Despite its short history, the Phoenix metro area has amassed some unusual architecture. Here are three of the best-known odd buildings you’ll find in the Valley of the Sun.
unusual places
Active Volcano Tops My Destination of the Year List
In the middle of a never-ending, steep, dismal scree slope, I paused to catch my breath. Just a few hundred feet more, I thought. That wouldn’t get me to the top. That would just get me to a collection of rocks where I hoped I could actually get some footing. I was burning tons of energy as my heart hammered and my legs burned. All for seemingly nothing, as I seemed to lose half the distance I’d gained with each step. I kept my eyes locked on the ground in front of me, because a glance in any other direction would reveal how far away I was from solid ground, how far I’d already climbed, and how far I still had to go – all before descending and hiking another eight miles or so.
Some people might want this day to end, and to never have to think about it again. But me … I think about climbing New Zealand’s Mt. Ngauruhoe every single day. There are three photos of it in my cubicle at work. It’s my Twitter page background. I would climb it every week if I could.
Mt. Ngauruhoe, and the Tongariro National Park surrounding it, is nothing less than completely bewitching, and they are the combined winner of my 2009 Destination of the Year Award.
I’ve given you practical tips for climbing Mt. Ngauruhoe in this blog before. I’ve fustigated National Geographic for bungling a story about Tongariro. But this time, I’m just offering a homage to a fantastic [...]
5 Places a Hawaiian Might go on Vacation
I have this co-worker who lives in Hawaii. He works remotely, obviously. He’s in the office this week, and he’s a pretty all-around good character. But it makes me wonder – if you live in Hawaii, where do you go on vacation? I mean, you’ve got some of the best scenery, food, beaches and outdoor recreation right there. Not to mention diversity from travelers all across the world.
I could just ask my co-worker, but that wouldn’t be any fun. So I’m gonna speculate with my Top 5 places a Hawaiian Would go on Vacation. Enjoy!
5. Greenland – So if you’re used to being warm and cozy, it seems you might want to be cold for awhile. I imagine Greenland is nice and remote in addition to being goolie-freezing cold. So it’s perfect for getting away from all that sunshine.
4. Moscow – I’ve never been to Moscow, but I’d imagine with rampant capitalism and the leftovers of Soviet architecture, a lot of it has to be an eyesore. I hear the crime rates aren’t exactly endearing it to many people, either. As for cuisine, I suppose some borscht would be a nice change from some of the planet’s finest seafood.
3. Belize City, Belize – Wow. This place is a hole. I expected it to be a lot better, because every travel rag blasts San Jose, Costa Rica, in much the same terms. But I found San Jose fun and lively, where Belize City was foul and depressing, from its airport to [...]
Tucson’s Airplane Boneyard a Creepy Piece of History
There’s this really creepy, weird place down in Tucson, Ariz. Most people call it the Boneyard. The official name is the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, or AMARC. In short, it’s where airplanes go to die.
I just wrote a piece about it for Associated Content. That’s where you can get all the official-speak – how to get there, what to bring, what to see. But since this is my own blog, I want to give you a little something different, plus bigger photos!
I want you to picture thousands of acres. Then imagine rows of aircraft dating from post-WW II to practically present day. Dozens of B-52 Stratofortresses. Old Boeing 720s. Even the odd B-1B bomber! Helicopters, light transports, they’re all here baking in the sun.
This place just staggers my imagination. If this is where planes die, can you imagine how many are still flying? Can you imagine how many of these could find a second life better than being chopped up and turned into cans?
And the Boneyard is a starkly and oddly beautiful sight. If you’re riding the Fantasy Island mountain bikes trail network, the Boneyard is a backdrop for quite a bit of the ride. It makes me feel like Mad Max will soon coming roaring through the desert. No matter how many times I see it, I just wish I could spend a day walking among all these planes.
The Boneyard is a huge, impossible-to-miss piece of the military’s buying power and scope. I’m going to add a little [...]
