In August 2024 I achieved a personal milestone (a.k.a. Bucket list) that I added to my to-do list in 2013 - more than 11 years ago. I spent one absolutely GLORIOUS full day at The Butchart Gardens near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. To me, this place is like heaven on earth. See why!

I spent the Fourth of July this year in the Okoboji area in Iowa, as I sometimes do. This year, due to flooding in Northwest Iowa (heartbreaking), I had to take a different route than normal to get there. On the way home I was looking for fun stops on Google Maps and I spotted Lost Island Lake Nature Center a ways south of Spencer, Iowa. So I paid it a visit on the Sunday afternoon after the 4th.

As I have “acquired years and wisdom” (read between the lines), I have discovered that “tiptoeing through the tulips” is actually very beneficial for my well-being on multiple levels. I now LOVE gardens, particularly botanical gardens! Not only do they encourage me to get my steps in, the flowers, foliage, and trees enhance my mental health and feed my soul. The artwork inspires me. Listening to the birds sing and watching butterflies flit around calms and fascinates me. And I always learn something new. In short, spending time in a garden just makes me doggone happy. Maybe you can relate! 😁

If you’ve never been to the Himalayas, you will feel like you have when you visit the Omaha zoo’s Asian Highlands. One of the things that I like best about the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is the immersive nature of all the exhibits. Each area of the zoo is appropriately themed down to the animal enclosures. This includes one of my favorite exhibits - the Asian Highlands. You will really feel like you have been transported to the mountains of Asia when you enter this area.

One of the places I was really impressed with was Myriad Botanical Gardens. It was located downtown and all the spring flowers were blooming. There were tulips and daffodils blooming everywhere. The weather was perfect the day I went as well. Can you say GORGEOUS? I absolutely loved it! 🥰

If you’ve never been in a desert, you will feel like you have when you visit the Omaha zoo’s Desert Dome. One of the things that I like best about the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is the immersive nature of all the exhibits. This includes one of my favorite exhibits - the Desert Dome.