Memories of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. (formally the District of Columbia) is the capital city and only federal district of the United States. The city was named for George Washington, the … More

The Best of MEXICO

Mexico (officially known as the United Mexican States, since it is a federation comprising 31 states plus the capitol), is the world’s 13th-largest country by area … More

Centennial Lakes Park

Centennial Lakes Park is an oasis of calm in the heart of Edina, Minnesota near Southdale. During the summer months, … More

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Built on the site of the old Edo Castle, the Tokyo Imperial Palace (Kyūden) serves as the main residence of the Japanese Emperor. With … More

St. Olaf Catholic Church

Just 9 years after the city of Minneapolis was incorporated, in 1876, the Universalist Society chose this corner on which … More

America the Beautiful Quarters

Following on the popularity of the 50 State Quarters program, the United States Mint began issuing 25-cent pieces as part … More

The Best of CHINA: The East

Over 1000 years ago, Eastern China was the main terminus of the Maritime Silk Road, trading extensively with Japan, Korea, Southeast … More

Balboa Park, Part 7: Alcazar Garden

The Alcazar Garden, located adjacent to the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, is so named because of … More

Trossachs National Park & Loch Lomond

Trossachs National Park in Scotland is centered on Loch Lomond, along with the hills and glens of the Trossachs, a forested nature reserve. The wooded … More

The Best of Manhattan

The territory of Manhattan traces its origins to a trading post founded in 1624 by Dutch colonists. Originally known as … More

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Located about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors along the North Shore of Lake Superior, Gooseberry Falls State Park was officially designated in 1937. It … More

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia, a mountainous region containing the highest peaks in the UK outside Scotland, was the first of three national parks … More

Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo is a 35-acre zoo founded in 1868 in Chicago, making it the 4th-oldest zoo in North America. … More

Parc de la Ciutadella

The Parc de la Ciutadella (“Citadel Park”) in Barcelona, Spain was for decades, following its creation in the mid-19th century, the city’s only green … More

Dean Lakes Trail

The Dean Lakes Trail is a scenic trail in Shakopee, Minnesota that contains a series of boardwalks and paved trails … More

The Landing

The Landing (formerly Historic Murphy’s Landing), now part of the Minnesota River Heritage Park in Shakopee, is a living history … More

The Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States that lies between the Central Valley (a flat, elongated valley that dominates the interior of California) and the Great … More

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains (aka the Rockies), are largest mountain system in North America, stretching some 3,000 miles from the northernmost part of western Canada to New Mexico in the … More

Lake Phalen

Lake Phalen is a large urban lake located in the Saint Paul suburb of Maplewood and the centerpiece of the 494-acre Phalen Regional Park. The lake … More

Quarry Lake Park

The 111-acre Quarry Lake Park in the East Shakopee Industrial Area contains nature trails and a quarry lake, which is … More

Memories of Shanghai

Shanghai is one of China’s four municipalities, along with Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing, that are directly administered by the central government. Being … More

Como Park, Part 3: Como Lake

Located with Saint Paul’s Como Regional Park, Como Lake (not to be confused with Lake Como in northern Italy) features: … More

Como Park, Part 2: McNeely Conservatory

The McNeely Conservatory, located within St. Paul’s Como Park next to the Como Zoo, was first opened in 1915. Free … More

Memories of the Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area, popularly referred to as just the Bay Area, is frequently defined as including the nine … More

San Antonio Missions, Part 5: San Francisco de la Espada

Mission San Francisco de la Espada is the second Roman Catholic mission that was established in Texas by Spain in order to convert … More

NE Arts Buildings, Part 2: Casket Arts

Dating from 1887, the original Casket Building (above), which was occupied by the Northwestern Casket Company until 2006, is one of … More

San Antonio Missions, Part 4: San Juan Capistrano

Originally Christened as “La Misión San José de los Nazonis” in 1716, the present-day Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in … More

The Best of CANADA

The country of Canada covers 3.85 million square miles of North America, making it the world’s 2nd-largest country by total area. Its 10 … More

Winona

Named after legendary figure Winona, said to have been the first-born daughter of Chief Wapasha (Wabasha) III, the city of Winona in southeastern Minnesota, … More