nature Archives - Unique America

Photo by Flickr/Kirt Edblom

Take This Scenic Side Trip Off The Oregon Coast Highway

By uniqueamerica on March 20, 2017 Oregon

Even if you’ve driven it before, the Oregon Coast Highway will surprise you time and time again with its natural beauty. The route passes by several parks where you can go hiking and camping, sandy beaches where you can stroll by the ocean and through charming small towns where there’s plenty to see and do. But on the central coast, between Depoe Bay and Otter Rock, there’s a short and sweet side trip you take just off the highway known as Otter Crest Loop for even more amazing views. The 4.2-mile detour first branches off Highway 101 south of Depoe…

Photo by John Fowler on Flickr

Now Is The Best Time To Visit These Blooming California Poppy Fields

By uniqueamerica on March 17, 2017 California

California is so dreamy in the spring. The sunny weather is perfect for laying out by the beach, and bright orange poppies – our native state flower – will be starting to bloom. One of the best places to see this gorgeous floral display is Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve just outside of Lancaster, where the fields become filled with a sea of tangerine from March through May. And there’s no better time to visit than now – they recently announced that patches on the eastern end of the park are just beginning to open. The reserve is about two hours north…

Photo by Wikipedia/Abhinaba Basu

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Is Heaven On Earth

By uniqueamerica on March 17, 2017 Washington

Spring is such a lovely time in the Pacific Northwest – especially in Skagit Valley, where fields of vibrant flowers bloom every year at the world-famous Tulip Festival. We’re already excited – it’s only weeks away, and they recently announced the fields are now lined with daffodil flower buds and tulips will be blooming by April. It’s an amazing sight – flowers in all different colors span for miles in every direction. As far as you can see there are rows of blooming pink, red, purple, orange and yellow tulips. It’s not just a paradise to walk around here, but…

Photo by Pete Lamotte on Flickr

This 12-Mile Stretch Of The Oregon Coast Has The Most Amazing Views

By uniqueamerica on March 15, 2017 Oregon

The entire Oregon coast is beautiful, but there’s something especially dreamy about the southern end – where the landscape becomes more rugged with steep cliffs, sea stacks, and forested headlands. A perfect example of this is Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor. This linear park stretches for twelve miles near Brookings, in-between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean, with several places to pull-off and walk down to get breathtaking views. Along the road, several lookouts are marked by signs and have pull-off areas where you can park for free and walk down. Some of the key spots include Arch Rock (near…

Photo by Flickr/Mr. Nixter

10 Views In Yosemite National Park That Will Make You Say “Wow”

By uniqueamerica on March 14, 2017 California

Everyone should experience Yosemite National Park at least once in their lifetime. Even as you’re driving into the valley you can get impressive views from the road. The landscapes, granite cliffs and dramatic waterfalls (including many of the tallest cascades in California) – have world-class beauty that is unsurpassed. But don’t just stop by to see the big hitters like Yosemite Falls – make sure to check out all ten of these amazing viewpoints. 1. Tunnel View Yosemite’s most famous viewpoint, Tunnel View, gives you a perfect vista of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome. It’s located by the…

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…

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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 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…

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