In case you didn't already know, this place was started by Ralph Lauren's daughter and is a huge hit with kids.

so cool

Don't visit the city without taking your kids here!

This was originally built for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Not surprisingly it's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This is an event that happens every November and not surprisingly it's very big with photographers. I'm not sure I completely understand the science of it, but they do something that allows the light to distribute like this for a few minutes. The name of the lighthouse comes from a ship called the This is an event that happens every November and not surprisingly it's very big with photographers. I'm not sure I completely understand the science of it, but they do something that allows the light to distribute like this for a few minutes. The name of the lighthouse comes from a ship called the Carrier Pigeon that wrecked at this very spot.… see moresee less

This lighthouse was built in 1911 and as you can see, has endured some pretty tough elements. I have to admit I feel a bit of shame at thinking this was actually a desert when I first saw it.

If this looks familiar but you've never set foot in Michigan a day in your life, you're not crazy. There's a replica of it at Lake Havasu, Arizona. It also happens to be on one of the Michigan license plates.

You'd never know what a humble little lighthouse is home to this ornate staircase unless you saw it. It was first illuminated in 1822 and is one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses in the country.

This lighthouse was built in 1872 and still operational. It's also on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Oooh, those pipes are going to burst!

Oooh, those pipes are going to burst!

The original lighthouse here was destroyed in a storm in 1852 but was obviously built back. Amazing what these things will withstand!

The neighborhood I would most like to call my own.

If you're not a resident here you have to pay to use the part of the road that's in Pebble Beach. I've done this drive myself and thought it was absolutely incredible. Well worth it.

Great scenic drive with hills and farms.

Beautiful Drive

I wouldn't stop here, but the drive to/from Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, past the Lake is beautiful. We normally take the 101 on the way up and the 154 on the way back (or vice versa).

Somehow every time I've made this drive I've screwed up and ended up driving at night...and yet somehow it was still stunning. Not a ton of diversity in it (not like you'll be going through lots of towns or residential areas), but it's still gorgeous.

The only problem with driving here is that there are so many bison they frequently block the road.

There are dozens of lakes here that were actually formed by glaciers and volcanos. When I say dozens, I mean more along the lines of 150 of them.

This is my favorite kind of drive-seeing the fall foliage in New England. There are dozens of farms in this part of the country that have cider, pumpkins, and hay rides that are just so much fun. In fact, there's even a hotline to call to find out if the leaves have changed color yet.

So many great things to do here--from diving to ballooning to markets to their annual rhododendron festival.

Oh, would I love to do this drive! All kinds of little pubs and gardens and little fishing towns to go through. Actually thinking about doing this route next fall--going to have to learn to drive on the wrong side of the road, not to mention on a little teeny highway.

Known to most of us as simply "The Autobahn" this system of highways has no speed limit, although most people average about 80 mph. Again, that's MOST people.

This runs from Seward all the way to Anchorage; 125 miles in total. You can even catch sight of Beluga whales here. Not sure if you can see Russia, though. ;)

Somehow every time I've made this drive I've screwed up and ended up driving at night...and yet somehow it was still stunning. Not a ton of diversity in it (not like you'll be going through lots of towns or residential areas), but it's still gorgeous.

This place has a very interesting history--it was purchased by a couple named William and Elizabeth Kent who were worried that the park would be destroyed. Eventually they named it after John Muir and donated it to the government, which, personally, is not what I would do to ensure something didn't This place has a very interesting history--it was purchased by a couple named William and Elizabeth Kent who were worried that the park would be destroyed. Eventually they named it after John Muir and donated it to the government, which, personally, is not what I would do to ensure something didn't get destroyed.… see moresee less

If you see a lizard doing what looks like a push-up here, leave him alone. It's actually a mating ritual. Apparently the whole park is like a big lizard singles bar.

I always think of Yellowstone as being to parks what Yankee Stadium is to baseball. Just completely incomparable. It's said that this area has actually been inhabited for over 11,000 years. There's actually a museum with an archeology lab right in the park.

The green lung of NY

you can also rent kayaks there in summer and ice skate in winter

In a city full of wondrous places, this is among its best attractions. While it's lovely just about any time of year it's incredibly special in the fall.

This was originally built in 1889! Just hope they've been doing a lot of maintenance on it all that time!

This, in my opinion, is one of Paris' most interesting places and certainly one of its most interesting parks. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor actually maintained a house in the Bois where I believe they lived out their last years. Not a great place to be at night, though so make a point of seeing This, in my opinion, is one of Paris' most interesting places and certainly one of its most interesting parks. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor actually maintained a house in the Bois where I believe they lived out their last years. Not a great place to be at night, though so make a point of seeing it during the day.… see moresee less

You can't go in the park without a key (which is only given to residents), but it's still worth a stroll over to the see the architecture. A ton of famous people have lived and the area around the park is absolutely glorious.

This is actually a building just off the park but since I'm recommending this park more for the surrounding architecture than the park itself I'm including it. You actually can't get into the park without a key (unless you're staying at the Gramercy Park Hotel) but it's still well worth it to go andThis is actually a building just off the park but since I'm recommending this park more for the surrounding architecture than the park itself I'm including it. You actually can't get into the park without a key (unless you're staying at the Gramercy Park Hotel) but it's still well worth it to go and have a look at the buildings that surround it.… see moresee less

roses, smell roses...

memories of lazy afternoons, rowing down the Serpentine, poetry and picnics...great days!

This is one of the most beautiful parts of London by far and where the whole city gathers to watch big events together on giant screens. A trip to London truly isn't complete without seeing it.

Beautiful spot. Lots of hoodoos.

Bryce was my favorite of all of Utah's NP's.

There are these amazing rock formations called "hoodoos" here that look like someone took wet sand and let it drip into a skinny tower shape. One of the most amazing things I think I've ever seen.

Apparently you can ice dive here, and while that doesn't appeal to me, personally, I can see how it would be interesting. They also have waterfall ice climbing which actually does kind of sound like fun.

You have about 20-25 years before the glaciers are gone

Great park to explore. Avalanche Lake Trail on the West side and Iceberg Lake on the East side are a must see

Interestingly, you can either camp here or stay in one of the park lodges, both of which are gorgeous. They look more like they belong in quaint little Swiss villages, not rugged Montana, though.

It's amazing this is still here--the original building, which was built some time in the 14th and 15th centuries, was burned down in 1856. After it was re-built it was then almost destroyed again in WWII. It was rebuilt for a final time in the 1950s.