Heather Raulerson

This was the first time I played interactive putt-putt. It is a far cry from the older versions of putt-putt with the boring greens and giant windmills. Here, you get an electronic ball that knows your name and keeps track of your shots. No cheating allowed, lol. Puttshack at the City Foundry has excellent cocktails and snacks while you play. Have you played the future of putt-putt golf? #explorestlouis #Puttshack #cityfoundrystl #puttputt #stlnightout #raulersongirlstravel

My family has lived in the St. Louis area for over 25 years. How did I not know about the World Bird Sanctuary that had been here since 1977? This is an amazing organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases birds of prey back into the wild. I saw owls, falcons, hawks, bald eagles, and vultures. An amazing adventure to be had in St. Louis, when you visit. #explorestlouis #wildbirdrescue #mustsee #raulersongirlstravel #wildbirdsanctuary

Getting my art on at Laumeier Sculpture Park. This 105-acre nature park has 70 sculptures throughout the park. It is absolutely stunning seeing art incorporated directly into mature. I'm sitting in Ricardo Cat by Niki de Saint Phalle. Have you visited and wandered through this sculpture park? #explorestlouis #laumeiersculpturepark #artinnature #traveldestination #raulersongirlstravel

Spring has arrived in Southeast Arizona. The trees are blooming and are so fragrant. Happy Easter, everyone! #springday #happyeaster #bloomingtrees #purpleflowers

Watching the sandhill cranes at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is like finding peace in the wild. Even with the birds squeaking at each other, it is calming to watch them land, and interact with each other. Have you been to #whitewaterdraw and seen the #sandhillcranes ? They are in #southeastarizona from October to mid-March. You can read more about them in the link in my bio. #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #birdphotography #flockofbirds #beoriginal #alwaysoneinthegroup #traveltuesday @ifwtwa1

Happy Halloween! This is from the last time I got to pass out candy for the kiddos during Halloween. I miss seeing the little ones all dressed up. Most of the places I have lived in the past 10+ years haven't had kids going door to door. Unfortunately, it seems like a long-lost fun tradition has gone by the wayside. Do you still have kids trick-or-treating at your house? #happyhalloween #traveltuesday #travelwritersuniversity #ifwtwa1 #trickortreat #spookyhalloween #skeletonart #passingoutcandy #childhoodmemories

There are days after days sitting at a desk writing when you get frustrated or tired of doing this. But there are days like this when you are out in nature and doing something that you have been looking forward to for a long time. And you think how blessed your life is to be able to travel. This is a group of Cyprus Trees in the Atchafalaya Swamp in Lafayette, Louisiana. We took a boat tour around the swamp and saw many birds, jumping fish, and even a couple of gators. What was eye-opening was seeing how low the water level in the swamp was. It was at least 10 feet lower than the marks on the bridge we went under. You can see all the Cyprus tree trunks in the way background that are now visible, whereas if the water was higher, you'd never see those. All of those Cyprus trunks were original trees (first growth) when the settlers arrived in this area, and they cut them down for timber. The grown Cyprus trees you see in the photo were the seeds planted and are at least 120 years old or more. The problem now is that Cyprus trees have to grow on dry land, and have to be dry for at least 50 years for seeds to germinate to reach the height of the California Redwoods. Unfortunately, ever since the flood of 1927, the Army Corps has kept this Mississippi Watershed (which supplies water to 32 states and 3 Canadian provinces) filled with water in an effort to prevent flooding in the rest of the United States. It stays wet year-round, so unfortunately no new Cyprus trees will grow...the price nature pays for us. #makesyouthinkdoesntit #traveltuesday #travelwritersuniversity #lafayettetravel #mcgeesswamptours #cyprustrees #raulersongirlstravel #justgoshoot #passionpassport #theglobalwanderer #worlderlust #earth_deluxe #artofvisuals #travelawesome #awesome_earthpix #travelandlife #beautifuldestinations #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #landscape_captures

This is the St. John Cathedral Oak in downtown Lafayette. The tree, one of the largest live oak trees in the United States, is estimated to be over 500 years old. The trunk's diameter is 9'2", and the circumference is 28'9". It stands 126' high with an average spread of 138'. The large limb extending toward the church weighs over 72 tons and is being held up with green stands to support the massive limb. One of the many things I really enjoyed in Lafayette was the massive live oak trees in the parks. They are protected in Lafayette. The live oaks in Moncus Park are over 230 years old, and in the children's section, they built a treehouse and incorporated it within the tree without damaging it. It is wonderful that this city is preserving them and even planting new ones for generations to come. What is one place that impressed you with its commitment to nature? #lafayettetravel #TravelTuesday #travelwritersuniversity #liveoaktree #preservingnature #raulersongirlstravel #justgoshoot #passionpassport #theglobalwanderer #worlderlust #earth_deluxe #artofvisuals #travelawesome #awesome_earthpix #travelandlife #beautifuldestinations #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #landscape_captures

Went to the Tabsco Fan Experience on Avery Island. Saw the whole bottling process and tried samples. I even attempted the hottest sauce out there-The Reaper. Not for sale or for the faint of heart. The last photo is what you look like after trying the Reaper. Lol! #lafayettetravel #tabasco #averyislandlouisiana #spicy #tabascotour

I don't remember a time when I didn't chase street art while traveling. Downtown Lafayette had tons of street arrt.murals to find. I definitely enjoyed exploring the Second Saturday Art Walk. And no, I didn't plan to coordinate with the art. Here's to keeping your smiles even when it is raining!!! #lafayettetravel #streetart #visitlafayette #instatravelling #ilovetravel #passportready #writetotravel #travelstroke #travelwriter #arountheworld #travelphoto #instatraveller #wanderer #getaway #instavacation #worldtraveler #solotravel #globetrotter #traveltheworld #solotraveler #seetheworld #travelingram #traveldeeper #raulersongirlstravel #travelawesome #traveldiaries #travellife #travelbug #mytravelgram

I don't know what it is, but Cypress trees in a swamp with moss hanging down from the branches are beautiful to me. This is Cyprus Lake in the middle of the University of Louisiana. Can you imagine going to school and having this sight available to you on a daily basis? Where have you found incredible beauty where you didn't expect it? #lafayettetravel #cyprustrees #swampthing #cypruslake #universityofLouisiana #raulersongirlstravel #justgoshoot #passionpassport #theglobalwanderer #worlderlust #earth_deluxe #artofvisuals #travelawesome #awesome_earthpix #travelandlife #beautifuldestinations #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #discoverglobe #getoutstayout #wanderlust #travelphotography #naturegram #landscape_captures

Taking a walk at night when most people are already asleep leads to finding a different view of the city. Have you been to the River Walk with no people? #sanantonio #sanantonioriverwalk #colorfullights #solofemaletravel #exploringatnight #welivetoexplore #girlswhotravel #solofemaletravel #raulersongirlstravel #travelstoke #wearetravelgirls #travelawesome #travelingpost #exploretocreate #followmefaraway #travellingthroughtheworld #stayandwander

Remember the Alamo. On a recent Amtrak train ride cross country, I had a long layover at night in San Antonio. I've done this route many times, but this was the first time I got off the train to explore. San Antonio is a neat city to discover at night. Have you ever walked around at night in a new place to see what it looked like lit up at night? #discoveratnight #getoutandshoot #rememberthealamo #visitsanantonio #amtraktrain #traintravel #solotraveller #solofemaletravel #raulersongirlstravel

“A sunflower field is like a sky with a thousand suns.” – Corina Abdulahm-Negura Wandering among the sunflowers at Kansas Maze was a lesson in resilience. Each sunflower was standing upright, facing the sun, ready for the day, allowing the bees and butterflies to buzz around them, causing distractions but still letting them land. That thought remained with me as I walked through the fields, stressing about my ever-expanding to-do list. Until I stopped in front of this giant yellow sunflower and took a deep breath of pure sunshine and earth. I let it out and enjoyed the beauty around me. Yes, work will be waiting for me when I get home, but for now...not be distracted by that instead, appreciate the little moments that are right in front of me. #sunflowerfield #sunflowers🌻 #sunshineflowers #powerofresilience #littlemomentsofhappiness #KSMediaEvent2023 #VisitWichita #HeartoftheCountry #tothestars #wichita @kansasmaze @VisitWichita