In the late 1800s, a brave Scottish civil engineer named George Grant MacKay decided to build an expansive bridge out of hemp rope and cedar planks in North Vancouver, British Columbia far above a rushing river. MacKay’s precarious bridge initially attracted his most daring friends. By the early 1900s, thrill-seekers from many different regions couldn’t…
Architect Mike Reynolds is a firm believer that one man’s trash is another man’s insulation. A pile of discarded tires and beer cans inspired Reynolds to start building houses out of materials that most people throw away. The company that Reynolds founded—Earthship Biotecture—currently builds unique, sustainable homes around the world. Mike Reynolds decided that the…
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Hawaiian island of Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Also known as the Garden Island, Kauai is home to vast canyons, scenic beaches, and luscious plants galore. Large portions of Kauai are uninhabited due to sheer cliffs, so the Garden Island has…
The rocky terrain of Farmington, New Mexico is every geologist’s dream come true. Farmington is home to fantastical sandstone and shale rock formations, ancient petroglyphs, and a bed and breakfast that is located in a cave. Farmington is considered by many people to be the one of the Land of Enchantment’s most scenic stretches of…
The HBO series The Sopranos is without a doubt one of the greatest fictional mafia shows in recent history. Since the show debuted in 1999, it has become a pop culture touchstone. Even if you never watched a single episode, you’re probably well-aquatinted with at least a few of the show’s most iconic moments. If…
In the early 20th century, “tree tunnels” were all the rage. Motorists rejoiced when they could cut a hole in a stately tree and transform it into a natural tunnel. California‘s towering Chandelier Tree—located in the town of Leggett—was created in the 1930s so that travelers would have an unforgettable photo opportunity. In the 21st…
If you’re driving around near Joshua Tree National Park, you might stumble upon a rustic town that appears straight out of the Old West called Pioneertown. Pioneertown has never actually been inhabited by cowboys and frontiersmen. Instead, it was created in the 1940s by a group of actors and filmmakers to provide the illusion of…
From serving as suitable scenery for scary movies to keeping real-life secrets within its walls, the famous Sowden House knows how to attract both film enthusiasts and amateur detectives. In 1926, skilled architect Lloyd Wright designed this masterpiece of a house for painter and photographer John Sowden, who the Mayan-style residence is named after. The…