Is the typical arboretum in most major cities usually worth the trip? What is the best arboretum in the U.S.?
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I've been to the National Arboretum and it is nice.  The Missouri Botanical Garden is the largest in the United States and it is wonderful!\n\nHey Djddan, I now see that you are the one who was asking all of those taxonomy questions.  I am a botanist and that is an area of interest of mine.  If you have any other questions you can reach me at wjlabarre@yahoo.com\n\nBut, I really recommend that book I told you about - "The Variety of Life," by Coin Tudge.  It will clear up a lot for you and give you a broad understanding of classifying organisims.  It's an excellent book.  I looked at the wikipedia site you saw and you were right, it's not that clear.
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I prefer a mid-sized town that is close to a big city.  Right now I live in a suburb of Pittsburgh, and I love being able to have some quietness and be able to reflect in nature at a local wooded park.  It's also nice to go on the flip side and go downtown for some cultural experiences - concerts, plays, restaurants, etc.  Best of both worlds, I say!
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I've got lots of ideas!\n\nSeattle is my absolute favorite place to visit and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy your time there.  Are you just visiting, or are you just looking for new things to do?\n\nI will include all of my favorite places to visit as well as a few that are a bit out of town but well worth the trip. Good Luck!
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"Prettiest" is a very subjective term.\n\nPersonally, I find that a fully mature American Elm tree is very pleasing.  One of the best shade trees you can have.  Sadly nearly wiped out in most of North America by Dutch Elm Disease.\n\nThe African Baobab is also very cool, with the massive central pillar that looks like it could withstand dinosaurs.\n\nHuge Douglas Fir and California Redwoods will fill you with awestruck majesty, especially when taken en masse in an ancient forest.  It's too bad there's so few of them left because someone decided they make nice picnic tables.\n\nBald Cypress in a deep florida or Louisiana swamp is another tree that will conjure images of dinosaurs.\n\nHeck, about the only tree I don't like is the Black Ash (Fraxinus niger) now that's an ugly tree.
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I have been to several.  They are all different, but still invoke similar feelings.  Plan to spend some time there, don't just run through looking at the plants.  Sit on the benches, dwell on the bridges, watch the koi fish, relax.\nBring a camera if you want.  I usually do but soon forget that I have it.  The focus of the gardens is the observer, not the exhibits.  And you do not have to be a Zen Master to appreciate this.\nHave a great time.
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There's a "best" place?
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I am from Louisville an dI do agree. The Oaks is a secret amoung the locals. I have been going to the oaks for years now, as well as the derby and the oaks is more of a calm crowd. There aren't as many tourists and its always a good time. But I do love the craziness of the derby :)
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I feel like it's a big city with a small-town sort of atmosphere.  I mean, you go to Davis Square & check out McIntyre & Moore Booksellers, who've been there forever.  You check out the fabric stores where Chinatown butts to Downtown Crossing - you can see Shakespeare in the Common, Blue Man at the Schubert, and Broadway feeder shows at the Huntington.  You can see both big names & local bands at the Middle East.  You can find an independent coffeeshop almost as easily - if not more easily - than a Starbucks.  It has a subway that only makes sense to you if you've been here a few years, at which point you always sort of laugh at people who accidentally catch the B line on the green line instead of the E line.  And people don't realize that you could actually easily walk just about the whole city.  The parks system is beautiful and it circles the town from the Forest Hills Cemetery & the Arboretum straight around to the Common.  Because only here do you take a weekend trip to glahsta, where you can get a wicked good lobstah.
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I had the good fortune to attend a one-room school for the first two years of my education. One of my most fond memories was a "nature walk" We teamed up, old and young, as partners (often the same family, but not always) and the teacher lead us through the playground and a neighboring wooded area. The teacher pointed out different birds, plants, and trees. \n   She also had us find specimens like clover, lemon weed, fallen leaves, goldenrod, plantain (Broadleaf plantain) and others. We then took them back with us and saved them in shoe boxes. Leaves were pressed between wax paper, etc. and then we reported to the class on what we had found and how to identify them. Sometimes even the teacher was "stumped" at an identification and a contest was held, first person to identify it got a prize (usually an apple).\n    That one hour "nature walk" could extend into weeks of research and work. The memories of it have certainly extended into my adulthood. (That was 42 years ago.)
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I've not read that one but it sounds like you enjoyed it.  \n\nOne of the best places I know of is the American Botanical Council.  Their link is below.  Most of their info isn't free but the memberships aren't terribly expensive and you have acces to monographs, controlled studies, etc.
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It depends on where you are. In Mystic theres the aquarium.In Hartford theres some museums and in Waterbury theres a nice mall.
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Howdy!  I currently live in Bloomington and my partner and I are both bi.  The university community is the San Francisco of the midwest, the rest of the town is pretty liberal compared to the rest of Indiana.  Bloomington is a blast and pretty safe.  You can usually find us dancing at Bullwinkle's on Friday night, and you can sip away with fellow liberals at Soma coffee house.  Let me know if you need a tour guide!
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I've been to Georgia before, it's very green! You see trees everywhere! It's pretty cool there. But I think you'll miss the city if you're really attached.
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hello curious george! Your answer was adorable,lol!\nRe: this question. Get a copy of the Hartford Courant newspaper. I know a lot about Conn. Yoko Ono lost her bonsai tree in Hartford & Rory found it.
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As a Yankee fan, I am required to say Yankee Stadium but with that park aside... Camden Yards is excellent.  I love the fans there, the micro brews, the statue of Babe Ruth just outside the gates... It is just a cool place.
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Visit diverse places.  Take biology, especially ecology classes.  Finally keep your mind open!
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Collingswood is very nice. My husband works their and we are actually thinking of moving from Philadelphia to Collingswood to be closer to his work. Voorheese is also very nice.