From the World Heritage inscription for Chaco Culture: For over 2,000 years, Pueblo peoples occupied a vast region of the south-western United States. Chaco Canyon, a major center of ancestral Pueblo culture between 850 and 1250, was a focus for ceremonials, trade and political activity for the prehistoric Four Corners area. Chaco is remarkable for …
From the World Heritage inscription for the Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty, a hollow colossus composed of thinly pounded copper sheets over a steel framework, stands on an island at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was designed by sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi in collaboration with engineer Gustave Eiffel and was a gift …
From the World Heritage inscription for the Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point: Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point owes its name to a 19th-century plantation close to the site, which is in the Lower Mississippi Valley on a slightly elevated and narrow landform. The complex comprises five mounds, six concentric semi-elliptical ridges separated by shallow depressions …
From the World Heritage inscription for Mammoth Cave National Park: Mammoth Cave is the most extensive cave system in the world, with over 285 miles (456 km) of surveyed cave passageways within the property (and at least another 80 miles [128 km] outside the property). The park illustrates a number of stages of the Earth’s …
Mesa Verde is another really under-appreciated national park. While it is one of the first national parks in the U.S., it’s a cultural attraction, not a natural one. In fact, North America is seriously lacking in ancient structures (due do the nomadic nature of the original inhabitants), and Mesa Verde is one of the finest. …
I love deserts, so it should come as no surprise that Death Valley is one of my favorite national parks in the U.S.—and that’s saying a lot considering there are some amazing locations across North America, and even in California. I’ve visited Death Valley on two occasions: first during my 2009 road trip and second …
This morning I was notified by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) that I have been stripped of all travel journalism awards given by the organization and its foundation for the use of performance enhancing drugs. In particular I have been stripped of the following awards: 2012, 2013 and 2014 Lowell Thomas Awards for …
A Chilean territory with volcanoes, subtropical vegetation, and a surprising history, Easter Island is a fascinating place to explore. Tourism is the island’s largest source of income, and it largely sustains the livelihoods of those people living on Easter Island permanently—indigenous locals are called Rapa Nui. Where is Easter Island located? Latitude: S 27.14295Longitude: W …
Nearly three decades after Albania began putting its communist history behind it, the country remains all but unknown to tourists around the world. But there’s plenty for adventurous travelers to discover across the country, including photogenic mirror-like lakes, towering mountains, and sprawling forests that are free of crowds. The cuisine has a heavy Greek influence, …