Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) The City of Vancouver Parks and Recreation (Washington) is hosting a new event called Go Play, Vancouver! The event encourages residents and non-residents to go outside safely during the coronavirus pandemic to get exercise and enjoy nature in the city's parks, historic sites, … Continue reading Get outside with Go Play, Vancouver!
Lakewold Gardens in University Place, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) Learn about some of the trees in the Lakewold Gardens in University Place, Washington, south of Tacoma, in a series of virtual tours. John Wilcox, a long-time volunteer at the gardens, leads these seven tours. Each tour features a different tree. The seven videos are … Continue reading Take seven virtual tree tours at Lakewold Gardens
The World's Largest Egg in Winlock, Washington (photo by Cheryl Landes) In the small town of Winlock, south of Olympia, Washington, a giant egg rests on a pedestal on a 10-foot-tall blue metal pole in the middle of Vern Zander Memorial Park at the corner of Old Highway 603 and Fir Street. The 12-foot-long, 1,200-pound … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Does the world’s largest egg reside in Winlock, Washington?
Photos by Cheryl Landes May 20, 2020 marked the fortieth anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. I lived in Northeastern Oregon when the volcano erupted and still remember the experience like it was yesterday. The town of La Grande, where I lived, was on the southern fringe of the ash path. Our usual … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A trip to Mount St. Helens, 40 years post-eruption
Floating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon (photo credits: Arizona State University and Smart Sparrow) Arizona State University and Smart Sparrow have teamed up to create free immersive tours of the Grand Canyon that you can enjoy from wherever you are. The three tours provide close-up, 360-degree views of the Grand Canyon, its history, … Continue reading Take a virtual tour of the Grand Canyon
Decorations on one of the Christmas trees inside Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Connecticut Photos by Cheryl Landes In November and December, volunteers decorate the Gillette Castle inside and out for the holidays. The 24-room mansion overlooking the Connecticut River Valley resembles a medieval-style castle. It's the former home of William Gillette (1853-1937), an actor … Continue reading Christmas at the Gillette Castle
A view of the early fall colors in the Connecticut River Valley near East Haddam Photos by Cheryl Landes The Connecticut River Valley is a beautiful mix of scenery, history, and wildlife. In the fall, the changing colors enhance the experience. I joined some local friends on a day trip through the valley one day … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: A fall day trip in the Connecticut River Valley with a stop at Gillette Castle
Fall colors in the Lime Quarry Reservation in Chelmsford, Massachusetts Photos by Cheryl Landes The Lime Quarry Reservation in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, is a pleasant place to take a walk year-round, but fall is an extra special experience because of the vibrant colors. The trails, a combination of dirt and boardwalks, wind through 64 acres of … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Fall colors at the Lime Quarry Reservation
The barn at Flax Pond Farms in Carver, Massachusetts Photos by Cheryl Landes Flax Pond Farms, in Carver, Massachusetts near Cape Cod, has 34 acres of cranberry bogs that have been cultivated since the early 1890s. In the fall, you can watch the cranberry harvest from a distance and schedule tours of the farm. Dried … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: Flax Pond Farms
The Bog House and entrance to the trails at the Carlisle Cranberry Bog in Carlisle, Massachusetts Photos by Cheryl Landes The Carlisle Cranberry Bog in Carlisle, Massachusetts, is a pleasant place to go for a walk any time of year. It's also a nice place for snowshoeing in the winter. The trails, which are the … Continue reading Armchair photo tours: The Carlisle Cranberry Bog
Tabby Cat's Pawprints 