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It’s hard to watch the news or read the papers these days without some mention of the environment – from global warming to the effects of air pollution on our health and safety. The recent scandal at Volkswagen only reinforces the need for continued vigilance around our choices and efforts to ensure a safe future for our planet. In order to look at the current state of Virginia with regards to air quality, we turned to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Report....

I was an ‘80s kid and nothing could quite beat sitting back to watch “Rainbow Brite” or “The Wallace and Ladmo Show” with my Cabbage Patch doll in tow. I was a little young to participate in some of these activities but here is a list of ten things other ‘80s kids (and their adults) may also remember. Watching a movie at the local drive-in theatre… A Subset/Flickr Hopefully it didn’t look like this at the time....

Are you looking to woo your loved one, but can’t think of any fresh ideas? Check out this list of amazing ideas for dates that will make your partner fall in love with you all over again–and will make both of you fall in love with the state of Georgia all over again. A picnic in the park Christopher Octa via Flickr Piedmont Park in Atlanta overlooking the city is a stunning place....

Let’s stop arguing over who has an accent for a minute (we still maintain that it’s everyone else) and talk about the words and phrases we use. Of course, those of us who have grown up regions other than the Pacific Northwest will use some different words and phrases than we’re used to. But here in Washington, these terms are a bit confusing to the majority of us: “Warshington” Ian D....

No offense to Hollywood, but Montana’s beauty tops any movie set ever created. In fact, many of its natural wonders and skylines look like backdrops for feature films. These 17 movie-ready photographs showcase some of the unbelievable scenery of a state that sometimes seems too beautiful to be real. Wild Goose Island, Glacier National Park Loco Steve/Flickr Downtown Whitefish in Winter Brent/Flickr Squaw Mountain, East Glacier Loco Steve/Flickr Happily Ever After, Bozeman area Townsend Collective Doesn’t this have “beautiful love story” written all over it?...

Let’s face it, Rhode Island is often overlooked. It is the smallest state after all! Of course those of us that live here understand its greatness, but this isn’t always clear to outsiders. Somethings about the state are so shocking, they can even be a little hard to believe. Here are 7 facts about the smallest state that really stand out. As the nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island could fit into Texas 221 times!...

Our lovable, land-locked Beehive State is not well known for its beaches. We do have a few throughout the state, however, and this one is particularly unique. Not only is it located on an island (yes, we even have a few islands!), but you’ll float like a cork in the waters of the Great Salt Lake here. To get to Bridger Bay Beach, you’ll first take the causeway to Antelope Island....

If you’ve lived in Louisiana for any amount of time, then you certainly know that there is a beautiful tree tunnel at Oak Alley Plantation. But did you know there is one just as beautiful that you can drive down in St. Bernard Parish? We think you are going to fall in love with this gem. This beautiful stretch of St. Bernard Hwy (LA-46) makes for an incredible drive. Google.com / Maps / LA-46 Meraux, LA You can find the best part of the road between Meraux, LA and Violet, LA....

As far as ghost stories go, it’s pretty unusual to hear them described as whimsical. But for Gardner Lake in Connecticut, the legend that haunts these water is exactly that! This story will leave you smiling, confused and maybe just a little bit creeped out. But this is something even the biggest of scaredy cats can conquer. Check it out: It all began in 1895. respectrum44/Youtube A local family decided they loved living beside the lake, but they’d love it even more from the other side....

There are certain things that make life better and then there are things that we West Virginians absolutely cannot live without. Here are a few of the latter: Sheetz. George Beinhart/Flickr There’s nothing better than coming up on a Sheetz while traveling West Virginia. Mountains. Weppler/Flickr West Virginians love the mountains in their home state. Our quirky festivals and events. Sonja/Flickr Like the Mothman Festival held each year in Point Pleasant....

Ready to rev up your weekend? Head down to Marble Falls for an adventure of a lifetime. Hidden Falls Adventure Park will shake up your routine and get your blood pumping. Bring your all terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or 4×4 and get ready to go off road. Of course, if you don’t own an adventurous vehicle, you can easily rent one from the nearby Hill Country Rentals. Bring your friends and family and get ready to experience the Texas Hill Country like never before....

Paris Mountain State Park has the distinction of being the South Carolina State Park nearest in proximity to downtown Greenville. In under 15 minutes, you can travel the 6.5 miles it takes to get from Main Street to this fantastic resource just outside of town. Yelp/Diana G. It’s a local favorite for a quick escape from a busy day. Paris Mountain State Park, although small in comparison to other state parks, boasts nine hiking trails ranging from easy to strenuous, and from three-quarters of a mile in length to 3....

This beautiful and historic church in Springfield is getting the boot. Last Tuesday, the First Spiritualist Church was uprooted from the spot it had stood on for the past 129 years. The reason? The construction of a shiny new MGM casino. This gorgeous church was originally built in 1887 and served the Protestant community of Springfield. In 1919, the church was sold to the First Spiritualist Society. The structure’s Victorian Gothic architecture has earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places....

Joining the likes of Roomba vacuums and curved televisions, drones are proof that the future is now. Gone are the days of jittery aerial footage shot from a madly listing helicopter. Forgotten is the misery of wishing your kite could fly you at the beach. Drones have arrived to give us gorgeous panoramic views of our cities, towns, natural landscapes, and whatever our neighbors are doing in their backyards. This incredible video of Massachusetts seascapes is shot in Ultra-HD 4K, so it’s basically clearer than real life....

If you’re from Alaska then you’re going to dig these fun and insightful maps of Alaska. Sure not everything is on there, but what they’ve got is pretty entertaining. The next time I have any friends visiting Alaska, I’ll recommend to them maps 1 and 2 just because they have a lot of my favorite things about this lovely place! Anchorage in a nut shell! Betty Turbo | Weird and Wonderful Anchorage We do have freakishly huge vegetables, huh?...

The Phoenix metro area has some wonderful neighborhoods, but this one little community was plagued with a huge crime problem, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. With some dedicated policing, the crime rate has improved and residents say that they feel safe here. Maryvale is a neighborhood in the greater Phoenix metro area. It’s on the west side of the city, stretching from about 35th Avenue to 87th Avenue, and from I-10 to Glendale....

Who doesn’t love fresh-baked croissants and confections? Recently, Business Insider named the best bakery in every state. The winner for South Dakota? Queen City Bakery, in Sioux Falls. We wholeheartedly agree that this little gem is worth every award it can scoop up. In fact, we think that not only is it the best bakeshop in the state…it’s quite likely the best in the country. You’ll find Queen City Bakery in this great historic building at 324 E....

There are plenty of beautiful trails in Northern California, but wildflower lovers flock to this one hike each year to witness the explosion of colors that blooms each summer. The typical wildflower season in the high Sierra happens from May through June, but with the long winter, many wildflowers will be blooming into August this year. The Sagehen Trail near Truckee is a great place to view wildflowers in a stunning alpine meadow....

Don’t worry – you don’t have to be under four feet tall to fit comfortably inside these cabins, but you will get to experience a real-life world of Tolkien. Sleep, cook, and relax at this one-of-a-kind glampground that is absolutely amazing, even to those who aren’t fans of “The Hobbit” or “Lord of the Rings.” Enjoy a magical stay in these unique cabins for an experience you won’t soon forget. Keep scrolling for more details....

Everyone knows about our beautiful oceanfront beaches but New Jersey is also home to some spectacular lakes. Most residents are probably aware of the more popular destinations including Lake Hopatcong, Round Valley Reservoir, and Atsion Lake; the lakes in our state parks tend to stand out. However, all New Jerseyans should know about the incredible lake tucked away in one of our county parks. Lewis Morris Park is a lovely Morris County Park with hiking trails, ball fields, a playground and lake....