Where is the Geographic Center of the U.S.?

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is a field in Kansas.

Many states consider themselves the heartland of America, but where exactly is the geographic center of the U.S.?

What Country’s National Animal is the Unicorn

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn.

America has the eagle, England has the lion, and Scotland has the unicorn. 

And while the horned mythological creature may not actually exist, the traits it represents certainly do.

Purity, independence, and an untamable spirit are all qualities Scotland has long cherished.

Want to Visit Point Roberts, Washington? Bring Your Passport

There is a part of the U.S. that you can only get to through Canada.

The U.S. and Canada share the longest land border in the world.

And along any border that measures in the several-thousand-mile range, there are bound to be some quirks. 

What City Will Soon Charge Tourists to enter?

Venice will soon become the first city in the world to charge visitors to enter.

There are some places in the world you just have to see to believe, and Venice is near the top of the list. 

Its incredible architecture coupled with its precarious placement in the Laguna di Venezia make it a truly one-of-a-kind location which is also part of a problem. 

What 5 Countries Don't Have Airports?

Five countries don’t have airports.

The quintet of nations lacking their own airports: Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra. 

They are all within Europe. 

Want to See Into the Future? Visit the Diomede Islands

In the Diomede Islands, you can cross from one day into another.

Seeing into the future is supposed to be impossible. 

But if you travel to the Diomede Islands of the Bering Strait, the impossible becomes reality. 

The State Capital on Top of a Volcano

Jackson, Mississippi, lies atop a dormant volcano.

At first glance, Jackson, Mississippi, is like any other state capital, with its domed capitol building standing squarely in the heart of the city. 

However, 2,900 feet below the surface lies a surprising secret — an ancient volcano.

Disneyland has a Clever Way to stay Rodent Free

About 200 feral cats roam Disneyland, where they help control rodents.

Spend enough time at Disneyland and you’ll see them. 

Maybe you’ll spot one snoozing in the bushes near the Jungle Cruise or observing you warily as you ride the tram.

But one thing is certain: however many cats you see, there are more out of sight.

Imperial City Meknes in Morocco

An imperial city in northern central Morocco, Meknes is steeped in history.

Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco.

It is located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom.

Where is the Only One Royal Palace in the U.S.?

There’s only one royal palace on U.S. soil.

Given that the United States was born amid an anti-monarchical fervor, it’s fitting that the sole royal palace within its confines is located more than 4,700 miles from the nation’s capital.

There, amid the high rises and palm trees of downtown Honolulu, stands Iolani Palace, the home of Hawaii’s 19th-century royal dynasty. 

Why London Bridge is Actually in Arizona?

In 1968, an American bought the old London Bridge and moved it to Arizona.

If you want to see the 19th-century version of London Bridge, don’t travel to London or even England, for that matter. 

Instead, head to Lake Havasu, Arizona, where a U.S. businessman by the name of Robert McCulloch moved the bridge after buying it in 1968.

Which U.S. City Has the Most Cherry Blossoms?

People have been celebrating cherry blossoms for over a thousand years.

Few trees are more beautiful than cherry trees when in full bloom. 

Although millions flock to see cherry blossoms around the world, the trees have a special resonance in Japan, where they are known as sakura.

Beach That Glows in the Dark

There is a beach in the Maldives that glows in the dark.

If you were wowed by those glow-in-the-dark stars on your bedroom ceiling as a kid, you may need to book a trip to the Maldives.

The small nation of more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean is home to at least one beach, on Mudhdhoo Island, that often glows in the dark and it’s a completely natural phenomenon.

People in US Still Get Their Mail Delivered by a Mule

There's a village inside the Grand Canyon.

Many of the Grand Canyon's visitors make a point of packing into the tourist stop known as Grand Canyon Village. 

Far fewer realize there's a bona fide village nestled into Havasu Canyon some 3,000 feet below. 

Why This Montana Town is the Most Isolated in the U.S.

Glasgow, Montana, is the most isolated town in the contiguous U.S.

The American West is known for its wide open spaces, but nowhere is quite as wide open as the area around Glasgow, Montana. 

Crunching some numbers back in 2018 in an effort to definitively define “the middle of nowhere,” The Washington Post found that a whopping 98% of Americans in the contiguous U.S. live within an hour of some kind of urban center (that is, a metropolitan area with at least 75,000 people). 

The Grand Canyon is Bigger Than the State of Rhode Island

The Grand Canyon attracts millions of visitors to northern Arizona each year, all hoping to snap an amazing photo of the canyon’s vast landscape.

The mile-deep gorge is the centerpiece of such an expansive view that it can’t all be seen at once.

At 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, the Grand Canyon is so large, it creates its own weather. In fact, getting a view from its two most popular rims (aka tops) requires nearly five hours of travel time.

Antarctica is a Desert

Antarctica is best known as the barren southernmost continent, home to glistening glaciers and snow-packed peaks that never seem to melt. 

Despite being surrounded by an endless supply of frozen water, the coldest continent on Earth is also one of the driest — so dry, in fact, it’s technically considered a desert.

Although the parched landscapes of Death Valley or the Sahara may spring to mind when we visualize a desert, the ecosystem classification has more to do with precipitation than temperature.

The Statue of Liberty Used to be a Lighthouse

The Statue of Liberty is a world-famous symbol of freedom, given in 1886 by France to the United States in celebration of American Independence. 

Nearby Ellis Island was the first stop for millions of immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The national monument recalls this period of massive immigration to the United States.

Inside the statue, a plaque added in 1903 is engraved with words from "The New Colossus", an 1883 poem by Emma Lazarus:

On April Fools’ Day, France celebrates “April fish”

What do you call someone who’s fallen for a prank? There’s no punchline here — in most English-speaking places, you’d probably just call them gullible. 

But in France, you might use the term poisson d’avril, aka “April fish.” 

The centuries-old name is linked to a 1508 poem by Renaissance composer and writer Eloy d’Amerval, who used the phrase to describe the springtime spawn of fish as the easiest to catch. 

Young and hungry April fish were considered more susceptible to hooks than older fish swimming around at other times of year. Today, celebrating “April fish” in France — as well as Belgium, Canada, and Italy — is akin to April Fools’ Day elsewhere, complete with pranks; one popular form of foolery includes taping paper fish on the backs of the unsuspecting.

Unusual and Unique Libraries Around the Globe

Whether you’re a bookworm or are keener on architecture, visiting some of the world’s most unique libraries can be a truly memorable experience. 

Aesthetically pleasing book depositories are dotted all over Europe and the Americas. From a Brazilian library built by the Portuguese to European monastery libraries, there are some lovely libraries to see.