Thousands of years ago, the sandy shores of the Oregon coast near what is now the city of Neskowin were blanketed with a robust forest of Sikta spruce trees. Through the centuries the sea, the sand, and a powerful earthquake caused these 200-foot-tall trees to recede into the water. The ghostly forest was submerged beneath…
A moonbow may sound like something that only appears in a dream, but it is a real phenomenon that only occurs in a handful of places in the world. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin, Kentucky is one of the rare locales where you can see a misty rainbow that occurs regularly and is…
At first glance, luxury travel looks like a simple equation: more comfort, more polish, a higher price tag attached to the same basic itinerary as everyone else. Look closer, though, and a different picture emerges. The travellers who consistently have the most extraordinary trips aren’t necessarily paying for more of the same; they’re paying for…
Toronto has a house you could walk straight past without noticing. The Little House on Day Avenue went up in 1912, covers about 300 square feet, and people have been living in it ever since. It isn’t alone, either. There are coach houses hiding behind Cabbagetown Victorians, lofts carved out of old Junction factories, and…
From a distance, Floridaβs Boneyard Beach looks as though it is littered with the spindly bones of giant sea creatures. Boneyard Beachβwhich is located in Big Talbot Island State Parkβis a tree graveyard dotted with the pale trunks and roots of washed-up cedar and oak trees which have been displaced by coastal erosion. Less than…
One million years ago, an unnamed freshwater lake spanned what is now known as Meadow Valley near modern-day Panaca, Nevada. As the lake drainedβwind, rain, and snow created towering rock spires with winding networks of slot canyons that resemble petrified versions of some of Europeβs most celebrated cathedrals. Cathedral Gorge State Parkβs dramatic slot canyons…
In 1915, Lassen Peak in Northern California experienced a cataclysmic volcanic eruption. Ash and molten lava coated the surrounding landscape for several days. Glowing lava collided with patches of snow to create sweeping mudslides. In the wake of Lassen Peakβs dramatic explosion, the area became a National Park full of bubbling mud pots, jewel-toned alpine…
Photos are great but they only tell part of your trip. You can photograph a street, a meal or a mountain view. Still, a photo cannot save every conversation or small surprise. A few weeks later, you may forget names, routes and funny moments. Simple notes can help you remember far more. Here are five…