No matter how old you are, there’s probably a small part of you that sees a toy store and gets really excited. And if the toy store you’re looking at is Seattle’s Magic Mouse, you’ve got every reason to be giddy. The 6,000 square foot store has two floors dedicated to toys and games from around the world, all hand-collected by the owner. Kids of all ages love to visit....
What do you consider the most impressive structures in Maryland? While well-known, man-made wonders like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge come to mind, there are also some hidden spots worth exploring. If you’re a lover of architecture, prepare to feast your eyes on the following palace in Maryland. Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is a Hindu Temple located in Lanham. Not only is it incredibly ornate, but it’s also one of the largest temples in the entire US....
Big ziplines usually exist in states with more mountainous and tree-covered terrain, but that doesn’t mean that Nebraska is totally lacking in this super-fun activity. Camp Comeca, near Cozad in Dawson County, is known primarily as a United Methodist Church summer camp. Facebook/Camp Comeca and Retreat Center But the facility is also available for group retreats, birthday parties, and family reunions. Many of the fun activities that summer campers do are available to groups as well....
Have you ever just felt like going for a drive, with no destination in mind, just to cruise the open roads and take in a little bit of the scenery? If so, then Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is one of the perfect roads for you to put the pedal to the metal and just go. Located within the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway is more than 40 miles of pure Georgia beauty, featuring some of the best views in the entire state....
The Hawaiian Islands are positively ancient, with the island of Kauai clocking in at 4.9 million years old. Measuring in at more than 4,000 square miles, the island of Hawaii is not only the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, but also the youngest. In fact, the island is still expanding at a rate of nearly 40 acres per year, thanks to Kilauea Volcano. One of the best places to check out this relatively new volcanic land is the stunning New Kaimu Black Sand Beach, a slice of true Hawaiian paradise that – quite frankly – didn’t exist even 20 years ago....
Isn’t it wonderful to live in 2017? Not only are necessities one quick click away (and two short days, if you have Prime shipping), but you can now even order your groceries online! As hard as it is to imagine, this hasn’t always been the case, as Coloradans used to shop for their goods at locally-owned general stores and trading posts, like this old Colorado shop that has been around for more than 100 years:...
Located in Portland, the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is a unique, bizarre museum and shop – and it definitely lives up to its name. If you have a soft spot for oddities and weirdness in general, you will be fascinated, dazzled, and thrilled by this unusual place. As you wander through the Peculiarium, you’ll find countless items you’ve never even dreamed of, including an interactive alien display, an enormous Bigfoot replica, quirky novelties, and many other things that will make your imagination go wild....
We don’t mean to brag… actually, we do. Washington’s seafood is incredible. Our state is in a prime location for freshly caught fish, crab, fresh clams and oysters, and the majority of our restaurants know just how to prepare it. Just look at the variety of seafood available to us here: First, there’s Pike Place Market, Seattle’s most famous spot for fresh fish. Michael S / Yelp The fish market is world famous, and you’ll find everything from wildcaught local salmon to Alaskan King Crab and halibut steak....
If you love all things trains, then you have to visit this incredible park. You’re not a true railfan if you haven’t been to Illinois’ railroad heartland. Though passenger service ended in this town in 1971, you can still visit here for a blast from the past. Grab the kids or just your buddies and enjoy a day of learning and sight-seeing at this marvelous train park. Keep scrolling for all the details....
If you have ever visited the small Boulder county town of Allenspark, there is a good chance you’ve seen this distinct little chapel: Wikimedia Commons What is the story behind the little stone church? Built in 1916, St. Catherine of Siena Chapel (or the “Chapel on the Rock”) has served as both a holy place of worship and retreat center for thousands of Catholics, even being blessed by St. Pope John Paul II during Denver’s World Youth Day in 1993....
In some ways, Washington is at the forefront of the dining scene, and it seems like there’s always a new fusion restaurant or food truck popping up in our major cities. But sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a more classic treat in an “old school” environment. When you’re craving the kind of nostalgia only an old-fashioned soda fountain can provide, these are the best places to go. Yakima Museum Soda Fountain, 2105 Tieton Drive Yakima Museum Soda Fountain Facebook...
Coming from YouTube channel “The Proper People”, this footage of an abandoned zoo in Florida will really strike a chord with anyone who loved visiting the zoo as a child. Once a popular family attraction, this jungle-themed animal park was eventually shuttered because the exhibits were actually more dangerous than they seemed. Today, it’s a tragic landscape of rusting cages, swampy boardwalks and swarming insects. Jungleland Zoo opened in 1995. It was built on the site of a former alligator zoo....
On the busy New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, there is an odd little chapel hiding right in plain sight. Zoom by too fast, and you’d miss it completely. Google Maps According to RoadsideAmerica, this tiny and unassuming building is a prayer stop for those in urgent need to pray. This shack-like structure was built in 2002 by a member of the nearby Immanuel’s Church. Allegedly, the man had a history of alcoholism and crime but had recently turned his life around....
It’s not every day that new and exciting discoveries are made, but a recent map released by the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park shows that there’s something utterly fascinating lying beneath the streets of our beautiful city. Giving you a look at Northern California like you’ve never seen before, this incredible map shows details of an abandoned graveyard that will intrigue you. Located beneath the streets of San Francisco in an area that was once known as Yerba Buena Cove lies an entire graveyard made up of shipwrecks....
Rhode Island has no shortage of magical places to escape to. From our wildlife refuges, to our beaches, to our amazing state parks, the list just goes on and on for beautiful nature sites. There are some, however, that tend to stick out among the rest. Many Rhode Islanders would agree that visiting Beaver Tail State Park in Jamestown is like walking in to a beautiful dream, so we looked to Flickr to put together the most breathtaking photos we could find....
Mackinac Island boasts an endless array of natural and man-made attractions, but there’s one spot that stands out as a favorite among visitors. Arch Rock, an ancient geologic formation, creates what is known as a “natural bridge.” While this bridge isn’t quite as long as the world-famous Mackinac Bridge, it still stands tall as one of the island’s must-see features. Google Maps Arch Rock is located in the southeast section of Mackinac Island and can be accessed by several modes of transportation — view it via kayak, by bicycle, or even by one of the island’s horse-drawn carriages with a short hike to follow....
At first, it might just look like a beautiful old house, but look closer, and you’ll realize that something seems strange about the Lapham-Patterson House in Thomasville, Georgia. The home is a marvelous example of Victorian architecture, with fish scale shingles, a double-flue chimney, intricate floors and fretwork, and a magnificent porch and balcony. Wikimedia Commons/Ebyabe Have you spotted what’s strange about it yet? You might have noticed that it’s completely asymmetrical, and that’s true....
When October arrives in Washington, most people plan trips to places like Leavenworth, which is surrounded by colorful foliage and buzzing with events like Oktoberfest. But considering the west side of the state tends to get much colder (and wetter) faster, your best bet may be to head east for an autumn day trip—or in this case, southeast. If you’ve never visited Walla Walla in the fall, make this the year you do....
While Montana has become a mecca for beer enthusiasts in recent years, when you think of Big Sky Country, wine isn’t typically the first thing that comes to mind. But thanks to a “cowboy wine maker” named Clint Peck, Billings is home to Yellowstone Cellars & Winery – and whether or not you enjoy a glass of vino, you’ll love visiting the space. Clint created this enterprise after over 30 years of chasing cows (literally and figuratively)....
One of my favorite things about Maine is the amount of gratitude I have every day just being here. I sometimes wonder if living in another state, without so much beauty and nature, would cause me to forget how lucky we all are simply to be alive. Writing these articles helps ground me, actually. On days when I might normally forget that we’re surrounded by beauty, I sit down to write about a hiking trail or lobster shack and I’m forced to stop and simply be grateful....
