Posted on October 10, 2015 in Travel, USA
ASPEN, COLORADO…NOT JUST A WINTER DESTINATION (Check out Photo Gallery for more Photographs of ASPEN)
You hear the city name of Aspen and what do you think?
Snowy ski slopes, skiing, snowboarding, warm jackets, hats, mittens, scarves, headbands, heavy socks and ski boots. How about hot chocolate, bonfires, iced eyebrows, red cheeks, dry lips, facial sunscreen and ‘anything’ that will keep you warm!
Well, Summer and Fall is a different scene. Warm, comfortable days for walking and shopping has an array of name brand and designer labels (exclusive, luxury) to consignment shops and thrift stores. sitting on patios in the sun with a glass of wine or beer, shorts, sandals, short sleeve shirts, maybe an umbrella and riding up the Silver Queen Gondola and not having to wait in lines! Hiking, biking, golf, tennis, horseback riding, rafting, kayaking are the fresh air outdoor activities. There are 7 popular hiking trails and 3 classic road bike rides.
Aspen in the ‘off season’ is quiet, ‘sale signs’ appear on store windows, reservations are not needed at most os the 100 restaurants which offer choices from haute cuisine to pub grub. The Spa’s offer a variety of massage packages, treatments ranging from oxygen rooms to yoga. The street pathways are not crowded. Rental units are reduced and the quantity of available accommodations are abundant.
What is Aspen? The scenery is magnificent with majestic high peaks of the Rocky Mountains and the lush green grass in the valley with streams running through. The homes (many 3 or 4 stories high) sit on the cliffs. Luxurious condos and cabins are located ‘in the action of the city’ and on the roads leading to the downtown. A historical hotel is located on Main Street and there are museums and some historical sights to visit but the main emphasis is built around the concept of sport activities, specifically Winter Season. The John Denver Santuary is located by the Rio Grande Park. The John Denver Memorial includes many of his songs etched into the rocks. Nestled along the river, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the serenity and tranquility of the area.
www.aspenchamber.org
Posted on October 10, 2015 in USA
DENVER BOTANICAL GARDENS (Check out Photo Gallery for additional photographs)
The Denver Botanical Garden in Denver is considered the largest and finest botanic garden in the country. Located in downtown Denver on York Street between 9th and 11th Street, Denver’s Botanical Garden transformed an old cemetery in the center of the city. The gardens opened in 1959 as a year round attraction. The Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory was dedicated in 1966 as a tropical and sub-tropical exhibit building. It became a Denver landmark in 1973.
The gardens and conservatory buildings continued to grow remaining environmentally friendly with water conservation and biological pest control. Today, there are three locations; Denver Botanical, Chatfield and Mt. Goliath.
The Denver Botanical Gardens was my choice to explore. I have been to other gardens in the past but this landmark was immense, educational and beautifully designed.
There are Six Gardens and a total of 61 areas to explore all of which are unbelievably stunning.
- There are eleven Facilities from the Visitor Center to the Discovery Center, Waring House, Greenhouse Complex and Science Pyramid to name a few.
- There are 17 Gardens of the West with floral species all named by plaques next to the variety.
- The Internationally Inspired Gardens housed the Bonsai Pavilion and Tea Garden surrounded by a Tea House and Japanese Garden. The Rock Alpine Garden and South African Plaza had indigenous plants representative of that locale.
- The Ornamental Gardens is the largest collection of fragrant flowers, herbs, rose garden, orangery with indoor waterfalls, scripture garden, romantic gardens with seating under a canopy of fragrant floral vines defining an alcove area, a sensory garden and the victorian secret garden.
- The bees and birds walk through the oak grove, shady lane and woodland mosaic was the Shady Garden. On a warm day, this area was a welcome relief.
- The Water Gardens with the garden waterways, four towers pool and the Monet pool was soothing with the sound of movement of the water.
While at the Gardens was an exhibit THE NATURE OF HORSES by Deborah Butterfield; (May 23-Oct,18, 2015). Deborah connection to horses traces back to her youth. She attended the University of California and received an MFA. Her focus and inspiration in art was with horses both abstract and in a unique way. Her ‘horse sculptures’ are abstract and combines sticks, mud, metal and wood. The use of these natural materials led her to bronze casting. Excluding one, all the horse sculptures throughout the Gardens are bronze cast from her original wooden assembled horses. They are a marvel to behold. The intricacy of her work is unlike any other in design and emotional aesthetic appeal.
Like really STINKY, rotten eggs smells? You should have been at the Gardens to experience the CORPSE FLOWER and Garden. This plant began as a seed in 2002 and was transferred to the Gardens in 2007. It was repotted on 5/2015. After May, it began to grow more than 2″ per day and reached a height of 5’3″. The Corpse Flower (titan arum) opened on August 19, 2015 with a foul odor that lasted 48 hours and then closed. A video of the progression of this ‘blooming’ can be seen at their website.
The Offshoot’s Cafe provides food and beverages with picnic tables under enormous trees. Shady and a great place to converse with others from all over the world.
Study programs and services are offered year round…’see, smell, touch’….
The Denver Botanic Gardens and two other Gardens have activities planned seasonally the entire year. I highly recommend that you place these Gardens on your ‘must see bucket list’ if you travel to Denver, Colorado.
Denver Botanical Gardens
www.botanicgardens.org
10th and York Street
Denver, Colorado
Posted on August 25, 2015 in Travel
Plan Ahead For Fall – Why not a cruise?
The month of August is coming to an end quickly. Summer vacation is over and students are heading back to the classrooms. It’s time to pick up the magazines which have been piling up on the floor and open the cover and start reading. I’m retired and I still have not found time to page through and read all the informative articles. Fall is here and it is time to get started.
Fall is my favorite season with the changing colors of leaves, the crisp mornings, less humidity and great outdoor activity time. Time to grab the camera and head out the door.
This time of the year is also vacation planning time. Have you seen the cruise deals and air deals lately? As many of you may know I am ‘addicted’ to cruising. I am gathering all my photos and have a list of cruise lines I have traveled with and will share that information in the upcoming weeks. I will be sailing away on my 15th cruise in December. (I actually cruise frequently because that is how my husband likes to travel. We don’t get lost, even with a GPS, and we only unpack once.) I have packing for a cruise down to an art form. If we drive to the port it is 2 small suitcases, 1 large case and a carry-on for my camera equipment. If we fly, it is 2 small suitcases and 2 backpacks, that’s it. No checking luggage.
As of today, I have sailed on Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and Bahama Breeze. In the coming weeks, I will be posting my cruise experiences.
Planning a cruise? Do you have questions? Sign up for my emails and ask away. I will reply shortly.
Mary Ann
Posted on August 23, 2015 in Travel
The Florida Gulfshore from Tampa south to the Keys has been drenched with rain this year. Mornings, if you are fortunate, are the best time to move about. The humidity mixed with the temperatures will ‘fry an egg on the concrete’. Watching the weather reports never changes. Rain every day with lightening and thunder, especially mid-afternoon into the evening and early morning hours. So, as a visitor what is there to do? Plenty.
Things to do indoors in Florida:
- Shell Factory (North Fort Myers). This complex has more shells than the beach. Souvenirs of every kind are on shelves and hanging from the ceiling. There is a Pet Area with toys, cards, collars…all things pets that children and adults love. The Christmas Store is huge with decorated trees, ornaments, Christmas villages, beautiful figurines….anything you want to begin your holiday shopping…including a Halloween area! There is an area of animals on display and stuffed, cuddly ones to purchase. When you get hungry, you will find a Subway, ice cream parlor and other eating opportunities. Remember the cards you bought in the card area? There is a US Postal Service inside. The newest on ground in the zipline for thrills. A restaurant is located on property with beverages and a wide variety of food on the menu.
- Shopping. Enter ‘shopping’ on your GPS and there is a mall close to you. Both outdoor, somewhat covered malls and indoor malls are everywhere. Included are the Outlet Malls.
- Restaurants. Stop and look in any direction and you will see cafes and restaurants serving every type of meal you desire.
- Museums. In every city, there is at least one museum providing hours of fun and experiences. Some learning may take place as well.
- Libraries. both large and small offer quiet niches to read or use computers.
- Theaters. Practically every mall has a movie theater nearby. Catch a new release.
- Hotels. Most accommodations have indoor pools, arcades, fitness centers, business centers or just hanging out in the room playing board games or electronic devices.
- Chamber of Commerce. Each community has a chamber of commerce or visitor’s center. Stop in and check out the brochures and ask questions about the area you are visiting.
Hopefully, the skies will clear and you will be able to enjoy the beaches down the entire coast.
Florida is one huge playground. Enjoy!