LIFE Books has released a book called Heaven on Earth: The World’s Must See Destinations, and it is breathtaking.

Today we’re looking at Iguazu Falls which are located along the border of Brazil and Argentina in the Iguaza River.

The legend of the falls, according to Wikipedia, states that a god was going to marry a mortal woman, but before the wedding she fled with her lover via canoe. The god was so angry that he  broke the river, condemning the lovers to an eternity of falling. This backs up my long-standing theory that the gods must be crazy.

The site is made up of 275 separate waterfalls, half of which flow into the Devil’s Throat, a narrow chasm which sounds very hot.

Visitors on the Brazilian side of the falls can hike to the bottom of Devil’s Throat and take helicopter rides over the river. Argentina does not allow either due to their negative effects on the environment.

Please note, travel between Brazil and Argentina is an affair heavy with bureaucracy. Tourists are encouraged to research and acquire the proper paperwork and visas before crossing the river.

Photo: Iguacu Falls by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, courtesy of LIFE Books

Upper Tahquamenon Falls and foliage

You may recognize Tahquamenon Falls from our list of Top Places for Fall Foliage.

It looks like a beautiful place. Visit Michigan!

This post is for Wordless Wednesday so I’ll shut up now.

Photo by Dawn Endico via Flickr.

Ah, nature

You’re looking at Wimbach Gorge in the Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany’s Free State of Bavaria and it’s awesome. You probably noticed that.

This is a Wordless Wednesday entry with a few words RIGHT NEXT TO IT!

Photo by adventurephotography.dk via Flickr

Spokane's Big Red Wagon

Seriously, who’s going to plan a family vacation to Spokane, Washington?

I was asking myself this very question today while watching news coverage of Spokane’s Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world.  The tourney is celebrating its 20th year.

There are 400 courts spread out over 40 downtown city blocks, with 6,400 teams participating this year, and over 200,000 players and fans wandering around town.

But that’s not a family vacation.

Spokane is one of those average cities, like Des Moines or Sacramento, that doesn’t have much of a reputation as a vacation destination.  You hear Washington, and you think Seattle.  Or Olympic National Park and the Pacific Coast beaches.  Or Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.  Or the Cascade Range.

Even though Spokane is the second largest city in the state, and the fifth biggest in the Pacific Northwest, nobody’s buzzing about it as a family vacation destination.

I figure people end up here for other reasons, such as a weekend of basketball at Hoopfest, and then at some point it dawns on them that there might be come cool things to see and do in the area.

So, what exactly is there for a family with kids to enjoy? Read More »