Wine Tours of Nebraska

I thought that because we had already experienced touring one vineyard in Nebraska, it might be fun to look at a few others.  There are several opportunities to experience wine and culture in Nebraska through festivals and tasting events.  One tasting event that I've been to since I've been 21 is the Riverfront Wine Festival held in Omaha.  This awesome event takes place outdoors by......the riverfront :) and there are opportunities to ride the ferry and hang out in the grassy areas and just enjoy the atmosphere.  

http://www.riverfrontwinefestival.com/

Another fun tourist opportunity that takes place around this area is the Southeast Nebraska Wine Trail.  This is a map that you follow that leads to all the local vineyards in the area.  So it may be something fun to do on your day off!

http://www.senewinetrail.org/map.html

Running events

There are different kinds of running events that could get people outdoors and in shape, not to mention some of these runs are quite fun! Different running events I have seen around the area is the Lincoln marathon and half marathon. But if your like me that one doesn't sound to fun. Another event is the Warrior Dash that is coming to Louisville NE, June 9th and 10th. It is a obstacle course that gets people moving and outdoors. I have a link below that shows a little of the run. Another one I have heard of is the color run where there are color stations you run by and get washable paint thrown on you. There are adventure races around Omaha and other cities that are big scavenger hunts that include bicycling, running, and canoeing. There are a lot of different kinds of races out there for different kinds of people. This is a good way of getting people outside and meeting other people who are interested in the same thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyDdMViZ3tk&list=UUbI8o30czOCRoBvHEnz9D9w&index=10&feature=plcp

10 Places To Visit Before They Disappear

I came aross this video: Check out this great MSN video: 10 Places To Visit Before They Disappear
I just thought it is interesting how it is telling people to go visit these places because they are at risk of disappearing partly because of excessive tourism. Hmm....

Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center

One of my favorite natural places near Lincoln is the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center.  Whenever a friend or family member from out of state comes to visit, I take them here.  I can't think of a better way to convince them that natural tallgrass prairie can, in fact, be beautiful. And it is!  According to their website, the Center covers 808 acres of preserved tallgrass prairie (650 acres of which have never been plowed), with miles of walking trails, ponds, wetlands, wildflowers, grasses, and a high diversity of birds and wildlife.  There are even a few preserved wagon ruts from the nineteenth-century!

The Spring Creek Audubon Center is also a big proponent of education.  Their on-site education building is built of green materials (reclaimed construction material, straw-bale insulation, etc.), and here school students of all ages come on field trips and are taught about the scientific method, introductory concepts of ecology, investigation of habitats and species adaptations, and general problem-solving skills.

The Center also hosts a variety of public events to raise conservation awareness and build a sense of community based around the prairie.  Classes are offered in papermaking and basket weaving, and there are wildflower, bird, and insect walks throughout the year.  Each autumn, there is an annual "Twilight on the Tallgrass" prairie festival with a variety of events, booths, crafts, food, music, and educational programs.
For more information, photos, and directions, visit their website: http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org/

Cycling in Lincoln

In a recent Lincoln Journal Star article, there was a little talk about the city of Lincoln becoming a "premier biking city." There are some tentative plans to make major allowances for bikes along the city streets, splitting it between bicycles and automobiles. There are already some such layouts downtown at least, and now the City Council is considering applying the same idea to N Street. It has its costs but in addition to pleasing cyclists in Lincoln, the city is thinking about how to encourage business and tourism.
I appreciate the bike trails, (which if anyone didn't know, are largely converted railway lines), a lot, personally. I use the MoPac quite a bit. I don't mind saving the gas and getting a little exercise too. I would say those 2 factors, economy and exercise, are the main reasons for most people cycling, but probably not the only ones. If anyone reading this has any other reasons, they should write something under this post!

Grizzly vs. Mountain Lion

This isn't really ecotourism-related but I still thought it was interesting and it dealt with wildlife.  Check out this link....

http://now.msn.com/living/0328-mountain-lion-hiker.aspx

I wonder why the bear didn't then go after the man thinking he was a threat to the cub as well? Hmmm....either way, that's one lucky dude!

What I've learned

In this class, I feel like the something I have learned is to be more aware with what I do. I've always been cautious to not litter, try to stay on the path, and things like that, but this class has showed me to look more in-depth at things. Over spring break, I was in Colorado and went on a couple of hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Park. Besides the gorgeous views, I looked closely at what I was doing and what others were doing. I started to notice more, like people off the path, leaving apple cores, and having their dog on a hike which specifically said no dogs. It was very interesting to look at things with a different perspective on how we could be harming the environment around us.

Before one of the hikes, I noticed a sign that had the Leave No Trace Environmental Ethics. I was very happy to see it and relieved to see how people are trying to help out and keep the awareness alive!

~Kathryn Moore