Under perpetual, never-ending construction, Crazy Horse Memorial in western South Dakota is an… interesting place. While the completed portions – the face, arm, and hand – are undoubtedly impressive, the overall vision for the memorial, depicting Crazy Horse riding a horse and pointing towards his tribal land, is far from complete. To put the slow …
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Nestled in the Arizona desert, Tombstone is a special place for history enthusiasts and Wild West aficionados alike. Its fame stems from real-life events like one of America's most infamous gunfights and its portrayal in iconic films like 1993's Tombstone. Established in 1879 by prospector Ed Schieffelin, Tombstone emerged as one of the final boomtowns …
Continue reading Tombstone, Arizona: The Town too Tough to Die.
Arguably one of the most famous and world-renowned tourists traps within the United States, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is something that most people learn about early in school. Featuring the iconic faces of four notable U.S. Presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson, it sits at an elevation of 5,725 feet above …
Among the various national monuments in the United States, Scotts Bluff National Monument is arguably one of the lesser known. In fact, if you took a random street poll, chances are most people would have never heard of it. Located in rural Nebraska, it only attracts about 100,000 visitors annually. To put that into perspective, …
Continue reading Scotts Bluff National Monument: Home to the Oregon Trail.
The 3 in 1 Tree. In operation for nearly 80 years, Trees of Mystery is a delightful way to spend an afternoon surrounded by towering giant redwoods. Located near the small town of Klamath, California, within the heart of Redwood National Park, it's allegedly Northern California’s original redwood nature attraction. It's rightfully earned its name …
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As the final resting place of Wild West icons Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, Deadwood, South Dakota has rightfully earned its place in the United States' Frontier Gold Rush Hall of Fame. Established in 1876, the city earned its name from early settlers who discovered an abundance of dead wood in its surrounding valleys …
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As Oregon’s most famous waterfall, Multnomah Falls is unmissable if you're in the Portland area. Towering at 620 feet (189 m), it's the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon (fact) and the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States (allegedly - at least, according to the National Park Service). This beautifully tiered waterfall …
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Standing tall against the sky, Devils Tower National Monument dominates the northeastern Wyoming landscape, visible from miles away. Although it's tucked away in a remote part of the state, the journey to Devils Tower is undeniably worth it. Rising in solitude from the rugged wilderness, this towering rock formation contrasts dramatically with the surrounding flatlands, …
While Kartchner Caverns State Park undeniably offers a fascinating underground adventure and is worth the admission fee and journey it takes to see it, it falls to the bottom of my list compared to other cave systems I've visited. Having visited other epic sites like Carlsbad Caverns National Park. in New Mexico, and Marengo Cave …
One of the easiest hikes I've ever done, the Ah-Pah Interpretative Trail offers an enjoyable and accessible hiking experience within Redwood National Park. Originally a 20th-century logging road, it has been transformed into a family-friendly trail, making it perfect for visitors of all ages, including my seven-year-old daughter, who walked it effortlessly. While it may …
Continue reading Ah-Pah Interpretative Trail at Redwood National Park: Short but Great.