In 1903, two Bavarian brothers named Otto and Louis Seelbach decided to open a grand hotel replete with ornate old-world craftsmanship in Louisville, Kentucky. The Seelbach Hotel was so wildly popular when it opened its doors in 1905 that the Seelbach brothers immediately started on an expansion that included an ornate Rathskeller Room—basement barroom—that featured…
There are several stories about how the charming small town of Cashiers, North Carolina came to be known by the peculiar name of Cashiers. Some say that Cashiers was a star racehorse, a trusty mule, or even an eccentric hermit. Local historical records indicate that Colonel John Zachary—who helped establish the town in the 1830s—chose…
The bulk of travelers associate fantastical rusty red rock formations with Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Most people are unaware that Canada is home to some of the most stunning sandstone canyons in all of North America. The hoodoos of Drumheller, Alberta, are a series of towering rock formations that are so commanding that…
In 1220, Alexander II of Scotland gave some marshy land to Sir John De Maccuswell so that Clan Maccuswell—whose family name ultimately evolved into Maxwell—could build a castle. Maxwell’s first attempt to build a castle resulted in a structure that sank into the soggy land on which it was built. Maxwell found a slightly more…
When most people think of the Midwest, they envision a vast expanse of tornado-prone plains. Despite its flat-as-a-pancake reputation, the Midwest has quite a bit of geologic diversity. The bluffs and gushing waterfalls that surround the small, scenic town of Decorah, Iowa, are part of a stretch of the upper Midwest that was never covered…
Iceland is home to countless stunning natural wonders such as volcanos, geysers, and glaciers. One of Iceland’s star attractions is the luminous Skaftafell ice cave that appears to be a vibrant shade of blue when the sun shines through its frozen walls. Because the Skaftafell ice cave is located inside of a glacier that is…
The Spanish island of Mallorca, which is situated in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is celebrated for its pristine sandy beaches, towering mountains, and lovely forests. Mallorca is also home to a stately 14th-century castle with a unique circular design whose name—Bellver Castle—means “castle with a beautiful view” in Catalan. For a small…
In the 1960s, a visionary Finnish architect named Matti Suuronen designed a series of flying saucer-shaped dwellings known as Futuro Houses that could be broken into 16 pieces and assembled in virtually any environment. Suuronen expected his affordable, portable futuristic houses to be a smash hit. Unfortunately, the general public did not take kindly to…
