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Big Bend National Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Big Bend National Park

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Big Bend National Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Big Bend National Park

The Desert and the Rio Grande

Krystina Castella

Big Bend National Park offers a blend of natural beauty, ancient history, and cultural heritage, situated in the remote deserts of southwestern Texas. The Rio Grande is a defining feature of Big Bend, offering a dramatic contrast to the ...
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Featured

The Chairy Orchard welcome gate
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Chairy Orchard

A Landscape of Chairs

Krystina Castella
It was one of those rainy-day drives where we were constantly questioning if we should pull over to the side of the road because the rain was coming down so hard. In times like these we typically do a search on attractions near me which happened to be Denton, Texas- just outside of Dallas. That is how we found the Chairy Orchard surfacing right to the #1 spot. We had no idea what it was, but it was something to do for a bit until the rain let up. We were puzzled by...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Iowa 80

World’s Largest Truckstop

Krystina Castella
In Eastern Iowa when driving on the 80 interstate you can’t miss the descriptively named Iowa 80 Truckstop. From the outside ...
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Santa Fe Chiles
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Wander between art and nature

Krystina Castella
Santa Fe’s adobe architecture, art, food, unique culture, biking, skiing, and beautiful weather makes it a joy to visit. Founded sometime between 1607 and 1610, Santa Fe was established around the same time as Jamestown, Virginia, and about a decade before ...
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Cherry Tree
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Traverse City, MI

Cherry Capital of the World

Krystina Castella
Traverse City, located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, is especially famous for its cherries, earning it the title of the "Cherry Capital of the World." Each year, the area’s cherry orchards
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Victoria Harbor
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Victoria BC

British Columbia, Canada

Krystina Castella
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, Canada, sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The heart of Victoria is its historic Inner Harbor, where you can watch seaplanes take off and land, catch a glimpse of the historic
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Montaña de Oro’s State Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Montaña de Oro State Park

Mountain of Gold

Krystina Castella
Montaña de Oro State Park, spanning over 8,000 acres along California’s central coast, has rugged cliffs, secluded sand dunes, beaches, coastal plains, streams...
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Play

Bridge in Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Central Park, NY

Experiencing NY Through Play

Krystina Castella
In the middle of Manhattan’s concrete grid, CentralPark opens like a playground for all. Olmsted and Vaux designed it...
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Adventure Playground: Berkeley, California
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Adventure Playgrounds

A history and a visit

Krystina Castella
Adventure playgrounds offer unrestricted play in either natural or junk environments, and kids explore and invent with found materials. Today they are growing in popularity in the United States due to modern parent’s awareness of ...
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Rafts
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Huntington Beach Play

Risky Muddy Fun

Krystina Castella
Huntington Beach Adventure Playground is for families seeking an outdoor play area that encourages creativity, physical activity, and adventurous play. In the heart of Huntington Central Park, this park offers ...
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Biking along ledges and bowls
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Gooseberry Mesa

Slickrock mountain biking

Krystina Castella
Over 20 years ago we walked into the only bike shop in Springdale, Utah, an undeveloped town, right outside of Zion National Park. We asked if there was any good biking around. The owner told us that recently some guys went up to the top of the mesa a few miles away and painted dots on the slickrock and made bike paths. It sounded ...
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Brian Boyl
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Millennium & Maggie Daley

A Day of Play, Chicago

Krystina Castella
Millennium Park and nearby Maggie Daley Park are two public spaces in Chicago where the whole day can be filled with play. At these parks locals ...
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Strong National Museum of Play
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Strong Museum of Play

Rochester, New York

Krystina Castella
The Strong National Museum of Play is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of play. Located in Rochester, New York it is filled with interactive exhibits and is home to an impressive collection of toys ...
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More Play...

Nature

Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Assateague National Seashore

It is all about the Horses!

Krystina Castella
If you’ve ever wanted to spend the day sitting on the beach watching herds of wild horses play in the waves Assateague National Seashore is ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

The Super Bloom

Krystina Castella
Every year wildflowers lovers throughout southern California ask, “Will Anza Borrego have a super bloom?” In years with abundant rainfall, the Sonoran Desert landscape is filled with an abundance of colors. At the peak ...
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Photo Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

Celebration of California’s State Flower

Krystina Castella
Just 68 miles North of Los Angeles and 15 miles west of Lancaster is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. From Mid- February through Mid-May the grassy landscape fills with a dreamscape ...
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Signage, Sequoia National Park
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Sequoia Kings National Park

Home to Giant Sequoias

Krystina Castella
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, located in the Sierra Nevada of California are home to some of the largest trees on Earth. These adjoining parks have diverse environments from rocky ...
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Bison, Yellowstone
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Yellowstone National Park

Home to Geysers & Bison

Krystina Castella
Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the first national park in the world covers over 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park is famed for its geothermal features, abundant wildlife ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Savannah's Parks & Waterways

Put on your walking shoes

Krystina Castella
Savannah is a great walking town. A stroll around will take you to twenty-two ecological diverse neighborhood parks and ...
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More Nature...

Art & Design

Photo: Krystina Castell
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Art Institute of Chicago

An Impressive Collection

Krystina Castella
Visitors to the Art Institute Chicago, the USA’s 2nd largest art museum are greeted by their famous iconic lions. Inside guests engage in the one million square feet of ...
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Photo: Brian Boyl
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Seven Magic Mountains

Contrast of Nature and Culture

Krystina Castella
When driving on Interstate 15, just south of Las Vegas, Nevada be sure to stop at Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s land art piece Seven Magic Mountains. At about 35 feet tall the massive sculpture consists of thirty-three boulders ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Shotgun Houses

The colorful vibe of a community

Krystina Castella
Shotgun Houses, the iconic, colorful homes scattered throughout the American South stand out in New Orleans because of the overt personalization. Through color ...
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Prairie Modernism and More
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Columbus, Indiana

Prairie modernism and more

Krystina Castella
Arriving on a Sunday a few hours before sunset Columbus, Indiana was as sleepy as any small town could be. The visitor’s center, small shops, restaurants and churches ...
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Kitty
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Murals of New Orleans

Krystina Castella
We arrived in New Orleans on a cold overcast day and stumbled upon an explosion of color. Art expressing the history, culture and people of the community. Publicly funded murals, sanctioned street art and graffiti are ...
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Masks from different cultures
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Museum International Folk Art

By the people. For the people

Krystina Castella
The Museum of International Folk Art is my favorite place to visit in Santa Fe. The anchor exhibit Multiple Visions: A Common Bond is an immense collection of toys, travel souvenirs, street art, miniatures, ceramics, textiles and just about anything that can be categorized as folk art. The 10,000 pieces on display were ...
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More Art and Design...

Cities & Towns

Rainbow Row, Charleston
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Charleston, South Carolina

Get lost in Southern Charm

Krystina Castella
Our first impression of Charleston, South Carolina was that this is a city that understands its quaint beauty. Although the Charleston ...
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The Richards Dar House Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Mobile, Alabama

Antebellum Era & Mardi Gras

Krystina Castella
Mobile, Alabama one of the oldest cities on the Golf Coast is home to seven historic districts. Filled with antebellum homes, murals, and the home of the original Mardi Gras parade. The Mardi Gras Museum shares ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Easton, Pennsylvania

Waterways and Bridges

Krystina Castella
Right across the Northampton Street bridge from New Jersey at the intersection of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers is the picturesque ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Springview, Nebraska

The Good Life

Krystina Castella
While on a road trip have you ever passed through a small town and get the feeling to stop? In Springville, it was the subtle clues, a zebra painted house and the nearby retro gas station that lured us ...
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Castillo de San Marcos
Photo:
Krystina Castella

St. Augustine, Florida

Established 1565

Krystina Castella
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European and African American settlement in the United States. It was claimed in 1565 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, forty-two years ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Fredrick, Maryland

Biking the historic loop

Krystina Castella
It is not the size of neighboring DC or Baltimore but Fredrick, Maryland has an intimate charm that attracts ...
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More Cities and Towns...

Roadside Attractions

Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

World’s Largest Thermometer

Baker, California

Krystina Castella
If you have every wondered where and when the hottest temperature every recorded on earth is the answer is 134 degrees F in Death Valley, California on July, 10 1913. That temperature inspired Willis Herron to build World’s Tallest Thermometer to draw freeway travelers ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Cadillac Ranch

Amarillo, TX

Krystina Castella
Cadillac Ranch, outside of Amarillo, TX, is something between art and a roadside attraction. The installation created in the 70’s by land artists ...
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Dinosaur Tracks
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Moenave Dinosaur Tracks

Tuba City, Arizona

Krystina Castella
The Moenave Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, Arizona, are a fascinating paleontological site showcasing well-preserved dinosaur footprints from the Early Jurassic period. These tracks
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Apple Orchard, Avila Valley Barn
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Avila Valley Barn

Avila Beach

Krystina Castella
Avila Valley Barn, at Avila Beach area of California’s Central Coast, captures the essence of farm-fresh goodness. Established as a family-owned and operated farm, The location invites visitors to step into a world of wholesome
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Governor's Palace, Colonial Williamsburg
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

Engage with people and places from the past

Krystina Castella
As largest living history museum in the world, Colonial Williamsburg is the closest we can get to time travel. If you love Hamilton the musical, here is your chance to return to the Revolutionary War ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

A Rainbow of Color

Ft. Collins, Colorado

Krystina Castella
The Colorado State University Trial Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado is a breathtakingly beautiful place to lose yourself in flowers of every color, texture, shape and form. The purpose of ...
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More Roadside Attractions...

Articles

Photo:
Krystina Castella

The Staten Island Ferry

A NYC favorite

Krystina Castella
Some people love trains, other cars or planes. My adoration is for the Staten Island Ferry. Having grown up on Staten Island the ferry connected ...
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Scrumptious bacon/egg fried pie
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Fried Pies

Sweet and Savory

Krystina Castella
Fried hand pies, a classic of the American South can be found in places stretching from the Carolinas to Texas. Depending on the filling they can be... See our fried pie recipe ...
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Junior Rangers and their badges.
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Junior Rangers

A playful way to explore the parks

Krystina Castella
There they were. Two inspired children on a mission, storming through the visitor’s center doors of Fort Necessity National Battlefield just outside of Pittsburg. They proudly showcased their achievements all over their clothing. As they made their way to the front desk, they enthusiastically asked the ranger on duty, “Do you have Junior Ranger booklets?” These kids were...
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Everglades National Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Florida Love

Favorites of the Sunshine State

Krystina Castella
Florida and California (where we live) have many commonalities. We both have oranges, palm trees, beautiful and sunny warm weather in winter. However, there are many differences that draw us back to visit Florida ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Ice Cream Trucks

The taste of summer

Krystina Castella
Before I saw the truck I heard the jingle off in the distance. I knew the melody well-The Entertainer. Once in sight it was hard to miss. A brightly colored truck ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

American Flags

Expression of our National Identity

Krystina Castella
One thing American’s have in common is the symbol of the American flag. As our national symbol of identity to each person or group it offers diverse and complex ...
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