A Misty Visit to the Falls

Something I am trying to make a tradition is going to Minnehaha Falls here in Minneapolis each spring. It is such a beautiful place and the walk/hike to the river is enchanting. Last year the bridge where the creek and river meet was under water. You can see those pictures here: Minnehaha Falls. The next thing I need to do is go for a visit in winter. I've seen some amazing pictures of the falls being frozen.

Take in the beauty of the waterfall. Walk the path, see a tiny fairy forest, make tiny friends and even see a gnome mushroom house on your way to the mighty Mississippi River. Go Visit!

The Orchid Garden

Orchids are some of my favorite flowers.

I took these photos at the Orchid Garden in Hawaii on the Big Island. It was so lovely and everyone was so happy. It's finally warm here today which, I imagine is lifting everyone's spirits. Have a great day!

Combating the Gloom (complete with waterfall)

A Better Phrase for Bucket List?

So, I'm looking for a better phrase than "Bucket List." Something doesn't work for me about that one. However, I am very in favor of the sentiment and would like to share something I got off my list in Hawaii and that was to go Whale Watching. It was so breathtaking and when I saw the baby Humpback whale it made me cry it was so wonderful. I truly hope everyone can do this and I hope I can do it again in another part of the world. Have a GREAT DAY!

Black Sands Beach

It is cold and snowy here in Minnesota. We just had a big storm and it's April. It's pretty out and normally I don't mind it but, I am ready for sunshine. I am trying to remind myself that it was only a month ago that I was in Hawaii. Here is one of the amazing places I went to in the Aloha state. The Black Sands Beach on the Big Island. Sea turtles, sunshine and soft, warm sand...

Snippets of a Dream

I'm going to post a few pictures from my vacation I just took. I will be back later with lots of pictures and posts and info about everything!

The Very Charming Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I recently took a little road trip down to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I had never been to Iowa and it is a neat state. The reason for the trip was to see the Mucha exhibit at the National Czech and Slovak Museum. The exhibit was stunningly beautiful. I sadly could not take pictures inside but I did see some other great places such as the Brucemore Estate where scenes of Gone with the Wind were filmed and stayed at the very wonderful Belmont Hill Bed and Breakfast. Mucha was an amazing person. It was breathtaking to see his pieces in person after seeing them reprinted so many times in my life.

Much of Cedar Rapids was destroyed in a terrible flood about 4 years ago. But they are rebuilding and there is a lot of beauty to be found here. I look forward to going back.

In the Key of West

I had a my first, brief but wonderful visit to the Florida Keys. What an amazing piece of Earth. How mind boggling that we built highway bridges in the ocean! All of the keys are gorgeous places. I spent most of my time in Key West.

The Peanut Noodle dish pictured above came from the vegan friendly and delicious: Help Yourself cafe. Fresh and yummy.

The french fries cooked in truffle oil which were maginificient and the super veggie sandwhich came from: The Cafe. The fresh squeezed juice blends they made are also quite amazing.

More Miami

I had to share a few more pictures. I'm also ready for my next vacation. ;o)

Miami Beach, The American Riviera

Miami is so lively and beautiful. So many things to take pictures of! I will probably post twice about this vacation. And the food! To die for!

A Visit to Vizcaya

I recently went to Miami and Miami Beach for a summer vacation. It was a really good time. I enjoyed myself quite a bit. There are so many beautiful places to visit in the area.

One of my favorite things I got to do was to visit the beautiful and awe inspiring Vizcaya. This gorgeous, historical house is something out of a fairy tale. Each individual room as eye catching and detailed as the last. I could not take pictures of the rooms, disappointingly. BUT I took pictures of the perfect and dream like gardens of this astonishing place. It was a trip to another world right here in our world. I also loved the recently remodeled gift shop and cafe. They had little gourmet treats and everything you could imagine with a beautiful mermaid on it.

Bonsai Trees

I took so many pictures at the Chicago Botanic Garden I left out a group of ones I want to share. They are some of the many, many Bonsai trees that were on display there. These little trees amaze me and I really would like to have one someday. They require a lot of care and when I have more free time, I'm going to get one.

Chicago Botanic Garden

I've mentioned before that I've been to Chicago about a dozen or so times. Each time I go besides visiting some old favorites, I try somewhere new. This time my new place was the Chicago Botanic Garden. And the way to describe it? WOW! I spent an entire day here and didn't see all of it. It was absolutely gorgeous, filled with one breathtaking sight and scent after another. Girly side note: the gift shop was DELIGHTFUL, I loved it and bought the cutest gifts for friends and myself a purple rose wristlet.

One of my favorite places.

My third visit to one of my favorite places and art museums. Many of the world's most famous pieces reside in the Windy City. If you have a day free when in Chicago and you love art, you should make it a priority to spend the day at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Chicagoland

Since moving to the Midwest some 13 years ago now, I find that I seem to visit Chicago about once a year. It's a place I really adore. There's plenty to see, do, smell and of course, eat. Here's some pictures from my trip this summer. I stayed at the Sheraton on the riverwalk overlooking the lake. I did have a wonderful view and the room was very nice.

There's no place like Madison

I've been to the captial city of Wisconsin, Madison, a couple of times now and I just adore it. It's not a very big city- only a few hundred thousand people but, it is lovely and full of the friendliest people I've ever encountered anywhere with the exception of New Orleans. There is always beautiful scenery and wonderful food. It's what we call a "college town" so, there's lots of colorful places to shop and plenty of veg-friendly food, if that's what you like.

Happy Birthday J.K. Rowling!

I got to go to Harry Potter's Wizarding World on Halloween last year (2011). It is AMAZING! As a total book geek, an entire amusement park made out of a young adult novel is very cool!

If you get the chance to go to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure-Go Go Go! It's so fun!

Roaming the Midwest

I have been running around like nuts. I have so many pictures to edit and projects to finish and all I want to do is be outside. Just got back from Chicago! I think it was trip #13 there!

I have lots to share very soon. I'm off to the Minnesota History Center this afternoon as they have the first official printing of the Constitution.  MNHC -have a look!