Change of Scenery

My name is Olivia Cunning and I live in Southcentral Nebraska. I suppose I don't really need a twelve-step program to admit where I live, but it can't hurt.

I'm a transplant. I moved here for a job over five years ago. I don't regret it (nice, nice people live here and I have a great, secure job), but let's just say the "scenery" leaves a lot to be desired.
This is typical scenery in my area. F. L. A. T. Corn. Corn. More corn. The occasional soybean. A cow or two. If you like sky, we've got plenty of that. If you like hail, thunderstorms and tornadoes, come on over. Wind? 35 MPH is the norm. Doesn't that mean snow drifts? Oh yeah, baby. All winter long.

Speaking of winter, here's my typical snowy view. Isn't it pretty? Maybe for the first few days. Or weeks. But after three straight months of nothing but the snow-covered, flat ground (meaning drifts sometimes get up to the top of my porch railing there), no, it's not. It's not pretty. It's trecherous. They don't clean snow off our residential streets, which means they are so ice-packed by the end of winter from folks trying to drive on them that the NHL could hold practice sessions out there.

Sometimes, I think I will go bonkers if I didn't see something other than Nebraska. See something beside corn or worse, the empty cornfields in winter--talk about depressing. The monotony starts to get to you after a while. Sure I take a trip to Missouri every few months to visit the parental units, but Northeastern Missouri isn't the most scenic place in the country either. It's very hilly instead of F. L. A. T. and has more trees, but it's also mostly corn and soybeans and a cow or two. Should I mention that I'm NOT a farm girl? I'm an army brat. I've lived all over the country and even in Europe. These half-horse towns are not my norm. I don't think I'll ever adapt.

So what's a girl who loves mountains and beaches, but who lives in Nebraska (land of corn), to do with herself? That's right. ROAD TRIP!


Year before last, we went here. I'm sure everyone recognizes this place in western South Dakota. The Black Hills are quite lovely.



While on this trip, we discovered this place in northern Nebraska. HOLY TOLEDO, is that a waterfall? Who'd've thunk? Of course, once you've seen a "real" waterfall in someplace like the Cascades of Washington state, this little thing will make you yawwwwwn. But it beats the heck out of staring at corn!

Last year we took a trip through Wyoming (including Yellowstone), Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. Here are a few of my favorite shots from that trip.

An alpine lake in July. Ooooooooo!

The Grand Tetons. Ahhhhhhh!

Old Faithful. Heck, yeah! (No, I do NOT know that Keepin' the Peace guy. He was in my shot!)


A REAL waterfall? SQUEEEEE! (See that log across the middle? Those little specks on the log are people!)

Rocky Mountain National Park. So high above sea level. Can't. Breathe. But I do so love mountains! Oh my! How gorgeous!

This year, we went to Las Vegas, Long Beach, CA and Orlando/Cocoa Beach, FL. Yes, my sandals have been in both Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean sand this year. BLISS!

I love the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas!
Look! Palm trees and freakin' sand and the Pacific ocean waves crashing behind me. Woo hoo!

I don't know about the rest of you, but sometimes I just need a change of scenery. While I was uploading all these pictures, I got to thinking. Is this why I write about a touring rock band in my Sinners on Tour series? So that my heroes can see the country and don't have to stare at corn for months and months at a time? Maybe. But it's probably because I have a "thing" for musicians. *fans overheated self

So have you taken any scenic trips lately, or do you have plans to take one soon? What are some of the most scenic places you've been or would like to go? Or maybe you have gorgeous scenery right outside your front door. Tell us about it and make me jealous! You know what I'm really after, don't you? I need ideas for next year's get-me-the-heck-out-of-Nebraska!!! trip.