Combining the style painting of the impressionists with the color palettes of the expressionists, Hanson treats her art as “Open Impressionism.” Meaning: her paintings, while not realist, provides a realistic feeling or experience (rather than representation) of the places she visits. “I am not trying to re-create a photograph,” she writes on her website, “I am trying to get my viewers to open their eyes and see their world a little differently.”

Her work is the direct outcome of her forays into National Parks and other recesses of nature include backpacking expeditions, rock climbing, and photo safari. “I want people to look at the San Gabriel mountains, when they are stuck in their car during 5pm traffic,” she relayed, “and see the amazing range of purples that appear when the sun starts setting and the brilliant oranges and sherbet colors in the highlights.”

And since Hanson’s paintings are very much tied to her travels, she makes sure she dedicates time to both activities. “Now that I am a full-time artist, I set aside several times during the year when I travel out into the wilderness to get inspired for months of painting,” she writes. “I often hike solo, waking up before dawn every day to get the best lighting across the landscape.”

Step inside her colorful landscapes.

The post Erin Hanson Reinterprets the American Landscape In Vibrant Colors appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

During the Second World War, the grounds were turned over and used as a vegetable garden. After 1945 it fell into disrepair and was officially closed off in 1950. But when, in 1995, Jane Percy became the 14th Duchess of Northumberland, she initiated the redevelopment and came up with the idea to transform a neglected section of the gardens and turn it into a poison garden. 

As a contrast to the common apothecary gardens, instead of using plants with medicinal properties, the duchess decided to put a twist on it, and plant only highly poisonous or deadly plant species. The garden was first opened in 2005 and contains about 100 poisonous plants such as deadly nightshade, hemlock, foxglove, and opium poppy. 

Because of the dangerous properties of the plants, some of them are caged, and the garden is kept under 24-hour security. Guided tours are available for curious visitors and the garden is used for educational purposes for children or anyone interested in finding out more about the unique species planted here.

Today, the Alnwick gardens span over 14 acres and attract over 600,000 visitors each year, making them one of North England’s most popular tourist attractions.

The post Check Out Alnwick’s Famous Poison Garden appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

There are many hikes you can take in this area, including climbing up the Uchisar castle, the highest point of Cappadocia, from which you can see some of the best panoramic views of the area. You will get the chance to explore many caves, the most famous of them being the Underground City of Derinkuyu. Built in the 7^th and 8^th centuries B.C, it used to be home to 20,000 people on its 16 levels. It was inhabited until the early 20^th century, but now it serves as a museum. 

While in Cappadocia, you should also make time to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. Created as a Byzantine monastic settlement in the 9^th century, and later becoming a pilgrimage site in the 17^th century, the complex contains more than 30 churches and chapels carved from rock. Some of them still contain intact Byzantine frescoes and other pieces of art.

One of the most popular activities that attract thousands of tourists to this place every year is the hot-air ballooning. Every day, right after sunrise, hundreds of air balloons are let out into the sky at the same time. This can be a beautiful sight to watch from terraces and rooftops of numerous cave hotels, but it’s even more magical if you experience the ride yourself. Seeing the unique scenery of Cappadocia from this vantage point is an unforgettable experience. 

The post Visit the Magical Cappadocia appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

After negotiations with the owners, the transformation of the land began in March 1999. It included building 37 hobbit hole facades, gardens and hedges, a mill and a double arch bridge, as well as lifting a 29-ton oak, and recreating it to suit the book’s description of Bag End. The original set was not built to last, but only to be used for the purposes of the movie. However, as the popularity of the movies grew, so did the public’s interest in this magical looking place. 

In 2010, before the filming of the prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the set was rebuilt to be more permanent and soon became a proper tourist attraction, offering a two-hour guided tour and many accompanying facilities. Highlights of the tour include Bagshot Row, the Party Tree, and Bilbo’s Bag End home. There are 44 hobbit holes on sight, some of which have been made to resemble actual homes that you can enter and see the earth-walled interiors from the movies for yourself.

After the tour, you can stop for refreshments at the “Shires Rest Cafe” or have a breakfast at the “Second Breakfast” restaurant. There is also the famous replica of the Green Dragon pub, where you can have a beer and enjoy the authentic movie atmosphere, surrounded by props and various Hobbit memorabilia. 

The post Hobbiton: From Fantasy to Real-life Destination appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The small island of Bled is situated right in the middle, and it is known for being the only island in Slovenia. You can get there on a traditional wooden boat known as “pletna,” operated by standing rowers, or “pletnars.”

The island is most famous for its 17th century church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, which is full of Gothic frescoes and rich Baroque decor. Legend has it that if you listen to the church bell and ring it yourself, it will make all your wishes come true.

On the north shore of the lake lies the Medieval Bled Castle, standing on a cliff towering over the lake. Its elevated location makes for a stunning viewing ground of the entire lake, its island, and the surrounding forests and mountain peaks.

The castle itself hosts an impressive museum collection, as well as a restaurant, and the scenery around it makes it a beloved wedding venue for many.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to try the famous dessert Bled Cream Cake, called “kremšnita.” It is an original Slovenian cream pastry, which is made to this day following the unchanged 60-year-old recipe.

Not far from Lake Bled there is a 1.6 km-long Vintgar gorge, where the river Radovna carves its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Boršt hills. Attracting hundreds of nature lovers with its wooden bridges and viewing galleries strewn across waterfalls, pools, and cascades, it is truly an impressive sight to see.

The post The Wonders of Slovenia’s Lake Bled appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Located on the outskirts of Vienna, this park is of great botanical and landscaping importance. It was built between 1885 and 1888, but was later remodelled by the City of Vienna in 1892. The pond was added, and in the following years, the park was significantly expanded. Today, it is known for its collection of rare botanical plants, and a picturesque landscape, which is one of the park’s most appealing features, with numerous hills, meadows and meandering paths. This park is ideal if you want to spend a relaxing day surrounded by nature in the middle of the city.

Volksgarten

Volksgarten is a public park in the first district of Vienna. The park was built over the city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. The plans for the garden were made in 1821 by Ludwig Remy. Originally, it was supposed to be a private garden for aristocracy, but the plan was soon abandoned and instead, on March 1st of 1823, it was opened as the first public park in the city. Its most impressive feature, for which Volksgarten is the most famous today, is the rose garden, with over 3,000 rose bushes and 400 different varieties of roses. It is best visited in spring or summer when all the roses are in bloom. 

Rathauspark

Rathauspark is a city park designed for Viennese residents in 1863 by city gardener Dr. Rudolf Siebeck, under the commission of Emperor Franz Joseph. It was opened in 1873, when the north section near the University and the south section close to the Parliament were completed. The two sections are almost symmetrical, divided by a wide square and an avenue leading to the City Hall. The square is used for many events and festivities throughout the year, such as the traditional Christmas market, winter ice skating rink and summer outdoor cinema. Whenever you decide to visit Vienna, there will always be something happening here.

The post The Most Beautiful Parks In Vienna appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Combining the style painting of the impressionists with the color palettes of the expressionists, Hanson treats her art as “Open Impressionism.” Meaning: her paintings, while not realist, provides a realistic feeling or experience (rather than representation) of the places she visits. “I am not trying to re-create a photograph,” she writes on her website, “I am trying to get my viewers to open their eyes and see their world a little differently.”

Her work is the direct outcome of her forays into National Parks and other recesses of nature include backpacking expeditions, rock climbing, and photo safari. “I want people to look at the San Gabriel mountains, when they are stuck in their car during 5pm traffic,” she relayed, “and see the amazing range of purples that appear when the sun starts setting and the brilliant oranges and sherbet colors in the highlights.”

And since Hanson’s paintings are very much tied to her travels, she makes sure she dedicates time to both activities. “Now that I am a full-time artist, I set aside several times during the year when I travel out into the wilderness to get inspired for months of painting,” she writes. “I often hike solo, waking up before dawn every day to get the best lighting across the landscape.”

Step inside her colorful landscapes.

The post Erin Hanson Reinterprets the American Landscape In Vibrant Colors appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

During the Second World War, the grounds were turned over and used as a vegetable garden. After 1945 it fell into disrepair and was officially closed off in 1950. But when, in 1995, Jane Percy became the 14th Duchess of Northumberland, she initiated the redevelopment and came up with the idea to transform a neglected section of the gardens and turn it into a poison garden. 

As a contrast to the common apothecary gardens, instead of using plants with medicinal properties, the duchess decided to put a twist on it, and plant only highly poisonous or deadly plant species. The garden was first opened in 2005 and contains about 100 poisonous plants such as deadly nightshade, hemlock, foxglove, and opium poppy. 

Because of the dangerous properties of the plants, some of them are caged, and the garden is kept under 24-hour security. Guided tours are available for curious visitors and the garden is used for educational purposes for children or anyone interested in finding out more about the unique species planted here.

Today, the Alnwick gardens span over 14 acres and attract over 600,000 visitors each year, making them one of North England’s most popular tourist attractions.

The post Check Out Alnwick’s Famous Poison Garden appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

There are many hikes you can take in this area, including climbing up the Uchisar castle, the highest point of Cappadocia, from which you can see some of the best panoramic views of the area. You will get the chance to explore many caves, the most famous of them being the Underground City of Derinkuyu. Built in the 7^th and 8^th centuries B.C, it used to be home to 20,000 people on its 16 levels. It was inhabited until the early 20^th century, but now it serves as a museum. 

While in Cappadocia, you should also make time to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. Created as a Byzantine monastic settlement in the 9^th century, and later becoming a pilgrimage site in the 17^th century, the complex contains more than 30 churches and chapels carved from rock. Some of them still contain intact Byzantine frescoes and other pieces of art.

One of the most popular activities that attract thousands of tourists to this place every year is the hot-air ballooning. Every day, right after sunrise, hundreds of air balloons are let out into the sky at the same time. This can be a beautiful sight to watch from terraces and rooftops of numerous cave hotels, but it’s even more magical if you experience the ride yourself. Seeing the unique scenery of Cappadocia from this vantage point is an unforgettable experience. 

The post Visit the Magical Cappadocia appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

After negotiations with the owners, the transformation of the land began in March 1999. It included building 37 hobbit hole facades, gardens and hedges, a mill and a double arch bridge, as well as lifting a 29-ton oak, and recreating it to suit the book’s description of Bag End. The original set was not built to last, but only to be used for the purposes of the movie. However, as the popularity of the movies grew, so did the public’s interest in this magical looking place. 

In 2010, before the filming of the prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the set was rebuilt to be more permanent and soon became a proper tourist attraction, offering a two-hour guided tour and many accompanying facilities. Highlights of the tour include Bagshot Row, the Party Tree, and Bilbo’s Bag End home. There are 44 hobbit holes on sight, some of which have been made to resemble actual homes that you can enter and see the earth-walled interiors from the movies for yourself.

After the tour, you can stop for refreshments at the “Shires Rest Cafe” or have a breakfast at the “Second Breakfast” restaurant. There is also the famous replica of the Green Dragon pub, where you can have a beer and enjoy the authentic movie atmosphere, surrounded by props and various Hobbit memorabilia. 

The post Hobbiton: From Fantasy to Real-life Destination appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The small island of Bled is situated right in the middle, and it is known for being the only island in Slovenia. You can get there on a traditional wooden boat known as “pletna,” operated by standing rowers, or “pletnars.”

The island is most famous for its 17th century church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, which is full of Gothic frescoes and rich Baroque decor. Legend has it that if you listen to the church bell and ring it yourself, it will make all your wishes come true.

On the north shore of the lake lies the Medieval Bled Castle, standing on a cliff towering over the lake. Its elevated location makes for a stunning viewing ground of the entire lake, its island, and the surrounding forests and mountain peaks.

The castle itself hosts an impressive museum collection, as well as a restaurant, and the scenery around it makes it a beloved wedding venue for many.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to try the famous dessert Bled Cream Cake, called “kremšnita.” It is an original Slovenian cream pastry, which is made to this day following the unchanged 60-year-old recipe.

Not far from Lake Bled there is a 1.6 km-long Vintgar gorge, where the river Radovna carves its way through the vertical rocks of the Hom and Boršt hills. Attracting hundreds of nature lovers with its wooden bridges and viewing galleries strewn across waterfalls, pools, and cascades, it is truly an impressive sight to see.

The post The Wonders of Slovenia’s Lake Bled appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Located on the outskirts of Vienna, this park is of great botanical and landscaping importance. It was built between 1885 and 1888, but was later remodelled by the City of Vienna in 1892. The pond was added, and in the following years, the park was significantly expanded. Today, it is known for its collection of rare botanical plants, and a picturesque landscape, which is one of the park’s most appealing features, with numerous hills, meadows and meandering paths. This park is ideal if you want to spend a relaxing day surrounded by nature in the middle of the city.

Volksgarten

Volksgarten is a public park in the first district of Vienna. The park was built over the city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. The plans for the garden were made in 1821 by Ludwig Remy. Originally, it was supposed to be a private garden for aristocracy, but the plan was soon abandoned and instead, on March 1st of 1823, it was opened as the first public park in the city. Its most impressive feature, for which Volksgarten is the most famous today, is the rose garden, with over 3,000 rose bushes and 400 different varieties of roses. It is best visited in spring or summer when all the roses are in bloom. 

Rathauspark

Rathauspark is a city park designed for Viennese residents in 1863 by city gardener Dr. Rudolf Siebeck, under the commission of Emperor Franz Joseph. It was opened in 1873, when the north section near the University and the south section close to the Parliament were completed. The two sections are almost symmetrical, divided by a wide square and an avenue leading to the City Hall. The square is used for many events and festivities throughout the year, such as the traditional Christmas market, winter ice skating rink and summer outdoor cinema. Whenever you decide to visit Vienna, there will always be something happening here.

The post The Most Beautiful Parks In Vienna appeared first on Traveler Dreams.