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The 5 Coolest Ghost Towns To Explore Outside Of L.A.

By uniqueamerica on February 10, 2017 California

Los Angeles is such a hectic city, it’s hard to imagine there would be any towns even close that are totally deserted. But still, there are some areas within a day’s drive that were once thriving and now just sit quiet and long abandoned. These ghost towns may not have residents anymore but they’ve still got many old buildings and relics that are fascinating to explore. 1. Pioneertown Only two hours east of L.A., just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown isn’t like any ghost town: it was originally built in the 1940s and had been used as the…

Photo by Nicole June/Flickr

11 Reasons Why There’s No Place Like Washington

By uniqueamerica on February 10, 2017 Washington

Washington is a special place. There’s diverse beauty everywhere from the coastline to the Olympic National Forest, North Cascades and rolling hills of the Palouse. We’re lucky to get views of Rainier while driving down the street, Puget Sound across the Seattle area, and we have some of the best produce, beer & wine. To be fair the reasons why there’s no place like Washington could go on forever, but these are just eleven of our favorite things about this Pacific Northwest state. 1. The lush Evergreen forests Every state has their own share of greenery, but none are quite…

Photo by Jonathan Miske/Flickr

10 Reasons Why There’s No Place Like Oregon

By uniqueamerica on February 8, 2017 Oregon

Oregon is a special place. There’s diverse beauty everywhere from the rugged coastline to Deschutes National Forest, the Willamette Valley and Painted Hills of eastern Oregon. We’re lucky to get views of the Three Sisters Mountains while driving down the street, Mount Hood from the Columbia River Gorge (and its seemingly endless waterfalls), and we don’t even have to pump our own gas. To be fair the reasons why there’s no place like Oregon could go on forever, but these are just ten of our favorite things about this Pacific Northwest state. 1. The rugged coast Oregon’s stretch of the…

Photo by Albert Lam

This Mysterious Tower Has Been Hiding On The California Coast For Years

By uniqueamerica on February 7, 2017 California

Laguna Beach is famous for their sun-kissed, palm tree-lined coastline, but many people don’t know they’re also hiding a slice of Rapunzel. This castle-inspired structure – known as Pirate Tower (or La Tour in French) – stands about 60 feet tall on the base of a cliff overlooking the beautiful Victoria Beach. It was originally built in 1926 – around the same time as the house at the top of the bluff – and provided easy access to the beach down below. The home (known as the Norman House) and tower were both made for California State Senator William Brown and his…

Photo by Mount Rainier Railroad

These 6 Magical Places In Washington Are Straight Out Of Harry Potter

By uniqueamerica on February 6, 2017 Washington

Attention all Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs. We rounded up these six magical places in Washington where you can recreate the wizarding world of Harry Potter, right here in the Pacific Northwest. 1. Hogwarts Express…or Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad? Sure it’s no Hogwarts Express but you’ll love this excursion by Mount Rainier. The route kicks off in the tiny town of Elbe, passes through lush forest and foothills and crosses the beautiful Upper Nisqually River. In the winter they also offer “The Polar Express” trains with Santa, hot cocoa and cookies. (Get more info on their website here.) 2. Hogwarts…or…

via Flickr/Rick Obst

8 Hidden Gems You Need To Experience In Eugene, Oregon

By uniqueamerica on February 4, 2017 Oregon

Eugene may not be as big as Portland, but this college town does not lack in terms of excitement. The city’s set in a perfect location, on the south end of the Willamette Valley in the heart of Oregon’s beautiful wine country. They’re proudly home to the U of O, some great microbreweries, wineries and a range of amazing food options. Next time you’re in the area, these are just eight of the local gems you won’t want to miss. 1. Willamette River Bike Trail Paved and flat, this route is great for hiking or biking along both sides of…

via Flickr/Don and Susan Weller

8 Boardwalks In California With The Most Breathtaking Views

By uniqueamerica on February 3, 2017 California

California has all kinds of boardwalks to explore, including wooden ones through meadows and concrete paths that stretch along the beach. All of them will give you amazing views, and some by the coast are also lined with shops and local restaurants. They’re perfect if you just want to get out for awhile, and these eight routes will especially show you some of the best scenery the Golden State has to offer. 1. Cook’s Meadow Loop, Yosemite National Park Cook’s Meadow Loop is an easy, underrated path in Yosemite National Park. The one-mile jaunt leads through lovely open meadows with…

Wikipedia/Steven G. Pavlov

Check Out These Charming Small Towns On The Kitsap Peninsula In Washington

By uniqueamerica on February 1, 2017 Washington

The Kitsap Peninsula is lovely, but it’s often overlooked. Nestled between the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle, the area is surrounded by the Hood Canal to the west and Puget Sound to the east. And on top of being in a beautiful location, the peninsula has many small towns, parks and dining options that are worth your time to check out. They may not be very big or well-known, but these Kitsap communities definitely have a lot to offer. 1. Poulsbo Poulsbo – also known as Washington’s “Little Norway” – is set on the glistening shores of Liberty Bay. Their Scandinavian roots…

via Google Maps

The Oregon Coast Road Trip You Need To Take This Spring

By uniqueamerica on February 1, 2017 Oregon

With spring around the corner there’s no better time than ever to drive up the Oregon coast. Highway 101 has seemingly endless places worth stopping for: sandy beaches, scenic viewpoints, state parks and charming seaside villages. And during the spring when the weather is just right, and the wildflowers are starting to bloom, the trip becomes an even more wonderful experience. We went ahead and mapped out some of the key stops you won’t want to miss – which you can get the directions here, and of course adjust to include any other places you’d like to see. Remember to…

via Flickr/Stanislav Sedov

8 Hidden Gems You Need To Experience Near Santa Cruz, California

By uniqueamerica on January 30, 2017 California

There’s always something to do around Santa Cruz. This California beach town has everything from an oceanside amusement park to the historic Santa Cruz Wharf. But as amazing as they are, sometimes it can be nice to venture from the crowds and check out the equally wonderful hidden gems in the area – like these eight underrated spots. 1. Shark Fin Cove, Davenport Shark Fin Cove has amazing views and photo opportunities, just off the Pacific Coast Highway south of Davenport. The cove features a small beach area that’s perfect for afternoon picnics and a huge rock off-shore that looks…