Ten Amazing Things That Everyone Should Check Out

I've been known to do some amazing things in my life, and I love it when I have a truly great experience or see something absolutely breathtaking for any given reason.  I've talked for years about how I got to sit on top of the Berlin Wall, go to church with Pope John Paul II in St. Petersburg, tour Wielickza Salt Mine in Poland, meet the Havasupai Indians in the Grand Canyon, and visit Piz Gloria on top of the Schilthorn in Switzerland.  But, just in case you wanted to know, here are ten great adventures and amazing sites that you may not even know about that may just pique your interest.

1.  Carhenge:  North of Alliance, Nebraska along Highway 87 at the edge of the Sandhills sits this truly American replica of the monoliths the have been attracting visitors to England for centuries.  The attraction is free and if you happen to be in Nebraska, then this is a great thing to do.  Nebraska is one of those places that is out of the way, and not overrun by tourists.  Just the idea that you would be there is some kind of adventure, so this addition will make it truly great.

2.  Cadillac Ranch:  Route 66 just screams with nostalgia for Americans.  Cadillac Ranch's iconic half buried Cadillacs are standing not far from Amarillo on Route 66 exactly where they were planted in 1974.  The best part about this attraction is that the tradition is to bring a spray can and add your own artwork to the cars.  Leave your mark and let the world know that you were there, along the way on Route 66.

3.  Armourgeddon:  England has a lot of hisotry, but once in a while they come up with something that sounds like smashing great fun.  So, here it is, paintball with real life tanks.  You take your friends and choose teams, choose tanks, and take off for the world's most massive game of paintball.  For 95 pounds you can join your friends for 2 hours of paintball.  There are other adventures with tanks too.

4.  Explor Mexico:  About half an hour's travel time outside of Cancun you will find a one of a kind park.  It's true they do have zip lines, amphibious drives, kayaking through caves and all kinds of other stuff, but here's the thing that they have that you won't find anywhere else.  It's a water slide, but not just any water slide.  You take zip lines half a mile to get to the slide.  Then, you go down this several hundred foot long mountain water slide and land inside an amazing cave.  Just in case you thought you'd seen it all in Cancun, you might have missed one.

5.  Tropical Islands Indoor Waterpark:  I've talked about this one and I still want to go.  In between Berlin and Dresden in central Germany sits the world's biggest indoor waterpark inside the world's largest free standing building.  Built to take care of dirigibles, this old hangar has been transformed into an entire resort area with shopping, restaurants, hotels, clubs, spas, and yes; a huge waterpark.  You feel like you've gone to the Caribbean when you're here, and you can go for as little as 30 pounds.  They are open year round, so it makes winter fabulous.

6.  The Qinghai-Tibet Railway:  It's the world's highest elevation train crossing sections of the Himalayas on it's way from China to the province of Tibet.  If you don't feel like climbing Everest, this is one of the best alternatives with some of the best views anywhere.  You can catch train connections to this train from all over China like Shanghai and Beijing.  The prices are very reasonable, and it's the train experience of a lifetime.

7.  Heavy Equipment Playground:  Pack your bags for Las Vegas, Nevada.  There's always something unusual there, because craziness is some of what that city is famous for.  This one is great, because you get to play with heavy equipment.  For as little as $249 you can play with these toys.  You get some training on usage and safety and then you get to go out on a big dig.  It's a lot of fun, and it's just one more great thing to do in Vegas, baby.

8.  The Nurburgring:  The NASCAR experience and Richard Petty Driving Schools and such are well known, but there's a place in Germany between Bonn and Franfurt where you can just go crazy.  You can bring a car or do a ride along in a race car.  There are a lot of things you can do at the Nurburgring.  They have a whole schedule of events for visitors.  If you love cars and racing, this is your spot.

9.  Adventure Aquarium:  What could you possibly do in Camden, New Jersey?  Well, it turns out that you can swim with sharks.  That's right, for $185 you can spend 1 hour and 45 minutes getting up close and personal with these amazing creatures.  You will spend about half that time getting instructed on how to swim and interact with the fish, but you will get to be up close and personal with wild sharks.

10.  Idabel:  I've talked about this one before too.  Idabel is a tiny submarine used by researcher and captain Carl Stanley for many years to study underwater life off the coast of Roatan Island in Honduras.  What does that mean to us?  Well, we can go for a trip in Idabel.  Captain Stanley will take tourists down on a real life submarine dive to see what the world looks like up to 2,000 feet underwater.  It is the only place in the world where you can do this, so get down there and do it.

So, there's ten more great adventures and great sites to see.  I've said it for years, if you get the chance to do something amazing and unforgettable, do it.  Sometimes you need to go because you can, sometimes you need to go because that's when it's happening, sometimes you need to go before it's too late.  Don't wait to get out there and see and do. You might miss something incredible.
Enjoy!

http://carhenge.com/
http://www.drivingroute66.com/cadillac-ranch/
http://www.armourgeddon.co.uk/
http://www.journeytheearth.com/adventure/ziplining-exploring-caves-xplor-mexico/
https://www.tropical-islands.de/en/
http://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-train/
http://www.grandcanyontourcompany.com/digthis.html
http://www.nuerburgring.de/en.html
http://www.adventureaquarium.com/What-to-do/Behind-the-Scenes-Animal-Encounters/Swim-with-the-Sharks.aspx
http://www.stanleysubmarines.com/
http://en.xcaretexperiencias.com/xplor-mexico-tour.php
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://terri-dixon.artistwebsites.com/
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts

There's Almost Nothing New Along the Hudson, and That's a Good Thing!

For years, my husband and I have talked about checking out the Culinary Institute of America or the CIA.  We finally got a reservation this weekend for lunch and got up early for our weekend away in order to get there on time.  It turned out that it was finals weekend and all of our food was graded for graduation.  How cool is that?

We ate at the Bocuse Restaurant which is one of several restaurants on campus.  It was some fabulous fine dining.  I won't lie, it costs to do it, but it is so worth it.  Whoever made our meals, I hope got all A's.  The amazing part about the restaurant for me is that you can watch them cooking in the kitchen.  That's how we discovered that they were all being graded that day, because we could watch the teacher checking all the food before it left the kitchen.  We both had the lobster trio which was amazing.  I tried Ceviche, and it was great.  My husband had an amazing corn soup.  I had what was called the Chocolate Variation and my hubby had Pear Charlotte for desert.  All amazing.  Then we stopped in the bookstore and picked up some great items for our own kitchen including some Tandoori seasoning that I intend to use soon.

So, we decided to walk off that amazing lunch with a trip up the road to the Vanderbilt Mansion.  We strolled the gardens which were designed in grand Italian fashion.  Francis Vanderbilt was a horticulturist and he and his gardener enjoyed the outdoors more than most of the folks who visited the cabin by the Hudson.  Mr. Vanderbilt even had escapes built in so that he could escape the crowds in the house and go outside.  His gardener, Mr. Shears, was such a good friend and loyal employee that he inherited the house by the garden when the Vanderbilt's passed on.  The grounds are still vast today, and the public is invited to enjoy them every day.

The mansion is one of the smallest of the 43 mansions built by the Vanderbilts in this country.  It only had five guest bedrooms.  It only had six floors.  It only had 14 bathrooms and a staff of 20 to run it.  These Vanderbilts had no children, so when they passed the main property went to their favorite niece who wanted to sell it because it was so small.  FDR and the National Parks finally bought it for $1.  Mrs. Vanderbilt was a huge fan of French design, which is why her bedroom looked like Marie Antoinette's.  The best part of this mansion is that most of the interior is original.  Nothing was removed from the house and most things remain today.  The house did have indoor plumbing and electricity even though it was built in the late 1800's.  The Vanderbilt's went there in the spring and fall to get away from the city.

We did a lot of things on our weekend along the Hudson, and believe me, almost nothing was new.  The Hudson Valley is full of historic mansions.  A bunch of them belonged to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.  But all of the elite followed the Vanderbilts up the river and there are mansions all over the place.  I will be checking them out over time.  On Sunday, after we took a walk across the Hudson, which is one of the newer ideas on the river even though it was made from an old railroad bridge.  I love the views up there and this time we went twice and got a sunset view and a morning view.  It was great.  But before we headed home, we went to Rhinebeck and went to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.  If you like old planes, this is your spot.  If you like air shows, well, here you go.  These guys have many hangars full of antique planes and other antiques.  They call it a museum.  But they also have an old time airfield and since 1958 they've been doing air shows every weekend all summer long.  So, you can walk around and see everything from the French version of the Wright Flyer to a Sopwith Camel. We had a great time, and they had to cancel the show because of the wind.  But, they still flew a couple of planes for us and there happened to be a car show that day, so they had an antique car parade as well.  I didn't get to take a ride in the biplane, but I will go back.  It was still a good time.

So, you could spend months roaming around the Hudson Valley and you would see nothing new.  What you would see is a plethora of amazing historical sites.  Everything here has a story.  The colleges are old, the properties are old, the shows are old, the towns are old, the bridges are old, the parks are old, the restaurants are old.  You'll never have a better time with a bunch of old stuff.  So take a walk over the Hudson, that's your something new, see the view and then take off and see something old and amazing.
Enjoy!

http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-estates
http://www.hudsonvalley.org/
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/hudson-valley-new-york-road-trip/
http://www.grandestatesofhudsonvalley.com/
http://hudsonrivervalley.com/Home.aspx
http://www.hudsonvalley.org/historic-sites/kykuit
http://www.vintagehudsonvalley.com/planner-historic-homes.shtml
http://www.travelhudsonvalley.com/
http://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm
http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/
http://walkway.org/
http://poughkeepsieicehouse.com/menus.html
http://www.discoverourtown.com/NY/Poughkeepsie/Attractions/river-boat-tours/12109.html
http://hydeparkbrewing.com/
http://hydeparkantiques.net/
http://www.townofpoughkeepsie.com/
http://www.bocuserestaurant.com/
http://www.ciarestaurantgroup.com/
http://www.marist.edu/
http://www.vassar.edu/
http://www.mohonk.com/
http://www.usma.edu/Visiting/SitePages/Home.aspx
http://www.hudsonrivercruises.com/HudsonRiver_Cruises/Home.html
http://www.riverrosecruises.com/
http://www.kingston-ny.gov/
http://www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm
http://www.rhinebeckchamber.com/
http://www.hydeparkny.us/Community/tourism.html
http://www.townofpoughkeepsie.com/
http://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Ogasawara or Bonin...It's All Gorgeous

Okay, so we've taken quite a tour of the eastern United States.  It was fun, but let's talk about something more exotic.  I do so love to find out of the way destinations that make me salivate over the idea of going to it, or doing it, or seeing it, or in the case of the Ogasawara Islands, all of that.  What are they and where are they?  Interesting question.  The islands are a set of about thirty islands off the coast of Japan...1,000 k off the coast of Japan.  The main islands are Chichijima (Father Island) and Hahajima (Mother Island), which are also the only two inhabited islands in the chain.  Fellow travelers, these are the Galapagos of the east.  You have to check these out.

History tells us that the islands were discovered in the 1500's.  They have been traded and conquered for centuries.  They were even taken over by the United States in WWII, and weren't returned to the country of Japan until 1968.  There are many remains from WWII on the islands from rotted out tanks to bunkers where the locals hid during air raids.  It is an open air museum atmosphere designed to remind people of the horrors of war.  I've been to more than one of these styles of museum, and I must say that it does make you into a peace activist.

The towns here are small and few.  The accommodations are comfortable and luxurious.  But,  bring Japanese currency.  Only a few places accept credit cards, so you will need cash.  You cannot exchange currency on the islands, so do it before you leave the mainland.  There are a couple of ATM's around, but come prepared.  Also, this is your big chance to unplug.  There isn't much in the way of cell coverage on the islands.  If you need to be connected that bad, bring a sat phone.  But remember, this is one of those places that you go to in order to get away from it all.  Unplug and enjoy the isolation in a perfect subtropical island feel of it all.

The beaches are the beats all ends all for those of you who want to hang out on the beach, take a swim in comfortable waters and get a tan.  The adventure here is to relax.  This is one of those places where time seems to stand still and you don't need to do anything for days on end.  It's a good feeling.  Take a dinner cruise or lay on the beach.  Look for some sea shells by the seashore and have a good time.

Or, you could head out to sea.  The Bonin Islands as the British called them are world famous dive and swim locations.  The whale watching of all kinds is amazing and there are different seasons for different whales.  The Sperm Whale is the one to view in the fall, so if you go there now, that's the one you are most likely to see.  During various seasons you can go and see Blue Whales, Humpback Whales and several other kinds of whales.  Also, many people go to the islands and swim with dolphins.  It's one of the more exciting events on the islands, and there are several tour operators who can take you out for the experience.  You can also go snorkeling in the shallower areas, sport fishing on a charter, and wreck diving.  Water is a great way to enjoy the islands.

Now, land is a little different.  The Ogasawara Islands were never part of any continent, and that means that there are plant and animal species that cannot be found anywhere else.  Therefore, what you can bring into the area with you is tightly monitored.  They do not want anything to come in and screw up there ecosystem there.  It is protected as a World Heritage Site since 2011 and a National Park, so if you chose to go into the wilderness, follow the rules.  Many of the animals are bordering on extinction, and the people of the islands are trying to save them.  There are many guides who will be happy to take you to the best spots, and even some that will take you on night walks so that you can see all the stuff that comes out and night and may even glow in the dark like some of the mushrooms.

So, what's the adventure for anyone?  Is it the fact that the people come out to watch the gorgeous sunsets?  No.  Is it the pristine beaches?  No.  Is it the ecosystem?  Somewhat.  So, what's the adventure?

The trip is the adventure.  You can fly, but who wants to do that?  I love the activity of flying, but when I travel, I love the more interesting methods of getting around.  The Ogasawara or Bonin Islands are about 1,000 kilometers from the mainland, and they have a ferry that makes the trip in about 25 hours one way.  It's like a little mini cruise.  You take it out to the islands overnight, and then you stay for about six days.  That's the recommended time.  Then, you take the ferry back to the mainland overnight.  While in the populated areas they recommend that you get around by scooter.  When traveling to other islands there are ferries, and when getting around the inhabited islands they have a great bus system.  It's the travel in the travel that makes it an adventure.  So, if you like to get away and unplug, this one's for you.  If you've never heard of them, you aren't alone.  But, it's a can't miss, because you have whales, dolphins, beaches, shopping, resort hotels, boats and hiking in a protected ecosystem.  Leave the phones behind and enjoy nature at it's very finest off the coast of Japan in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands.
Enjoy!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8200.html
http://www.ogasawaramura.com/en/
http://en.japantravel.com/view/ogasawara-island
http://www.ogasawarakaiun.co.jp/english/
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https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIUYR_hVIiAABHw0nIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByN2RnbHFoBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMw--?p=Ogasawara+Islands&vid=4ee775c8276c9bf1d5d8871f39cb8d85&turl=http%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DWN.uDRbLbzljvfsB9rE1tq%252b7A%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D224%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJ3bW2GlHBc4&tit=OGASAWARA+ISLANDS+JAPAN&c=2&h=224&w=300&l=235&sigr=11bblhaje&sigt=10nlilnu1&sigi=12n1d7nkq&age=1397773693&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=ymyy-t-999&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&tt=b
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=Ogasawara+Islands&vid=e121fba9b95fe901264a58485495bc74&turl=http%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DWN.6%252fMuxeNrjVUHpVRjjXfc5Q%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D168%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqxLGOIHqdLs&tit=Ogasawara+Islands&c=3&h=168&w=300&l=112&sigr=11bek7i91&sigt=10hbdofs8&sigi=12nobfh8t&ct=p&age=1393245231&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=ymyy-t-999&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&tt=b
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=Ogasawara+Islands&vid=b9456c6de34b5e47794df62792502593&turl=http%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DWN.6ImLu0poZQN1GYLY49yDZQ%26pid%3D15.1%26h%3D163%26w%3D300%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dxr5r218fvVQ&tit=Ogasawara+islands+TOKYO&c=6&h=163&w=300&l=161&sigr=11b49eidj&sigt=10ng4fckm&sigi=12lgphb70&ct=p&age=1394860766&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=ymyy-t-999&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&tt=b
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http://terri-dixon.artistwebsites.com/
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts