Gobble, gobble.
Turkeys may not fly, but they’re arriving by the plate full. Also, tofurkey.
Speaking of turkeys, people are traveling in mass this weekend and into next week. No, I did not call you or your mother a turkey – just that one relative that you’ve called worse. Turkey. Read More »
This is in Edmonton, Canada? It sure is! Uptake’s Jenny Bengen made a short visit to the city and stayed at a hotel inside the mall – one of two. Jenny tells us all about the mall – its HUGE. It has just about everything you could want to do if you’re traveling with a family. Under one roof the boys and frolic in the water park while the rest of family shops, dines or rests. Sounds like a winning combination for this winter if you live anywhere near Edmonton.
In late August a group of us spent a Sunday in Pacifica, California. I’d have done this post earlier but somehow or another Lisa didn’t manage to upload all the pictures until just recently, so I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.
My brother-in-law, RS, currently engaged in a battle with kidney cancer, grew up in Pacifica and has fond memories of this small coastal town. Our decision to visit Pacifica was for him, to allow him to relive some memories of a better time in his life. Read More »
This is where the wild things are.
Tomorrow may be Halloween, but if your town is anything like mine the festivities will be in full swing tonight as well. There are neighborhood parties and pumpkins to carve and apples to bob. And there are costumed children everywhere.
What does that mean to you? It means that whichever way your travels may take you this weekend you need to play it smart. Cabs, buses, subways – these are good ideas. In fact, the best costume in the room just might be the designated driver.
But you knew that. Just keep your eye(s) on the other guy, yes, the one dressed as a keg.
Photos by Whit Honea
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
How, you ask, are the UpTake Vacation writers spending their fall? Well, thanks for asking. We’re doing a lot of this:
Lehner Pumpkin Farm in Radnor, Ohio
Linus: Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.
Entry and photo by Ed.
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
Most families only visit Loveland, Colorado, because the town is the last stop on Highway 34 before you reach the gorgeous Rocky Mountain National Park, just 30 miles away.
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
But if you’re heading into the National Park, or simply driving through Colorado on Interstate 25, Loveland makes for an interesting stop along the way.
If for no other reason than to see the statues.
Loveland has nearly 300 pieces of public art, mostly sculptures, spread all over, in front of city buildings, dentist’s offices, schools, and private homes. You can drive around town, playing a game of spot the statues, but I don’t recommend it if you want to keep your insurance premiums down. Instead, go directly to where the bulk of the artwork is on permanent display, at the Benson Park Sculpture Garden. And it doesn’t cost a thing to enjoy.
The park is a dazzling site, with over 130 sculptures of all shapes and sizes placed around three large ponds. When I first took my kids there, their response was the usual, “Oh no, do we have to walk?” But once they meandered down the trail and spied their first statue, a boy playing marbles with a dinosaur, they were immediately hooked. Aching feet were completely forgotten as they discovered new surprises around ever corner.
Benson Park is in a quiet, residential area, so it feels peaceful and uncrowded. On the cold spring day we were there, it was certainly free of people. The morning snowfall added to the magical air of the place as we took our time walking the trails.
This is the kind of place you’ll want to have your camera ready for memorable poses of your kids with the various sculptures. They’ll plead with you to take a picture of them with every strange and whimsical creature they see.
There are picnic tables, benches, and bathrooms, so don’t worry about how much time you spend. We were surprised to find two hours gone by without even noticing.
Granted, we were not in any kind of hurry. Loveland was an overnight stop for us on our way through the state. I highly recommend the new Holiday Inn Express just off I-25, which features the usual indoor pool but with a kid-pleasing giant red water slide.
Colorado is an amazing state, with majestic mountains and stunning scenic vistas. It’s easy to overlook the little things. But, next time you’re traveling through the area, you’ll find it well worth your time to add Benson Park Sculpture Garden to your list of places to see.
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
Benson Park Sculpture Garden
All photos by Phil Corless
Perhaps you thought this was Texas. True, they do everything bigger, but this kernel of candy corn is located outside Disneyland Resort’s second gate Disney’s California Adventure.
Disneyland knows big, too. The two guys in the photo are both well over 7′ tall. Read More »
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is home to the world’s largest natural hot springs pool. Perfect for those cold winter days. Or, in our case, a blizzard-like spring day. As the snow fell that afternoon, there was no better place for my wife and kids to be than in the balmy 98-degree water of the Glenwood Hot Springs.
A Wordless Wednesday contribution.
Photo by Phil Corless
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
