History Archives - Page 563 of 774

I still plan on posting a Photo of the Day today, but in the meantime, I urge you to check out this site featuring scads of amazing photos from the Galapagos. They are of particular interest to me…or at least this part of the world is…because I am currently re-reading The Beak of the Finch, by Jonathan Weiner.

This remains one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. The book is about a husband and wife team of scientists who spend all their years studying the finches on several small islands of the Galapagos and over the course or time (and much data collection) they are able to document the progress of Natural Selection. Really engrossing and fascinating.

But anyway, this series of photos is cool enough in and of itself, and if you want to pick up the book the next time you’re out, well, go right ahead.

Pikes Peak Celebrates 200 Years

by Adrienne Wilson on Jun 26, 2006

…on America’s map. The Seattle Times covers an awesome happening this year surrounding the 14,110-foot summit along the eastern slopes of the Rockies known as Pikes Peak in Colorado. The peak was placed on American maps 200 years back after Zebulon Pike spotted the peak, never reached its top, had a horrible time in the Rocky Mountains, was eventually captured by the Spanish and taken into Mexico. To celebrate these fine details in history the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and other organizations will run lectures, reenactments and hikes over the year. The events scheduled will illustrate Zebulon Pike’s 1806 journey and images of the mountain in art and advertising. Very cool!

As a teen living in Colorado Springs I never gave a whole lot of thought to the beauty or the story behind ole Pikes Peak. For the most part it made for fun family outings except the one time my father thought he knew the gas tank better than he did and we ran out of gas up yonder. Though it may be a bit smaller in comparison to Pike’s troubles, I’ve still got my own stories to tell about that very same mountain. In any case the real explorer’s tale sounds much worth trekking to Colorado sometime over the next year to experience the all the activities.

Train Ride to Mexico’s Copper Canyon

by Adrienne Wilson on Jun 25, 2006

Searching for a unique way to get to Mexico this summer with a few pals or significant other? Not in the adventurous kind of mood to plan the whole trip point-to-point on your own? I understand – it’s the heat. Well, here’s an idea a nice fella passed onto me just days ago knowing I’d want to hop all abroad – train travel from El Paso, TX into Mexico’s Copper Canyon. There are a number of companies that offer rail tours into the area and this is just one from Caravan Tours that seemed pretty good. Their 8 day roundtrip excursion out of El Paso takes you to a bustling border town of Juarez, to trading posts with handicrafts made by Tarahumara Indians and the town of Chihuahua for rates as low as $995. What I’ve mentioned here isn’t nearly the full scope of what’s included in a package like this one. I’m normally not the type to trhow out packaged tour ideas either, but this one happens to sound very promising. Something to consider for summer…

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 18

by Adrienne Wilson on Jun 23, 2006

Time for another end of the week compilation of Gadling goodies you may have let slide by during the busy week. Here’s a look at some of our fav five once more:

5. Great Bistros:
Nothing rocks the socks off a well-seasoned traveler more than well-seasoned, savory, delectable, and toothsome cuisine from the locale they’re visiting. Agree? Neil points us to a Travel + Leisure piece on Great Bistros of Provence and if your mouth isn’t already watering from the suspense then perhaps you should hurry up and check it out now. Then let your senses and buds be taken by the delicious descriptions of all the yummy finds you’re missing in Provence.

4. Roadside America:
Long road trip planned through some pretty sparse areas of the country? Feel as if attractions are to few and far in between you and your final destination? Worry not – Erik kindly directs our attention to a life and road trip saving site called Roadside America. We’ve talked about it before on Gadling, but with summer here now you’ll want to plan ahead to so not to miss the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. Far out, right?

3. Roots Travel – African Ancestry:
Great, great way to plan a trip to Africa and possibly learn something about your family’s lineage. African Ancestry is a company helping individuals trace their DNA and find their roots. Too cool if you’re an African American or anyone who feels they may have an ounce of African blood in their family tree. I’m already on the bandwagon to discovering more about my own lineage.

2. World Refugee Day:
There is never enough to be said for the growing population of refugees and to highlight the contributions made by refugees worldwide there is World Refugee Day. Events don’t end on June 20 though. Read the blurb and find ways to lend your hand to refugees after the date.

1. How to Get it All Into One Bag:
Packing – one of the biggest pains in travel! Argh! Just when you think you’ve got it down to a science you do something boneheaded like pack (insert your very unnecessary item here) and find later that you’ve created one of the biggest headaches ever. Take a look at this piece inspired by the Onebag.com site here on Gadling and share some of your own packing fixes. I think this is one refresher we can all use.

Top Ten NYC Attractions

by Erik Olsen on Jun 23, 2006

Good old New York Magazine ,whose Web site, I must say is very nice, has got a list of its top ten New York City attractions that is worth a look. All the usual suspects are there ,but I confess I was a bit surprised, and perhaps even inspired, by the rankings themselves. Here I would have thought most visitors to the city would go in for the hazy view of the Empire State Building or the heinous cheesiness of Coney Island .Sure they made the list, but at he top is probably my own very favorite attraction: the Museum of Natural History. Good for them to place such an esteemed and interesting place at number one. Granted you will spend the vast majority of your time there inside…which may be the right thing to do given the hot weather coming our way…but from the Darwin exhibit to the Hayden Planetarium, to the inscribed prose of Teddy R on the walls, the museum kicks arse.