With its rolling streets, beautiful Victorian and Queen Anne style row homes, and long, interesting history, San Francisco is a unique and vibrant place. A city with many nicknames, it’s been called the City of Love, Fog City, Golden Gate City, Sunset City, The Golden City, and The Paris of the West. It’s home to …
Beautiful and stunning coastline made world-famous by numerous movies, including King Kong and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the Nā Pali Coast on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai is truly a sight to behold. Its uniquely jagged and forested landscape gives it an otherworldly vibe, not found (probably anywhere) on Mainland, U.S.A. …
If you’ve watched the comedy Tropic Thunder, then you’ve seen the jungles of Kauai, Hawaii. This movie was entirely filmed on this island, and after kayaking down the Wailua River and hiking to Secret Falls, I fully understood why the producers chose Kauai as the “Vietnam backdrop”. As we worked our way down the river, …
One of the most famous prisons and islands in America, and a major San Francisco tourist attraction, Alcatraz is a must-visit if you’re ever in the Bay Area. Historically speaking, few prisons within the United States hold water to Alcatraz, where the likes of Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Robert "The Birdman" Stroud, …
Golden Gate View Point. An iconic suspension bridge known world-wide and firmly rooted into San Francisco culture and history, the Golden Gate Bridge is a must-see for anyone visiting the Bay Area for the first time. Officially opened in 1937, this bridge is rapidly approaching its 100th birthday (currently 85 years old), making it the …
Ok, first things first: it's pronounced "Preskett" (press-skit). That’s how you say it in Arizona, and anyone who pronounces it the grammatically correct way (“Press-scott”) will be immediately outed as an obvious “you ain’t from around here”. You see, apparently, the town settlers wanted to sound as “western” as possible, so they purposely mispronounced the …
If you've ever wanted to visit Greece and see the ancient Parthenon, but can't make the trip, fear not! All you need to do is take a short flight to Nashville, Tennessee. The Nashville Parthenon, built by architect William Crawford, is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Greece. Located in Centennial Park, at …
Located in Southern Illinois, right on the mighty Ohio River, and just outside the tiny village of the same name, lives Cave-in-Rock State Park. It's a free state park, open daily from 8am to 9pm. In fact, ✨it's Illinois' first state park✨. Officially established in 1929, it's been recognized as a Southern Illinoisan tourist landmark …
Located just outside Beautiful and Historic Savannah, Georgia., Bonaventure Cemetery routinely makes most lists of “World’s Most Famous Cemeteries”. Established in 1846, the beautiful Spanish Moss covered oak trees and elaborate headstones bring a medieval gothic vibe that isn't found in many U.S. cemeteries. Many of the headstones date back to the 1800’s and early …
While the better-known Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado, this one is Southern Illinois' main claim to fame. By far the most popular hiking spot in the area, I firmly believe that the Illinois Garden of the Gods is worthy of its name. Beautiful and unique, it's a favorite go-to spot of out-of-towners …