Beautiful Bellagio

Posted on March 9, 2015March 9, 2015 by Dusty Roads

I don’t know Vegas well enough to say what is the most beautiful or the most sophisticated or the most anything. Everything we’ve seen and experienced so far in Vegas has been over the top but I did love everything about the Bellagio, from it’s dancing fountains to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

I have a video of the fountains but so far have not been able to complete an upload so until then here is a still photo to share the experience with you.

Chihuly in the lobby

The Gardens decked out for Chinese New Year.

Photo of the Week ~ 23

Posted on June 11, 2014June 11, 2014 by Dusty Roads

The winner with 30 points is the brightly colored flower titled Red and Yellow on Green.

To order prints click here: http://dustyroadsphotos.zenfolio.com/p161572686/h231b6419#h231b6419

Meet the Residents of Parrot Mountain

Posted on June 10, 2014June 10, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Do you want to know a secret?

I loved Parrot Mountain.

The birds are beautiful.

As usual when I find something I like I went overboard on pictures.

I’d never be a good editor.

Pick just one or two pictures??? Not a chance.

I could never decide so here’s a few more from that lush and colorful venue.

Flowers

More birds

They look so curious

More Flowers

Remember the bird from Barretta?

But just like the show, it’s time to sign off. If you like birds I can whole heartily recommend Parrot Mountain!

Views Along the Newfound Gap Road

Posted on June 1, 2014June 1, 2014 by Dusty Roads

The views along this route are beautiful.

The forest floor was covered in wildflowers. The sky was so blue. Here are just a few more moments captured in time.

I know mountains like these…the mountains of the east. They are older than the Rockies or the Cascades but in some ways no less wild.

Maybe growing up in the middle of the Adirondacks gave me an appreciation for these forested slopes. Or maybe not, maybe they are something everyone appreciates. After all, the Great Smokey Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park of them all.

Gatlinburg By-Pass

Posted on May 27, 2014May 27, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Quite pleased and content with my lunch I headed back out to find the Gatlinburg By-Pass. To get to it I had to go into Gatlinburg and then head back out toward the Welcome Center. From the Welcome Center I head back toward Gatlinburg. The by-pass exit is on the right and became my favorite way to get from one end of Gatlinburg to the other.

The By- Pass is a scenic drive that takes you around Gatlinburg, bringing you out near the Sugarlands Visitor Center. From the visitor center you can head to Cades Cove to the right or Cherokee, North Carolina straight ahead or back to Gatlinburg by turning left.

There are scenic turn outs with plenty of parking. and the road is well maintained.

This was the beginning of my introduction to auto touring the Great Smokey Mountains.

When we went to Alaska we were told that in the springtime the fields were filled with wildflowers. Well spring was late the year we went but I seemed to hit it just right for Tennessee. The grass and trees were green and wildflowers abounded.