“Art will defeat darkness, Ukraine will win the war.”
That statement is on Park 3020’s website. And these are dark times for Ukraine. A country that I grew to love during my 10 days exploring Western Ukraine. Ever since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and furthering the shadowiness by invading Eastern Ukraine in 2022, dark times have hovered over the country. But, just as a dawn overcomes night, light shines in Ukraine and its people. And art is there to guide them toward the light.
I was invited to tour the Lviv Oblast Region in Ukraine and show there’s more to Ukranian life than the war. War continues to rage in the east and the price of living in a free Ukraine affects every citizen. It is inescapable. Still, the west is relatively peaceful. Many people outside of Europe don’t realize that Ukraine is an enormous country. It’s the 2nd largest country in Europe. While there is always a threat of violence, life goes on in the west. Kids are still in school, people go off to work, nightlife continues to entertain the young folks, church doors are still open, and artists continue to create.
One place where art flourishes is at Park 3020, which is on the grounds of Edem Medical Resort and Spa. The grounds are a beautiful landscape where art and nature intertwine. On the day I visited Park 3020, snow covered every blade of grass and draped over tree branches. It was a cold, wintery day while we looked at the interesting sculptures scattered throughout the park.
Throughout history, invading countries have tried to squash an artist’s ability to inspire. Russia is no different. Everyone can see that while visiting Ukraine. The Russian military targets areas where museums show off Ukraine’s history and the artistic efforts of its people. Because of that threat, Lviv has fences around statues and boxes around important outdoor sculptures. Glorious church windows are boarded up. Park 3020’s sculpture are open to the public and uncovered for all to see.
The creative heart cannot be contained. And a creative heart can inspire others or provide moments of escapism. That’s one reason exploring Park 3020 is an ideal place to spend a day. One goal of Park 3020 is to show a future where nature and man can coexist in a sustainable future. It’s also a place to show that man can coexist with one another.
Besides an amazing outdoor sculpture park, there’s also an indoor museum to explore. The museum shows off Ukraine’s history with information of various artifacts, such as pottery, tools, and toys. There’s also a store where local artisans sell their products.
In an ugly world, beauty shines through. Art will never be snuffed out. Park 3020 proves that.
While touring Park 3020, I highly suggest a stay at Edem Medical Resort and Spa. After our tour of the park, we enjoyed a delicious wine tasting at the hotel restaurant and a lovely meal. Each room has stunning and comfortable views. The medical spa is fabulous and a great place for someone to unwind and put their health first
As I said before, I traveled around Western Ukraine with three other people.
Our Ukrainian host with the Lviv government organized our trip to show that Ukraine is open for tourism. We felt completely safe throughout our time in the Lviv Oblast region. We had many sumptuous meals and were entertained throughout our time. (Follow Lviv’s tourism Instagram and Facebook accounts for more information)
Our American/Ukrainian contact, Sasha Vosk, was born in Ukraine and looks to help build Ukraine through tourism. He founded the organization, Rebuild Ukraine Foundation, to help build up the Ukrainian economy and help inform the world of all that Ukraine offers. One doesn’t need to wait till the end of the war to visit the country. It’s ready for tourists now.
I also visited Ukraine with Joshua Brandenburg, a photographer from New York City. You can visit his website here and follow him on Instagram here.
@onegooddad It was a cold day walking around Park 3020 at Edem Resort and Spa in Strilky, Ukraine. We still enjoyed our time checking out the amazing works of art. #Ukraine #art #edemresort #travel #ukraine🇺🇦 #travelwriter #fy #fyp #foryou #traveltiktok #sculpture #snow #winter
♬ Ukrainian folk song _ The Cossack Rode Beyond the Danube(1221414) – harryfaoki
Hear are more stories abour our time in Ukraine:
Where is God During War: A conversation with a Ukrainian Priest
15 Reasons to Visit Western Ukraine Now
Defeating Darkness with Art: Touring Park 3020
Getting Naked in Ukraine
Rebuilding Ukraine by Rebuilding Children’s Lives: My interview with the staff of SOS
Emily Resort and Spa in Lviv, Ukraine is a Luxury Paradise with Family-Friendly Activities
Visiting Ukraine During the War
Representing America in the Back of a Taxi in Ukraine
Promoting Tourism in Ukraine During the War
Visiting Ukraine During the War
Snowboarding in Ukraine
Tips for Americans Visiting Ukraine
Visiting Truskavets’ Healing Springs and Spas
Horseback Riding in the Carpathian Mountains
Visiting Kamianets-Podilkskyi: Remembering the Past and Building to a Better Future
The Show Must Go On: The Lviv Opera House is Open Despite the War
Traditional Ukrainian Drink Uzvar Recipe
Kyiv Mule Cocktail Recipe