One of my goals this summer is to slow down and spend more time with the kids! Not only do I want to spend time with them soaking up the sun around our pool but I also want to make some time to get out and explore what Kelowna has to offer! If you followed along with me over on my Instagram stories a few weeks ago, you would have noticed that we went on a little adventure around our home town and visited THREE amazing spots that should definitely make their way onto your Okanagan bucket list this year!
So much of the city limits in Kelowna and surrounding area is rural land, which provides some amazing hidden gems from stunning orchards and gardens providing delicious fresh food and beautiful wide-open spaces plus, it’s also so close to an urban center with lots of food and shopping opportunities! Now that the warmer weather is upon us, I think it’s time to share these hidden gems with you so that YOU and your family can enjoy them as well. Whether you live in the area or plan on visiting Kelowna this summer, these are a few places you’ll want to make a pit stop at!
Arion Therapeutic Farm
We fell head over heels with this incredible farm the moment we walked through the gates! The Arion Therapeutic Farm is located in south-east Kelowna and is 12 acres of BEAUTIFUL land that is home to around 50 adorable farm animals! Leo and Hayden (Leo’s cousin!) absolutely LOVED being able to interact with all of the animals. We’re talking, pigs, sheep, horses, MINI horses, a calf, a goose … and donkeys!! The kids were thrilled to see all of these farms animals up close and personal and have the opportunity to pet and feed them!
Not only does the Arion Therapeutic Farm offer tours on a daily basis but they also have a vegan cafe on site (this is where we had Mother’s Day brunch!!) and they also offer workshops on transitioning to a vegan lifestyle! This place is the PERFECT spot to take the kiddos this summer! I would highly recommend it and I’m sure we will be back a few more times before September!
Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm
If you love lavender (like me!!) the Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm will quickly become your go-to spot this summer … especially once you try their Lavender Sorbet … you will be HOOKED! Team Jilly and I visited the Lavender farm last year when all of the lavender was in bloom and I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it was and just how amazing it smelled there (see photos below, I was pregnant with Annie!).
This year we went back a little early in the season as the lavender wasn’t in bloom yet but we learned so much about the farm and also got to indulge in that sorbet I mentioned earlier! The Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm hosts a number of incredible workshops from botanical body care, clean and green home workshops to botanical DIYs and lavender wreath-making workshops! There really is something for everyone here!
They also offer multiple tours including the Busy Bees Tour (perfect for the little ones), guided tours through the herb farm and garden wanders … where you can stroll the farm at your own pace!
SOMA Craft Cidery
SOMA Craft Cidery is not only fun for the adults (hellooooo cider tasting!!) but it’s also a great spot for the kids as well as they have an Alpaca farm and these Alpacas come RUNNING when they see someone is coming to visit them (because chances are, you’ll give them a little snack ?)! LOL! I think the Alpacas (other than the ciders!) were the highlight of this tour because they were SO CUTE!!SOMA is a family run farm set up on 13 acres of land and their ciders are made from 100% fresh pressed Okanagan apples! Not only are the ciders DELISH but they’re also naturally gluten-free AND they have no added sugar or artificial flavours! They were taste tested and approved by myself and Team Jilly! LOL! Two big thumbs up!!
Have you visited any of these places in Kelowna?? If so, what did you love the most about them?! Make sure to comment below and also make sure to share your favourite go-to spots in Kelowna!
xo
Jilly
Thank you Tourism Kelowna for sponsoring this post. All comments and opinions are my own.
Eat at Cecil’s. Best perogies this side of Kiev
Love Kelowna’! Especially the lavender farm. I hosted a calligraphy workshop there in September and the views from the back deck were incredible ? I created a bullet journal of all our favourite places afterwards; https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs01QO_AzXL/?igshid=1mmx0i6ntuw2d
We LOVE the lavender farm!!! Always such a beautiful and energizing place to visit!! We are excited to try your other two suggestions when we come in July!!! Our two eat old daughter will love all those animals!! Thanks for the suggestions!!
Love the Okanagan! My Mom lives in Penticton and it is such a lovely place to visit! Do you mind sharing where your hat is from? Love all of the photos!
Please come visit us at the East Kelowna Hall every Sunday for our East Kelowna Market. Local art, craft, produce, eats, treats and coffee. The best live music too. 2704 East Hall.
We just moved to Kelowna last autumn so we too spent the summer exploring our new backyard 🙂 I haven’t heard of Arion Therapeutic Farm nor did I realize that SOMA Craft Cidery has an alpaca farm… which makes is a perfect combo to bring the kids! Bonus! The kids fav this summer was the biking in Myra Canyon, Gyro beach and of course picking (aka eating) the cherries.