Kicking off the spring season at CVL is an exhibit entitled: Fantasy Destinations: A Magic Carpet Tour of the Magical
and Mysterious in Second Life. Created as a class assignment by myself and my partner, Dawn Greymyst, Fantasy Destinations began with a simple desire to discover new and imaginative sims.
A brief list of criteria guided us: interactivity, aesthetic appeal, creativity, and minimal commercialism. After visiting our first few sims, we decided on four categories of fantasy: Magical Kingdoms, featuring mythical creatures and whimsical environs; Kid Fantasy, emphasizing places that evoked common childhood memories; Dark & Mysterious, showcasing surreal and sometimes supernatural destinations; and Science Fiction, highlighting futuristic sims. While Dawn and I were very impressed with all of the sims chosen for our exhibit, there were definitely a few that really shined:
Retropolis/Captiva Island Think: high sea adventure and swashbuckling pirates. The adventure begins on the deck of an old junkyard ship in the midst of a storm. Touch the light and a tentacled sea beast rises up, poised to attack the vessel. Touch the genie in the corner and you're whisked away to explore an underwater garden, complete with man-eating plants, a witches cave, and a desert where you can sit and roast marshmallows.
Magic of Oz Think: flying monkeys and peeping munchkins. It begins - where else? - on a yellow brick road This sim offers games, chocolate coins, and Oz-inspired apparel but the real treat, of course, is the journey to the Wicked Witch’s castle.
Spooky Haunted House: Think: walls dripping blood and Diane Arbus-eque children. It begins on an unassuming 
path leading to a rambling, two-story house. Once inside, you start to notice strange things - an empty noose hanging from the ceiling, portraits with eyes that move, and a piano playing ghostly tunes.
Kolor Studio: Think: surreal interactive art. It begins deep at the bottom of the ocean and meanders up for three levels. Granite paths weave through paintings and sculptures providing wonderful opportunities for photos, relaxation, and contemplation.
In between scouting fantasy destinations, we also managed to find a few fun places to relax. My friend Dawn wrote an article about the favorite places she found and shares her experiences there and how she really enjoyed Silh’s Corner, where she entered a photography contest and danced the night away to Jazz and R&B. I really enjoyed Egypt, a newcomer friendly sim that features board games, a balloon ride, and a beautiful beach for sunbathing.
Pathfinder: http://slfantasy.weebly.com/index.html
Exhibit Locations:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/University%20of%20Hawaii/198/91/23
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/162/106/23
