our trip is over... headed back to the flat land of indiana..
the Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota
we had the absolute BEST time in south dakota!! i am extremely outdoorsy -- hubby... mmm not so much - HOWEVER the places we visited in south dakota (especially custer state park) were so gorgeous that even couch potato hubby is ready for a return trip to custer state park this fall for more hiking!!! (and if mom and dad go too they are going to babysit the boys while we go rock climbing).
okay so i took a shit load of pics and if you want to view more of them you can see them in my vaca photo album on facebook but i'll share some here too below.
we spent a few days hiking at custer state park in south dakota - this was hands down all of our favorite destination of the trip!!! (the boys just loved it there!!!) custer state park is filled with so many gorgeous trails that you would need at least a week to hike them all. if you love being outdoors, and hiking custer state park is an absolute MUST see state park!!! once you visit and hike the trails, drive the needles highway and wildlife loop that wind through the custer state park you will see why it is said by many to rival even most national parks. the scenery, wildlife and trails in custer state park are simply breathtaking!!! we didn't go on the jeep tour to see the buffalo herds (because we had the boys) but we had our own encounters with a couple of bison just on the road and on the trails within the park - so, when they say 'be careful buffalo roam wild' they aren't kidding. besides the bison we also saw mountain goat on the trails, wild turkey, deer, antelope, big horn sheep, and some other type of goat or ?? (not sure what they were). some of my favorite pics from custer state park are below - more photos here.
above is a pic of me and my boys at the beginning of lover's leap trail.
below are some pics from the trails...
the pic above is off the lovers leap trail
the pic above was on a gorgeous trail that i think most probably pass up because of the name of the trail... this is one we almost didn't go on but i am so glad we did. it was beautiful in there. the trail is called 'the grace coolidge walk in fishing area' -- it sounded boring.. i don't even know how/why we ended up in there, but did and LOVED IT!
the pic above was us on the trail #4 leading to little devil's tower trailhead - a short but gorgeous trail.
i am not sure where we were at this point.. we got off one of the trails and were just roaming at one point i think i shot this then
the pic above was us at sylvan lake in custer state park
tons more pics of our custer state park adventure including the wildlife here.
we spent a day at the badlands in south dakota.. i had been there several times before, but hubby and the boys had not. it is really something to see -- we were very disappointed however that they do not let dogs on the trails at the badlands - they can get out and go through the park, but are not allowed on the trails. (i do not understand this??)
Pittsburgh PA - Art Show this weekend!
i will be exhibiting my art - including new works (not yet exhibited publicly) this weekend in pittsburgh PA!! for all of my collectors in the PA area please come out and say hello!!
info on the show...
Walnut Street in Shadyside, a popular downtown shopping district of Pittsburgh, will transform into a living, breathing art gallery with 150 exhibitors from around the nation for the 11th Annual Shadyside Art Festival...The Art Festival on Walnut Street. Like all Howard Alan events, the 11th Annual Shadyside, The Art Festival on Walnut Street is a juried show, which means each participating artist is hand-selected from hundreds of applicants to ensure a first-class festival with only the highest quality, original artwork.
Show Hours: Saturday 10 AM - 9 PM and Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM Free, no gate.
Shadyside on Walnut Street in Pittsburgh, PA
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!
ABSTRACT ART
Abstract Art Paintings - on canvas
Abstract Art Paintings - on paper
Religious Spiritual Art Paintings - Scripture & Prayer Paintings
Abstract Art Giclee Prints - museum quality, fine art giclees on canvas and paper
