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There are a lot of beautiful places near Portland, but Dog Mountain is really something special. Overflowing with wildflowers come spring, this scenic area will make you feel like you stepped through a magical wardrobe and straight into the land of Narnia. Located on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge, Dog Mountain climbs to nearly 3,000 feet and features an incredible trail to explore. Brent Miller / Flickr The 6-mile trail winds through thick forest and flowered meadows to an old fire lookout....

The Tennessee State Prison has been rumored abandoned for a years, a place that sits on the west side of the city and casts its stately gaze on The Nations neighborhood. The castle-like structure opened in 1898, and was quickly overcrowded. It was used to house high security male prisoners, and the prison was the home to the state electric chair, Old Sparky, for a while as well. Recognize the outside architecture?...

It’s the weekend, folks, which means it is time to brainstorm just what you are doing with yourself on Saturday and/or Sunday. Instead of wasting a perfectly beautiful Colorado day inside, make plans to take a quick road trip to this underrated lake near Denver that is located just a short drive away from Denver: Located a mere two hours from Denver lies beautiful Grand Lake, which is not only one of the most picturesque lakes in Colorado, but also the largest and deepest in the state....

There are tons of unexplained phenomena out there, and Indiana has its fair share. Yet nothing is quite as unbelievable as this natural phenomena in the southern end of central Indiana. If you’ve never heard of Gravity Hill, prepare to be amazed. Benjamin Perry/Flickr In the small town of Mooresville, lies an extraordinary natural phenomenon that no one can really explain without experiencing it. You simply have to visit to understand it....

Utah is famous for its arches and rock formations. After all, we feature the iconic Delicate Arch on our license plates! There are literally thousands of arches in the Beehive State, and many require strenuous hikes to see in person. Here’s one lesser-known arch that requires only minimal effort to reach. Check it out! To reach the arch, take state route 12 south from Cannonville to Cottonwood Canyon Road. caszaboads/flickr...

A century ago most of us in Pittsburgh hadn’t even been born yet. But, look at the old black and white photographs from those years so long ago, then look at the Burgh today. Can you see the past in 21st century Pittsburgh? Just 100 years ago, people bustled past Kaufmann’s, the home of the Tick Tock Restaurant, floors of shopping, the bargain basement, and regal gold elevators. Today, Kaufmann’s the department store is gone but its memories remain in an empty building that Pittsburghers still pass daily....

Located in central Oregon, Crack-in-the-Ground is pretty much exactly what its name suggests. This incredible two-mile-long canyon was formed long ago when volcanic eruptions caused the landscape to split open, forming this spectacular fissure. Visitors can venture down into the crack and hike through narrow passages which can reach up to 70 feet tall. Spend some time exploring this unique geographical formation; this remote Oregon destination is a true hidden gem....

Brett Favre helped put Wisconsin (Green Bay, specifically) back on the map when he became a Packer. He was absolutely beloved. Then–the “betrayal” happened and it left many of us angry. But we have seemed to have gotten over that, now with Brett Favre getting inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and all. On the first day tickets were offered to watch #4 get inducted (on the video boards inside Lambeau Field…not even in person), all 67,000 sold out....

A drone is basically a flying camera if you ask me, although I’ve been told they can do a lot of things. In this case, a user and his drone created a pretty amazing video of Hartford, Connecticut. Most nutmeggers have ventured to this city before, but you’ve never seen it like this! Having a drone in the equation changes everything when it comes to getting a great shot of the state capital....

The Jersey Shore is always a beautiful place, but it currently looks like a tropical paradise. Starting around Long Beach Island and intensifying further south, a rare natural phenomenon is turning our shores stunning shades of teal and turquoise. New Jersey beaches are beginning to look a lot like the Caribbean thanks to a harmless plankton bloom. NASA Satellite Image NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Kathryn Hansen....

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we wanted to mention one of the most unique restaurants in Georgia, just in case you’re still scrambling for ideas. Sure, Georgia is home to many different unusual dining experiences, like the Dining in the Dark events, as well as the now-closed Down the Hatch restaurant and jazz bar. There is no shortage of off-beat, eccentrically wonderful restaurants in Georgia that will give you an unforgettable experience....

Tornadoes are fairly commonplace in Illinois, but most of the time you see a funnel cloud, you don’t think it will actually touch down or do much damage. Every once in a while, they do. That was the case in 1967. A funnel cloud was spotted, and someone did try to report it. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get a dial tone and it ended up wreaking havoc during a time when children were playing outside and adults were on their way home from work....

Stonington, and the small Stonington Borough within it, are unlike any other place in the state. The quiet fishing towns possess all the charm of New England, complete with small shops, narrow streets, and an 18th century feel. Stonington Borough, chartered in 1801, is the oldest borough in the state! Folks come from all over for a historical coastal getaway they’ll never forget. You should visit, too! The majestic Stonington allows you to escape the city and avoid crowds as you stroll through the town....

There’s an old school diner in Southern California that will instantly take you back in time to a different era. This treasured restaurant has been a landmark in Southern California for close to 100 years. Whether you’ve been to this restaurant before or you’ve just driven by, there’s no question that this classic diner will make you feel nostalgic. Original Pantry Cafe is a classic SoCal diner that has been open since 1924....

Have you ever seen a bank vault with your own eyes? Not in movies or television, but actually been up close to a bank vault – and a very old one, at that. This little town in Stark County, North Dakota has a very unique feature that probably no other town in the world can say they have. The town of Lefor, North Dakota is a small unincorporated community just southeast of Dickinson....

When you think about Wyoming history, you probably picture pioneers and cowboys, but we have a rich history that goes back millions of years. The proof of that can be found at Fossil Butte. Discovered in the 1870s even before Wyoming was incorporated as a territory, the limestone layers that make up the butte have been fascinating geologists, paleontologists, and the general public for centuries. It’s a treasure-trove of some of the most well-preserved fossils in the entire world....

In the 1980s, when General Motors decided to build a new automobile assembly plant located on the border between Hamtramck and Detroit, they evacuated people from their homes, businesses, and churches; however, a select few were allowed to stay in the area… if they were already dead. Beth Olem Cemetery, the oldest Jewish cemetery in Michigan, is still on GM grounds to this day and most people never even knew it existed....

Afognak Island State Park is quite remote, incredibly beautiful, and with the acquisition of additional lands in 2001, this is the newest state park in Alaska. In 1994, over 41,000 acres became parkland to restore and protect habitat in the wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. An additional 33,498 acres were added to protect more wild habitat in 2001 after the court case finished. This acquisition made this park the newest in the Alaska state park system....

Whoever came up with the expression easy as pie has clearly never made one – from the crust to the filling, baking a pie is anything but easy. Luckily, there are several places in the Magnolia State where you can find some pretty amazing homemade pies. And according to Taste of the South magazine, some of the best pie in the south can be found at Sugaree’s Bakery in New Albany....

Kansas is full of beauty, and a lot of it comes directly from our wildlife. Although our flowers are always gorgeous, there’s a certain insect that loves them even more than you do. Butterflies! This butterfly house is a must-see this summer, with so many of these beautiful creatures and flowers everywhere you look. Let’s check out this gorgeous live exhibit! Welcome to Botanica Gardens, where everything is beautiful, everywhere you look....