Author: Ms. R.

In the small village of Pačir is a natural phenomenon that appears to be plucked directly from a fantastic dreamscape. The village is home to a geothermal spa that takes on a unique hue. The spa is better known as the Pink Lake. The lake is small, only about 2,000 square meters, virtually the size of two Olympic-style swimming pools. However, people travel from across the country to experience the healing properties of the lake, which is filled with……

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In 1920 a German man named Erich Scheurmann published a strange little book titled The Papalagi. The 117-page travelogue, written as a series of 11 speeches supposedly by a Samoan chief named Tuiavii, described the European way of life in a simple, childlike manner. Tuiavii called shoes a “kind of canoe,” and had names for everything from clothes (“skins”) and houses (“stone boxes”) to newspapers (“machines for thoughts”), cities (“stone islands”), hot water (“sun water”), and doorbells (a “nipple,……

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A popular attraction across many nations is the country’s furthest cardinal and ordinal directions located within its borders. Depending on a country’s geometry, these points can be contested. Some locations that stake claim to these directions have signs and other monuments. For others, entire town identities have been crafted around these locations. The town of Smygehuk is one such place.  The town advertises itself as Sweden‘s southernmost cape. All around the fishing village, visitors can easily spot something labeled as……

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For most of her young life, Margaret “Meg” Lowman, a forest canopy specialist and self-described “arbor-naut,” looked up at the treetops from the ground. It wasn’t until she traveled to Panama for a research trip that, perched on a canopy access crane that belonged to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, she was able to get a bird’s-eye-view. The alternate perspective showed her something striking: The highest layer of the forest canopy wasn’t a uniform layer of green, but a……

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If you’ve driven on California‘s Ventura Freeway between Pasadena and Glendale, you’ve certainly noticed Eagle Rock looming over the neighborhood that shares its namesake. However, did you notice the Eagle? The conglomerate rock formation features a massive indentation along its face. During the right time of day, when the sun hits the rock at the perfect angle, a shadow is cast on the indentation that resembles an eagle in mid-flight. It appears as though the eagle is flying straight out……

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At this park, planes fly without engines—well most of them.  The Sky park was founded in Takikawa in 1989 by the Skyport Association of Takikawa (SATA). The group has been a key contributor in local efforts to revitalize the economy and draw tourism to the city. Pilots travel from all over the world to learn and fly here.  The park is open to the public, complete with a running path that is a favorite among joggers and dog-walkers. The……

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Located on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, the eerie ruins of Pierle Castle dominate the eponymous valley and the small village gathered around its walls. The castle was first mentioned during the 10th-century and was owned by the Marquis of Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. It was strategically located at the intersection of many roads. During the 13th and 14th-centuries, the castle played a crucial role in the struggles between the Tuscan city of Cortona and the Umbrian city……

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Zastava 750 was once most popular vehicle in Yugoslavia, with nearly 5 million units produced over a 30 year period. The vehicle was based on the Italian model Fiat 600, but were constructed longer and with a more powerful engine. Decades after production of the vehicle ceased in 1985, it’s still the most beloved automobile in all six countries that were once Yugoslavia. This is especially true in Serbia where the vehicle was mass-produced. So it should come as……

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In the center of Felsted stands the Boote House, a timber-frame building dating to the 16th-century. The house was constructed by a local builder named George Boote. The timbers on the outside of the house are adorned with many carvings, including Boote’s own mark proudly announcing: “George Boote made this house: 1596.” The most striking feature of the wooden decor is undoubtedly the Felsted Hag, a curiously carved support for the upper floor’s overhang. Much of the timber used……

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The small town of Afton, Wyoming, tucked away in the Star Valley near the Wyoming-Idaho border, boasts an enormous arch made entirely of elk antlers. The arch spans all four lanes of U.S. Route 89 as the highway passes through downtown Afton. The arch is 18-feet tall and 75-feet wide. Smaller elk antler arches flank each side of the arch’s base. Although Jackson Hole’s elk antler arches are more widely known, the antler arch in Afton is believed to……

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Visible from virtually any vantage point in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is the high vertical stone face of Maryland Heights. The mountain overlooks the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Also visible is a “ghost sign” that adorns the rock face to the upper left of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge and tunnel. The rail bridge and tunnel were constructed between 1894 and 1896. They were designed to carry the B&O line over the Potomac and under……

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