Over the holiday weekend, we took a day trip to a place I've been wanting to visit for a number of years. It's the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. Wiki claims it to be one of the largest botanical gardens in the U.S. I had always heard that the gardens were amazing and the website lists about 12 miles worth of trails on its 3600 acres. Recently, a canopy walk and tower were added, which can be enjoyed for an extra fee, on top of the $10 entry price.
Maybe early September is not a great time to visit? I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing. I mean, it was nice and all, but I can take a nice walk in the woods or see a pond within walking distance from my house. Here are some photos from the trip. Let me know what you think!
Maybe early September is not a great time to visit? I was just underwhelmed by the whole thing. I mean, it was nice and all, but I can take a nice walk in the woods or see a pond within walking distance from my house. Here are some photos from the trip. Let me know what you think!
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| Bridge through some ferns in the 'wildflower' garden. |
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| This area was pretty behind the visitor center, which was really just a building with restrooms and a gift shop. |
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| The butterfly garden. |
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| Fountain in a pond. |
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| Lotus Pond |
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| Frogs in Lotus Pond. |
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| Another pond; not a blueberry in sight. |
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| Tall trees |
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| Some turtles in another pond. |
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| Guess what? Another pond! |
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| A pretty bridge near some hostas. |
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| This is the Emergent Tower that my husband and daughter climbed to the top of. I termed it The Tower of Terror, as I'm afraid of heights. I stayed down below and listened to a two year old having a fit on the bench near me. Maybe he was as unimpressed as me? |
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| Canopy Walk that I also skipped. It was only 500 ft. long, so I didn't have much time to miss my family. |
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| Rhododendron Discovery Garden. I didn't discover any. |
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| More of the same . . . we left this area in search of the 'Tree Allee' and wound up back at the parking lot. When I asked my husband how we missed it, as we had followed the map, he said, "Turn around." Sure enough, there were about 6 small trees on each side of the sidewalk we had just crossed. Maybe I just expected too much? When was the last time you were disappointed in an adventure? |
Lots of pond's and the pictures were nice. I took my daughter to the "rose garden" that was behind the Natural History Museum when she was a little kid. I was looking forward to seeing what they called, hundreds of different colored roses all in one place. We got out there and couldn't believe that most of them were dead. It was a let down.
ReplyDeleteThat would be super disappointing. I did enjoy the cactus garden in Vegas!
DeleteWell, you're used to hiking in a national park, right? So, yeah. . . maybe you're spoiled. . . ;)
ReplyDeleteThere's a notorious place in the Upper Peninsula, just across the bridge by a few miles, called Castle Rock. It's a fairly impressive rock outcropping, maybe 100 feet or so high, and they sell access to climb the stairs up to the top ("Stop and Climb; it's still a dime"). Everyone who sees it thinks, hey, I'll bet there's a spectacular view of the bridge from up there. But there isn't. The formation from which Castle Rock outcrops looms up behind, and cuts off any view of the straits or the bridge. But, you're 100 feet in the air, and you get a nice view of Mackinac Island and northern Lake Huron. And heck, they only charge a dime, so it's hardly a rip-off. But they don't tell you that you can't see the bridge, either. . .
A dime??? I'm picturing some 9 year old behind a lemonade stand!
DeleteActually, if sounds kind of scary, and someone would have to pay me to climb the stairs!
They make their money from the gift shop at the bottom. . .
DeleteGoing up there would be fun. Everything else is pretty meh it seems. As I can walk outdoors and get all of that here too. Maybe we're just spoiled? Those that live in the desert may be more impressed.
ReplyDeleteYup, Betty will think it looks really green! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it was just, 'OK.'
DeleteI would love to visit and would climb that tower. Although I'm not Mormon, as someone who has spent more time than I'd like to remember studying the 19th Century, I'd like to go to the Mormon exhibit in Kirkland, too.
ReplyDeleteWe passed by it on the way. I feel as though I know more than I want about the faith from neighbors and a cousin who got sucked into it. Have you read 'Under the Banner of Heaven'? It's enlightening.
DeleteWell...your pictures are pretty! I probably would have enjoyed the walk, but then I love just taking walks anywhere. But maybe I would have been disappointed, too, after paying an entrance fee. I always expect nature to be free.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the free nature! But I realize they have a lot of groundskeepers to pay.
DeleteI guess size doesn't always matter?
ReplyDeleteWe have a couple interesting botanicals within a couple hrs drive that are free. The one at Cornell is fairly well laid out but just a bit over-labelled. However, it typically has enthusiasts running around just busting to share info with visitors .... for free!
Next time you're in the neighborhood hop over to Ithaca nad give it a go.
This place was labeled to the max as well. It would be very educational for a scout troop. The more I think about it, I'm guessing it was just a bad time to go, as not much was blooming. But really, it was mostly woods, which I have in my backyard. Maybe the city slickers are the ones giving it 5 stars on Trip Advisor!
DeleteI still think Watkins Glen was absolutely beautiful. Still cracks me up that the B&B owner tried to talk us out of going there. I think she thought we should go to Letchworth instead. Next time!
Yeah, Watkins Glen is awesome as is Taughannock Falls, you should check it out. And Buttermilk Falls. Plenty of great wanderings around here.
DeleteLetchworth is OK too, though it's a bit over-hyped. They compare teh view to the Grand Canyon which is a stretch .....
We did go to Taughannock when we were there....5 years ago already.
DeleteYes, I've always heard it referred to as Grand Canyon of the East. Glad it's within driving distance.
Okay, first I have to say....I love that lotus pond with the cute little frogs. What a GREAT photograph!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm like you....I don't like heights at all, so I would have not made the climb.
I mean, it looks like a very pretty spot, but it also reminds me of some of the areas I've been to in Florida. In fact, it very much reminds me of areas in Central Florida.
I think the last time I was disappointed in an adventure was several years ago when I took a train trip out to an area outside of Philadelphia called, Mount Airy. Everyone told me how fabulous it was with unique shopping, food and very artsy. However, I thought the town was kind of boring and bland.
Hope you're having a super week, my friend!
I can barely handle going up 4 steps on a ladder! Heights terrify me!
DeleteMount Airy sounds like a town from the Andy Griffith Show! LOL! Boring and bland? That is disappointing. Makes you wonder about people, doesn't it? Ha! Then you have to lie to them when they ask how you liked it!
your pics are as usual amazing! really! I think I would loved to climb up the tree house/tower but I dont like bugs so I would make sure lol!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Not too many bugs that day!
DeleteJudging by the photos, I would have been disappointed too. It all looks very ordinary and as you say most of us have something equally scenic closer to home. I was disappointed by San Francisco. Not as arty and "alternative" as I expected, and I was shocked by the huge numbers of rough sleepers, disturbed individuals etc everywhere I went, apparently getting little help from anyone. My rose-tinted image of the city was shattered overnight!
ReplyDeleteIve really only gone over the Golden Gate Bridge and driven through. Will be spending one night there this fall, so I will have to see what you mean. My husband thinks San Diego is the worst, due to its ideal weather. I will see how he thinks it compares as he will be there longer than me.
DeleteI actually think it is serene looking, LOL, but would be a bit disappointed if it was built up to be more than expected. I would have chalked it up to a good adventure and used it for one of the letters for A/Z, assuming I was doing A/Z next year (which I'm not).
ReplyDeleteYou will probably "hate" me for this, but I was a bit disappointed with Sedona when we finally got there last year. I had driven through it years ago and like everything, it has changed over time. Maybe it was because it was the 2nd to last day of our vacation and we were tired, had survived son's wedding, was in a midst of trying to buy a house, etc., but I expected more, but not sure what that more would have been.
betty
I can see where you would not be that impressed because red rocks are probably common scenery for you. It was such an unusual sight for me, plus I've never seen so many stars before.
DeleteThat Emergent Tower would be the end of me...
ReplyDeleteHi stranger. How are you today?
I couldn't handle it either.
DeleteDid you try?
DeleteIt looks nice enough, Bijoux, but I understand your disappointment. If you have something close to home why travel? I'm also afraid of heights and would strenuously resist any attempt to get my off terra firma, screaming child notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder when a place receives such high accolades, are there people who are 'afraid' to not agree?
DeleteThe last place I went to which was disappointing was Snowdon which didn'have any burger vans there or fairground. For Christ sake it was just a tiny hill you climb, but no other stuff was there. They say it's a mountain in Wales, but no hot dogs for some reason. A big letdown.
ReplyDeleteI'm behind, as usual… sorry.
ReplyDeleteNothing is coming to mind right now that I was disappointed with, we are happy enough with a walk in woods about 20 minutes from us. But if this place got such great reviews I can see where you would be a bit underwhelmed. Nice photos though. Thanks for sharing. :)