Finding Beauty Close to Home

As you have seen, Mickey and I had an eventful spring and early summer. We had to make some adjustments though when car trouble arose. Until the car could be repaired we had to stick close to home. No problem there. Our state of Connecticut has many beautiful places to visit and we uncovered quite a few that were very close by. Here are a few of the places we visited that are less than five miles from home.

We visited the Holy Family Retreat in our town of West Hartford, CT with Mickey's friend Magnolia and her mom Emily. It is a sprawling property with a labyrinth, prayer areas, statues and short wooded trails. A beautiful, peaceful and healing oasis for mind, body and soul.

We also spent several hours at Elizabeth Park which is located in Hartford/West Hartford. It is a place I frequented often in my childhood and has not really changed much all these years later. I always feel like I am taking a step back in time when I visit the park, known for its rose gardens, spectacular flower displays, stone bridges and duck ponds. It is a place where you can spend hours exploring and there is always more to see.

Another day we discovered Sperry Park and the Farmington Valley Greenway. It is just a few miles away, extending from Avon to Simsbury to Farmington, CT. It is a great spot for hiking, bicycling and cross country skiing in the winter. We found a walking path, a pond and a picturesque view of the Heublein Tower. Apparently it is part of a forty mile trail that is being constructed on an abandoned rail line. In all of the years I have lived here I was not aware this beautiful place even existed.

My point? You don't need a reason - be spontaneous! It is fun to just get out and explore on nice days. There are beautiful places everywhere and many are closer to home than you realize. Not only will you enjoy some new adventures and make new memories, your dog will have a great time too!