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
Tag: Park
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
Sanibel and Captiva Islands
Historians believe that Sanibel and Captiva were formed as a single island around 6000 years ago due to centuries of … More
Presidio Park
Presidio Park in San Diego, California is the historic site of the first European settlements in what is now the Western … More