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Lake Louise & Lake Agnes- Banff NP, AB
Lake Louise, with its grand hotel, towering snow capped mountains peaks, and impossibly emerald water is perhaps the most popular destination in the Canadian Rockies. Or maybe it just feels that way, due to the crazy crowds. Arriving early is key here, if you are not staying at the Chateau. Just after dawn the parking lots are full, and by mid-morning, the area trails are packed. That said, it is worth any inconvenience to visit this spectacular glacial lake. The sad, but fortunate truth is that many Lake Louise visitors just snap a quick picture before heading off to their next destination; this means it isn’t as crowded as it…
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Icefields Parkway- Banff NP, AB
To really get an idea of the unique character of the Canadian Rockies, explore the Icefields Parkway. Traveling through Banff and Jasper National Parks, this historic parkway showcases all that is magical and special about the region. From stunning blue glacial lakes to a collection of retreating glaciers, it provides countless opportunities for once in a lifetime adventures. Predated by the 1885 Glacial Trail, the current parkway has its roots in a 1931 Great Depression relief project, which employed 600 men to hand constructed a single track road between Lake Louise and Jasper. Completed in 1941, the Icefields Parkway was modernized in 1961 to accommodate increased tourist traffic. Today, the…
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Chicago Architecture Gallery
Some cities are just obscenely photogenic. Blessed with good architectural bones and stunning skylines, they look good from practically any angle. Chicago is most certainly this type of town; the photographic opportunities are limitless. Markedly different depending on the season, it is a city of contrasts. Towering glass skyscrapers share the streets with Victorian Brownstones; grand green spaces sit adjacent to bleak rail yards. It is an old city with soul, that absolutely shines in front of the camera.
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Skaneateles, NY
The town of Skaneateles is impossibly quaint. It is also almost impossible to pronounce if you are not from New York, or a frequent Finger Lake visitor. I am neither. For the record, it is close to skinny-atlas, although this is debated by the camp who prefer something closer to skan-e-at-las. Either way, perched on the shores of a impossibly clear glacier carved lake, it is a town you should visit. The almost impossible name is Iroquois for “long lake,” which perfectly describes the 16 mile body of water which is frequent less than a mile wide. It very much looks like a scratch in the landscape, or I suppose…
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Yellowstone National Park- WY,MT,ID
Older is definitely better when it comes to National Parks. Actually, they’re all amazing; however, the oldest park, Yellowstone, is an absolute wonderland. A vast and varied collection of fascinating geologic features, it is like no other place on Earth. In fact, it resembles an inhospitable and inhabitable planet in places; one with steaming vents and boiling baths. However, it is also a place of great diversity; stark beauty tempered with lush wetlands, raging rivers, and dramatic waterfalls. Add the architecturally outstanding Old Faithful Inn, and it might just be the perfect park. Whatever amount of time you plan to spend at the park will not be enough. To really…
