Five More Little but Good Ideas!

 

1.  First on my list today is the Cherokee Reservation in Qualla Township, North Carolina.  Lots of people visit nearby Asheville and have a wonderful time at the Vanderbilt Estate and with the artist colony that the city has become.  They drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and have a great time.  But, the Cherokee are the people you should take time to meet.  Their whispering theater has a show that teaches you about their history.  The Native Americans will be happy to share everything about their ancient culture.  It's a great way to spend the day, and if you have children; it's educational.  If you really want, which I didn't; there's a casino too.

https://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/oconaluftee-indian-village/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-7OlBhB8EiwAnoOEk-6db7dPKrnopOyVgWXcrGJqYZ1dHT7oGNPJBuqfdx1lqwFuH1pIZRoCag4QAvD_BwE

https://www.romanticasheville.com/cherokee.htm

https://www.visitnc.com/listing/wxwm/cherokee-indian-reservation-cherokee-welcome-center

https://visitncsmokies.com/listings/cherokee-indian-reservation/

2.  This is a must see.  I've been to Switzerland multiple times, but Lauterbrunnen, it's valley, and it's excursions were my favorite.  One of the most amazing adventures you can take is the train to Jungfrau.  It's a cog and it ends in a tunnel at the top of Europe, as it's self proclaimed.  Not only can you walk and play on glaciers, see some incredible scenery and have lunch of course; you can walk through caves carved in the ice of the glacier way back in the 1930's.  It's a spectacular feeling to walk inside a glacier.  It's the only place I know you can do that.  Just make sure you bring something warm to wear.

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/

https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/

https://www.jungfraujochtickets.com/jungfraujoch-railway-and-train/

https://holidaystoeurope.com/things-to-do-in-lauterbrunnen-and-the-jungfrau-region/

3.   Berlin, Germany is a fascinating place.  It's one of the most openly historical cities on Earth.  The first time I visited it, they were still tearing down the Berlin Wall.  I got to see the original Checkpoint Charlie, in shambles in the street.  Since then, they've turned the checkpoint and a building nearby into one of the most educational museums in the city.  If you find Wall History interesting, you'll love all you can learn at The Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

https://www.mauermuseum.de/en/start/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/mauermuseum-museum-haus-am-checkpoint-charlie-wall-museum

https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/museums/mauermuseum-haus-am-checkpoint-charlie/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en

4.     One of the most formidable leaders in all of history was Genghis Khan.  He conquered more lands than probably anyone else in history.  He was also known for having thousands of children.  One of the great mysteries of the world is where is he buried?  That, no one knows.  But, outside of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia stands one of the largest stature monuments in the world to this amazing man.  The Mongolian people are proud to be his descendants, so they placed the monument outside one of the few cities in the entire country where the most people can visit.  So, if you ever thought about going to Mongolia, this is one spot you have to visit.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/genghis-khan-equestrian-statue

https://www.viewmongolia.com/mongolia-genghis-khan-statue.html

https://www.toursmongolia.com/mongolia_travel_news/9-must-see-places-in-ulaanbaatar-capital-city-of-mongolia

https://www.discovermongolia.mn/about-mongolia/destinations/ulaanbaatar-capital-city

 

5.    And finally, one of my favorite vacations ever.  I love to do unusual things like take a vacation to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in February.  Weird, yeah.  But, I stayed at the West Edmonton Mall.  This is the perfect place to spend some time during a frozen almost arctic winter.  With an indoor water park, indoor amusement park and hundreds of other activities to keep you busy; you'll never realize how cold it is outside.  There's a hotel in the mall, meaning you never have to go outside except to and from the airport.  Classic.

https://www.wem.ca/

https://exploreedmonton.com/attractions-and-experiences/west-edmonton-mall

https://funworldfacts.com/west-edmonton-mall/

https://www.travelalberta.com/places-to-go/cities-towns/edmonton

As I continue with my short lists of little parts of vacations that you should look into, I hope you enjoy my ideas.  I don't like to spend my time with a lot of the typical tourist attractions.  That's just not me.  So, if you like the things that are a bit strange, weirdly timed, or just off the beaten path; follow along with my blurbs on great little side trips and enjoy!