Author: michael
Walk through Oviedo, Spain city center
Ten Great U.S. State Parks to Visit
We love the national parks, as is obvious if you spend anytime on our site. But we’ve learned that some of the most incredible places to visit in the U.S. are often state parks. Over the years, we’ve visited well over a hundred state parks in almost every state, and we are rarely disappointed. Not…
How We Stay in Hotels for Free
Note: This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. On our year-long road trip around the US, we managed to stay 51 nights in hotels for practically FREE!!! Adding it all up, it comes to over $6,100 of free hotel stays in just one year. It…
Terracotta Army – Xian – China
The Terracotta Army is a collection of funerary art made up of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
Palace of the Parliament – Bucharest – Romania
The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, opened in 1997, is one of the largest buildings in the world.
Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – California – United States
Possibly the most famous bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California stretches for 1.7 miles (2.7km) across the entrance to San Francisco Bay.
Tower of Hercules – A Coruña – Spain
The Tower of Hercules, built by the Romans in the 2nd century, is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the world.
Westerkerk – Amsterdam – Netherlands
The largest Protestant church in the Netherlands, Westerkerk in Amsterdam was completed in 1631.
Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh – Scotland – United Kingdom
Construction on Edinburgh Castle in Scotland began in the 11th Century and continues to the present day.
Duomo di Milano (“Milan Cathedral”) – Milan – Italy
One of the largest cathedrals in the world, he Duomo di Milano (“Milan Cathedral”) in Milan, Italy, broke ground in the late-14th century but was not considered complete until 1965.
Shop in Todos Los Santos – Baja California Sur – Mexico
A shop selling handmade goods in Todos Los Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Michalská brána (“Michael’s Gate”) – Bratislava – Slovakia
Built around the year 1300, Michalská brána (“Michael’s Gate”) in Bratislava, Slovakia is the last surviving gate of the original fortifications around medieval Bratislava.
La Peña de los Enamorados – Antequera – Spain
La Peña de los Enamorados, an important archeological site which figures into many legends dating back thousands of years, seen through the bell tower of the Alcazaba in Antequera, Spain.
Saguaro National Park – Arizona – United States
A majestic Saguaro cactus catches the morning light in Saguaro National Park, just outside of Tuscon, Arizona in the United States.
Iglesia de San Ildefonso – Porto – Portugal
The Iglesia de San Ildefonso in Porto, Portugal was completed in 1730, with a facade that features the blue and white tile (“azulejo”) typical of the Porto region.
View from Sargans Castle – Sargans – Switzerland
Stunning view from the famous castle of Sargans, Switzerland, built in the 12th-century.
Praça do Comércio – Lisbon – Portugal
View of the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal from the Tagus RIver, featuring the iconic Arco da Rua Augusta.
View from Monserrate of Bogota, Colombia
The panoramic view of Bogota, Colombia from Monserrate, an iconic peak on the east side of the city which rises to 3152m (10,341 feet).
Kiskirálylány Statue – Budapest – Hungary
The Kiskirálylány (“Little Princess”) Statue, inspired by the artist’s eldest daughter, sits on a railing along the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary.
Hassan II Mosque – Casablanca – Morocco
The Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa and the 2nd-tallest minaret in the world, stands on the Atlantic shore of Casablanca, Morocco.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls – Michigan – United States
Upper Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, nicknamed “Rootbeer Falls” due to the deep brown color caused by tannins that leach into the water from the surrounding forest’s abundant cedar and spruce trees.
Tower Bridge – London – United Kingdom
View from the water of Tower Bridge, completed in 1894, over the Thames River in London, UK and named for the nearby Tower of London.
Eiermarkt – Bruges – Belgium
The charming Chocolatier Dumon in the Eiermarkt area of Bruges, Belgium.
Central Alps – Innsbruck – Austria
Peaks of the Central Austrian Alps rise above the foothills and neighborhoods of Innsbruck, Austria.
Mt. Rainier – Washington – United States
View of the eastern face of Mt. Rainier, the focus of Mt. Rainier National Park, one of the tallest peaks in the continental U.S. at 14, 411 feet and an active stratovolcano.
Qutang Gorge – Fengjie County – China
The entrance to Qutang Gorge, the first of the famous Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in central China.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber – Bavaria – Germany
Iconic street view of the Siebers-gate (left) and Kobolzeller-gate (right) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany, considered to be one of the most photographed and painted views in Germany.
View from Lycabettus Hill – Athens – Greece
A view of the dense, sprawling neighborhoods of Athens from Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in central Athens at 277m.
Marina City – Chicago, Illinois, USA
The twin towers of Marina City, completed in 1968, rise 587-feet above the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois.
El Arco de Santa Catalina – Antigua, Guatemala
The hulking form of Volcán de Agua lurks behind El Arco de Santa Catalina in Antigua, Guatemala.
Bran Castle – Bran, Romania
Bran Castle in Bran, Romania is said to be “Dracula’s Castle”, which of course it is not, but it is an imposing sight.
Temple of Isis – Philae Temple Complex – Agilkia Island, Egypt
The Temple of Isis, part of the Philae Temple Complex, which was relocated to Agilkia Island piece-by-piece in 1971 to save it from being inundated by the waters impounded by the newly-built Aswan Dam.
Hallgrímskirkja – Reykjavik, Iceland
The Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church built in 1937 in Reykjavik, Iceland. It is one of the tallest structures in Iceland.
Alhambra at sunset – Granada, Spain
The Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, built by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th century. A UNESCO World Heritage site and the most visited historical landmark in Spain.
Five Tips for Surviving the U.S. National Parks
Visiting a national park usually conjures up images of “escaping from it all” and “getting back to nature”. There is no doubt that they are the very best places to do just that. Paradoxically, though, many of them can be some of the most crowded, congested tourist destinations in the country. A visit to Yellowstone…