Glenwood Cemetery, Yazoo City, Mississippi

Come to this cemetery only if you are brave

For you can visit the legendary "Witch's Grave"

For more information, visit: http://www.visityazoo.org/

Penn's Cave, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania

About this place, there is something that I would like to say

It is home to the only all water cavern & farm-nature-wildlife park in the USA

For more information, visit: http://pennscave.com/

Chimney Rock, Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina

Here is a fact that I am sure you can use

Here is where you can see awesome 75 mile views

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park represents the best of the North Carolina mountains in one place. Surrounded by the towering cliffs of Hickory Nut Gorge, the Park offers some of the most amazing views found anywhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

From atop Chimney Rock, an ancient monolith soaring 1,200ft above the valley floor, guests can see more than 75 miles across Lake Lure, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Carolina Piedmont. With unique hiking trails, the Park has something for everyone including the family-friendly Great Woodland Adventure trail with 12 discovery stations along the way. More adventurous hikers will want to take the Outcroppings and Four Seasons trails for some of the most unique views of the Park. 

Along with the Chimney, the Park's other star attraction is 404 ft. Hickory Nut Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and featured in the blockbuster movie "The Last of the Mohicans." 

Chimney Rock also offers guided rock climbing lessons for beginner to advanced climbers through Fox Mountain Guides, a professional mountain and rock climbing company. The Old Rock Cafe offers tasty sandwiches and snacks, and souvenirs can be picked up at Cliff Dwellers Gift Shop. The Park offers discounts for groups, and is pet friendly.

For more information, visit: http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

Royal Gorge Bridge, Canon City, Colorado

If one of the most jaw dropping sights in America is what you want to see

Then at the world's highest suspension bridge is where you want to be

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park Features New Attractions and Spectacular Scenery

 

Brand new describes the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Canon City, Colo., even though the park is almost nine decades old.     A brand new Visitor Center along with brand new attractions and adventures, showcase the beauty of the gorge and the mind-boggling depth of America’s highest suspension bridge.       

Over twenty-six million guests have visited the park since 1929,ranking the iconic park as one of the must see attractions in Colorado.

In June 2013, the park was 90 percent destroyed by a wildfire.   Miraculously, the American-made Royal Gorge Bridge suffered minimal damage.  The venerable bridge remains the most well-known and loved attraction in the park spanning a quarter-mile, 956 feet above the Arkansas River.    Complementing the bridge’s man-made splendor is the area’s history, geology and breathtaking views.    

The new makeover of the park includes a brand new gondola system traversing 2,200 feet across the gorge.    

Back dropped by the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range, a brand new large children’s play area, Tommy Knocker Playland, built in the tradition of pure outdoor fun features a Splash Pad, a beautifully crafted carousel and climbing structures.   

The New Visitor Center is styled in pure Colorado tradition with lots of glass for spectacular views and a mammoth deck overlooking the gorge and the bridge where guests can enjoy dining and shopping.        

Blackened bridge boards surviving the fire adorn the front façade of the Visitor Center as the park’s legacy.   

Two internationally-famous thrill rides, The Royal Rush Skycoaster, left unharmed by the fire, swings those brave enough to experience it, out over the Royal Gorge.    

The Royal Gorge Cloudscraper by ZipRide, North America’s highest zipline takes guests over 2,400 feet across, and 1,200 feet above the Royal Gorge.   Both are extra pay features.    

The Plaza Theater and Historical Expo on the “other side” of the bridge, another fire survivor portrays the history of the park, and has live entertainment in the summer.     

The new Southside complex in front of the theater features a new gazebo, Juniper Junction-- a large picnic area, and the Bridge View Barbecue.   Close to the Visitor Center, the mini-train still clacks around its tracks for a fun-filled ride for all ages.  

The most popular guest attraction is of course, is the 360-degree view of pure Colorado from the middle of the bridge.   The spectacular views are still, and forever breathtaking.    

The park will continue to build over the next few years adding more fun-filled attractions.  For more information and updates visit:  www.royalgorgebridge.com

Hampton Carousel, Hampton, Virginia

About this carousel, there is one thing that I would like to say

It is one of only 170 antique wooden merry-go-rounds in the USA

Built in 1920, the carousel is completely restored to its original beauty and housed in its own weather-protected pavilion on the city’s downtown waterfront. It is one of only 170 antique wooden merry-go-rounds still existing in the U.S. Hand crafted by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for the Buckroe Beach Amusement Park, Hampton's Carousel is a whirling tribute to the skill of its creators.

 

After untold numbers of young and old enjoyed the carousel over its 65-year tenure, it was put in storage with the closure of Buckroe Beach Amusement Park in the mid-1980s. It wasmoved and restored at its current location in Carousel Park on Settlers Landing Road in Downtown Hampton in 1991. It still boasts its original mirrors and oil paintings, as well as 48 intricately decorated horses.  Rising and falling to the strains of the original band organ, many of these carousel horses are so finely carved that the veins in their necks and legs are visible. Special hours are available for groups or special occasions. 

 

The Hampton Carousel is located at 602 Settlers Landing Rd. Regular hours of operation: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 am-8 pm. Closed Monday. Rider fees are $1.00 per ride. Tickets on sale at the Hampton History Museum and at the Hampton Carousel. For more information, call 757-727-1610 or visit http://www.hamptonhistorymuseum.org/

 

39th Annual Fall Folklife Festival, Hannibal, Missouri

Coming up this weekend, October 17 &18th, 2015: The 39th Annual Autumn Historic Folklife Festival!

Folklife features artists, artisans, and craftsmen demonstrating and selling historic crafts, traditional arts, fine arts and crafts, street musicians playing traditional tunes, food cooked on wood stoves, cider fresh from the apple press, a children’s area and a warm atmosphere for everyone. The 1800's-themed festival has been voted Favorite Festival in the area, consistently draws thousands of visitors from the Midwest region, and hosts over 100 exhibitors. A great time to be in Hannibal.

For more information, visit: http://www.visithannibal.com/

World's Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, Illinois

If you have a chance to see this bottle, you best not decline

This popular roadside attraction is a 170 foot tall water tower that was built in 1949

For more information, visit: http://www.catsupbottle.com/

Dick Tracy Mural, Pawnee, Oklahoma

The fact about this mural must be unfurled

It is the largest Dick Tracy cartoon in the world

For more information, visit: http://www.cityofpawnee.com/

Photo courtesy of Pawnee, Oklahoma

Stockyards City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The fact about this place must be known and unfurled

It is currently the largest stocker/feeder cattle market in the world

Historic Stockyards City is a vibrant urban district in Oklahoma City that is home to the world's largest stocker feeder cattle market, the Oklahoma National Stockyards! Stockyards City itself was originally called Packingtown and was built around the cattle markets to service ranchers and cow hands that traveled from miles around to buy and sell cattle. 

Oklahoma City businessmen met with the representative of the Nelson Morris Company of Chicago in May 1909 to propose building a packing house, if a $300,000.00 cash bonus and property concessions could be obtained. Led by Anton Classen and Charles Colcord, an Industrial District Company was formed. A tract of land west and across the river south from the downtown area was obtained and the company began selling lots to raise money, matching the gifts pledged by individuals. A second packing house followed suit and the beginnings of "Packingtown: became a reality. This began one of the most important building booms in Oklahoma City history.

The Oklahoma National Stockyards Company began operating as a public livestock market in October 1910. Morris and Company (now Armour) opened a large meat packing plant adjoining the stockyards at the same time. The following year, Schwartzchild & Sulzberger (now Wilson) opened a similar plant. Together they represented an investment of approximately $3.5 million. The entire operation generated 2,400 new jobs in the city with a population of only 60,000. The stockyards and meat packing plants were Oklahoma City's first major industrial installations and represented the heaviest concentration of labor in the capitol city.

In the first five years of operation, the volume of livestock handling increased by 130%. By 1966 the Oklahoma National Stockyards had become the sixth largest market in the nation on the basis of livestock handling, representing $125 million in annual business. When the number of saleable cattle soared to 919,280 head in 1973, the stockyards took the nation's lead. Today the stockyards remains the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market.

From the beginning of this growing industry, a supporting community of goods and services was established. The streetcar was extended to this business district and it became known as "Packingtown". A post office was opened along with a bank, hotels, restaurants and a wide variety of businesses related to the cattle trade.

Much of the original business district remains intact, maintaining the rugged western flavor but broadening their marketing approach to serve the needs of the larger community. Western wear attracts a wider scope of buyers today and the original home of western gear maintains stores in place where western activities are still a way of life.

For more information, visit: http://www.stockyardscity.org/