Monday, December 13, 2010

My Top Ten Adventures of 2010 - Part I

Every year I go back through the blog and pick out my favorite places. Once again, they seem to fall into two categories - places I've always wanted to go, or places that surprised me. For each one, you can click on the link to read the original post.


Let the countdown begin!

Number 10 - The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD
Although my father said I was here when I was a kid, I don't remember it, so it was all new to me. Besides, they change it every year.


The individual pictures are beautifully done, with different shades of corn. You can read the original post here.


Number 9 - Bentsen State Park, Mission, TX
I'm not a big birder, but this park on the Rio Grande River is full of colorful birds found nowhere else in the United States but deepest South Texas. And because of the blinds that are set up, they are very easy to see. More pictures are on the original post here.


Number 8 - Los Angeles
This sounds like an odd favorite, but it is an area I have always avoided in the past. But I had a wonderful time, and it wasn't nearly as hard to get around as I thought it would be. Some of my favorite things were the Queen Mary -


And the Mission San Juan Capistrano. I also loved the La Brea Tar Pits and the Santa Monica Pier.


Number 7 - The Hiawatha Bike Trail
This trail, on the Montana/Idaho border, is one of my favorites because it is ALL DOWN HILL! Over the 10 miles, you go over 7 high trestles -


And through 10 dark tunnels. The first one is 1.7 miles long, and you can see I was happy to make it all the way through. More about my ride on the trail is here.


Number 6 - Pierre, SD
This town was a real surprise - besides having a lovely capitol -


It is one of the friendliest towns I have ever been in. They even put us on the front page of their paper! Read all about it here.

Stay tuned for the Top 5!

15 comments:

  1. What a cool idea, and great walk down memory lane for you! I think I might steal this idea for my blog. Do you mind?

    Number 7 seems great to me! Can't wait for the next installment! :)

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  2. I like what you have written. As a former resident of Los Angeles, I liked that you had a good experience there. I loved my twelve years of living there.

    What will you do for Christmas this year?

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  3. It's fun to see what you pick. Judging by the map, it sure looks like you went farther than usual.

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  4. We've only been in LA for a couple of weeks, but we're enjoying it more than I expected. Parking is abundant, the weather is great, and there's lots to do.

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  5. I think my fave would be the Hiawatha Bike Trail!!

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  6. YOU had some really great adventures in 2010!! I would love to do that Bike Trail what fun--Never been to LA but you make it sound like a fun spot to visit--the Tar Pits would be of great interest to me! Love that Green JAY what a beauty-

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  7. I've been to the Corn Palace 3 times and really got a kick out of it. Have not visited any of the other places you've been, so looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!

    Can't wait to see where you go in 2011!

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  8. Bottom 5 - very interesting, but I don't do patience and eagerly await the top 5!

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  9. Wow you have been all over according to that map lol I loved the places you chose, it would be hard for me to choose if I had been to all the places you have been thanks so much for sharing with us, Happy Holidays!

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  10. Visiting all those places is what its all about. I personally enjoyed your pictures and writings on the Lewis Clark adventure. You do what many people just dream about!

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  11. Great shots, great spots too. Frankly the corn palace is one that I've always wanted to stop at. The Queen Mary always is magic. Now you have to go to Rotterdam and visit the Rotterdam.

    Happy holidays to you and yours.

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  12. Wow, you really get around!

    Thanks for sharing. We now have new places to add to our to-do list.

    TRavel Safe
    Dawn & Denise

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  13. Thanks for the year-end retrospective. And what a handsome son you have!

    I see though that I will have to revise my travel budget upwards since wine tastings are rarely free these days. :-{

    Great photos!

    Kim

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  14. Lots to put on our to-do list! We spend each winter next door to Bentsen Palm park in Mission (bought a lot in Retama). We were at Tuttle Creek boondocking near Lone Pine when you were there (didn't know it until after we'd left - another blogger told me).
    We're still in Los Angeles for another week and now we have more things to see! We love to hike and ride our bikes, so I'm writing down your picks and putting them in our MUST DO folder!! Thanks so much for this post!! You are an inspiration!

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  15. Glad Bentsen made your list .. the birds there are pretty cool! :-)

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