We visit Loveland's Benson Sculpture Park * each time we're in Colorado. Our kids live nearby in Longmont and we used to stay in an RV Park in Loveland when we visited them once or twice a year . We discovered the park by accident, but now it's a ritual we can't miss. The City adds sculptures every year and we enjoy searching for the new ones -- and re-visiting old favorites.
The joyful swinging girl above is one of those favorites. This picture was taken last summer -- it wasn't quite as bright and sunny this year because lingering smoke from the Colorado range fires created a hazy atmosphere.
The fires aren't close enough to Longmont or Loveland to be a danger, but it is a worry. It's very dry all over the State.
But we had fun even if it wasn't quite as bright and blue as usual.
Great company and a lot of laughs. One way that you know your kids aren't really "kids" any longer is that they are just as willing to be silly as you are.
In fact, I think the silliness was their idea!
* Follow the link to see an album of our favorites.
Oh, how cool is this! I haven't been to Colorado in many, many years--would love to visit this park. Maybe one of these days I'll make it back to that beautiful state...
Posted by: Patricia Lichen | July 11, 2012 at 08:38 PM
We recently had this same kind of experience with the Old Salt's bother and his wife. We took them to the Laurimer Sculpture park in St. Louis during a visit and it became a contest to see who could become the most involved with the sculptures. Made for some great photos.
Great captures. Truthfully, your sculptures are more to my linking. The ones we saw were very modern or futuristic.
Posted by: Rita aka Cashjocky | June 28, 2012 at 12:39 AM
Is your place in Florida ok with all the storms??
Posted by: Joe Todd | June 27, 2012 at 04:31 AM
What a nice place to visit, constantly adding new sculptures must keep people visiting over and over again!
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | June 24, 2012 at 08:57 AM
Looks like a great place to visit..A fun time
Posted by: Joe Todd | June 23, 2012 at 01:57 PM
I do like rituals and this one seams to be a fine one !
Posted by: Annie | June 22, 2012 at 05:43 AM
how fun. I would love to visit a park like that. It is strange what kind of things we can see just by visiting fellow bloggers.
Have a great weekend Sallie. Sunday afternoon I will be in Scotland :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep Travel | June 21, 2012 at 03:26 PM
beautiful laughing faces :)
the sculptures are wonderful
Posted by: dianne | June 21, 2012 at 05:19 AM
To laugh and have fun is good for the soul, and healthy for the body! Happy you had this time:)
Posted by: Jeannette StG/Emille | June 20, 2012 at 01:32 AM
Fun post Sallie...
Posted by: Rambling Woods | June 19, 2012 at 03:01 PM
What a great park, nice shots!
Posted by: Al | June 19, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Sculpture parks are so much fun, and I can see your joy in these great captures.
Posted by: Jewaicious | June 19, 2012 at 10:40 AM
What fabulous sculptures, not surprised you enjoy a visit there.
Posted by: lindyloumacinitaly | June 19, 2012 at 09:23 AM
The sculpture park looks light a delightful place to visit. The photographs made me smile. I'm sorry about the fires. That is a worrry.
Posted by: Carver | June 19, 2012 at 07:26 AM
Here I was thinking your kids were in Boulder! Sorry!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Posted by: Linda | June 19, 2012 at 07:10 AM
Really like these interactive sculptures.
Posted by: Gaelyn | June 19, 2012 at 05:01 AM
What a grand time Sallie!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | June 19, 2012 at 04:47 AM
looks like fun! the swinging sculpture...and then laughing along with the others! ha!!
it feels good when you can just LET GO and be as silly as you want!
Posted by: laura k | June 19, 2012 at 04:46 AM
What a cool park. You guys look like you were having a great time!!
Posted by: Terry | June 19, 2012 at 03:31 AM
Hi there - I think sculptures in public places should be played with, not just looked at and admired (or not as the case may be)
Bush fires are a real nightmare - I never want to have to deal with one close up, but living where I do you can’t really avoid some of the consequences of them.
Stewart M - Australia
Posted by: Stewart M - Australia | June 19, 2012 at 03:30 AM
Looks like you all had a wonderful day.
Great shots from a lovely place.
Wish you a wonderful week ahead.
Posted by: CameraCruise | June 19, 2012 at 02:18 AM
Sallie, I love the statues. What a neat place. Looks like a fun day. Wish you a great week ahead.
Posted by: Eileen | June 19, 2012 at 01:28 AM
Looks like a real fun park!!!Have a great day!
Shantana
Posted by: NatureStop | June 19, 2012 at 12:46 AM
What a fun and fascinating park. The sculptures are excellent and also amusing.
Posted by: HAZEL | June 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM
What a wonderful day, - I'm sure you are such welcome visitors!
Posted by: Hildred | June 18, 2012 at 11:08 PM
I can see why you like it so much! It's very nice. Nice pics also.
Posted by: pat | June 18, 2012 at 10:36 PM
Great looking sculptures. First one is too good.
Posted by: Rajesh | June 18, 2012 at 08:57 PM
What a neat place to visit. I love the silliness that it would (hopefully) bring out in people!
Posted by: Krystal S | June 18, 2012 at 08:48 PM
What great pictures. I love being silly - much to my kids' embarrassment.
Hope the state gets some rain and soon and that the fires goes out.
Posted by: Lady Fi | June 18, 2012 at 08:38 PM
It really is fun, busy people needs times like these once in a while. But i love the serenity of the pool also in the first photo, i bet maybe sometimes some birds and ducks wander in these ponds too.
Posted by: Andrea | June 18, 2012 at 08:24 PM
What fun pictures!
Posted by: Mama Zen | June 18, 2012 at 08:21 PM
That looks like such a fun place to spend the day! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: bettyl | June 18, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Great looking and well kept park. Amazing what some places can do for the residents and visitors and then, more importantly, keep well maintained. This one in Colorado is well looked after by the authorities.
Looks like heaps of fun had by all.
The best parks that I have ever seen were in Oslo, Norway.
Just incredible! You'd have a lot of fun in this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogner_Park
Seeing is believing. Actually it was considered a bit "risque" when completed, so wasn't immediately opened to the general public!
Pity about the "bush fires" in Colorado, hopefully not deliberately lit by some fire bug person?
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
Weather report: Fine, sunny but not warm! 7 celsius this morning - Brrr! and only will reach 21 celsius. North of Brisbane was even colder! Totally WEIRD!
Posted by: Colin Huggins | June 18, 2012 at 07:47 PM
That looks like an incredibly fun place. Your people make the sculptures!
Posted by: Sandy Carlson (USA) | June 18, 2012 at 07:19 PM
(and i truly feel for colorado! whether close to the fires or not, the smoke can be dreadful - and the heat there is not helping...)
Posted by: TexWisGirl | June 18, 2012 at 07:15 PM
this was so cute! you can't help but laugh with those sculptures! and i like the ring-around-the-rosie one too!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | June 18, 2012 at 07:14 PM
What a fun place to sing your heart out in public without onlookers getting hysterical with laughter.
Be well and happy, Sallie.
Posted by: Pam | June 18, 2012 at 06:55 PM
It looks like a fun place to explore and the mountains are beautiful. My current view is of the Wasatch, not quite the Rockies or Sierras or even the Cascades but still a nice view.
Posted by: Martha Z | June 18, 2012 at 06:32 PM