park-drifters

Home of the Brave..and Right Home at Chester Park in Duluth, Minnesota
The waterfall you can actually walk across…if you’re brave enough, that is!

This is a scene that looks really out of place in the midst of summer at Chester Park. It’s hard to imagine the snow covering everything on such a warm day.

Lester Park Falls, or “rapids” if you are really imaginative!

Ample play structures for all ages, a ball field, and countless spots of “warm” water that everyone was basking in. There was even a cliff that countless people were jumping off of into the water of the creek below. It must be a Duluth thing! Of course, Nishad wanted to jump off with the best of them. (insert scream here)

One a park and rec. commissioner, always one. I have this habit of checking out parks in different locations, not only as a Mom and photographer (for on-site shots) but as a commissioner- well, ex-commissioner. I love to compare, contrast, “dream” and soak it all in! We visited two parks for the first time in Duluth: Chester Park and Lester Park. Chester Park is up above the city while Lester is down by the shoreline. There is even a self lakewalking tour for Lester Park. If you don’t have a tree house, another amazing view for the fireworks would be at the top of the hill, on your way to Chester Park. If you’re there, you’ll know exactly the spot that I’m referring too! Another amazing view!

Tree Houses

“Cloud 9”
The Morning I Woke Up In The Clouds.
Marveling at all the butterflies in the wildflowers floating by.

Natural Beauty.

Love is: Remembering not only what is important, but who is important.

The Duluth Lift Bridge in the skyline.


The Boys Room, that they were so thrilled about!

Our love nest 🙂

Time for some R & R

Up with the trees, swingin’ in the breeze, birdies sing with my babies and me… There is something so mystic and magical about looking out with a view beyond downtown Duluth, out beyond as far as the eye can see off toward Lake Superior- from a tree house. It really gives you a birds eye view of just how enormous things are. Each tree house (villa) is built to resemble the structure of a tree. There is a trunk that leads up to a circular base. Each tree house is equipped with a kitchen, living room, separate bedrooms and deck. Though they are fully furnished, each tree house is separately owned, so their decor does differ from one another. The views also differ. We stayed three days/two nights in the “Dream Catcher.” It’s name perfectly suits it! It has the best view of all the tree houses, complete with floor to ceiling windows. It was a dream to watch the fireworks in the privacy of one anothers company, above the crowds on Canal Park. We took a hike on the property in rows of tall natural grass and wildflowers, under the ski lifts that now stand dormant. There before us, in the vast openness, it’s hard not to feel connected with nature. The experience brought me back to an enlightenment phase that tickled my spiritual senses. Ashish mentioned reserving one for a week in the winter as he thought it would be quite a view with all the ice and trees glazed with white. I’m sure it would be, as it’s apparent that these tree houses have something unique to offer every season.


Me and My Love.

The last time we were in Duluth on the 4th of July, we weren’t yet engaged.

Celebrate USA

Duckies: Under a Bridge

The Dancer: Tip-Toes


The Race: Too Close To Call

Chaos: Finds a Rhythm
Of course, I “could” have taken regular pictures of the Duluth Fire Works Display (ranked the #1 spot in the state to see them), however, I was in the mood to light up the sky through my own eyes to mark the occasion. After all, this was no ordinary 4th of July…This was the 1st of many 4th of July’s to come in which my husband gets to celebrate as a United States Citizen!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!