Go Alice Go

Planet Bee Honey Farm is a sweet place to spend a sunny morning or afternoon or even just to stock up on some treats and other goodies to take home.

Things of note:

• Planet Bee Honey Farm has its own dedicated parking.
• There are no stairs to contend with to get inside or around in the main building.
• There are folding metal, padded chairs (no arms) to sit on inside where you can watch a presentation about bees at different times of day, but you can feel free to use the chairs at any time of day.
• Outside, there are sturdy plastic/metal picnic tables in a few shady spots where you can sit and relax.
• Be aware that there is some uneven ground in certain areas. This is a working farm.
• There are, as one would expect on a bee farm, many bees around the property. Clearly, there is a risk of bee sting and those with allergies should prepare themselves appropriately.
• This place gets very busy in the afternoons because of tour bus visitors. If you dislike crowds or are concerned about navigating inside the building with a mobility device when it is crowded then you may want to visit in the morning.
• All of the staff we encountered was very friendly, despite how busy it was, and we were immediately greeted upon entering.

It was very busy when we visited on a sunny afternoon so I didn’t take any pictures of the inside as I try not to take pictures of other people when I can help it (and even when I do, I try to manage pictures where people’s privacy is still maintained). This place is a great place to gift shop, though! There are health products, beauty products, candy and snacks, beeswax candles and so much more.  They offer mead tastings, which come in a variety of flavours, and there is a station where you can try all of their wonderful flavours of honey. I purchased a jar of lavender honey that is divinely floral and sweet!

I also decided to try one of their skin care products, a honey rose toner. Between wearing sunscreen all the time and sweating in this heat I find my face needs a good cleaning before bed but so many products are hard on my sensitive skin that is prone to hives and other rash-like symptoms since developing an auto-immune disorder of some kind. I’ve been using the toner every evening for about a week now and it hasn’t caused any allergic-type responses. A big YAY for that!

A visit here is a nice way to learn about different types of pollinators as well as determine the best plants that we can add to our gardens in order to support bees in their tireless work. Bees are so important to our ecosystem and people of all ages are welcome to come learn about them here!

 

The Okanagan Heritage Museum is located in the downtown core and is easily accessible by bus in that it’s located next to a large transfer station. We decided to visit the museum again because we had family visiting from another country and the recent outbreak of forest fires had made the air quality a bit poor, so day indoors was a good choice. The museum has some permanent exhibits but it also has temporary ones so there is often something new to see.

Things of note:

• Easily accessible by bus and also has dedicated pay parking right out front.
• The museum is wheelchair accessible with ramps and stairs, though I do think the building is older and that the ramps are a bit narrower than some I’ve seen, but it’s probably safe to assume that the ramps are up to code.
• There is plenty of space between exhibits if you require the use of a mobility device.
• There are a few places to sit down if you need a rest, including some fold up metal (cushioned) chairs where you can watch some short videos about the local Indigenous Peoples, bench seats inside the pit house, and a few larger padded chairs in the temporary bathing suit exhibit.
• The bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Above: Front Entrance.

Above: An “ALL-USER” washroom.

Above: An important, touching exhibit about people who are homeless in Kelowna. Everyone deserves safety, shelter, and opportunities.

Above: Sports memorabilia. I admit that I’m not a sports fan, myself, but there is something for everyone at the museum!

Above: There are many old photographs and permanent exhibits that showcase pictures and information about Kelowna’s beginnings.

Above:  Much of the original railway in Canada was built on the backs of Chinese people who were little more than slaves. Those who remained in Canada made homes and lives here, and Chinese communities or “Chinatowns” still exist in some places. While Kelowna doesn’t currently have a “Chinatown” it seems that there was one here in the past. According to the Kelowna Now website: “Chinatown existed in the 200 block north of Harvey Ave, south of Leon Avenue, east of Abbott Street between Harvey and Leon.” Source: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/17/04/13/Okanagan_Throwback_Chinatown/?fb_comment_id=1445558915464848_1460358210651585#f302ca752b1f232

Above: The dragon costume reminds me of seeing the larger ones in parades in my childhood, in Victoria.

Above: Elextric Xylopohone, anyone? As you can see this piece is behind glass but I sure wish we could have played it.

Above: The local Indigenous Peoples of the Okanagan built pit houses that helped them to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This replica is a nice place to have a rest and listen to some local Indigeous musicians from a recording you can play inside it pit house.

Above: This blanket is iconic to Canadians as a recognized pattern of what was once the Hudson Bay Trading Company. What I appreciate about this exhibit is that it speaks a truth that Canada has spent a lot of years covering up; Colonization (in the past and today) has included cultural and literal genocide. The little plaque explains that smallpox was often transmitted through blankets and killed unknown numbers of Indigenous Peoples. What we do know, is that whole families and even entire communities were decimated. The only chance at moving forward it to recognize the truth and be open and willing to reconcile.

I am typing this from unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan Peoples.

Above: There are some interesting fossils and footprints to be found at the museum including this Therapod footprint and an impressively detailed fish fossil.

Above: There are a number of taxidermied animals and birds on display including this oddity.

Above: One of the current temporary exhibit shows bathing suits through the decades. It’s a great summer addition to the museum and I enjoyed seeing many of the different patterns and fabrics.

Above: Ogopogo sighting!

These are just a sampling of what there is to discover at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. I encourage you to explore it for yourself!

 

 

Giobean is a lovely spot for a light breakfast or lunch and in the warmer months you can sit outside in the sunshine and people watch in the downtown area.

Things of Note:

• Parking is sometimes an issue. What is available is metered parking along the streets and it can sometimes be difficult to find a spot close by.
• There are no stairs to deal with inside or out.
• The bathroom is a single-use room that is wheelchair accessible.
• The inside seating consist of sturdy chairs without arms that can be moved as needed, as well as padded seats along the wall. It is not incredibly spacious and the place is often busy, especially on weekends. While it would be possible to navigate with certain mobility devices, space might make that a challenge when it’s particularly busy. I visited on a weekday morning this particular time and it wasn’t crowded.
• The outdoor seating is metal and very sturdy but it does have arms that can be uncomfortable if you are larger. In the last 5 months I have managed to lose 50 pounds (mostly thanks to being off prednisone for now) so I was able to sit in the outdoor seats with only a small bit of discomfort rather than actual pain. At my heavier sizes those chairs have been very uncomfortable.
• There are giant umbrellas outside that can be adjusted, depending on whether you’d like sun or shade. The sun has been causing some flare-up symptoms for me lately so I was happy to have a bit of shade.
• Dogs are welcome in the outside area and a big dish is kept full of water out by the sidewalk for any doggies that need some hydration.
• There are posts for locking up bikes right outside the café including some of the new rental bikes that are all over the city (they are $1/hour, according to the little sign on them).
• If you sit outside, be prepared to have bird friends that eagerly await any crumbs you might drop.

My husband is particular about his coffee, having spent most of his life living in Europe, and he particularly enjoys the coffee here. I nearly always have tea, more specifically a non-fat London Fog latte, and they make theirs only very slightly sweetened which is refreshing.

They make wonderful pastries! As you can see from this picture, my companions had chocolate croissants and I had a lovely raisin scone with my London Fog latte.

You will find plenty of pastries, hot and cold drinks, and sandwiches here, as well as some gluten-free items that are wrapped and stored separately to avoid cross-contamination and rich, creamy gelato in the summertime.

So, while it isn’t always the most accessible place in terms of parking or space, this is still my favourite place to have a little breakfast date.

 

While each Menchies location is laid out differently, I generally find them to be quite spacious and easy to navigate whether you’re picking up something to go or enjoying a treat there.  We’ve been having a heat wave so we decided to beat the heat with a lunch of frozen yogurt.

Things of note at this location (2463 Hwy 97 N):

• This location is in a strip mall so it’s easy to find parking close to the door.
• There are no steps to deal with outside or inside.
• The washrooms are single-use rooms and are wheelchair accessible.
• Most of the chairs are plastic chairs without arms, but they have metal legs and are sturdy.
• There are a couple small padded bench seats.
• Tables and chairs can be moved as needed.
• The one thing that might be a challenge is reaching some of the frozen yogurt toppings if you are in a wheelchair, due to them being higher up and/or behind other items.
• Some of the frozen yogurt options are dairy-free (sorbet) for those who require or want that.

My favourite flavour is their plain, tart yogurt, and I like to top it with boba, sprinkles, and a few gummy bears. This time I added a few broken bits of waffle cone.

One of my companions had this chocolatey delight sprinkled with Skittles and topped with a square of brownie. He reports that the Skittles were a bit of an addition, especially since they became so frozen and a bit difficult to chew, which is something to consider if chewing is difficult for you or you’d like to keep your own teeth.

This location also provides colouring sheets, crayons, and tape so that you can leave your creations on the wall. I’ve seen some pretty funny things up on that wall, because adults like to have their fun, too! I’ll leave those details up to your imaginations. ;o)