With COVID-19 in its current state and international travel even domestic being suspended for the unforeseeable future we all have to turn to more local travel.
In todays episode I wanted to shed some light on a section of the website I don’t talk about very often ‘The Okanagan’ where I document photography locations around the Okanagan, with details and photos! I also wanted to show you how I discover places to photograph and give some tips on how I became a tourist in my own city!
The Okanagan
I created The Okanagan section of my website because when I travel anywhere I always look for things to do but also great photography locations. I wanted to help serve other photographers or visitors to the Okanagan by giving them ideas on where to photograph.
The idea is that you can filter by what you are looking for - beach, park, viewpoint or garden. As I explore the Okanagan more I hope to add a city filter so you can toggle between Kelowna, Vernon, Lake Country, Penticton, etc.,
I’ve gone in and tweaked each post to add further details to each location such as the type of location, address, parking available, direction it faces, amenities and difficulty level.
I’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to exploring locations but it’s definitely a start.
How I Find Photography Locations
I find most of my photography locations on Google Maps. If I am looking to explore a particular area of Kelowna like Southeast Kelowna, Mission, etc., then I will spend more time in those areas but I am generally looking for beaches, parks and light hikes that I can do.
If I want a different perspective I will turn on ‘Satellite’ or open up Google Earth.
I also like to open up the photos that people take and add on Google Maps to get an understanding of the area and if it interests me.
Other ways I will find photography locations is through Instagram or Pinterest.
Tips on Exploring Locally
Here are a couple tips that have helped me become a tourist in my own city:
Commit to Yourself (Make a Promise)
Before I moved away I didn’t appreciate Kelowna as I do now. I didn’t explore that often and I often said I was going to visit somewhere or do something and wouldn’t. So when I moved back to Kelowna, BC I made a promise to myself that I was going to explore more and live life more fully and so every week I try to explore a new location in Kelowna and do something new.
Make a List
I made a list of everything I wanted to do or explore in the Okanagan back in the Spring when I moved back. From there I just slowly tackled items on that list - being very specific in carving out time for myself and Max to spend time together and get out of the house!
Some of those items on my list were:
Visit the Kelowna Art Gallery
Visit Okanagan Wineries
Go to a Pumpkin Patch (I went to Davison Orchards and McMillans)
Get outside of Kelowna and visit other areas of the Okanagan
Create a Project
Make a project out of exploring so you can have a tangible end product that you can work towards!
I love my Instagram, my blog, my YouTube channel, and my photography as creative outlets to share what I discover and learn.
Final Thoughts
Documenting and sharing more local travel related content is something I would like to include more here, on my Instagram and YouTube.
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