outside N Seoul Tower

Seoul, South Korea

September 2009

Not only is the Phoenix Civic Space awesome because it’s home to the weirdest-looking sculpture in phx, it’s a park right downtown. And now, it’s where all the stressed-out city dwellers can gather on Saturday mornings and chill out with some yoga. This past month, Valley yoga instructors have been teaching hatha yoga to anyone who shows up with a yoga mat or blanket from 10-11 a.m.

It’s the Community Yoga Project.

Those involved are hoping the trend will grow and lots of people will show up so the project can continue. If it does grow, I’m guessing it’ll look like the parks in Taiwan early in the mornings when all the old people gather at sunrise and do Tai Chi (in unison, of course). And because of this yoga project, I now liken the Civic Space to Boston Common or New York City’s Central Park. We’ll see if it lives up to that kind of standard.

Boston Commons

In honor of future possibilities, I’ve changed my blog header to reflect phx’s new city-like personality! It’s a fake skyline though … ha.

Ocean city is the great view attraction of costal place. And this is situated at the Maryland of United State that the most visited place. And it is recognized for its best attractive places in city. Skyscraper building, amusement parks, beachfront, restaurants and large convention centre that the cause of its attractions.

The ocean city that the water recreations and other activities like swimming, fishing, kayaking and many of interesting acts are takes place. For lodging there are many of cheap hotels in ocean city near to amusement places and beach front. And vacations like with that feature are the matchless.

The Boardwalk which is the most popular place in the city and there the 10 mile long beach. People like to spend most of the time at beach site and make recreations with fishing, biking, sun bathing and many more.

In boardwalk there are other attractive places like Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Trimper’s Rides, Glen Riddle Golf Club and many more. Night the city looks so charming and clubs that for entertaining to everyone. For stay the cheap hotels at near to attractions and Restaurants with sea foods and with delicious taste. The truly is to make vacations with great entertainment.

New Orleans the most entertaining city and make new attractions for visitors. This is new heaven for visitors to get the full entertainment of vacations and other modern facilities that they want in their dream vacations. This city is in United State of Louisiana. The metropolitan city contains the every kind of amenities and other modern attractions are there.

The city that also contain the good lodging amenities are and many of recreations and cheap hotels, inns with best facilities. There are many of places were for visiting and near to that other attractions and adventure places are there. Some of the places that occupy the biggest attractions in city were Historic architecture, Museums and Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, New Orleans Museum of Art and St. Louis Cathedral.

The city was such like more recreational and entertaining. The night attractions of the city such so beautiful and make so attractions and youthful. Restaurants were providing the every kind of food facilities and more delicious taste.  The vacations at the city such a great fun and more entertaining, cheap hotels in new orleans and adventurous activities are there. The ten days that was so adventurous and more entertaining.

We at PHS and Philadelphia Green know that green spaces have a distinctive way of bettering people’s lives. That said, it’s always great to see a study that corresponds with our deeply held beliefs. Last month, HealthDay.com reported on such a study, confirming that access to nature (be it a forest or a park) has measurable health benefits.

Read the HealthDay.com article here, and enjoy these videos about Philadelphia Green park projects.

Virginia Beach Good Outdoor Activity With More Adventure City

Virginia Beach is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina, and provides miles of beachfront for activities in the Virginia sun. Fishing, golfing, whale watching, dolphin watching, historic landmarks, and exciting attractions and popular events are part of the beach experience. Virginia Beach is very good travel city in the state of Virginia which is the most popular destination, nightlife, sightseeing, restaurant, cheap hotels and one of the most attraction cities for tourists which are beach, the state parks and Back Bay national wildlife refuge beckon, hiking, kayaking, and biking adventures. To get all the adventure in this city there are many cheap hotels in virginia beach. This city is a good travel city and there also fantastic tourist attraction points include:-

• Cape Henry Lighthouse
• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
• Mount Trashmore
• The Old Coast Guard Station
• Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
• State Parks and National Wildlife Refuge
• Virginia Beach Farmers Market
• Golfing, Surfing, Kayaking and Canoeing
• Running, Fishing, Dolphin and Whale Watching

Fort Davis National Historic Site

I spent an enjoyable long weekend in West Texas with about 20 family members and friends last week.  We stayed at the friendly Stone Village Tourist Camp in Fort Davis where we enjoyed sitting around the firepit at night and lounging by the pool during the day.     

Alpine

Saturday morning some of our group did a grueling bicycle ride.  Fortunately some friends invited me to go to Alpine for the annual Artwalk festival. Activities included art galleries, crafts, food, a silent auction and music.  Saturday night we enjoyed a nice dinner at Reata restaurant and a free outdoor concert by Ray Wylie Hubbard.   

View of Fort Davis from overlook on hiking trail

Sunday morning we hiked in the Fort Davis Historic Site, located just a few blocks away from our hotel.  The fort operated from 1854 until 1891.  According to the National Park Service website the site is considered one of the best remaining examples of a frontier military post in the American Southwest.

Swimming at Balmorhea State Park

Monday we drove (some of our group biked) about 30 miles to Balmorhea State Park.  The focal point (really the only point) of the park is a 1.75 acre spring-fed swimming pool.  The clear water is always 72 to 76 degrees.  The pool’s aquatic life attracts snorklers and scuba divers.  The water was too cold for me but my husband and son had fun swimming, snorkling and jumping off the diving board. 

Monday night we enjoyed pizza at Murphy’s Pizzeria in Fort Davis and then drove to Marfa to look for the mysterious lights. Several locals told us that the lights had appeared every night after a $5 million viewing platform was constructed.  The viewing area was nice and I wanted to believe in the Marfa lights.  But I really didn’t see anything other than car headlights and cell phone towers. 

Ray Wylie Hubbard performs at Artwalk 2009 in Alpine November 21

N Seoul Tower

Seoul, South Korea

September 2009

San Antonio the city to get more recreations and attraction in vacations this is in United State of Texas and second largest city in it. The city contains many of attractions like mountain, plane and Prairie and lake that contain these types of attractions.

The city contain the more attractive visiting places are The Alamo, Casa Navarro State Historical Park, River Walk, San Antonio Missions National Park the big spot of attraction. At River Walk the water recreations is the best attractions and there the best adventure of swimming, fishing and boating.

There are lodging and other attractions are like cheap hotels , inns and lots of at attractive rates, near to attractions. And also contain the other facilities in hotels like internet access, swimming pool, play ground, conference rooms and other luxury goods that make vacation so entertaining.

Visitors can get more recreations and also contains the good night life attractions. The clubs, and discos that the youthful and attractive and put great enthusiasm. Restaurants with delicious food taste. The city lodging inns, and hotels in san antonio that the matchless with other. The city that such the nice place and more recreations activities places are there.

Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney, Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden, and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe

In a roundtable conversation hosted by The Architects’ Newspaper, four New York City Commissioners–Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney, Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden, and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe–discuss recently designed and developed projects as well as what they believe is achievable during Mayor Bloomberg’s next four years, especially given tightening fiscal constraints.  It’s a pretty in-depth interview, and it’s great to hear the shared thoughts of this group, who have helmed some major projects in the City over the last eight years, including the High Line, the pedestrianization of Broadway in Times and Herald Squares, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Yankee Stadium redevelopment and, of course, Freshkills Park.

As we enter the holiday season, don’t forget there are many low cost and free opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends. The key is to become engaged. Get out and enjoy all that Boynton Beach has to offer.

According to the National Recreation and Parks Association…
…Citizens who have better access to parks, visit parks more frequently and engage in physically active park behaviors make fewer visits to their doctor.
…Active users of public parks have a lower body mass index (BMI).
…People who visit parks for longer periods of time (one hour or more) have significantly lower systolic blood pressures.
…Park users who are more physically active and who make frequent contact with friends during their leisure are less likely to report feeling depressed.

The Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks Department affords you the opportunity to benefit from all of the above. Get more information by visiting our website at http://tr.im/FMR9.

The Orlando Sentinel highlights some of the best playgrounds in the Orlando and Central Florida areas. These playgrounds standout from the rest with equipment that is not found in your average playground/park. For example, Gilbert Park in Mount Dora features a maze-like castle and a mini rock-climbing wall while Central Winds Park in Winter Springs has a 20 feet tall structure with 3 different tiers of activities for kids.

Renovating or relocating? Churchill offers fully furnished, temporary housing with flexible terms. Click here to see availability in the Orlando area.

Gilbert Park. Photo courtesy of orlandosentinel.com.

That title is for the folks at Language Log, a blog that has nothing to do with hiking, or being outdoors at all.  Still, it provides entertaining reading about how language works.  Unfortunately comparing Kerry Park to Switzerland is a bit ambitious, especially as it isn’t even the highest point in Seattle – the reservoir in West Seattle is.  But it might well have the best view around.

Shockingly, it’s usually very easy to find parking within a short, level walk to Kerry Park.  But that would defeat the point, wouldn’t it?    Kerry Park is midway up Queen Anne Hill, and the best way to get here is to park at the base of the hill and hoof it.  The ascent is about 1/10th of what you would encounter on any respectable mountain trail, but a good workout ( or warm up ) nonetheless.  Depending on where you park, you’ll be walking up hill for as long as 15 minutes, which will get your heart pumping a bit, and make your doctor happy, as well as giving you the feeling you’ve accomplished something.

Below is a map;  there are two red push pins that show Kerry Park.  Pin “C” is the section of the park most locals are familiar with, while Pin “A”, on the other hand, is a bit closer to the childrens’ playground which is a less well-known part of this park.  Kerry covers an entire block, although it’s along a steep hillside, so most people are only aware of the top “strip” of grassland, the one with the phenomenal view.

How to find Kerry Park

This is a terrain map, and you can see from it that a steep hill begins near Roy or Olympic.  The map doesn’t show well that even this is not the base.  I recommend starting from Western or Elliot Avenue, wherever you can find parking.  This will add about a mile to your trek, but will also force you to climb perhaps another hundred vertical feet.  Also, parking near Mercer can be quite difficult, thanks to its proximity to the clubs and restaurants of Lower Queen Anne.

Here is a panoramic format photograph I’ve borrowed from Wikipedia, showing the daytime view from the park.  In the background, one can see the glaciated peak of Mount Rainier, reminiscent of Switzerland, which leads to the title of this blog post.

Kerry Park Daytime Panorama

For what it’s worth, this photograph is by a person named Forrest Croce, who seems to have a more interesting night image of Kerry Park, which isn’t available on Wikipedia.  ( I look to Wikipedia, Dear Reader, with the knowledge that I can’t be sued for using images I’ve found there. )

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this is an illusion – Kerry Park is the one and only place where it looks like the Space Needle is actually in the middle of downtown.  In fact, it’s several miles away – but here, it’s between the viewer and the sky scrapers.

By 2015 we will invigorate our parks, lakes and trails to be the finest in western Minnesota.

My most recent client was interested in capturing some images for a gift for her husband this year.  Thinking about the holidays and the time of year, I thought that was a great idea on her part since they have been married for more than 15 years.

She had already scoped out a beautiful park in Perryville where she also likes to spend time with her own fitness routine. The park was nothing less than beautiful with park benches, areas for picnics, ample parking, wonderfully  shaded areas and even the Susquehanna River to drop in your kayak.

We spent about an hour working in a few locations that she had already selected (which is a blessing for any photographer when their client scopes the location!) and I was really happy with the results.  She was most pleased with the project and I am sure her husband will be as excited as we were to see the finished imagery.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Remember….every day you wake up and your feet hit the floor, think of at least 5 things to be thankful for and you will find the rest of your day to be much more fulfilling.

Warmest regards to all….

Never mind The Weather Instead of pulling your hair out at the state of the awful weather, or the fact your wallet is really hurting in this horrible climate, financial or climatic, just get hold of your ‘Genie’ and let her find your family an economically friendly day of fun for you all. Don’t know about Genie? Well then just check her out a genie tutorial for free at geniesearcher.com will get you going! Here are 5 differing solutions for a family day out, so in fact you can add your own ideas as well, and then just get going on them for at least a week’s cheap holiday or roll through them again making alterations as you go for a couple of weeks, so get going – enjoy!

Instead of tearing your hair out at the state of the bad weather, or the fact your wallet is really hurting in this horrible climate, just grab your ‘Genie’ and let her find your family an economically friendly holiday of fun for you all. Don’t know about Genie? Well then, check her out and get a genie tutorial for free at geniesearcher.com!

Here are 5 different solutions for a family day out, and adding your own ideas as well, you can just get going on them for at least a week’s cheap holiday, so get going – have fun!

Fun Day 1: Museums or Stately Homes. Whatever the weather, be it rainy or a scorcher, this is a great time to treat yourselves to visiting a National Gallery Museum (take your sketch pads), Country House or Stately home. All of them are educational and fascinating to explore. If you use your imagination, you can dream up inter-family competitions on what you see as you expand your knowledge.

You will be surprised what sticks when it’s not a forced lesson! There are plenty of museum choices, such as art, natural history, aquarium, motoring, steam, flying and nautical museums, just to name a few. You might even try several museums in a day if they are all small.

Contrary to popular belief, these places are not boring and you can certainly find something of interest for the entire family. As far as Stately Homes go, well of course, here in the UK, we are very fortunate to have a very large selection, and it will be money well spent to become a member of the National Trust, because then, for one annual fee you can visit as many as you wish, nationwide, free of charge.

Then of course, you could also buy a Family Annual Membership and join the English Heritage, visiting the many national sites of interest, including many castles and homes, also as many times as you like free of further charges.

Fun Day 2: Country Fairs, County Shows, Festivals. You really should visit Festivals, Country Fairs and County Shows. In your area, try one this year. Finding many different things to do, you will get plenty of fresh air and exercise which will greatly help with your own well being. Usually there is food and entertainment, along with exhibitions of clay pigeon shooting or learning to cast a fly to improve your fishing, plus many other things to see. Being these shows are country based, on the whole, you get the chance to see all the magnificent farm animals at their best, on display for all to see and often touch, which really helps children to understand and appreciate them more in their own right.

Sometimes you will find such things as artists showing their original work in many shapes and forms, engineering hobbies, garden equipment and/or plants displays and many stands/booths with interesting trinkets, wood carvings, saddlers, hot tubs, emporiums of everything and much more. Mostly, these are all very inexpensive days out, where you have heaps of fun and never know what you are going to find.

Fun Day 3: National Parks or small local Parks. Many people live in cities where there are all different types of theme parks, but they have never gone to see them. There are many types of parks, including amusement parks, water parks, aquariums and garden parks; you can even take your dog to a dog park! Maybe you are one of the fortunate ones who has a National Park on your doorstep with all that this can offer.

All of these are wonderful places to take your family, but you have to check, as some can be expensive if big rides are involved, but with a little local research before you start, you can find inexpensive parks which can have many things to see and do.

Fun Day 4: A Trip to the Beach or the Lake. Many people forget that there is a beach or a lake nearby which can bring hours of fun. Some ocean beaches have rock pools where you might find some interesting sea life – something for the children to get excited about, and of course there is always beach fishing.

Some lakes will have a place for you to swim and/or fish.

Wherever there is water, the chance of water-sports is a possibility, so make sure your family is kitted out with safety in mind. These are all great places for exploration, and sometimes you can even find a spot that isn’t too populated.

Fun Day 5: Picnics The nice thing about picnics is that they can be enjoyed anywhere. In the old days, before we had technology to get in the way, many families would just get in the car and drive off to a favourite location.

Along the way – to stay within the family budget, they would often take a picnic lunch so they wouldn’t need to stop at a restaurant. These times are still great for bonding with your family. Picnics have the great advantage of not only being pleasant, but convenient also, because you choose when and where you eat, plus of course saving you a small fortune, as it’s economically sound and can be easily done on all your days out.

Having family fun doesn’t have to cost an ‘An Arm and a Leg’, and it can be very interesting to see what happens using your own home as a base while you bring in the changes daily, venturing forth into the great unknown!

Of course, if you are staying away from home, all of these cost effective days will work wherever you are.

I wish you all Happy Days…

Copyright (c) 2008 Mervyn Rees

By Philip Anselmo, Canandaigua Daily Messenger, link to original post

Town residents could start hiking up to a new park on County Road 32 as soon as next summer.
The town made a purchase offer of $125,000 to acquire a portion of the John Miller Farm along County Road 32 and Route 21. The land encompasses 23 acres that would be accessible via a parking area at the corner of Route 21 and Bliss Road, which would connect to a trail that would lead up to the site’s high point, where the town hopes to erect a gazebo.

“It’s what we call a passive recreation area,” said interim town Supervisor Jim Fralick. “It’s a place for people to walk up to, to hike to. … Eventually, we will put up a picnic table. It’s low impact, low maintenance.”

The site’s claim to fame is its view. “It overlooks the whole city,” said land owner John Miller. “It’s probably the largest view of the whole city anywhere in Canandaigua. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Lake Ontario and downtown Rochester.”

What’s more, he said, you can walk up to the top of the site from the city line in under 20 minutes. “It will be worth the walk or the jog up there, just for the view,” he said.

Fralick calls the park a “hub,” from which trails can head out in all directions — down to the lake, down to Outhouse Park, into the city.

There’s only one Miller who is still actively farming in the town, he said. That’s down from six to eight who were in the trade in the past generation. About 20 years ago, the Miller families were still farming land inside the city limits, he said. “There aren’t as many farmers as there used to be,” he said.

He figures preserving the land his family farmed for generations would be the best way to ensure their remembrance. “Maybe the Miller name can live on in that way,” he said.

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center was the biggest centre and contains the great attractions of the aquarium and marine science centre. This is a very beautiful and nice aquarium. There are also 800,000 gallons of one of the best aquariums and live animal habitats in the country at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center which is check out our hundreds of hands-on exhibits, outdoor aviary, nature trail, and marshlands. Virginia Beach is very good travel city in the state of Virginia which is the most popular destination, nightlife, sightseeing, restaurant, cheap hotels in virginia beach and one of the most attraction cities for tourists which are beach, the state parks and Back Bay national wildlife refuge beckon, hiking, kayaking, and biking adventures. Virginia Beach is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina, and provides miles of beachfront for activities in the Virginia sun.

Here is a list of the Alameda Recreation & Park Department Boys Baseball All-Stars from 1963. Of interest to note, although a member of the Little Coast League Champion, Franklin Eagles squad, future MLB All-Star shortstop, Chris Speier was not among the ‘63 stars. That honor went to Vic Gerson, John OBrien and Mike Reeder. See if that piece of trivial knowledge can win you a beer down at McGee’s Bar & Grill.

PEE WEE LEAGUE

Edison: Chuck Sewell

Estuary: Ken Walker

Franklin: David Farewell, Jerry Manis, Mike McCollum, Jeff White

Krusi: Ken Morris, Robert Olson, Gary Westmoreland

Lincoln: Chuck Sabbatini, John Tudal

Longfellow: David Jorgensen

Lum (Rittler): Mike Bordner, Bobby Davis, Jim Davis, Alan Deines

McKinley: Don Albright, Stan Bice, Jerry LaHue

Woodstock: Doug Mahoney

MIDGET LEAGUE

Estuary: Royce Ford, Jr., Forrest Haymon, Wendell Jones, Cliff Locklear, Reginald Mims, Larry Thomas

Franklin: David Inman

Godfrey: Dennis Peterson

Krusi: Mike Frecerro, Mark Hansen, Mike McKee

Lincoln: Mike Reichoff

McKinley: Ray Pagano

Washington: Willis Kellar, Steve Lucero

Woodstock: Rolando Araujo, Roger Alexander, Dan Hackley, Ron Hunter

LITTLE COAST LEAGUE

Estuary: Glen Abrams

Franklin: Vic Gerson, John O’Brien, Mike Reeder

Krusi: Steve Svendson

Lincoln: Steve Bartley, Greg Orton

Longfellow: Gilbert Araujo, Jim Sullivan

McKinley: Pat Sloan, John Westerbeck

Washington: Charlie Lucero, John Fernandez, Rich Fernandez

Woodstock: Robert Boyd, Ron Elliott