Category: Second Life

As we wave bye-bye to August 2026, so thought for many in the northern hemisphere turn to the ending of summer and the onset of autumn, with many public locations within Second Life also changing to match the seasonal change.

One such place which has done just this is LeLooUlf’s Mainland setting as it straddles the regions of Laothoe and Gunda in the south of Heterocera. It’s a place I last visited in May 2026, not long after it had opened and when it had a decidedly spring / summer feel to it.

LeLoo’s World – Dancing Leaves is a place where the season wraps around you, inviting you to wander, breathe deeply, and feel the calm magic of fall. Enjoy a peaceful stroll along the lakeside, complete with its charming balloon tour, or wander into the adjoining woodland paths. Throughout the area, you’ll discover cosy spots perfect for capturing those special autumn photos.

– From the Destination Guide entry for Leloo’s Mainland world

Now called Dancing Leaves to mark the seasonal change – and as recorded in its Destination Guide entry -, the setting still straddles the two regions but now has a more unified Landing Point than was the case at the time of my May 2026 visit.

Also in keeping with the design at the time of my last visit, there is a sharp divide between the north and south extents of the setting – the latter being greatly elevated when compared to the former, with the two having individual Shared Environments.

However, I was so taken by the EEP setting used for the northern half of Dancing Leaves (and which is active for visitors when arriving at the Landing Point); I maintained it whilst photographing both.

The northern aspect of the setting pushes its way out from stepped cliffs into a wide, circular lake, the majority of which is neatly landscaped, allowing Dancing Laves to now smoothly merge with it, whereas at the time of my original spring visit, there are more of a sharp divide between Leloo’s land and that of her neighbours.

To the west side, a flat finger of land runs out into the waters of the lake from the base of the cliffs, home to a trio of wooden buildings. All are open to the public and form, respectively, a small café, a summer house and a little potting shed / greenhouse.

The eastern side of the land is more broken forming a trio of islands reaching into the lake, connected one to the next and to the land below the cliffs by a series of bridges.

No formal buildings stand on any of these islands, although two are home to gazebos and the third has a windmill sitting on its back. The outermost of these islands sits across the head of Leloo’s land and has a raised bridge connecting it back to the western finger of land, allowing the waters here to be circumnavigated.

All around (and on!) the waters here are places to sit, while an orca surprisingly frolics alongside one of the bridges, ready to splash those crossing it, and the inner, shallow waters are home to a variety of fish.

And don’t miss the little “coffee grotto” tucked under the cliffs complete with a sign I can well understand and appreciate!

At the top of the cliffs and alongside the Landing Point is the local balloon tour – instructions provided on the sign next to it. This gently floats around the lake and is suitable for singles or couples. It doesn’t cross the region boundary into the southern aspect of the setting, so you’ll have to re-engage your pedal extremities to explore here.

Although called “The Woodland” at the Landing Point, the southern, upper part of the setting is more an open garden. Whilst completely rebuilt, it nevertheless carries within it the spirit of the spring / summer build for those who have previously visited.

This is a place for gentle wandering, the colours very much those of early autumn, when the greens of summer vie with the browns, golds, yellows and reds of the fall months. Grassy paths invite exploration. One of these connects to the local road as it passes the setting, whilst the other reaches towards the raised southern end of the garden.

This path winds gently past a small pond to one side, watched over by a vigilant owl and a cube-like garden house as it forms a quiet little retreat.

As with the lakeside areas, the gardens offer many places to sit and pass the time – some perhaps more obvious than others (don’t miss the bee hives wither their novel pose / sit point or the little gazebo ticked away to one side of the garden!).

I particularly like the southernmost end of the garden with its clock and shaded benches and piano – although perhaps it might benefit for a couple more places to sit.

My only niggle with Dancing Leaves is the presence of the billboard sitting between the Landing Point and the archway to the road, which I feel loudly intrudes into an otherwise peaceful location. Fortunately, I never travel without Derender in my pocket, so it was easily taken care of 🙂 .

This aside, I genuinely love Leloo’s work both on the Mainland and with her region. She puts a huge amount of time and care into building very special places for people to visit, and I’m always more than happy to drop into them and just relax. I’m pretty sure you’ll feel the same way as well!

Slurl Details

• Leloo’s World Dancing Leaves (Laothoe and Gunda, both rated Moderate)

When exploring and writing about Second Life, it can be somewhat easy to focus on those places which are new or which are periodically re-imagined with new designs or in reflection of the changes in the seasons.  Indeed, it can be regions that do undergo such changes which can become particular favourites for revisits – and I say this as one who is as guilty as anyone in this regard!

However, there are regions which tend to remain largely unchanged over the years, quietly attracting visitors with their perennial designs – but often being forgotten about when it comes to blogging.

I was reminded of this fact courtesy of Cube Republic recently when, following a discussion (and preview) of some of his upcoming new products (which are also highly appropriate for region / parcel landscaping!), he pointed me in the direction of Lost Lagoon.

The last time I visited this Homestead region was way back in January 2020 (which was actually my second visit there). At the time, I found the setting – the work of Mark Knight (knight676) and Jana Guyot – extremely attractive.  And I’m more than pleased to report this is still the case today.

Lost Lagoon is an isolated paradise in the South Seas. This beautiful jewel of a destination is a great place to explore, get in touch with nature, relax and cuddle. Everyone is welcome to find their piece of paradise at the Lost Lagoon.

– Lost Lagoon Destination Guide entry

Presenting a rugged island with a sweep of rocky and hilly uplands arcing around the north side from west to east, this is an island of dramatic changes, the hills in particular framed as an attention-grabbing view when first arriving at the Landing Point as it sits tucked into the region’s south-east corner.

A bridge connects the Landing Point on its little island with the rest of the setting; and on my arrival, I was initially struck by the comforting sense of familiarity. At first camming it appeared that indeed, the setting was much as it had been at the time of my last visit over 78 months ago.

However, just a casual glance around the landing Point itself revealed several small, but subtle changes, all of which suggested that whilst the landscape might not have overly changed since 2020, there was certain pretty of new touches to be found and appreciated whilst exploring.

But – I’m not going to just simply do a compare and contrast between my last and current visit; suffice it to say whether you haven’t visited Lost Lagoon in the last few years or have yet to make a first visit, you’re in for a treat as you explore, as there is a lot to discover throughout.

What I will say is that this is a setting deserving to be seen under its Shared Environment, the heavy skies under what feels like a westering Sun (even if it does lie to the east!) ideally suiting the dramatic nature of the landscape and the hardy lives of those who appear to be living here.

This is a place of rugged paths winding into the hills, of boardwalks snaking over marshy wetlands and trails encouraging the fee onwards in exploration. Wooden cabins lay scattered over the drier lowlands like a handful of seeds cast over the landscape and left to take root.

One of these sits on the eastern coast where a white-capped tide rolls to the shore, its caps and foam speaking to the potential of rocks waiting just under the surface, ready to rip the bottom out of an unwary boat anxious to cut corners and reach the moorings at the Landing Point.

More cabins lie along the southern side of the island, each standing in defiance of the heavy skies and offering calming comfort within. Off to the west and within the wetlands are the remnants of older structures, broken and deserted yet still providing, perhaps, little oases of solitude and relaxation.

Watching over this, up on the hills sits what at first appears to be an old observatory – although a walk and climb up to it will quickly reveal it to be anything but. However, how one gets up to it is not as obvious at might first appear to be the case.

Whilst a gravel track does appear to offer a route up the east-side slopes of the hills this only goes as far as a small folly sitting on the east shoulder of the higher peak. True, there is an arch of rock spanning the gap between folly and rotunda (and under which another gravel footpath runs) – but this is not the way forward.

Instead, to ascend to the tall cylindrical building with its imposing dome, one should first travel west along the lowlands, passing by way of an outdoor event space, around a little island on which one of the local cabins sits and then climb the stone steps running up into the hills alongside another of the cabins.

From here an old bridge crosses a stream tumbling down from falls bursting forth of the high rocks, and a path points the way to the hidden means of ascent up to a promontory and from there, the way around the peak and to the observatory-like structure.

But wherever you go while wandering here, there is much to see and appreciate. The attention to detail is marvellous throughout, and the entire island is a haven for birds and waterfowl throughout – as well as to sheep and to the stags as they literally but heads.

Lost Lagoon exudes a sense of lived-in longevity well suited to its largely unchanged appearance across more than 6 years. It’s an atmosphere that is both inviting yet edged with a hint of mystery which invites onward exploration across land and boardwalks, with discoveries promised no matter how remote the path might appear to be.

Should you require rezzing rights for photograph, these can be obtained via Group membership (L$150). Do make sure to have local sounds enabled when wandering to more fully immerse yourself in the setting.

In all, Lost Lagoon remains a visually engaging and attractive location for exploration and photography. My thanks again to Cube for remaining me of its continued presence in Second Life and the Mark and Jana for creating it.

Slurl Details

• Lost Lagoon (Sea Starr, rated Moderate)

Hiraeth Beach occupies around a half of a Full region held by Philippe Bruraf – VOID (bruraf), the other half being taken up with his club THE BLOCK, of which more anon.

I came across it via the Destination Guide earlier in August, and decided to hop over and have a look. What I found was a natural expanse of coastline carrying with it memories of places I’ve visited in the physical world whilst itself remaining a place firmly rooted in the imagination.

Hiraeth Beach is a secluded coastal escape where sea, wind, nature and forgotten history meet. Wander along wild shores, explore ancient ruins and a mysterious temple, discover hidden places beneath the sea, or simply find a quiet spot overlooking the horizon. Hiraeth is a Welsh word for a longing for a place that feels like home, even if you have never known it. More than a beach, Hiraeth is a place to explore, photograph, or simply slow down and breathe. Some places are visited. Others are remembered.

– Hiraeth Beach Destination Guide Description

I’ve spent many a happy hour over the decades walking the sands of places like Bamburgh on the coast if Northumberland, on spring, summer, autumn and even blue-skied winter days when the tide had retreated to expose broad, wets sands, the wind is fresh and clean and the worries of the world are a lifetime away.

Whilst a castle is noticeably absent from Hiraeth Beach (unlike Bamburgh!), there was something about it which immediately put me in mind of those walks, particularly when taken in the early morning. At the same time the setting is suggestive of more far-off places; a feeling most likely heightened by the Kuromatsu pines growing along the back of the beach and out along its headlands and the presence of a stone Buddha’s head.

This is a place with a sense of both age and patience: ruins mark part of the coastline, casting a more Mediterranean feel to it (and hint at the temple remnants lying beneath the ebb and flow of the sea), whilst fishing nets are strung as if awaiting unwary fish carried inwards by an incoming tide.

There are numerous places to sit found scattered along the length of the beach whilst the temple ruins under the waves can be reached via a teleport board.

There are some small niggles with the setting; elements in the form of the privacy surround around the nightclub setting intrude into the western skyline. Whilst not a major inconvenience, once noticed, they do tend to distract when in view; given that he nightclub venue is wreathed in a darkness that largely hides them from within it, it’s hard not to question the necessity of their presence.

The other is that the above aside, Hiraeth Beach is ideal for photography, but the lack of rezzing rights (even with local Group membership and / or Auto Return enabled) might be a limiting factor some seeking to capture themselves using the setting as a backdrop.

Meanwhile, the nightclub – THE BLOCK, as noted above – is connected to Hiraeth Beach via a road tunnel at the northern end of the region. Passing through this tunnel in either direction will transition visitors through the two local Share Environments – and both of the locations really should be seen using their respective environment settings.

THE BLOCK is a world away from the tranquillity of the beach, being something of a post-apocalyptic setting, complete with a fallen Statue of Liberty. It is located in what amounts to a concrete compound guarding a fortress-like warehouse, the ruins of streets on two sides. Inside, the club is an almost psychedelic tour de force of lighting (hence the reason for viewing it under its Shared Environment) and industrial design, all of it highly effective. Events are held both within the club and in the courtyard of the compound Thursday through Saturdays – details via the local Group; and I gather some events are additionally held out on the beach as well.

I’m not a great person for clubs in SL, but I did find the lighting and design of THE BLOCK appealing. Camming around also suggested that some expansion to the club spaces is underway, if currently off-limits to public access. As such a return to see what else develops here might be in order.

Hiraeth Beach and THE BLOCK are two very different locations joined by a single designer / builder. Very different in looks and appeal, they equally work together as locations to visit and experience.

SLurl Details

Glendell is rated Moderate

• Hiraeth Beach Landing Point
• THE BLOCK Landing Point