You are here: Home / Archives for Travel

Plan a Visit to These Unique Museums in Austin, Texas

December 4, 2014 by

A cutting edge city like Austin has much to offer to its visitors, and it even boasts the unofficial slogan, "Keep Austin Weird." Visit these thought-provoking attractions and see how Austin even takes a unique approach to something as basic as a day at the museum!

Bullock Texas State History Museum
Discover the tale of Texas at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Located a few blocks from the Texas State Capitol building, this museum showcases the pride and history of the Lone Star State. You'll be captivated from the moment you're greeted by the 35-foot-tall bronze star sculpture that sits at the entrance to the museum. The cutting-edge Texas Spirit IMAX Theater will keep you on the edge of your seat, as it shows educational films that showcase state-of-the-art special effects. Be sure to check the museum's calendar for upcoming special events, which are sure to excite and amaze.

Museum of the Weird
Austin is openly proud to be unique, and this is very apparent at the Museum of the Weird. The museum is located right on Sixth Street in the heart of the city, and visitors can see strange and unusual items on a tour through some of the oddest pieces of recent history. Creep through twisted hallways, passing wax statues and giant movie monsters. You never know what will pop up next, and this museum will have your mouth on the ground and your brain in a tizzy. After your tour is over, be sure to stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir to commemorate this truly weird trip.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Witness American History First-Hand at These National Parks Near Austin, Texas

July 24, 2014 by

Two of the most popular national parks near Austin, Texas, span hundreds of years of Texan pride. Marvel at ancient architecture right in the city before venturing out of the metropolitan area to explore the grounds of the home of a beloved U.S. President.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is an all-encompassing look at the life of our 36th president. In one of the two divisions of the park, you can visit his birthplace and stop by his first school. Fourteen miles away is the notable LBJ Ranch, the home where he spent a significant portion of his presidency. Visitors can explore this “Texas White House” on a self-guided tour any day of the week.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Right in the heart of Austin lies San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. History buffs will love to take a tour of the Mission Concepcion, a battleground from the Texas Revolution. Also located in the park is the Espada Acequia, a 270-year-old irrigation system built by Franciscan friars.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Find National Historic Landmarks with This Online Tool

December 18, 2013 by

National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, structures, objects, or districts that epitomize something important about U.S. history or culture. There are currently over 2,500 National Historic Landmarks, and they each have their own fascinating stories and, oftentimes, beautiful architecture or natural scenery. If you'd like to find a few near 3500 Westlake to visit, the National Historic Landmarks Program’s search tool is a great browsing feature.

This search menu on the National Historic Landmarks website allows you to search the program’s database of landmarks broadly by city or state. If you’re searching for a specific landmark, the website also offers an advanced search with features like name, priority, year, resource type, themes, and type. This makes it easy to find — for example — Historic Landmarks related to agriculture nearby.

Even if you're not planning a trip soon, the Landmarks database is a great way to learn more about history online!

National Historic Landmarks Search [National Parks Service]

Public Domain/Public Domain
Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Five of the World’s Most Unusual Hotels

October 23, 2013 by

Make your vacation a little more interesting by staying in one of these five unusual and unique hotels. We bet you've never stayed in any hotel like these! 

La Balade des Gnomes
Relive your childhood by staying in a fairy tale-inspired hotel in Durbuy, Belgium. La Balade des Gnomes features ten rooms, each inspired by myths and fairy tales. Each room is a completely unique and different experience. Bunk with a troll in a cave-like room, or sleep in a Trojan Horse. In the morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast full of local specialties. 

Treehotel
Looking to connect with the great outdoors? Stay at the Treehotel in Harads, Sweden, in one of the five tree houses built in the middle of nature. You'll sleep among the tree tops and take in the serenity of nature. Each tree house is unique, with names like The Cabin, Bird's Nest, and UFO. 

Propeller Island City Lodge
Located in Berlin, Germany, this hotel has something different in store for every guest. Each of the 30 rooms is unique in its own way. One room may appear normal — if you were standing on your head! Another room features a king bed cut in half by a guillotine. There is even a room that uses coffins as beds.

Hotel de Glace
Do you love the cold? Stay in a hotel made entirely of ice just outside of Quebec City in Canada. Hotel de Glace is only open in the winter, when each room is constructed from ice. Even though the hotel may be cold, you'll still be warm with fireplaces and comfy blankets. You don't have to stay the night to enjoy the hotel, you can stop by the popular ice bar for a drink or even get married in the wedding chapel.

Featherbed Railroad
You don't need to travel outside of the United States to find an unusual hotel. On the shore of Clear Lake in Northern California, you will find this charming bed and breakfast. Each room is made out of an old railroad car. Each antique caboose has a different theme, like the Orient Express and Casablanca. 

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pin It on Pinterest