One of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for the…

One of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for the pioneer travelers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails, Chimney Rock is still an icon on Nebraska’s landscape. Today, Chimney Rock and its surrounding environs look much as they did when the first settlers passed through in the mid 1800s. Photo of the Milky Way erupting over Chimney Rock courtesy of Jesse Attanasio.

Chicago – Illinois – USA (by Tom Davidson) 

Chicago – Illinois – USA (by Tom Davidson

Mandalay Bay Hotel – Las Vegas – Nevada – USA…

Mandalay Bay Hotel – Las Vegas – Nevada – USA (by worldaroundtrip

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants –…

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants – nicknamed “sea cows” for their diet of seagrass and other aquatic plants – can reach lengths of over 14 feet and weigh more than 3,000 pounds! Early explorers once mistook manatees, which have large, spoon-shaped tails, for young women, fueling legends of mermaids. Photo at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida by Keith Ramos, USFWS.

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants –…

Happy Manatee Awareness Month! These gentle giants – nicknamed “sea cows” for their diet of seagrass and other aquatic plants – can reach lengths of over 14 feet and weigh more than 3,000 pounds! Early explorers once mistook manatees, which have large, spoon-shaped tails, for young women, fueling legends of mermaids. Video at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida by Nick Aumen, U.S. Geological Survey.

Space Needle – Seattle – Washington – USA (by Tom Davidson)

Space Needle – Seattle – Washington – USA (by Tom Davidson)

Happy Halloween! We love Badlands National Park in South Dakota,…

Happy Halloween! We love Badlands National Park in South Dakota, but this shot of a lightning bolt in a purple sky over jagged rock formations looks a little spooky. Photo courtesy of Jake Woll.

Watching the weather at Yosemite National Park in California can…

Watching the weather at Yosemite National Park in California can yield some amazing views, like sun rays bursting unexpectedly from clouds. Of this moment, photographer Beth Young says, “The rising sun briefly broke through the clouds and illuminated the low-lying mist on the valley floor.” Sunrise photo courtesy of Beth Young.

A rolling carpet of autumn color covers the landscape of Great…

A rolling carpet of autumn color covers the landscape of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina and Tennessee border. From mountaintop to valley bottom, the gorgeous colors of nature are calling you to explore this amazing place. Photo by Gary Fua (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

Happy 130th birthday to Lady Liberty! On this day in 1886, the…

Happy 130th birthday to Lady Liberty! On this day in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated, becoming a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. In 1924, it was designated as a National Monument. 305 feet above the ground, her torch has been a shining beacon on our greatest days and our darkest nights. Photo courtesy of Michael Bissel.