In June of 2006, Jane Wiggins looked out of her office window in downtown Cedar Rapids and made a discovery unlike anything she ever expected. What Wiggins saw was a huge, wave-like cloud rolling over the city. She was so perplexed and amazed by this cloud, which was unlike anything she had ever seen. She took photos and sent them in to National Geographic, who posted them to their website, garnering national attention....
Get married soon? West Virginia is full of beautiful and unique places to get married. Whether you want an indoor or outdoor facility, the Mountain State has plenty of good wedding venues. Here are 12 of the best in the state. The Maylon House Maylon House/Facebook A two-story 1920s brick home in Milton. It also has a gazebo and garden area. Maylon House /Facebook Confluence Resort in Fayette County Kelli Carrico Photography A great outdoor wedding and reception spot....
San Francisco has a dynamic and wonderful past. Even though the city has a relatively short history, there are still plenty of fascinating photographic images from the past. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and check out these spectacular photos of Fog City. San Francisco during the Gold Rush around 1850 or 1851. This is a picture of San Francisco harbor at Yerba Buena Cove. Creative Commons/Wikipedia This is the Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission Dolores) on Dolores Street in San Francisco between 1880 and 1902....
Tennessee is a magical place, full of stunning vistas and wonderful people. You may think our cities and rolling hills are from the likes of Hollywood masterminds, but oh no – this is the real deal. A real place, a fantastic glimmer of beauty. Don’t believe us? Well, then you may want to take a look. The Schermerhorn is gorgeous no matter what time of day it is. Jason Mrachina - Flickr If you’ve never seen a concert, it’s a must!...
The Great Depression struck in October 1929 when the stock market crashed more significantly than the nation had ever experienced. Millions of Americans were left without work by the early 1930s and nearly half all US banks were forced to close. Rhode Island was already experiencing heightened unemployment prior to the crash due to issues with state manufacturing companies. Plants were beginning to age and labor was more expensive compared to Southern factories....
A report authored in 1947 took note of nearly 900 churches on record in the state of Delaware. From the 1600s, when early settlers came to the area for its fertile soils, there was no major religion, like in the northern colonies, and therefore the religious freedom was even more so in Delaware, drawing Quakers, Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. In the 1700 and 1800s, after years of mainly worshiping in small, rustic churches, beautiful works of stone and brick architecture sprung up....
If you have never been kayaking or canoeing in the New Orleans area, you are really missing out. Some people consider the waterways around Louisiana some of the best places to go kayaking in the United States. Here are some of the closest pristine spots that we know you will love. Bayou St. John Tripadvisor.com / management When you just want a quick paddle, Bayou St. John is the place you should pick....
While small in population, we are mighty in pride. There are many reasons that lead us to believe the most patriotic state is South Dakota. This list is just nine of those reasons, and we know there are so many more. We proudly display American flags anywhere and everywhere we can. From the back of our motorcycles to in front of our houses, it’s clear we love our country. Dara123 / Flickr...
Editor’s Note: This field is located on private property, so please do not disturb the flowers, fields, or farm. Respect the privacy of the owners and enjoy them from afar by appreciating their beauty through these photos instead! There’s just something about sunflowers that brings a smile to your face, so it’s no surprise that a whole field of them is sure to bring you joy! This magical sunflower field is located in Alden, just 35 minutes from the City of Buffalo....
Everyone knows that Midwesterners are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Here in Michigan, though, we’d like to think that we’ve got an extra sprinkle of that Midwest charm — perhaps there’s something in our Great Lakes that makes us pleasant to be around. There’s one small town in Michigan that might just hold the title of the friendliest spot in the state, and you’ll want to visit....
It’s fascinating to take a look back in time, isn’t it? Here are some of the oldest photos taken in Ohio, and they certainly show us how different life was back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Imagine riding in a horse and buggy to get from one side of the city to the other. The women in these photos have on full-length dresses (with petticoats underneath!), and the men wouldn’t dream of going out without a hat....
Virginia’s restaurants offer an eclectic mix of flavor, taste, history, and location. It’s no secret that decor and ambiance play major roles in the experience of dining out, and nowhere is that truer than Leaping Lizard Cafe in Virginia Beach. This brightly-colored gem offers three unique businesses in one; it’s a restaurant, bakery, and farmer’s market. Needless to say, you’re bound to find something that entices you at this quirky and lovable local favorite....
Did you know that Utah is home to the one of the oldest and largest living organisms on the planet? Pando, the “trembling giant,” is an 80,000 year-old aspen grove located in the Fish Lake National Forest. You’ll find it about one mile south of Fish Lake, along State HIghway 25. Bryant Olsen/flickr Pando covers about 106 acres and includes more than 40,000 trees. Ken Lund/flickr Though Pando looks like many trees, each is considered a “clone”—a genetically identical match of the original tree....
Everyone loves a freshly baked loaf of bread or pastry, and we’re proud to say that West Virginia has the very best. You can’t go wrong with any selection from Shepherdstown Sweet Shop Bakery in the eastern panhandle. Shepherdstown Sweet Shop is a little bakery much loved in West Virginia and the surrounding states. Shepherdstown Sweet Shop Bakery/Facebook They’ve been a proud part of West Virginia since 1982. Shepherdstown Sweet Shop Bakery/Facebook...
No one can resist fried chicken. While there are plenty of places to get it around the state, the best one is a remote farm restaurant in the Chicago suburbs. Cure that craving for a salty, juicy meal at this wonderful place. This farm-to-table restaurant offers more than just good eats. Keep scrolling for all the delicious details. White Fence Farm in Romeoville is a working farm and restaurant best known for its amazing fried chicken....
Stranded in the middle of the Nevada desert, this former gambling palace is disintegrating under the hot sun. Once claiming to be the “world’s highest casino,” the Montgomery Pass Casino spent many years as an entertainment oasis in the barren landscape edging a lonely stretch of Highway 6. Read on to learn what happened to this former casino town, then watch the footage of the town from YouTube channel “Wonder Hussy....
Geologic areas… Do you know anything about them? To be completely honest, I had never even heard the term until I discovered the virtually unknown Wheeler Geologic Area near Creede, which contains volcanic outcroppings from millions of years ago. Intrigued? Here’s what you need to know about this fascinating area: Believe it or not, Colorado was once home to volcanoes, including the 30-million-year-old La Garita Caldera, which caused these large fragments....
Dine in a time capsule by visiting this train car diner in Murdo, South Dakota. The food and style is straight from the ’50s and the train itself is a real 1950s Santa Fe Train that used to run from Chicago to California. Now it rests happily in the 1880 Town that’s full of old and fascinating features. While you’re there, you can stop for lunch in the Santa Fe Train Diner and enjoy some delicious diner fares....
New Hampshire is known for beautiful small towns, but even among those, Sugar Hill takes the cake. Renee River/flickr Honestly, no matter what the season, this town has a magic about it. It looks like a post card. Rob Weir/flickr If you haven’t heard of Sugar Hill don’t be surprised. This town was just incorporated in 1962, making it New Hampshire’s most recently incorporated community. Even now, just over 500 people call Sugar Hill home....
San Francisco has a short and interesting history filled with dramatic events and intrigue. If you’re curious about seeing our beautiful city in the beginning then keep reading. Take a look at these historical photos that will bring you to a different time and period of California. Check out the oldest photos of San Francisco that will fascinate you. Yerba Buena Cove, 1850 - This is a Gold Rush era photo that shows San Francisco harbor at Yerba Buena Cove in 1850 or 1851....
