Cindy Carlsson

Most visitors to southwestern New Zealand make the (fabulous) day trip to Milford Sound. But if you’re looking for more of a wilderness experience (and don’t want to tackle one of the country’s famed hiking routes), sign up to visit Doubtful Sound. It’s far wilder than Milford Sound and more difficult to access (you can’t drive there), which keeps the number of visitors down. If you only do one, do Milford (and drive the Milford Road yourself) because the trip out to Milford Sound is a mind-blowingly scenic adventure. But if you have the time, Doubtful Sound offers a very different, and much quieter, experience. ____________________________________________________ #fiordlands #fiordland #fiordlandnationalpark #fiordlandnz #doubtfulsoundnz #newzealand #newzealandvacations #lovefiordland #doubtfulsound #doubtfulsoundcruise #nztravel #bestnewzealand #explorenz #newzealandadventures #newzealandtravel #newzealandtrip #destinationnz #travelmoments

While everything was covered with snow during Minnesota’s late winter snowstorm the other week, I was down in New Orleans, enjoying the azaleas and other early spring flowers in the sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art. This is one of the larger and more impressive sculpture gardens I’ve visited. It was so beautiful with all the flowering trees! And the art was pretty fun here, with a wide range of artists and styles on display. Here you see “Window with Ladder, Too Late for Help” by Leandro Erlich, which was originally installed in an area in the Lower Ninth Ward devastated by Hurrican Katrina. Arman Pablo Casal’s tower of violins, “Obalisk,” rising out of a pond. And, way in the background, Korean artist Do Ho Suh’s “Karma” curving upward toward the sky. Just a few of the nearly 100 pieces on display in this fabulous sculpture garden. ____________________________________________________ #explorenoma #neworleansmuseumofart #sculpture #contemporaryart #sculpturegarden #neworleans #windowwithladder #leandroerlich #dohosuh

You’ll find flowers everywhere in Tahiti and the other islands of French Polynesia, and few are as popular as plumeria (also known as frangipani). I was lucky on my last visit to find plumeria in bloom in almost every garden, including the garden at our hotel in Papeete. Find out more about the Royal Tahitian and it’s garden by following the link in the bio. ____________________________________________________ #frenchpolinesia #tahiti #tropicalgarden #plumaria #flowers #plumariaflower #royaltahitianhotel

The Chroma Zone mural district in Saint Paul, Minnesota, boasts more than 50 murals created through the annual Chroma Zone festival, as well as many other murals and street art. And more murals are added every year. This one, called “Ask Why,” was created by a collective of Hmong artists in 2019. Check it out for yourself at 809 Carleton Street. Or follow the link in the bio to see more murals and learn about this on-going community art project. ____________________________________________________ #chromazonefest #StPaul #Minnesota #chromazone #cezmsp #VisitSaintPaul #MNMurals #muraltour #publicart #streetarteverywhere #cezmsp #muralfestival #mysaintpaul #SaintPaulMN #chromazonefest #urbanart #urbanstreetart #stpaulmurals #twincitiesmurals

Northern winters are dark and cold, but oh! The light is amazing. (Pines in Finland.)⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ #winterlight #kronoby #kruunupyy #kronobykruunupyy #pohjanmaa #ostrobothnia #österbotten #finland #visitfinland #winterbeauty #winter ⁠ ⁠ Media Description: photo of snowy pines with pink and purple sky

The provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada, is NOT in Vancouver. (Where you might expect it to be, given the city’s size and prominence.) Instead, it’s in the much smaller and still rather British city of Victoria.⁠ ⁠ Located on Vancouver Island, Victoria has grown a lot since I first visited many years ago. But the heart of the city is still a walkable place with historic buildings and gardens that sprawl along the picturesque harbor. And it still has a bit of a nostalgic British vibe. (High tea anyone? Or is a traditional pub more your style?) But it also celebrates the culture of the First Nations people who have called this island home for thousands of years. And more. Much more.⁠ ⁠ It’s a great city to explore.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ #VancouverIsland #victoriabc #explorebc #travelcanada #vancouverisland #travelbc #imagesofcanada #explorevictoriabc #experiencevancouverisland #discovervictoriabc #explorecanada #explorevictoria #parliamentbuildings #neverstopexploring #nightphotography #nightphoto #nightphotos #nightphotographycaptures ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Media Description: after-dark photo of hanging flower baskets with the parliement building outlined in lights in the background

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2024.

I hope Santa's been good to you and all those you love! Happy holidays!

God Jul! (Merry Christmas!)

⁠ It’s not too late to catch the holiday spirit at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis! With Christmas decorations, holiday treats, music, food, and more, a visit to ASI is a great way to celebrate the season. Follow the link in the Bio for more photos and info.⁠ ⁠ @amswedinstitute⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ #ExplorationVacation #swedishinamerica #americanswedishinstitute #turnbladmansion #exploreminnesota #meetminneapolis #minneapolismn #onlyinMN #minnesota #Nordic #nordicart #americanswedishinstituteminneapolis #amswedishinstitute #holidaymagic #christmas #holidaytraditions #midwest #midwesttravel ⁠ ⁠

Tahiti and the other islands of French Polynesia are often seen as a luxury vacation spot. But if you’d rather mingle with the locals than lay by the pool at a fancy resort, you can do that too. Once you get away from the fancy resorts, you’ll discover that life goes on here much as always. You’ll see plenty of signs that fishing is still an important way to support oneself and one’s community on Raiatea and the other islands. Which, of course, means fresh fish on the menu almost everywhere! . . . . . #raiatea #polynesianislands #southpacificislands #southpacifictravel #frenchpolynesia #tropicalislands #tropicalisland #tropicalislandlife

Want a really good look at a whale? Travel to the Baja Peninsula to visit Mexico’s Pacific coast lagoons. This is where gray whales, the whales most feared by the whalers of days gone by, gather to breed and give birth. But today visitors have nothing to fear, as whales will swim right up to your boat looking for attention. Laguna Ojo de Liebre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of two protected bays where you’ll find these friendly whales. Follow the link in the bio to see more pictures and plan your own gray whale watching trip!⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ #Mexico #Baja #BajaSur #greywhale #whalewatching #bajawhale #méxico #bajacalifornia #ballenagris #greywhales #graywhales #lagunaojodeliebre #guerreronegro #whalemigration #nature #naturelovers #bajacaliforniasur #graywhale #whalelover #bajawhalewatching #pettingwhales #ExplorationVacation #travel #unescoworldheritage #unescosite #unescoworldheritagesites #worldheritage ⁠

Located in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the pre-Hispanic ruins of Uxmal and its neighboring cities are often cited as the peak of Mayan art and architecture. Today Uxmal, Kabah, Labná, and Sayil are all part of the Uxmal UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s a lot to see here, so check the bio for more information and photos.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ #uxmal #uxmalruins #uxmalyucatan #uxmalmexico #yucatan #yucatán #mexicotravel #archeology #unescoworldheritage #unescosite #unescoworldheritagesites #unesco_world_heritage #mayan #mexicohistory #mexicanhistory #uxmalmayanruins #travel #ExplorationVacation #worldheritage⁠

Over in Minneapolis, the American Swedish Institute has decked the halls of the Turnblad Mansion to celebrate the holidays. With Nodic inspired Christmas decorations, holiday treats, music, food, and more, a visit to ASI is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Follow the link in the Bio for more photos and info.⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ @amswedinstitute⁠ ⁠ #swedishinamerica #americanswedishinstitute #turnbladmansion #exploreminnesota #meetminneapolis #minneapolismn #onlyinMN #minnesota #Nordic #nordicart #americanswedishinstituteminneapolis #amswedishinstitute #holidaymagic #christmasjoy #holidaytraditions #midwest #ExplorationVacation #swedishinterior ⁠

Red Torch Ginger (Porcelain Rose) was in full bloom when I visited the de Faaroa Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Faaroa) on Raiatea in French Polynesia. . . #jardinbotaniquedefaaroa #faaroa #jardinbotanique #botanicalgarden #tropicalgarden #raiatea #polynesianislands #southpacificislands #southpacifictravel #frenchpolynesia #tropicalflowers #flowerslovers #flowerphotography #rosedeporcelaine #porcelainrose #gingerflower #redgingerlily #torchginger #tropicalislands #tropicalisland