Since the late 18th century, the United States has been called a melting pot of nationalities. The 300 million people living in the U.S. today is expected to grow to 440 million by 2050. So, our diversity will continue but our allegiance will remain common.
This young couple with their baby strapped on the husband’s back memorialized their hike along the Exit Glacier by taking a selfie. Although “selfie” has been part of social media’s lexicon for about a decade, the Oxford English Dictionary declared it their “Word of the Year” in 2013. Now get ready for “Groufie” which was coined by the Chinese in 2014 for a self-taken group photo. The glacier behind this family is in Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, Alaska.
24620 Herman Leirer Rd, Seward, AK 99664
It is hard to believe California has the fewest golf courses per capita than any other state: one per 32,679 people. This dearth of links is not a problem in the Coachella Valley. There are over 120 courses to choose from. They range from municipal courses to exclusive private clubs. A beautiful example is the Desert Springs Golf Club. Their twin, 18 hole courses were designed by Ted Robinson. This highly-ranked property is managed by Marriott. The Santa Rosa Mountains in the background are lovely to admire while waiting to address the ball.
74-855 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Over 40 piers cover the waterfront along Embarcadero. The odd numbers are northwest of the Ferry Building and the even ones start on the other side. Most tourists restrict their visit to those along Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. But take a quiet stroll along Pier 14. It offers spectacular views of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, better known as the Bay Bridge. This western section is about 4.5 miles long and connects downtown San Francisco with Yerba Buena Island.
Pier 14, San Francisco, CA 94105
Sometimes the simplest services are the most fun to receive and one of them is getting a shoeshine by a professional shoeshiner who has never met a shoe he can’t sparkle.
5 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
It is fun to drive the winding road to the top of Twin Peaks. The real reward is the spectacular view of San Francisco. Eureka Peak, also called North Peak, offers the best observation point at an elevation of 925 feet. On a clear day you can see the local neighborhoods, down Market Street, through downtown and as far as the bay.
501 Twin Peaks Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94131
When you are enjoying a sunny afternoon on the Santa Monica Pier with your best friend, of course you need to memorialize the fun by taking photos of each other on your smart phone. Then, make a great day even better by immediately posting your smiling image on social media in order to make your other friends a bit jealous.
200 Santa Monica Pier A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
John Denver’s songs about the beauty of Aspen, Colorado helped to propel it into a very popular resort town. Now it has the highest real estate costs in the country. Surprisingly, many of these multi-million-dollar homes are seasonal. Across from the Wheeler Opera House is a park called Aspen Mall. The centerpiece is the Mill Street Fountain, which is computerized to make the water dance at seemingly random intervals. It is extremely popular on hot days with children like this little girl.
S Mill St & E Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO 81611
In this era of children relying on electronics for fun, it was delightful to watch a mom play patty cake with her son on the beach, a rhyme that dates back to 1698. Meanwhile, these two young girls wearing sunbonnets and not much else were racing towards the water with their inflatable plastic raft. Best of all was the classic sandcastle. Now this is how kids should enjoy a day at the beach.
27954 Hickory Blvd, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
This young couple found the perfect place at the end of an old cement pier in Bradenton Beach to talk and cuddle while waiting for a spectacular sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. However, they were so infatuated that I doubt they saw anything other than each other.
599 Gulf Dr S, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
In spring, the beaches at Fort Lauderdale are crowded with young people in small bathing suits while sunning, swimming and having a great time. Then there are those whose idea of a great time is filming all those young people in their small bathing suits.
Since it began on Waikiki Beach in 1915, beach volleyball has become almost as common as sand and surf along a tropical shoreline. It has grown into a professional sport and in 1996 it became part of the Olympics. There always seems to be an afternoon game or two at Smathers Beach. If you are no longer a high school or college student, it is fun to watch the competition.
1900 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
It takes a minimum of three hours to explore the five sections of Zoo Miami. Most families spend the better part of a day enjoying the 500 species of animals. You will be delighted to see the majority of exhibits are in large, open spaces mimicking natural habitat. This is great for the animals. But walking around can get hot in the Florida sun. This little girl had the perfect solution. Stand under a mister and let it rain refreshing cold water.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
Naples has so many wonderful features including beautiful sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. This older gentleman was basking in its golden glow while fishing. When I asked him if he was having any luck he said, “If you mean fishing then no, I haven’t caught anything in days. But I am incredibly lucky to be living here.”
29 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
These two children waiting for an autograph from Mary Poppins at the United Kingdom Pavilion had the same fascination as Jane and Michael Banks with their beloved nanny. Julie Andrews starred in the 1964 Walt Disney Productions film. Everyone loved the movie except P.L. Travers, the author of the original eight-part series. She disapproved of the adaptation of her first book from 1934.
The Queens Table, United Kingdom Pavilion, Epcot, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
If you enjoy an excellent cigar, then you must visit the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa and walk into one of several small shops that still make them by hand. The aroma of aged tobacco is wonderful. Then you’ll be mesmerized as the skilled torcedore lovingly spreads each leaf, cuts it with his rounded knife called a chaveta, expertly shapes it and pierces it with a lance. Now comes the best part of all: cut, light, draw and enjoy!
1817 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
The CNN Center in Atlanta is the global headquarters of the Turner Broadcasting System. Visitors are wowed by the massive atrium before riding up the largest, freestanding escalator in the world for guided tours of the cable network studios. Near the building’s entrance is their logo in bright red letters where this girl was talking on her cell phone during a break.
100 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30303
This woman stood on the ledge of Twin Falls trying to get the courage to leap while her friend continually dared her to do it. Finally, after several agonizing moments, she took a deep breath, extended her arms and jumped. She screamed all the way down before plunging deep into the water. When she emerged she had a big smile on her face.
6300 Hana Hwy, Haiku, HI 96708
This little girl was so excited when she arrived at Fleming Beach that she looked like she was going to take off flying across the waves like Peter Pan.
5960 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761
Maui has over 30 beaches so if you are looking for a place to go surfing you are bound to find a spot that matches your experience level. But wave conditions not only vary significantly by the beach location on the island, but the surf also changes by the season, day and even hourly based on the prevailing winds. Three popular bays among surfers are Maalaea, Hookipa and Honolua Bay.
6501 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761
A child’s imagination is infinite, like this little boy who is captain of a ship in the vast blue ocean while he is paddle boarding in a five-acre lagoon.
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon Boardwalk, Honolulu, HI 96815
Waikīkī Beach is arguably one of Hawaii’s most famous beaches. But it also draws lots of tourists. Families who want reef-protected water, pristine sand and fewer people favor Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Lagoon in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is an ideal place to let your child safely swim and play in the shallow warm water.
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon Boardwalk, Honolulu, HI 96815
“Put your feet up, relax and stay awhile,” should become the marketing slogan for attracting tourists to Waikīkī Beach. These three tourists enjoyed every minute of their winter holiday in Hawaii’s tropical sun where the average temperature is 80F degrees.
2255 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Formerly named the Sears Tower, the Willis Tower soars 1,451 feet over the Chicago Loop’s west side. It was the tallest building in the world for 25 years after its completion in 1973. The Skydeck on the 103rd floor provides over one million visitors a year with breathtaking vistas of downtown. If you are adventurous, you will also love walking into the all-glass box. This suspended lookout provides a vertigo-inducing view of the street 1,353 feet below. Approximately 30,000 people live in The Loop.
233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
The United States National POW/MIA Recognition Day was created in 1979. The event is observed on the third Friday in September. It was designed to never forget those who went missing while serving their country, including the 1,741 from the Vietnam War. This serviceman was part of the ceremony on September 20, 2013, at the Indiana World War Memorial in Indianapolis.
55 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
As of 2009, 27 million people operated motorcycles in the U.S. More than 26% of bikers are women. Perhaps just as many prefer to grab the waist of their partner and go along for the ride, like this couple in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. They are shown crossing the quarter-mile Jo Blackburn Bridge. This span is one of the few remaining “S” bridges in the country.
6778 Tyrone Pike, Versailles, KY 40383
Colonel Sanders was born in 1890. He was abused by his step-father, dropped out of school at 12 and joined the army at 15. At 18, he married. His wife left him because he could not hold a job. From those humble beginnings, David Sanders developed his secret recipe and began selling fried chicken at a service station. In 1952, at the age of 65, he created and sold his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. Today, there are 15,000 KFC outlets in over 100 countries. This gravesite bust is at the Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. He was buried in his iconic white suit and string tie.
2121 Lexington Rd, Louisville, KY 40206
The grand old south is still alive among the 140 Louisiana plantations that are now National Historic Landmarks. Many of these gorgeous mansions offer guided tours by southern belles dressed in Antebellum hoop dresses. The properties have long, tree-lined driveways with immaculate gardens. The homes are decorated in their pre-Civil War splendor in sharp contrast to the squalor of the slaves’ quarters.
40136 River Rd, Darrow, LA 70725
On April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded on Boylston Street near the Boston Marathon’s finish line. Three died and over 250 were injured, including 14 who required amputations. The nation watched in horror during a massive, four-day manhunt, including a city-wide lockdown. The town tried to cope using the slogan, “Stay Strong Boston.” Huge memorials of flowers, teddy bears, victims’ photos and tennis shoes emerged near the bombing sites. The largest was here in Copley Square.
560 Boylston, Boston, MA 02116
The Boston Public Garden consists of 24 green acres in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. During the summer, families rent Swan Boats to slowly paddle around the four-acre pond and beneath the lagoon bridge. Nearby are the Boston Common and the famous bar, Cheers.
4 Charles St, Boston, MA 02116
There are so many occupations that you could not pay me enough to do, and being suspended on a swinging platform while washing a skyscraper’s windows is very high on my “too hazardous” list. I got nauseous just taking this photo. Thank goodness my parents sent me to college.
In 1775, the Revolutionary War started with the “Shot heard around the world” on Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. The rangers at the Minute Man National Historic Park do a terrific job explaining the battles against the British. Down near the reconstructed bridge, volunteers in period costumes describe the role of Minutemen. They also demonstrate muskets. These guns were so inaccurate you, “couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn.”
269 Monument St, Concord, MA 01742
The Coney Island hot dog is not from New York. It was invented at the American Coney Island restaurant in Detroit, Michigan. This calorie-laden banquet consists of a beef hot dog, beanless chili, chopped onions and a perfectly placed stripe of yellow mustard. This is my wife being served at the original counter with a side of fries. Yum! This meal is wonderful yet messy, so a napkin is mandatory.
114 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
A 2013 Harris Interactive survey discovered 45% of participants ranked football as their favorite sport. The professional level was ranked number one and college was number three. In addition to all of those who attend, there are about 17 million television viewers and an audience of over 100 million for a Super Bowl game. My wife and I were just two of those fans. We watched at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, as the Lions beat the Vikings, our home-town team.
2000 Brush St, Detroit, MI 48226
Minnesota is The Land of 10,000 Lakes. There are actually over 12,000 of them. After surviving the long cold winter, most residents “go to the cabin” during summer weekends to fish, boat, barbeque and listen to the loons, the state bird. Nothing completes a perfect summer day better than a perfect sunset.
9194 MN-24 Annandale, MN 55302
These two boys had lots of fun crossing the Mississippi River Headwaters at Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota. The origin of the Mighty Mississippi was first explored by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft in 1832. His expedition was guided by Ozawindib, an Ojibwe chief. The Native Americans called the source both Omushkos and Lac la Biche. Schoolcraft renamed it Lake Itasca meaning “truth head.”
Miss Headwaters Visitor Park Shevlin, MN 56676
In the spring of 1972, I took my new girlfriend for a picnic and photographed her as a silhouette while she played in a field of dandelions. She was 18 and I was 19. We were married in 1978. As the saying goes, we have lived happily ever after. Now we have two wonderful adult children. Our son and his great wife blessed us with a grandson. Life is awesome!
The Minnesota State Fair runs during the last twelve days of summer. It is filled with rides, exhibits, concerts, beer gardens and every imaginable food that can be impaled on a stick and then fried in oil. This Great Minnesota Get Together attracts nearly 1.8 million people, the second largest in the U.S. This little boy had the best seat to enjoy it all: in his stroller.
Near the Joslyn Memorial Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, is a playground featuring large abstract sculptures. Children are drawn towards the vibrant colors and then stay for the fun they provide.
2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68102
Lake Tahoe is shared by Nevada and California. Stretching 22 miles and 12 miles wide, the picturesque lake is the second deepest in the U.S. at over 1,600 feet. In a word, it is beautiful. Along a drive through Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, visitors can stop along the multiple turnouts for spectacular views. This woman enjoyed the tranquility from the Logan Shoals Vista.
1492 Lincoln Hwy, Glenbrook, NV 89413
The Las Vegas Strip in Nevada is an adult amusement park. Stretching only four miles, it has over 60,000 rooms, 15 of the world’s largest hotels, endless bars and restaurants, and countless ways to gamble. The nickname “Lost Wages” is well deserved. On the busiest street corners are beggars masked in every conceivable costume. This one dressed as the Transformer character Bumblebee Autobot.
The dunes in southern New Mexico cover over 140,000 acres. They consist of gypsum crystals called gelenite. Unlike sand, they are pure white, continually shift and blow and do not convert sunlight into heat. So kids slide down the dunes on saucers in shorts and bare feet while nearby snow plows keep the roads open. An eight mile road into this geologic anomaly is provided by the White Sands National Monument. Nearby is a missile range where the first atom bomb was detonated.
Yucca Picnic Area Loop Dr, Tularosa, NM 88352
Grand Central Terminal became 100 years old in 2013. The railway station is considered the world’s largest in terms of platforms. Grand Central accommodates over 20 million people a year. Most of them walk through the Main Concourse and beneath a huge American flag. It was hung as a tribute to the 2,996 casualties during the September 11 attacks in New York City.
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Since the tragic events of 911, police are ever-present at busy streets and major buildings in New York City. This provides a visual sense of security to the eight million residents and 50 million plus annual visitors. This policeman with a machine gun appears geared to address any possible threat.
Ever since God created little boys, hot afternoons and water fountains, they have been irresistibly drawn together. This little guy in downtown Canton had a splashing good time.
Market Ave N & 2nd St NE, Canton, OH 44702
There are thousands of Pennsylvania Amish living the simple life in Lancaster County. Most are farmers or engaged in cottage industries such as crafts and furniture making. Driving maps of the area are available from local visitor centers. You will need to share the road with the horse and buggies. This family was too large for their vehicle. Therefore, the two eldest sons were dragged behind on their inline skates.
38 Witmer Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
September 11, 2001, will always be remembered as that gruesome day in American history when four airplanes were hijacked by al-Qaeda, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. The property losses, economic impact, resulting wars and homeland security expense measured in the trillions. Those sacrifices are remembered each year in ceremonies across the nation. An example is the Flight 93 ceremony at Point State Park in Pittsburgh. A member of the Coast Guard Enlisted Association (Steel City Branch) helps to place 44 flags at the Upper Fountain Plaza in memory of those who died near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
601 Commonwealth Pl, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
In 1964, Elvis Presley commissioned the Meditation Garden adjacent to Graceland Mansion and a kidney-shaped swimming pool. The garden is accented with a white-columned pergola and a fountain in the center. This tranquil setting provided Elvis with peaceful solace for years. It is now his gravesite. He was initially buried at Forest Hill Cemetery after he died on August 16, 1977. Less than two months later, his body was returned to Graceland. Also interred here are his parents, Vernon and Gladys, and his grandmother, Minnie Mae. In addition, there is a memorial to his identical twin brother Jesse who died at birth. Mourning fans still pass by the grave of Elvis Aaron Presley in tears.
3737 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116
If you are self-employed and live west of the Mississippi River, chances are you have mailed or electronically sent your tax return and money to the Internal Revenue Service center in Ogden, Utah. The IRS is the town’s largest employer. If you are in the neighborhood, feel free to hand deliver your check. Afterwards, stop by the Union Station. Outside the building are classic locomotives dating back to 1881. Inside are three museums dedicated to trains, classic cars and Browning Firearms. Or just sit for a moment while you ponder how the government will spend your taxes.
2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
Jackson, Wyoming, caters to tourists who come to ski, visit national parks or just want to experience a western-themed town. Highlights include everything from stagecoaches and gun fight reenactments to exceptional art galleries and almost 100 restaurants. Encircling the boardwalks of Town Square are numerous bars. One or more of these taverns will offer the ambiance and cost of nightlife you want.
25 W Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
Most of the two million plus acres of Yellowstone National Park are located in Wyoming. The park is famous for the spectacular river canyons, the hundreds of animal species freely roaming the forests and grasslands plus Old Faithful. This favorite tourist attraction is only one of 300 geysers in the park. Yellowstone is the largest volcanic system in North America. Many of the geothermal features emit steam. This turns into billowing clouds when the snow falls. This couple’s umbrella seemed like the perfect solution.
View Avenue, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190