What's a beautiful place you'd recommend in your own backyard?
October 2, 2024 | Sparkle Wednesday
Traveling is wonderful. It exposes you to new places, people, and ways of being. It's fun and exciting. There's nothing like it—planning a trip, the experience, and the memories. Sometimes, towards the end of a trip, I long for home. I miss it and realize how fantastic home is.
Years ago, my family took a trip to Tuscany. The villa we stayed in was nestled on rolling hills, surrounded by lemon and olive trees, with rosemary bushes dotting the landscape. It was breathtaking. I remember my brother-in-law asking our housekeeper and new friend, Evie, "How can you work in such a beautiful place?" She simply shrugged and said, “This? Meh."
We all cracked up. It got me thinking about how easy it is to stop noticing the beauty around us. Sometimes, we take for granted what's right in our own backyards. Evie had grown so accustomed to the beauty of Arezzo that she didn't even think it was special anymore.
Lately, I've been trying to make an extra attention to the beauty right in my backyard. Maybe Dorothy Gale was right when she said, “There's no place like home."
The other day, I walked through the Sculpture Garden, climbed the stairs, and crossed the bridge into Loring Park. Loring Park is a beautiful, urban park with a little pond, tennis, and pickleball courts, art, a rich history, and the cool Berger fountain (currently under construction with a completion date of 2025). I love Loring Park—it's our version of Central Park in Minneapolis (in fact, it was initially named Central Park) and a hidden gem right in my backyard.
What about you? What’s a beautiful place you'd recommend in your own backyard?
I feel very fortunate to now have the mountains in my backyard but if I were to pick a place closer, I'd say Liberty Park, just 15 minute walk from my house. It has a 1.5 mile paved perimeter, a bird sanctuary, small history museum, a community pool, tennis courts, and the most lovely grass for picnics or reading. It's great in all seasons and has became a regular spot for our family :)
I live a few blocks away from the Carter Center! It has a research library, a rose garden, and my personal favorite, a farmers market on Saturday mornings! Going there every Saturday is one of my favorite weekly traditions, and I love to sit in the rose gardens to read when I need some peace and quiet from the hustle of the city. It is beautiful!