Monument Valley: Movie Set and Natural Phenomenon

What do the movies Stagecoach, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Back to the Future III, and Forrest Gump have in common?  They all have scenes filmed in Utah’s Monument Valley.  If you haven’t been to Monument Valley, it’s possible you haven’t even noticed how often this famous Utah landscape is featured in movies and commercials.  But once you’ve seen these red...

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Driving the Scenic Apache Trail

Part of the Apache Trail dirt road follows along the edge of the Salt River.There are many scenic drives in the USA and one of the great American scenic drives is Arizona’s Apache Trail.  In addition to the natural beauty of this desert trail, travelers will be able to visit some great sites including Goldfield Ghost Town, Tortilla Flat, Roosevelt Dam, and Tonto National...

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Tikal Guatemala: A Long Time Ago, in a Mayan Civilization Far, Far Away

Tikal Temple I, the Temple of the Great Jaguar.One of the most memorable travel experiences we’ve had while traveling was visiting the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala.  We traveled to Tikal on a day tour from Belize and had already visited some of Belize’s Mayan ruins.  But even with a preview of the Mayan ruins of Belize, nothing prepared us for the magnificent...

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A Coastal Vacation: Things to do on the Oregon Coast

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint.The Oregon coast is over 300 miles of sandy beaches and is dotted with coastal towns.  Visitors to the Oregon coast aren’t there to get a tan and swim in the ocean, as it is often rainy and foggy and the ocean water is frigid.  Rather, Oregon coast vacationers are there to see rugged coastline, historic lighthouses, and...

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