We don't get out to Laurelhurst as often as we should; it's one of the best inner city parks that we have, for myriad reasons: spacious, shaded, plenty of picnic space and open greenway, trails, special events all year round (our favorites being the Water Lantern Festival and Movies in the Park), an off-leash dog area, duck pond, sports courts and fields, and likely a lot more things of which I am aware. It's also seems, to me at least, to be one of only a handful of Portland's "living room" spaces: large enough, and conveniently central enough, to draw in folks from all over the metro area, for any of the reasons mentioned above. It's quite, serene, welcoming...nostalgic, even. A great place to commingle, or isolate, whatever your preference. Portland is blessed with a lot of urban green spaces, but few outside of Forest Park (the G.O.A.T.) can rival the majesty, modesty, and utility of Laurelhurst. It's the sort of place that can make you fall in love with your city all over again. read more

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The Portland Water Lantern Festival was a great outing, especially for father's day! There were great food vendors options and overall it was a peaceful, relaxing evening. Set intentions and let the lanterns go! read more

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Love this park! It's 30 acres in the midst of SE PDX. Ways I use the park: -A walk after eating on Belmont or Hawthorne -A running trail for set distances -As an event space during the summer when comedy in the park takes over -For the off-leash dog area (though I prefer fenced) -Playing on the four pickleball courts - two with nets, and two to bring your own net -Duck watching at the pond - ahem - Firwood Lake -Napping or picnicing under the trees in summer read more

Wow, this is a big park! Much bigger than I was expecting. They have a variety of walking paths weaving & looping throughout the park. There's also a pond & several picnic areas. Lots of big trees providing shade along the walking paths, and plenty of open grassy areas for enjoying the sun & playing games. They also have courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball, along with a soccer field, and bike skills area (there may be more, as it's such a big place!). I read online there's a playground, too, but I didn't come across it. I didn't use the restroom, so I can't speak to the cleanliness of those facilities. read more

I don't come here often --- maybe once a year? But when I do I'm always blown away by just how vast and diverse this park is. And yea, it's right in the middle of urban Portland. The inner east side is blessed with this awesome stretch of greenery that contains a great network of paved walking trails, a fairly large lake/pond stocked with a noisy brood of ducks, an off leash dog area, pickleball and tennis courts and even a small playground. Just an easy 20 minute walk among the giant trees is good for the soul, and the well maintained grounds make it a cinch to navigate. Picnics are encouraged. Parking isn't always easy in the surrounding neighborhoods, and busy 39th Ave basically defines the eastern boundary, but the pay off is a slice of peace in the urban jungle if you go deep enough. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Taking a moment to breathe in - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Such a fantastic park! With its wonderful walking paths, numerous benches, and designated off-leash dog zone, it's truly remarkable that this serene oasis exists amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

This is a wonderful park in the city. It has a good amount of trees and acreage. And a lovely pond with ducks, turtles, and fish. The location is in a great neighborhood and very walkable. read more

One of the most famed parks in PDX. Tree lovers come and hug all they can and feel the sanctuary of Laurelhurst. The variety & depth will make you pause to gaze during your walk constantly having your dog wondering what is going on. Your pup wants to socialize at the huge off-lease area and will pull your leash to hurry to get there. Water ~ filled with ducks & fish. Beautiful view angles everywhere. The pathway will be congested at times. Early morning is best for joggers. Street parking. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Winter wonder ;) - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Probably the most famous park in Portland. I came here years ago for the first time and had great memories. Now I live near enough to visit. This is one of the better maintained parks in Portland and has enough diverse sections. You'll see people picnicking here and relaxing on benches when it's sunny. There's a lot of park wildlife here (ducks, squirrels) that let you get close enough for good photos. read more

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We had been to Laurelhurst park a few years back with our daughters. The park was good but there was a large house less population present and we could smell drugs and heard lots of yelling and language i wasn't happy to have my children exposed to. We gave it another shot and was presently impressed! The playground was great and definitely geared for kids under 10. Great climbing and swinging options for my kids. The street between the playground and the rest of the park has been shut down and has the pickle ball courts and skating/biking options. We walked around the parks and saw lots of people running, walking and having fun. Great park! read more

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Large park, well maintained. Parking. An be iffy... lots of folks hanging out on. Beautiful Sunday. They have pickleball courts. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

WOW!!! What a gorgeous park!!! We had never been here after 6 1/2 years in Oregon and boy can I NOT believe it. What a gorgeous gorgeous spot. You have OLD tall amazing trees, fall trees, all sorts of colors. There are ducks, a little lake/pond, lots of trail to walk, a HUGE off leash dog park and it's absolutely HUGE. We came here with our photographer as she chose this location for our family photos. It was beautiful. The light coming through the trees, the fall foliage. I was immediately obsessed. I think this is a fabulous location for photos but also a GREAT dog park, family picnic spot and plain old gorgeous Portland area park. read more

My dog and I love this park for its beautiful walking paths inside and right outside the park along the gorgeous houses

This cute little park is not too far from downtown Portland. In 1909, the land that is now Laurelhurst Park was purchased from the estate of William S. Ladd, who was twice, the mayor of Portland. Ladd named his 486-acre parcel Hazel Fern Farm, after the name of one of the streets in the area. As East Portland developed, Ladd's tract of land became too valuable for agricultural use. Ladd sold his land for over $1,000,000 to the Laurelhurst Company around the turn of the century. In 1911, seeing the potential for a park as part of the Olmsted Plan, the City of Portland bought 30 of the acres, including the pond. Laurelhurst Park is a perfect example of the City Beautiful Movement in landscaping. In 1919, the park was named the most beautiful park on the west coast by the Pacific Coast Parks Association. Thanks to the efforts of the Portland Historical Landmarks Commission, in February 2001 Laurelhurst Park was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Laurelhurst Park's ideal duck population is ten male/female pairs. That's why you see so many ducks in the pond.......In 1987, the normal duck population was at 120, with seasonal visitors sometimes boosting numbers over 200. Relaxing and calming, this park has restrooms and picnic tables. Street parking spaces abound. read more

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Love this beautiful park! I come here every time I visit Portland. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Magical pond - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Beautiful park! We stopped by last Saturday afternoon with our pup. The grounds are fabulous. Beautiful trees, flowers, wide paths, picnic areas, a large pond, and wildlife. We meandered through the entire park and found it all very peaceful and serene. If I lived nearby I'd be visiting this park regularly. Yes, there's a decent sized homeless community at the southern perimeter, but it didn't seem to flow into the park itself. I was sad to see some trash had made its way into the pond, but overall the park was quite clean. Great place for pups, joggers, nature lovers, and families. Stop by and enjoy the baby geese and ducks, and the gorgeous trees! read more

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I love Laurelhurst Park in all of its grandeur and imperfection. I have a history with this urban green space that goes back decades. I've attended weddings in the park, as well as picnics, silent raves, and I've walked the loop trail too many times to count. I've watched my dogs frolic in the off-leash area, and I've secretly scattered a few of their ashes there as well. (shhhhh) I've delayed writing this review for a very long time because... well, is there anything I have to say that is different from anyone else who loves the park? We've all watched the same seasons change, and witnessed the city's varying levels of care in maintaining the park. We've all watched the homeless population explode in recent years, and become uniquely aware of their comings and goings. We've all witnessed the housing prices surge in the areas surrounding the park, for many of us, dashing our dreams of one day affording a home within walking distance. It took walking away from writing this review several times to understand what it was I wanted to express about Laurelhurst Park. It is these shared memories and experiences that make the place special to me. I love considering the many thousands of unique stories and events that have taken place here, perhaps interweaving with one another. My story is your story, and our shared history becomes a tangible and permanent reminder of how important a resource Laurelhurst Park is to all of us. read more

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It was mostly cheap, cliched and scatological humor. The audience was extremely eager to laugh and have fun and was overly generous with applause. The participants and organizers were equally annoying. Mostly a disappointing and embarrassingly bad misfire. The comedians seemed to all have a high opinion of themselves. Only one out of the half dozen or so "comics" got many laughs and he was an elderly gent making his debut! read more

This is a nice large park with lots of parking as it's also surrounded by homes and neighborhoods. When I turned into the park from the SE entrance there was a row of homeless camps set up. However when you continue driving you'll drive past it; it's not a long drive though and you'll come across some parking that has easy entrance to the park. When I was walking around I saw a lot of people going on their runs. It was during the fall/winter so I imagine there are many more people here during the summer. People can do everything from playing frisbee or football on the many grassy areas to walking their dogs to having large lunch or dinner gatherings on the long benches. It was a bit wet when I was here but the leaves and the trees were beautiful! Overall it feels like such a great place to visit and do whatever you like doing at parks. read more

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One of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the City! When the rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom early spring, it's magical! There are a lot of tall, old, established trees that create a canopy of various hues of green providing shade over the rolling hills. It's so lush it feels like you are in New Zealand! There is a paved path that meanders throughout the park making for a lovely walk or jog. There are huge open areas where the sun pours in for those who want to catch rays. And other open areas that are shaded with varying options of picnic tables for small or large gatherings. Many people bring their own chairs or blankets for more private picnics on the grass. The pond, Firewood Lake, is so beautiful and peaceful, the tall trees along the perimeter reflecting in the water. Lots of ducks live around this pond enjoying the tranquillity. For dog lovers, there Is a large off leash area along the west side. Laurelhurst Park has always reminded me of a mini Central Park and than after doing some research, I discovered the landscape architects were The Olmsted Group of New York, the same architects who designed Central Park! It's evident in the design. Parking is on the side streets and since it's a residential area, availability varies based on day of the week and time. The park is located on the Bus line with a stop right on SE Cesar Chavez Blvd making it super convenient. There are homeless camping close to the SE Cesar Chavez entrances even though there are signs posted saying, "No Camping." In the park itself there are some homeless, but I have never felt uncomfortable. This is a gorgeous park and the perfect place to get your exercise, meet friends for some safe social distancing conversation, have a picnic, read a book, and just take in the beauty of nature. Laurelhurst also hosts concerts and movies in the park during the summer. Hoping we will be able to enjoy them this year, the summer of 2020. read more

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This park was about 10 blocks, from my old house. I found this park in my high school years, because my neighbor down the corner from me, took me here to use me as his model, and he was my starting a new hobby: photographer. (He gave me all the negatives and prints). This is another neighborhood park, my husband and I visited on our own, during the pandemic. We tried to visit as much as we can, per week. Because of Portland's growing population, it can be very crowded during a nice day, even during the pandemic. People gathering around, relatives/friends, and social distance, having a picnic, hanging up their hammocks and relax, children can roam free & pets! Since the 70's, there's been some changes, that I noticed and took photos & notes on those changes. Example: Giant Sequoia. The lake used to be so dirty and it smell, but the city have done a lot of improvement since then. There used to be various types of fishes, too, the reason why it smell! There's a photo that reminded me of a garden in Monet's painting! Firwood Lake was added, with a new name! Wood cutting of ducks on the cyclone fence. NOTE: Don't swim, it's not a swimming pool lake! Please don't feed the ducks! "Each year, large amounts of blue-green algae were produced as the sun quickly heated the shallow water. In response, Portland City Council allocated funds to dredge the lake and install a water aeration and circulation system." "In 1919, the Pacific Coast Parks Association named Laurelhurst Park the "most beautiful park" on the West Coast, and in February 2001 it was the first city park ever to be listed on the National Register of Historic Place." ~ Wikipedia. Oh, let's not forget, my husband's old home is 5 mins. from the park! He & his dad used to go jogging here! read more

Laurelhurst Park - Laurelhurst Park: A little reminder of a Monet painting! - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Came here last week before they announced that all parks are closed temporarily due to the Coronavirus. This was my first time coming here and I enjoyed the fresh air. It was such a good escape and going for a quick jog was much needed and enjoying the warm weather. Flowers was starting to bloom and the scenery was nice. The trails had pavement, dirt, and gravel that you can walk on and it loops around and there was the pond with ducks. I had a peaceful picnic. It's a large place with plenty of distance to travel, and possibly some swings and stuff (though I can't remember for certain). A great place nonetheless whether you're alone, a couple, or a family. Fun seeing the ducks and other birds in the pond. Definitely looking forward to the park opening again! read more

Laurelhurst Park - :) - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The design for Laurelhurst Park was based on a plan for Portland developed by the Olmstead brothers, who were responsible for Central Park in NYC. A wonderful similarity is the existence of curved walkways and wooded areas that let an urban park slowly reveal itself to visitors while maintaining an illusion that they have the park mostly to themselves. There is a wonderful interactive map showing the details of every tree in the park, including 3 different types of redwoods! the map can be found at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=215de0bccbe442e7bc2d156f0622abb3 along with other information about the park's history. This park is a treasure for people who live in Portland, and would make a lovely addition to a walking exploration of the nearby Laurelhurst neighborhood for visitors. read more

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This park is absolutely beautiful. We took a Sunday afternoon stroll through lush green grasses, gorgeous tall trees, and a beautiful pond filled with happy ducks. Two single restrooms are cleaned once daily, but yay...they have restrooms! And several picnic tables. And paved winding paths going in various directions, all in the center of a beautiful neighborhood. We didn't walk down every path, but I can't imagine any of them weren't as stunning as the one we chose. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Went for the first time today and was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful this park was. It's peaceful to stroll through and there is plenty of shaded areas. Lots of picnic tables, grassy areas. The ducks come right up and are super cute. I was also happy to see lots of dogs in the area and can't wait to bring my pup next time. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This is a lovely urban park with a pond in the middle. There are plenty of picnic tables and places to spread out a blanket to relax. We came on a Friday night and the park was hopping with people spread all over enjoying some socially distant relaxation. My three year old enjoyed using her balance bike on all of the paved paths. Be ware that the bathrooms are closed. read more

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My boyfriend and I grabbed some coffee nearby and figured we'd take a nice little stroll through the park while we sipped on our coffee's. We didn't intend on staying too long but after having walked the whole park together, my boyfriend wound up capturing some great photos of the ducks and rose bushes along the way. 10/10 park date :) ig: @leomvrtinez read more

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Just rediscovered this park and have been coming here so much this summer! Every time I've come here there's something going on it's so nice to come for a little walk in the summertime. All in the last month we saw a paper lantern event, comedy in the park, and a random little rave. I also love coming to sit by the pond and watch the ducks swim around. read more

This is probably Portland's best park. It's big enough that you don't trip over others, but has a really nice central area where people gather. There's a really cool lake with lots of wildlife. The kids playground is in a separate section of the park, which honestly is kind of nice because it keeps that noise off in a different area. The bathrooms could be cleaner, but whatcha gonna do? Some great activities here, concerts, movies, Shakespeare... almost always something going on, usually more than one. Definitely one of the awesome parts of Portland! read more

Nice place to stroll with a pond and small hills. Very pretty urban park, convenient and quiet.

Designed by the same architect who designed Prospect Park in Brooklyn, this close in park has everything. Ballet classes in a building adjacent to a playground. Ducks to observe in a lake. Unfenced dog park. This place is where gay men used to connect late at night under the moonlight and frolic in the ancient Rhodys. Not sure if this still goes on. Tonight we are attending socially distanced live comedy. My dog is quietly waiting to see if she is picked as pup of the moment. read more

Laurelhurst Park - Doggo enjoying the amenities - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Nice urban park. A little small quite honestly (wish they had built it out a bit more way back when) but a great urban park. The pond is a messy slime pit (long term residents have told me that they have tried to aerate it and it never seems to work). Overall worth the visit. Some history: Apparently over 120 years ago the pond was once a local swimming hole and watering hole for cows. The park was supposed to be part of a grand Olmsted Plan for parks and park boulevards linking the city from downtown to North Portland, and from Sellwood out to where PDX airport is today, but since no one wanted to pay for the development of these interconnected parks and park like Boulevards (these exist today in Chicago and Boston) Portland was left with few linked urban parks. Bummer. Laurelhurst is as nice a remnant of a idea that never materialized as you can find. For dog owners: When I had a dog I went here twice a day so she could play with other dogs. The dog owners are a good community and if your dog is socialized and friendly this is a fun place to let the dogs play and chat with neighbors. When I get a dog again in the future I hope I can rejoin the dog crew. For picnics: Large green grassy areas are perfect for some time on that Pendelton blanket you've got to read a book (when it is sunny) and for social distancing. Some groups have gotten a little out of control, but most people are respectful of social distancing. I have even seen impromptu concerts (socially distanced). For walks: The park is good for a few laps around the park using the trails. I tend to walk around the perimeter and weave in and out to get a longer walk. The tree cover is amazing. For tennis: the lighted tennis courts are available till late. The courts are lighted till (10 pm I think). There is a button there to push along the fence line but the lights are usually on to 10 it seems to me. I have noticed some players bring a shop broom to sweep away leaves and debris (there are some big trees), and that struck me as pretty awesome. I like the idea that people can go play tennis at 9 pm if they want to. There is a 30 minute guidance when people are waiting. Houseless camping site 2020: I only mention this because I assume people have concerns about this large camping settlement and while I have seen the camp grow from a few occasional campers in March to a full tent city as of 11/2020 I have found the campers, in the main, to be friendly and respectful. I have seen IV drug use and discarded needles more often this fall and this is somewhat alarming. But, I have also seen neighborhood-based and religious group volunteers doing clean ups and outreach and I think there is better management and self policing these days. For the most part the campers stay out of the actual park and only a few camp in the park. As more volunteers are involved in humanitarian work the issues of garbage and discarded paraphernalia are being resolved. Overall, this is a great city park, that reflects the city of Portland with all its positives and issues. I use the park on a daily basis for my walks and to enjoy the beautiful trees. A real gem. After reading about the history I sure wish the Olmstead plan for PDX had been built in the early 20th century since I would love to walk a green belt of park blocks around the whole city! read more

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This is a lovely clean park with tall trees, luscious green grassy hills, park benches/tables and a lovely pond with duckies. I wish it was bigger, but that's OK, I just have to walk it a bunch of times to get enough exercise when I'm in the area. It's a perfect place for picnics too, please see my photos. read more

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One of the great things about Portland is the wonderful parks in each neighborhood and this is one of, if not THE best. I consider it to be my backyard and come here all the time. I love walking around the pond and checking in on the ducks. Lot's of open-common areas but also many less populated, trails to wander. It is especially magical in the winter with snow on the ground. read more

Laurelhurst is perhaps my favorite park in Portland. There is plenty of room to spread out and it's been the perfect place to go and social distance from people. It's a large enough park to play frisbee or throw a football around. Dogs are welcome at the park. There is a pond with ducks. There is plenty of picnic tables that can accommodate a large crowd (these are located opposite side of the main entrance). In the fall the trees turn a beautiful golden color. It's really a picture perfect spot! There are homeless around - there is a little camp set up across the street and often times the bathroom are occupied/barricaded with someone inside. Regardless- I will come to this park over and over again. There are walking paths or lots of grass to lay out a blanket too and Just read. read more

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I was looking for flowers but going during winter time I obviously found lush green grass, bare trees, evergreen pines, and rain. It was still an awesome pace to visit because the park is pretty big (reminded me of a smaller Central Park) and there is a lake. I love birds so it was super cool to see the diversity of water fowl in the lake. There is a fence with wooden painted pictures of the ducks and more. I saw Mallards (a lot), buffleheads, Canadian geese, and more. I wished I saw the Blue heron pictured on the fence. Signs say DO NOT feed them because human food makes them feel sick. They were friendly too and walked up to me which was exciting. I can't wait to one day see this place in the Spring. read more

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I'm bummed I didn't get to hang here longer. My friends moved to Portland and their place happens to be just a few minutes from here. They have a dog so this is now their new spot. I dropped by on my last day in the city to take their dog on a walk. Marley loves it here because she can go squirrel hunting. There. Are. Squirrels. Everywhere. The property is bananas. There's a body of water, off leash area and a walking path. I didn't even get to walk around the whole place. To top it off, the people were so friggin nice. We ended up chatting with everyone who passed us or stopped to talk shop about dogs. I can only imagine how packed it is during the summer. read more

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We were heading to the park for an annual steampunk picnic this day and I have also been to many Victorian croquet events. I laughed entering the park as a wedding party is trying to get past the endless stream of unicorn bike riders. Did I mention the tree climbing competition we also passed? Yep, diverse park - lots of joggers, dog runners/walkers, bicycles and picnic action. Our friends who set up the picnic were a bit perplexed and had to almost throw down with some crazy folks getting married - full blown with wedding guests and all. Pro tip - they rent sites with picnic tables through the city...then you get permits...geesh... Would not have been so bad but the married people argued and argued that it IS A PUBLIC PARK! Yes...it is with spaces within it people can rent. Now for some housekeeping...or lack there of - the side I assume not in the actual Laurelhurst neighborhood is not only littered with cars that looks like they were dumped off from the junker but cars, crazy garbage and wall to wall people. It looked like a scene out of a bad post apocalyptic flick - you know without all the hot goths and people in PVC. So park on the other side since there is zero space there. Make sure you spend extra time so you can wander around a bit. The park is huge and takes quite a minute to get through. It is definitely worth the journey though. **WC** There are great paths around the whole park and we were even able to get me up into the table areas and everything - the ground is pretty stable mostly throughout the park even for us ADA folks. read more

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Some areas closed off and have orange "fencing" left about, but it's still a very beautiful park. I saw a bunch well-fed ducks near the pond area, whom didn't hesitate to approach anyone they thought might have food for them. Some ways over from the pond area, there is a basketball court, soccer field, and a park with a playground area and a place to host various gatherings. The grass seems to be mostly okay for seating as I didn't find any "landmines" left by the park patron's pets. Safety: While there are some folks roaming about who clearly camp or live in the park, they didn't seem to be threatening in any way. I felt fairly safe walking about by myself. Crowd: It was a typical busy summer Saturday, but since the park is so huge it didn't feel congested. Landscape: The areas that aren't under construction are quite beautiful. There also doesn't seem to be as much litter sprinkled about as I've seen at other similarly sized parks. The pond shines quite nicely under the sun, so it makes for a great spot to take some flics for the 'gram. Bill: N/a read more

Laurelhurst Park - Pond view. - Parks Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Fabulous decision to get a hot lips soda and just kick it at the park! Glorious is an understatement and the soft luscious grass beneath my feet and the aggressive sun warming between my toes, as I make headway in my book, wending my way back to the 1700's England and delve into Jane Austen's past Great!! read more

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