Being that it’s springtime, and the sun is shining, and a beautiful breeze is blowing through each day, I’m always wanting to take my children somewhere. It’s good for them to experience the outdoors, and to do different things. So far this year we have done three different playgrounds, two different parks, and a walk in the woods. I also want to take them to the zoo in Philadelphia, the national aquarium in New Jersey, and hopefully to the New Jersey, Delaware or Maryland shore before the summer is over.

My mom talks about wanting to go to a garden. I wish we lived close by to the Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center. But, sadly, the last time I checked, Pennsylvania is nowhere near the city of Orange, which is in Texas. :/

Judging from the website (shangrilagardens.org), the Shangri La Gardens look to be a beautiful place to visit (I know I’d have fun with my Nikon D40x there!). The botanical gardens and nature center would be fun for people of all ages. In addition to the gardens, there is the Nature Center which has a hands-on exhibit called the Nature Discovery Center. There is also a lab and three outdoor classrooms, and the Botanical Gardens are situated next to a bird area, where visitors can see birds nesting and doing their own thing in their natural environment.

Another thing that makes Shangri La so nice is that it is very focused on green and on the environment, and on being kind to nature. They’re doing a good job of it, because the U.S. Green Building Council awarded them with LEED-NC certification.

I’m really going to have to do some digging to see if I can find a garden something like Shangri La here in Pennsylvania, because it sounds like a beautiful place! It would make a great trip in the spring, summer and fall, and there would be something for everyone.

11:27pm