uniqueamerica, Author at Unique America

Photo by Dan McCullough on Flickr

The 111-Year-Old Shipwreck You Can Still See On Oregon’s Coast

By uniqueamerica on February 24, 2017 Oregon

October 25th, 1906 had a dark, cold and windy night. Sailing vessel Peter Iredale was Portland-bound, traveling from Salina Cruz, Mexico to pick up a cargo of wheat for the UK. The voyage had kicked off September 26, and despite passing through heavy fog along the way, reached the mouth of the Columbia River about a month later. But on the night/early morning of October 25, around 3am, Captain H. Lawrence reported seeing the Tillamook Lighthouse ahead. The crew members tried to alter their course and steer the ship away from the shore, but strong winds coming from the west…

Photo by Krishna Santhanam on Flickr

Why Burney Falls In California Should Be On Your Bucket List

By uniqueamerica on February 24, 2017 California

Some of California’s most dramatic waterfalls drop in Yosemite, but have you ever seen Burney Falls about an hour east of Redding? This 129-foot beauty is the centerpiece of McArthur-Burney Falls State Park, and a picture perfect day trip, especially in the springtime. Aside from the misty falls, the park’s a hot spot for camping, picnics, fishing and boating. It encompasses almost a thousand acres of surrounding forest, and miles of streamside and lake shoreline along Burney Creek and Lake Britton. About five miles of hiking trails wind throughout the park, including a portion of the iconic Pacific Crest Trail…

Photo by Bayview Farm & Garden

Step Into A Fairy Tale At This Washington Farm & Garden

By uniqueamerica on February 22, 2017 Washington

What better way to get some peace and quiet for a few hours than by wandering a fairy-tale-like garden in Washington? Take Bayview Farm & Garden for example. This 2½-acre center lies secluded on Whidbey Island with a golden arbor you can walk under, house plants available for purchase, a small café and tranquil scenery that blooms in the springtime. Set in small town Langley, Bayview operates as a full-service farm, garden center and café. Their fabulous garden shop sells various non-toxic solutions, locally-sourced organic poultry feed and pet products. It’s not just a lovely place to stroll but you…

Photo by Ian/Wikipedia

The Creepy Story Behind This Haunted Hot Springs Hotel In Oregon

By uniqueamerica on February 21, 2017 Oregon

A lot of people drive by Hot Lake Springs all the time and don’t know about its long and supposedly haunted past. The property sits just off Highway 203 near La Grande, and despite a fire, changing ownership several times, abandonment for over 10 years and vandalism, the resort has since been restored and is now open to the public again. Native American tribes used the hot springs here for years, but it wasn’t officially established as a luxury resort until the 1860s. The retreat gained popularity fast and became a hot spot for families and travelers on the Oregon…

Photo by Wikipedia/King Of Hearts

A Sneak Peek Inside Hearst Castle On The California Coast

By uniqueamerica on February 20, 2017 California

Unless you already own a mansion, it’s not everyday you get to wander an elegant piece of architecture like Hearst Castle. The 56-bedroom estate sits on top of a hill just off the Pacific Coast Highway in San Simeon, and offers daily tours for visitors interested in a closer look. The castle was designed by Julia Morgan from 1919-1947, and built for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. After 28 years of total work the estate cost about $6.5 million to build and another $3.5 million for the artwork inside. After Hearst later died in 1951, the grounds became a state…

This Washington Waterfall Has A Colorful Light Show Every Night

By uniqueamerica on February 17, 2017 Washington

Ladder Creek Falls is an underrated gem of the North Cascades. This waterfall behind the Gorge Powerhouse becomes illuminated at night with colors thanks to a light show put on by Seattle City Light. The light show originally started around the 1930s to showcase the area’s beauty. It gained popularity quick, not only because of the amazing colors but it’s free, easy to reach and just outside of Seattle. They still light up the falls nightly with blue, red, green and white colors, running on a 15-minute schedule from dusk until midnight. Aside from the lights and music, a main…

Photo by Flickr/Eli Duke

Cape Meares: A Must-See On The Oregon Coast

By uniqueamerica on February 17, 2017 Oregon

Just north of Cape Kiwanda is another hidden gem of the Oregon coast – Cape Meares. The two scenic areas are part of the Three Capes Scenic Route, a 40-mile drive that also leads to Cape Lookout. At Cape Meares you’ll not only get breathtaking views of the coast but you can see Oregon’s shortest lighthouse and the one-of-a-kind Octopus Tree. Cape Meares lies just off Highway 101, about ten miles west of Tillamook. The park is set on a forested headland over 200 feet above the ocean with a scenic viewpoint, historic lighthouse – which dates back to 1889…

Photo by Flickr/Kārlis Dambrāns

This Wave Organ On The California Coast Makes Music From The Ocean

By uniqueamerica on February 15, 2017 California

Sitting out on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay, the Wave Organ is a unique sculpture that blends art, music and nature. The installation was built with 25 organ pipes – made of PVC and concrete – at various elevations, which become activated and make incredible sounds when the ocean waves come crashing in. The piece was built in 1986 as a collaboration between artist Peter Richards and sculptor and master stonemason George Gonzales. Inspiration came from the sounds produced by a vent pipe off a floating concrete dock in Sydney, Australia. It’s located out on a jetty that…

Photo by ZeFlower/Flickr

The Abandoned Washington Town That’s Hiding In The Woods

By uniqueamerica on February 13, 2017 Washington

In its heyday Bordeaux had it all. This once-booming logging town – south of Olympia – was home to a school, hotel, post office, saw mill, homes and a general store. It first started as just a logging community in the late 1890s but officially became established as a town in 1903 by Thomas and Russell Bordeaux, two owners of the Mason Logging Company. The company town thrived – peaking in the 1920s – but it wasn’t before long until they ran out of their sole resource. All of the surrounding forest available for timber was becoming further and further…

Photo by Pawel Grudysz/Flickr

The Wild Sea Lion Caves You Need To Experience On The Oregon Coast

By uniqueamerica on February 13, 2017 Oregon

Watching sea lions in their natural environment on the Oregon coast is just magical. You don’t only get to see them swimming in the ocean current and resting on top of rocks, but also watch as they interact with each other. About 11 miles north of Florence off Highway 101, the Sea Lion Caves are renowned as the largest sea caves in the country. It’s a decent walk about 37 steps down from the parking area to an elevator that will descend you into the caves. Once inside you can also take 63 steps in the cave to reach a…

Author uniqueamerica