uniqueamerica, Author at Unique America

This Hidden Sound Garden In Washington Makes Music From The Wind

By uniqueamerica on March 10, 2017 Washington

Sound Garden is a perfect blend of art, music and nature. This outdoor installation is tucked away on the NOAA campus in Seattle (next to Magnuson Park) overlooking the beautiful Lake Washington. It’s made up of twelve steel towers, pipes and weather vanes that rotate and produce eerie sounds every time the wind blows. “Sound Garden” was installed by Douglas Hollis from 1982-83, and is now one of six artworks on the NOAA Art Walk. With its prime spot and unique audio/visual features, the installation inspired the Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden. The artwork consists of twelve steel towers, all 21…

Photo by Flickr/LDELD

7 Hidden Gems Near Bend That You Didn’t Know Existed

By uniqueamerica on March 10, 2017 Oregon

Portland may get all of the fame in Oregon but Bend has a lot to offer too. For one it’s in a remote location by the Deschutes National Forest and foothills of the Cascades, with opportunities to head outdoors every season. And then there’s all of the local restaurants. Bend has a thriving food, beer and wine scene with cafes, breweries and mom & pop establishments around every corner. These are just seven of the lesser-known spots that are worth checking out next time you’re in the area. 1. Tumalo Falls Tumalo Falls isn’t as famous as Multnomah but it…

Photo by errorless gnome on Reddit

These Salt Ponds In The San Francisco Bay Are Mesmerizing

By uniqueamerica on March 8, 2017 California

Anyone who’s flown into San Francisco (and was lucky enough to land a window seat) may be familiar with this colorful eye candy. They’re known as the Cargill Salt Ponds, and cover over 8,000 acres in the South San Francisco Bay. They’re loaded with three types of micro-organisms (Synechococcus, Halobacteria and Dunaliella). Each one reacts differently to the salinity level, causing the ponds to vary in colors from a deep coral pink to magenta, mustard yellow and blueish-green. The weather and seasons can have an impact on the shades as well. The salt industry has thrived in San Francisco since 1854,…

Photo by Shu Wu

The Abandoned Washington Bridge That’s Off-Limits To The Public

By uniqueamerica on March 7, 2017 Washington

Not many overpasses are like Vance Creek Bridge. At a dizzying 347-feet-tall over a forested valley, this abandoned viaduct on the Olympic Peninsula is the 2nd highest railway arch bridge ever built in the United States. The overpass gained popularity online a few years back and even became dubbed as #ThatNWBridge. Walking across is just as dangerous as it looks, and even though it’s now closed to the public and located on private property – it still hasn’t stopped some hikers and thrill-seekers from visiting. Vance Creek Bridge was originally built in 1929 by the Simpson Logging Company. Spanning 422…

Photo by Kirt Edblom on Flickr

This Stone Observatory in Oregon Will Give You Amazing Views of the Cascades

By uniqueamerica on March 6, 2017 Oregon

Oregonians have always loved finding ways to take in the surrounding mountain views. Like Dee Wright Observatory for example. This old stone lookout was built during the Great Depression over 80 years ago and still impresses visitors today with its up-close views of Cascade peaks like Mount Washington, Mount Jefferson, and The Sisters (and their Little Brother). The mountain observatory is located along McKenzie Highway (Route 242) at 5,187 feet in elevation. There’s a small parking area just across from the observatory where you can pull off to stop. Here is a map of the observatory. It was built by…

Photo by Diliff on Wikipedia

You’ll Be Blown Away By The 10 Tallest Waterfalls In California

By uniqueamerica on March 4, 2017 California

The waterfalls in California aren’t only breathtaking but some are larger-than-life. Especially in Yosemite Valley, where many cascades plunge thousands of feet in multiple tiers off rocky cliffs. Just looking up at them from only 5 or 6 feet tall is a stunning reminder of how small we really are. But California is a huge state with hundreds of cascades – which ones drop higher than the rest? Check them out below. 10. Chagoopa Falls Height: 1,200 feet Location: Sequoia National Park Chagoopa Falls is one of the tallest falls in the High Sierras. The only way to see this…

The Enchanting Trails You Need To Hike In Washington’s Hoh Rainforest

By uniqueamerica on March 2, 2017 Washington

The Hoh Rainforest is magical. It’s like walking through the Amazon with massive surrounding trees cloaked in emerald green moss and ferns. You can find it on the western side of Olympic National Park with miles of hiking trails through the woods and along the Hoh River. Take a few hours (or a few days) sometime this spring to fully explore this enchanting area and these maintained paths that wind through it. 1. Hall Of Mosses Trail Distance: 0.8 miles When most people visit the Hoh Rainforest they hike the Hall of Mosses Trail. Not only because it’s short and…

Photo by Youtube/lisaartista8

You’ll Be Blown Away By The 10 Largest Waterfalls In Oregon

By uniqueamerica on March 2, 2017 Oregon

The waterfalls in Oregon aren’t only breathtaking but some are larger-than-life. We have falls that drop hundreds of feet in multiple tiers, with a misty beauty that can only truly be appreciated in person. Just looking up at them from only 5 or 6 feet tall is an incredible reminder of how small we really are. But the Pacific Northwest has falls around pretty much every corner. Which ones drop higher than the rest? Check them out below. 10. South Falls Total height: 177 feet Location: Silver Falls State Park Not only can you enjoy misty views of South Silver…

Photo Fred Moore/Flickr

You’ll Fall In Love With This Park On California’s Coast

By uniqueamerica on February 28, 2017 California

Point Lobos couldn’t be any more beautiful. This nature reserve sits just off Highway 1 on California’s Central Coast – near Big Sur – with miles of hiking trails, tide pools, coves, cliffs and Pacific Ocean views for miles. A lot of people consider it to be the crown jewel of California’s state parks and we have to agree: this place is the definition of paradise. See a map of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. $10 gets your car in for the day – but to avoid the entrance fee (or if parking is full) you can also park on…

Photo by Michael Matti on Flickr

You’ll Be Blown Away By The 10 Tallest Waterfalls In Washington

By uniqueamerica on February 28, 2017 Washington

The waterfalls in Washington aren’t only breathtaking but some are larger-than-life. We have falls that drop hundreds of feet in multiple tiers, with a misty beauty that can only truly be appreciated in person. Just looking up at them from only 5 or 6 feet tall is an incredible reminder of how small we really are. But the Pacific Northwest has falls around pretty much every corner. Which ones drop higher than the rest? Check them out below. 10. Narada Falls Height: 188 feet Location: Mount Rainier National Park Narada Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Mount…

Author uniqueamerica