I have a camp right at Gravity Hill. It amazes me the amount of traffic on weekends looking for the place. Unfortunately I have no good places to add but like the ideas for when the time comes. Thanks for the post.
OT: Off the beaten path, but interesting/historic US landmarks you have visited
- Thread starter YeOldeCup
- Start date
A few we have been to:
The Alamo
Plymouth Rock
Austin (PA) Dam
All of the Philly historical sites
Ford Theatre
Natural Bridge (VA)
Niagara Falls
The Alamo
Plymouth Rock
Austin (PA) Dam
All of the Philly historical sites
Ford Theatre
Natural Bridge (VA)
Niagara Falls
Love the Stanley Hotel, buddy and I went up there one weekend, meet some girls, jumped in their pool and hung out, then drove back down the mountain in a Jeep with the top off, thought I was going to freeze to death, but it was worth it
While in The Army I was stationed in Germany. Took a tour of the Maginot Line along the French border... we toured 3 WWI and WWII cemeteries. I was stationed in the region where The Battle of The Bulge took place and it was amazing. Hope to one day get back so I can go to Normandy and take my family to one of the concentration camps - they change you.
Lava Hot Springs, ID. There are volcanic pools to swim, etc. Found it by accident on the way to Jackson Hole from Salt Lake City. Very cool.
Valley of Fire State Park, NV. Takes you back 100 million years. Truly incredible.
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortegas Nat’l Park, FL. Built on a sand dune in the mid 1800’s. It’s a 3 hr boat ride from Key West. How they did that back then was unimaginable.
Barton Springs Swimming Hole, Austin, TX. A true treasure. When we were there, air temp was 105, spring water temp was 80.
City Market, Lulling, TX. A Texas BBQ landmark. I was on a protein hangover for 3 days. A guy swimming at Barton Springs referred this place. It was delicious.
Valley of Fire State Park, NV. Takes you back 100 million years. Truly incredible.
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortegas Nat’l Park, FL. Built on a sand dune in the mid 1800’s. It’s a 3 hr boat ride from Key West. How they did that back then was unimaginable.
Barton Springs Swimming Hole, Austin, TX. A true treasure. When we were there, air temp was 105, spring water temp was 80.
City Market, Lulling, TX. A Texas BBQ landmark. I was on a protein hangover for 3 days. A guy swimming at Barton Springs referred this place. It was delicious.
Some great visits there WD! We also did Momunment Valley, spectacular. Cliff Dwellers AZ, Pikes Peak etc. But, we are planning Little Bighorn next summer on our 45th anniversary. Our wedding was 100 years to the 30 min. period of the battle at Last Stand Hill so it's a must plus Glacier. Do you have an suggestions on Little Bighorn? I'd like to make it memorabe for obvioius reasons.
I've been the southernmost point in the United States (and no it isn't Key West)
(American Samoa)
I've also been to the southermost point of of any US State (and no it STILL isn't Key West)
https://www.hawaii.com/big-island/attractions/south-point/
Some others of note:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott's_Hut (not technically in the US, but sort of)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_Cliff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blunts_Point_Battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola_Island
(American Samoa)
I've also been to the southermost point of of any US State (and no it STILL isn't Key West)
https://www.hawaii.com/big-island/attractions/south-point/
Some others of note:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott's_Hut (not technically in the US, but sort of)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banzai_Cliff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blunts_Point_Battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola_Island
Point Reyes, north of San Fran, is another I liked a lot.
Driving the Moki Dugway, UT
Grinnell Glacier Hike, Glacier NP
Cape Perpetua, Oregon
Mount Saint Helens (40th anny next month)
Imogene Pass (Elev 13,144) outside Telluride, CO
Death Valley NP
Isle au Haut, Acadia NP
Burney Falls State Park, CA
Cedar Breaks National Monument, UT
Beartooth Highway, MT-WY
Crater Lake NP
Blue Lake, North Cascades NP
Grinnell Glacier Hike, Glacier NP
Cape Perpetua, Oregon
Mount Saint Helens (40th anny next month)
Imogene Pass (Elev 13,144) outside Telluride, CO
Death Valley NP
Isle au Haut, Acadia NP
Burney Falls State Park, CA
Cedar Breaks National Monument, UT
Beartooth Highway, MT-WY
Crater Lake NP
Blue Lake, North Cascades NP
Stanley Hotel is a classic. For the actual movie, they used the exterior of the Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood. After being there, it doesn't look nearly as big as the Overlook Hotel was portrayed in The Shining.
The talk of Vegas reminded me of taking the hard hat dam tour of Hoover Dam. Very interesting. Concrete is still curing to this day. Leaks inside the dam are cool.
The Oregon coastline is awesome. Cannon Beach was one of my favorite visits ever.
Thanks very much for all these continuing posts -- you have expanded my Bucket List into a Barrel List!
They have a reenactment every year. Whether it happens this year, who knows. Really not much within many miles of the park.
Acadia National Park is well known and spectacular. IMO, even better is the "other" part of the park on the Schoodic peninsula. Much less busy.
I did Boldt Castle about 18 years ago. How are the renovations coming along?
ABSOLUTELY!
This is IMHO one of the most interesting and educational posts here on Tom’s Board in a long long time. Thanks to all that have contributed!
I have a nice paper weight from Acadia.Acadia National Park is well known and spectacular. IMO, even better is the "other" part of the park on the Schoodic peninsula. Much less busy.
Yes, reminded me of my visit. Watching the movie in the observation center was a great part of the visit as it gave a strong and, at the time, a scary feeling of concern for being so close. Of course, not so bad 40 years later. The movie ends after you've become quite nervous and the screen closes, the blinds open and framed in the windows is Mt. St. Helen with her blown out side as big as it can be. Quite memorable.
Acadia National Park is well known and spectacular. IMO, even better is the "other" part of the park on the Schoodic peninsula. Much less busy.
No doubt Roy about Schoodic. One of my picks from Acadia was Isle au Haut. It's remote, you have to take the mail boat from Stonington to this island, great day trip. You'll have the whole island to yourself.
The second floor is complete and third was started last I was there 3 years ago. I'm in that area a lot during summers so I'll check again this summer.
Mount Whitney Summit Shelter (Hut).
Did not think of this site as historic, but in any case, quite the special feeling to stand at the top knowing you are above everything in the contiguous States. Didn't do as a day trip, but many brave and hardy do.
Here's a stock photo
Did not think of this site as historic, but in any case, quite the special feeling to stand at the top knowing you are above everything in the contiguous States. Didn't do as a day trip, but many brave and hardy do.
Here's a stock photo
Hmmm...
Independence Hall & Liberty Bell
Congress Hall
USS Constitution
USS Arizona
USS Missouri
USS New Jersey
USS Constellation
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Kitty Hawk
Point Arena Lighthouse
This isn't a landmark per se but the National Archives. Seeing the Declaration and Constitution is awesome.
Independence Hall & Liberty Bell
Congress Hall
USS Constitution
USS Arizona
USS Missouri
USS New Jersey
USS Constellation
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Kitty Hawk
Point Arena Lighthouse
This isn't a landmark per se but the National Archives. Seeing the Declaration and Constitution is awesome.
Our senior class trip (1959) was three days in DC. Toured all the government buildings. FBI, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Arlington Cemetery, Zoo, Franciscan Monastery, Smithsonian, Art museum, St Patrick's. Several of us did the Washington Monument steps up and down.
Death Valley
Rhyolite, NV ghost town
Burning Man
USS Iowa
Saguaro National Forest
Joshua Tree National Park
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway/San Jacinto Peak
Kings Canyon NP
Mt Rainier NP
Catalina Island (it has a herd of wild buffalo in otherwise heavily urbanized Los Angeles County)
Rhyolite, NV ghost town
Burning Man
USS Iowa
Saguaro National Forest
Joshua Tree National Park
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway/San Jacinto Peak
Kings Canyon NP
Mt Rainier NP
Catalina Island (it has a herd of wild buffalo in otherwise heavily urbanized Los Angeles County)
not sure if most of these fit the bill as historic...
Coral Castle in Homestead (Miami)
Waimea Canyon in Kauai ( "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific")
Kolekole pass (outside Honolulu)- hiked up to the white cross
Skagway, Alaska (into the Yukon)
Coral Castle in Homestead (Miami)
Waimea Canyon in Kauai ( "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific")
Kolekole pass (outside Honolulu)- hiked up to the white cross
Skagway, Alaska (into the Yukon)
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They must change the route from time to time--when I was there it went the other way. But that was at least 25 years ago. Saw a baby seal from about a foot away (no, I did not try to touch it--just took a picture).Acadia National Park is well known and spectacular. IMO, even better is the "other" part of the park on the Schoodic peninsula. Much less busy.
Off the beaten path? I'll go with Landmanalaugur, Iceland.
You go about an hour out of Rejkyavik, take a right and drive through about 10k of snow covered lava fields (wearing seat belts), and you come to a little shack. You change into your swim trunks (unless you're German), run a couple of hundred yards through the snow, hop into the hot springs, and sit there for a while as the snow falls. There is pretty much no one within 314 sq. km of you. Getting out and making the run through the snow back to the changing shack is something an issue though.
You go about an hour out of Rejkyavik, take a right and drive through about 10k of snow covered lava fields (wearing seat belts), and you come to a little shack. You change into your swim trunks (unless you're German), run a couple of hundred yards through the snow, hop into the hot springs, and sit there for a while as the snow falls. There is pretty much no one within 314 sq. km of you. Getting out and making the run through the snow back to the changing shack is something an issue though.
