Franklin Park Conservatory Aglow

Friday night found me shivering in the cold outside at Franklin Park Conservatory. I was there with friends to look at the pretty Christmas lights.

It’s called Conservatory Aglow and features thousands of lights throughout the property. You enter through the wonderful rainbow tunnel above.

Then you can meander through lights, through a giant model railroad and even step inside a gingerbread house.

This tree is made with hand blown glass balls.

There is one area inside that’s nicely decorated too. I really wish they did more inside but this was all lovely.

You can warm up by walking through a gingerbread competition and enjoy the rest of the Conservatory which is filled with interesting plants and Dale Chihuly glass art.

It was freezing cold and there were snow flurries in the air, making it even more festive. It was a great night to be out with friends! This spot was my favorite both because it’s pretty and because they play classical music here. It’s like an oasis where you just might meet the man in the moon.

Want to see more pictures? Check out the Make The Journey Fun Facebook page! Plus, it’s not too late to visit this year! Click here to visit the Conservatory online.

Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver is a fantastic place to visit in the fall. The weather was in the mid to low sixties the entire visit and the sky was mostly a beautiful light blue. The wind was lively at times, causing leaves to swirl through the air and pile up along the city streets.

In fact, within an hour of our arrival I had learned the true merit of the phrase “hold onto your hat” as I held tightly to my hat and scarf while we scurried down the street. However, the wind calmed and left us with perfect weather for outdoor fun most of the time.

We ended our vacation on a gorgeous day at the Denver Botanic Gardens, stopping here for a few hours before my friend dropped me at the airport and began her drive home. The 23-acre property is located in the Cheesman Park neighborhood and was the perfect ending to our trip.

They have been busy winterizing the grounds and preparing for their Christmas lights event but there was still plenty to see and trails to walk. The property is nicely accessible to all with sidewalks that provide ease of use for strollers, wheelchairs and anyone with balance issues. However, there are also non-paved trails that meander hither and yon through wooded areas and past water features as well.

There are a lot of Asian influences that provide calm and quiet.

An indoor tropical space features a treehouse style observation deck and a large selection of mature plants.

They also have some nice art including this Dale Chihuly piece. It’s similar to others I have seen in the collections at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus and the Phipps Conservatory and Gardens in Pittsburgh.

We walked several miles here but I know we didn’t see everything. What I wouldn’t give to go back for their Blossoms of Light exhibit this year.

Here’s one last picture. I was obsessed with this scene and envious of the people who live in this apartment building. What a view they must have from up there!

Want to visit Denver Botanic Gardens or learn more? Click here to visit their website!

Favorite Spot

My favorite spot in Columbus, Ohio is right here under this glass ceiling. It’s at Franklin Park Conservatory which I have told you about a few times.

I was there this fall and was glad to spend a little time in this spot, staring up at the pretty glass in all the fun colors. The ceiling was created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly whose work can be found throughout this place.

I have seen people walk through this area without ever looking up. They’re talking or they’re tugging at fidgety youngsters. What a thing to miss!

No matter what, always look up!

Larger Than Life

Stunning aren’t they? From the Dale Chihuly exhibition at Franklin Park Conservatory.

Read more about it here!

Light, Color and Chihuly

Did you read my account of the Dale Chihuly exhibition at the Franklin Park Conservatory? I loved the light in this space and the pops of color.

Franklin Park is a beautiful place all by itself but the Chihuly adds something really special!

The Outstanding Art Of Dale Chihuly

My summer bucket list is about a mile long but the first thing on that list was to see the Dale Chihuly exhibition at Franklin Park Conservatory. Monday offered opportunity to make the trek up to the Columbus landmark for a stroll through the flowers and glass art.

We’ll talk about the Conservatory another day but I really wanted show you some pictures of Chihuly’s work. The Seattle based artist does outstanding things with glass, light and color. His style is unmistakable and easily recognizable.

I’m not an art critic but I do know what I like and Chihuly’s work makes me smile. His work is larger than life and something that you simply have to see in person to truly appreciate.

With that said, I am not excited about the placement of most of his pieces at Franklin Park. In my humble opinion, his work is best appreciated when surrounded by elements of nature. It’s hard to view (or photograph) most pieces here without getting backgrounds of building, concrete and steel. But it’s still outstanding and I was impressed with how they incorporated pieces into the butterfly room, pictured above. This room is lush and green and Chihuly’s colorful orbs in the water feel like floating flowers while other pieces appear to be growing from the earth.

Another outstanding element here is the Persian ceiling. If it weren’t such a high traffic area, I would have been tempted to lie down on the floor and stare up at it!

Have a look and see what you think. I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

Want to know more about Chihuly? See his website, visit the Franklin Park Conservatory or find his work in public spaces across the country.