored to reflect the Renaissance design of original architect Richard Lucae, the Old Opera House is now serving out its days as a magnificent concert hall and congress center. After being fated with the post-war nickname of ‘Germany’s most beautiful ruin’, the modern Alte Oper complex is now one of the city’s leading concert venues, hosting around 300 classical and popular music events throughout the year and drawing many additional visitors to its atmospheric onsite café.

The Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) is the third-oldest museum on Berlin’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed Museum Island (Museumsinsel). Its collection showcases 19th-century artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Rodin. The interior of the neoclassicist building are influenced by Prussian classicism thanks to King Frederick William IV.

The Old National Gallery, one of five museums on Museum Island, houses one of Europe’s largest collections of 19th-century art—with more than 1,800 paintings and 1,500 sculptures. Though much of the museum was destroyed during World War II, it was later repaired by both the communist and democratic regimes in the following decades. 

Many tours in Berlin explore Museum Island with options to go inside the gallery. If visiting independently, combine the Old National Gallery and other UNESCO-listed Museumsinsel sights with a 3-day Museum Pass. Alternatively, a 2- or 3-day Berlin Pass includes admission to the gallery and more than 50 other city attractions.

The Old National Gallery is located in Berlin Mitte on Museum Island. There is no parking available so take the S-Bahn to Hackescher Markt, or tram M1 or 12 to Georgenstr./Am Kupfergraben.

The Alte Nationalgalerie is open from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and until 8pm on Thursday (when there are fewer visitors); check the website for holiday hours. It is advised to visit the museum outside of the summer months when Berlin is less crowded.

The Old National Gallery vast collection of 19th-century artworks features numerous masterpieces. Significant paintings on display include The Balcony Room and Iron Rolling Mill by Adolph Menzel, In Summer by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Monk by the Sea by German artist Caspar David Friedrich. Don’t-miss sculptures include those of Princesses Luise and Friederike of Prussia as well as Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

Located next to the White House, the Old Executive Office Building houses the majority of offices for the White House staff. The building dates back to 1871, when it housed the State, War, and Navy Departments. The imposing building is also known as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The Old Executive Office Building represents one of the best examples of French Second Empire architecture in the United States. Its unique style catches the eye, a contrast to the many somber classical revival buildings around the city. The building has played host to an incredible number of high-level events. It housed offices for Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Gerald Ford, and George Bush before they became President. Foreign dignitaries have met with the twenty-four Secretaries of State who have called this building home. The Old Executive Office Building is a must-see attraction in Washington DC.

One of the largest cemeteries of its kind in Europe, with headstones dating back to the mid-1400s, the Old Jewish Cemetery is an off-the-beaten-track destination where you can spend a peaceful hour or two. More than 100,000 of Prague’s Jewish citizens were buried here, and there are around 12,000 gravestones still in place.

 

Historians estimate that the cemetery was first put to use during the early 15th century. The oldest grave, belonging to the rabbi and poet Avigdor Kara, dates to 1439. The most recent grave dates from 1787—burials were banned within the city limits after this time due to public health concerns. Headstones display various styles from different eras, including Renaissance, baroque and Gothic. Small pieces of paper held down with pebbles in front of the graves dot the space—local custom has it that the dead will answer your wish if you write it down and leave it in the graveyard, but only if weighted down with a stone brought from your hometown.

 

Visitors often come to the cemetery as part of a walking tour of the city, or as an additional activity after visiting the Jewish Museum. Special tours dedicated to the city’s Jewish history can provide additional insights.

 

 

The Old Jewish Cemetery is located in the Josefov area of the city, between Brehova, Maiselova, and Siroka streets. It is close to the river at the Staromestska metro stop (line A). Tramline 17 also stops close to the cemetery. Traveling by car is not recommended—most people visit on foot, often as part of a guided walking tour.

 

The cemetery is open every day, except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Opening hours are 9am–4:30pm with extended hours in the summer—the exact dates change every year so check before visiting on summer evenings.

 

A marvel of medieval engineering, the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti) is one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions. Every hour, on the hour, carved figures of the Apostles parade past windows in the clock to the delight of the visitors gathered below.

The expansive collection of underwater wildlife living in the Churaumi Aquarium includes some 740 species and 21,000 animals—like three massive whale sharks—that represent much of the marine life indigenous to the oceans surrounding Okinawa. 

Travelers can explore the dark hallways lined with illuminated tanks and uncover mysteries hidden far beneath the surface of the sea. From coral reefs to the famous black current, known by locals as the Kuroshio, visitors can get up close with all the animals that live down below and learn more about what makes Okinawa a unique destination.

Odongdo, once an island but now connected by a walkable breakwater to Yeosu Port, is considered one of the most beautiful islands in Hallyeo Marine National Park. While the island gets its name from the Odong trees growing throughout, it’s the camellia flowers that steal the show. Beginning in January and continuing through March, some 3,000 camellia trees paint the island in shades of pink. Some 70 species of wildflowers grow on the island, so there’s usually something in bloom.

A path leads to the top of the island where a lighthouse dating back to 1952 still stands, and a path circling the island takes visitors through several dense bamboo forests. A large fountain on the island performs dancing water shows synchronized to the latest pop tunes. The island is a popular place to watch the sunrise.

Riga’s Old City is the historic and geographic center of the city, located on the right bank of the Daugava River. Only remnants of the fortifications that enclosed the city between the 13th and 18th centuries still remain, but visitors will be charmed by the narrow cobblestone streets and the medieval architecture. The old city has something for everyone, from churches to museums to outdoor cafes and restaurants. Highlights include the 13th-century Riga Dome Cathedral, the tall steeple spire of St. Peter’s Church, Riga Castle, the House of the Blackheads and the Latvian War Museum, which is housed in the Gunpowder Tower. A trip up the tower of St. Peter’s is a must for its great views over the old city. During the holidays, large outdoor markets can be found in both Dome and Livu Squares and in the winter, an ice skating rink takes over the middle of Livu Square.

In 1970 more than 5,000 Okinawans retaliated against years of military occupation in what eventually became known as the Koza riot. Four years later, on April 1, the city recovered its independence and embarked on the path to becoming one of the island’s top destinations for both locals and travelers.

Steeped in history, culture, politics and tradition, the streets of Okinawa City are alive with an electricity and energy that’s practically unmatched. Large shopping centers, international military bases and world-class botanical gardens all exist side-by-side and offer a testament to the diversity of this city’s past and future. Nearby Shuri Castle, popular Daiichi Makishi Public Market and dozens of live karaoke joints make Okinawa a hub of entertainment and history for travelers that’s worth spending a day—maybe even more—exploring.

Moldova’s most important archaeological site and ecclesiastical complex is found about 12.5 miles (20 km) southeast of the modern city of Orhei and follows a pronounced meander in the Răut River. The complex is close enough to the capital city of Chişinău to make a fascinating day trip through time as it forms an open-air history book dating right from the Dacian early settlers around the 4th century BC through the Middle Ages and almost to modern day.

Stretching over 220 hectares of untamed river valley, the complex counts ancient Dacian fortifications, medieval earthworks, the remains of Turkish wash houses, caves dug into the soft limestone rock and Orthodox monasteries among its manifold attractions. There’s a small exhibition center near the rural village of Trebujeni that sells a guide to the marvels of Old Orhei (40 lei) as well as an ethnographic museum in nearby Butuceni.

Orthodox monks built the cave monastery into the valley’s limestone ridge in the 13th century and all that is visible from the outside is a bell tower and stone cross. Although it was abandoned in the 18th century, a few monks returned in 1996 and the monastery is slowly being brought back into use; its jewel-like stone interior is once more covered in icons and frescoes. In the same year services resumed at the Orthodox church that stands high on the ridge; this was built in 1905 but was closed down under Soviet rule before Moldova threw off the shackles of Communism in 1989.

Located about 10 miles north of Krakow, Ojcow National Park may be the smallest of Poland's national parks, but it offers plenty to see and do. You'll find two river valleys, limestone cliffs, more than 400 caves and the ruins of two castles. The largest cave is the 1,000-foot-deep King Lokietek’s Cave, while the park's impressive rock formations include the Hercules Club, a limestone column standing more than 80 feet high. Ojcow is also very biodiverse, with more than 5,500 species of insects, birds and mammals living here.

Tourist routes marked as red, blue or yellow serve to guide visitors through the park. Highlights include the ruins of a Gothic castle at Ojcow and a Renaissance castle at Pieskowa Skala, as well as the Wladyslaw Szafer Natural Museum. The castle at Pieskowa Skala is also home to a branch of the National Art Collection. 

Spanning about four acres (1.6 hectares) of wetlands just beyond Accra city limits, the slum of Old Fadama—also known as Agbogbloshie—is home to some 40,000 Ghanaians living in extreme poverty. While living conditions are challenging in one of West Africa’s largest slums, members of this innovative community use discarded machinery, appliances, and old computers to forge a living through creativity, ingenuity, and a positive outlook toward improving their neighborhood.

Grasping the dynamics of Old Fadama is critical to understanding the capital city as a whole. While it’s possible to visit Old Fadama alone, a guided walking tour provides a sensitive introduction to the area while ensuring the safety of travelers. With a tour guide from the community, visitors can meet Old Fadama residents, hear their stories, and gain a better appreciation for the inventive ways the community salvages trash into a profitable treasure.

The Old Fadama slum sits on the Korle Lagoon, northwest of Accra’s Central Business District. Due to the nature of the district and the sensitivity surrounding slum tours, it’s best to visit with a tour guide who understands the community and can offer valuable insight into daily life in Old Fadama.

Old Fadama is best visited during the day, when it’s possible to witness the salvaging industries in full swing. In Accra, humidity and precipitation are at their lowest between October and April, making these months the most comfortable time of year to visit.

We are sensitive to the issues and concerns surrounding slums, and we understand that tours of them may not be suitable for everyone. We strongly believe that these tours are educational and allow for a better understanding of life inside Old Fadama.

The Old Cathedral of Managua (Catedral de Managua) is a spectacular ruin whose gilded neoclassical facade still stands but insides were devastated in a 1972 earthquake that shook Nicaragua. Though visitors are not allowed inside, the cathedral’s striking beauty and historical significance make a visit worthwhile.

Inspired by the Saint-Sulpice Church (Eglise Saint-Sulpice) in Paris, this impressive edifice is both an enduring symbol of Nicaragua’s past and a testament to the strength of natural forces. But don’t expect pews and prayers. Though you can peek inside at the cathedral’s original tapestries, statues, and other decor through barred windows, entrance is forbidden due to safety concerns and questions about the structure’s post-earthquake integrity. Instead, take a lap around the outside of the never-restored ruins to admire its bell tower, clock tower, and pediment, which were designed and constructed in Belgium in 1920 before being shipped to Nicaragua.

Easily combine a trip to the cathedral with other nearby attractions like the neighboring National Palace (Palacio Nacional de la Cultura) and the monuments of Plaza de la República on a Managua walking tour, or visit as part of a larger Managua city sightseeing tour for an in-depth understanding of the area’s historical and cultural significance, as well as easy logistics.

The Old Cathedral of Managua is located just a block from the malecón (sea wall) in northwestern Managua. Take one of the city’s many inexpensive taxis, or ride the bus to the National Palace (Palacio Nacional de la Cultura).

An outdoor attraction open year-round, the Old Cathedral is best visited alongside other nearby Managua attractions. 

Though the Nicaraguan government has long promised to restore the cathedral to its former glory, funding issues have prevented any progress. A new initiative backed by Mexican and Italian engineers will take another look to determine the feasibility of restoration. Meanwhile, the New Cathedral of Managua (La Nueva Catedral) was built in 1993 to take its place.

Constructed in 1566 during the Ottoman occupation on the sight of an earlier wooden bridge, the Old Bridge (Stari Most) in multi-cultural Mostar straddles the Neretva River; it was designed in a single stone span by Turkish architect Kodja Mimar Sinan and built by Mimar Hayruddin, who was threatened with execution by the Sultan if the bridge should collapse. Thankfully it stood the test of time until its destruction by shells during the Balkan Wars, but now once again soars over the river, 30 meters (98.5 feet) in length and standing 21 meters (69 feet) at its highest point. Today the Old Bridge is world famous for several reasons: it unites the city’s Muslim and Christian residents between the Ottoman left bank and the largely 19th-century Austro-Hungarian enclave on the right bank; it was blown apart in 1993 when the two communities of Mostar turned on each other; and yet has come to symbolize peace and reconciliation since its restoration – using the original white limestone dredged from the river – and reopening in 2004 with a reinforced metal framework. In summer the youth of Mostar use the UNESCO World Heritage-listed bridge as a diving platform in a spectacular display of foolhardy bravery; an annual diving competition is held in mid-August, watched by up to 15,000 spectators.

The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Berlin. It was built in 1672 and contains the grave of Moses Mendelssohn, a philosopher and the forefather of Jewish Enlightenment in the 1700s. It is estimated that around 12,000 Jewish people are buried here from the years 1672 to 1827. Unfortunately the cemetery was destroyed during World War II, and the site was used as a holding place for Jews before they were deported to concentration camps. The cemetery was reopened in 2008.

Since the cemetery suffered so much destruction during the war, not much remains of the original graves. Memorial plaques have been put up to honor Mendelssohn and other notable people who were buried at the Old Jewish Cemetery. Several thousand World War II soldiers ended up being buried here as well. Other memorial plaques and monuments here honor the Jewish community that once lived in this area and were deported during the war.

In December of 2000, this popular destination became the first ever UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Azerbaijan. Home to the Palace of the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the famous Old City is an epicenter of history, culture and tradition that attracts travelers from across the globe. 

Age is evident in the surrounding architecture—not just in design, but because many of the buildings are in disrepair—and the picturesque streets of Old City are ideal for exploring. Whether it’s the back alleyways, souvenir shops, museums or the palace interior, there’s plenty to see on these ancient walkways. Visitors can hire a guide or strike out on their own. All that’s required is a sense of adventure and some comfortable shoes!

The world’s oldest legal distillery, Bushmills was first granted its whiskey-producing license back in 1608, though historical records suggest production began even earlier. Distillers used malted Irish barley, grains, and water from St. Columb’s Rill to produce their oak-aged Bushmills Original and their Black Bush blend.

 

Make your way to the Old Bushmills Distillery and explore the facility as part of a guided tour that concludes with a complimentary taste of Irish whiskey. Many organized day trips from Belfast stop at Bushmills, as well as other sites along the Antrim Coast, such as Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and Carrickfergus Castle. Some tours visit Game of Thrones filming locations, including Dunluce Castle. Longer Antrim Coast day tours from Dublin also stop at Bushmills.

 

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is located in the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The quickest way to get there from Belfast is to drive along the M2 and A26, which will take about an hour and 10 minutes. Though longer, the Causeway Coastal Route is a more scenic journey. Visitors without access to a car would do best going as part of an organized tour.

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is open year-round, except over the Christmas and New Year’s period and July 12. Tours are limited and subject to availability. During summer months, arrive early in the day to ensure a spot.

 

The Old Bushmills Distillery is just one of many attractions that lie along the 130-mile (209-kilometer) Coastal Causeway Route, which runs from Belfast to Derry (Londonderry). Other highlights of the route include Titanic Belfast; Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge; and the Norman-era Carrickfergus Castle, which overlooks Belfast Lough.