Through our five senses, we experience the world around us—we can discover delicious tastes, stunning sights, pleasing scents, new textures, and wondrous sounds. When traveling to Kelowna, it’s easy to explore mindfully and with purpose by engaging your five senses.

See

^{Rose Valley Regional Park. Photo credit: Scott Bakken Productions}

Regardless of what time of year you visit, Kelowna’s natural beauty is one of its defining characteristics. From atop the mountains that surround the city and nearby communities, you can start or end your day by admiring the rising and setting of the sun—a scroll through our Instagram page (@tourismkelowna) will give you an idea of the colours and views you can see.

And while it’s easy to snap near-perfect photographs with our smartphones now, incorporating a mindfulness lens to your Kelowna adventures and photography can help make the moments that much more meaningful. Local artist, Alison Beaumont, will help you slow down and pay attention to your surroundings in her upcoming mindful photography workshop.

The session, Mindful Moments: Photography in Nature, is taking place at Rose Valley Regional Park on Saturday, March 8, as part of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan’s (RDCO) nature programs. Alison will offer tips and tricks for phone photography all while keeping mindfulness top of mind. The workshop will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. PDT. The cost is $20 per and registration can be completed through the RDCO website.

Taste

^{Local morel mushrooms and claytonia foraged by Scott Moran (Photo Credit: Melissa McCluskey, May 2020)}

Nature’s bounty is abundant in Kelowna, where a thriving agricultural sector leads to numerous sustainable dining experiences. Innovative chefs at the region's various farm to table restaurants showcase the region’s freshest eats through creative experiences. Ready to learn some culinary skills to make your own tasty eats? Sign up for one of the many cooking classes offered by Lakehouse Kitchens Cooking School and The Okanagan Table. 

And while Kelowna chefs are serving up the best of the Okanagan, you can also discover tasty morsels by exploring and foraging in the wild yourself. Early spring brings with it wild asparagus, which most often grows in orchards, ditches or near streams, where the soil is quite damp. Foraging throughout the region will offer up numerous edible delights including earthy, sought-after morel mushrooms, as well as different types of herbs and greens, berries, and more.  

Foraging is a fun way to not only taste the region but to engage your other senses, too. There is a lot of knowledge required to forage, though, so be sure you’re up to speed on what is edible and what is not. Kelowna Forager, Scott Moran, is a great resource to guide your adventures and sells foraged goods (as they are available) at the Kelowna Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market, for those who may not have the time to take in the experience themselves. You can learn more about Scott and foraging in the Okanagan here.

Touch

^{Photo Credit: Chloe Popove}

Connecting to the earth through touch can bring a welcome sense of calm and peacefulness. Whether it’s walking along the waterfront barefoot, dipping your toes into the cool, refreshing waters of Okanagan Lake, or feeling the breeze on your skin while you explore Kelowna’s many parks, you’re sure to find many ways to feel the world around you, mindfully.

In addition to exploring the vast outdoor spaces in the region, you can also use your sense of touch to discover syilx culture at the Kelowna Art Gallery. On select Saturdays each month, the gallery hosts an Indigenous Beading Circle, where participants spend the afternoon beading and sharing knowledge. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous creatives are invited to participate. Pre-registration for the events are recommended, since space is limited. Admission is by donation.

Smell

^{Photo credit: Ken Hagen}

Spring is a time of renewal and growth, bringing with it an array of comforting scents including blossoming fruit trees. From early April to late May, Kelowna and its surrounding communities are filled with beautiful buds and fragrant smells, making your adventures even more enjoyable.

You can also let your nose guide you to support numerous local businesses, shopping purposefully to support the local economy. What are some of the smells that will entice you? High-quality, locally roasted coffee being brewed at Bright Jenny. The recognizable smell of fermenting yeast and classic pizza at Jackknife Brewing. Freshly baked pastries at Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate or Bliss Bakery & Bistro. The list could go on, and on, and on. Seriously. There are so many delicious eats and sips that will engage your sense of smell before your sense of taste, so take your time and explore them all.

Hear

^{Red Bird Brewing, outdoor music event}

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of uplifting music and lyrics hitting your ears, allowing us to tune out the noise of everyday life and focus our attention on the auditory goodness emanating from the stage. There are numerous venues in and around Kelowna where you can catch live music—from craft breweries like Red Bird Brewing and BNA Brewery to venues like the Kelowna Community Theatre and Rotary Centre for the Arts, the options are extensive. 

Located in a converted apple-packing warehouse, Revelry Food + Music Hub is one of the city's newest destinations for live music and entertainment. One of my favourite Canadian musicians, Lights, will be bringing her high-energy show to Revelry's stage as part of her (A)live Again tour. The Kelowna show is set to take place on Saturday, May 10—tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. 

Once you've had your fill of live music, you can head out into nature and take in the sounds of birds throughout the region, which offers some of the best urban birding experiences in BC. There are numerous sanctuaries throughout Kelowna, as well as ponds and parks where you can listen to the chirps and songs of area birds. Find out more about birdwatching in Kelowna here or by watching the video below.

View more of what Shoaib loves about Kelowna 

As you set out to discover Kelowna mindfully and with purpose through your five senses, be sure to share your adventures—use #exploreKelowna and tag Tourism Kelowna on social media.