Afflicted: 11 Abandoned American Hospitals and Asylums “Open” for Exploration With some of the most disturbing and tragic histories of any buildings in the US, asylums and hospitals are way beyond creepy . Many of them were built in the late 1800s, when “mental illnesses” (such as masturbation, menopause, and teenage rebellion) were considered dangerous enough to lock someone in an asylum. A pain-inflicting misunderstanding of mental illness combined with a chronic mistreatment of its sufferers meant that many people were never released and spent the remainder of their lives in these horrible institutions. In addition to asylums, many sanatoriums were constructed around this time to care for the poor and very sick. After decades of overcrowding in both asylums and sanatoriums, the invention of antibiotics and behavioral drugs, and an evolving understanding of mental illness rendered these massive compounds obsolete. Although these spots may be spine-chillingly eerie and seem rife for exploration, be forewarned. 1. Image: Weylyn /Flickr Image: Motya83 /Flickr 2. 3.
18 Unique Hotels From Around the World Some travelers think that the place where you lay your head on the road is just that - a place to sleep, or change clothes. But there are some trips where the accommodations are the main attraction. To the more daring traveler, the flower-quilted double bed and lacquered furniture of a typical hotel room is just plain boring. For the intrepid, quirky and adventurous globetrotter, here are 18 unique hotels from around the world. 1. Czech architect Karel Hubáček is responsible for the retro-futuristic tower rising over 300 ft (91m) above majestic Ještěd mountain. The tower was designed to naturally extend the silhouette of the mountain it tops, but isn't merely decorative. Built between 1966 and 1973, the Ještěd Tower was awarded the Perret Prize, an honor bestowed by the International Union of Architects. The view is one of the most breathtaking in all of the Czech Republic, looking out over parts of Germany and Poland, and the majority of Bohemia. 2. 5. 6. 9. 12. 13. 15.
Unusual Night in Nature | Worldwide Travel Two French hotel/camp, Attrape Reves in Bouches-du-Rhone (near Marseille) and Sky River near Loir-et-Cher, are the places where you can sleep under the stars. Concept of sleeping in balloons are designed by French designer Pierre Stefan, wanting to create an environmentally friendly space: when a plastic bubble pack, the area remains almost intact. Balloons are small and cozy, their diameter is about four meters. Some are completely transparent, while others provide a little more privacy. Of course, if you want comfort that provides, for example, “Ric”, these unusual balloons are probably not for you. Sleeping under the stars gets a new meaning in the unusual “camps” in France – visitors are accommodated in nature under the open sky.
Amazing Festivals Around The World That You Should See Before You Die Tweet Once a year some of the countries around the world hold magical and outrageous festivals. Some like the Brazilian carnival and Spanish bull chase are famous world wide while others few people know about. So if you fancy living it up then check out our list of 20 of the most amazing festivals from around the world that we recommend you should see before you die. 1. Much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnevale in Venice, Canaval is a nonstop party, just with special addition of Brazilian flair. [SEE ALSO - 35 Clearest Waters In The World To Swim In Before You Die] 2. Though there are many smaller offshoots of Oktoberfest around the world, Munich’s original fair is the biggest beer festival in the world. 3. The Harbin festival is the largest snow and ice festival in the world, and it features carvings towering over 20 feet in height and full-size buildings made from gigantic blocks of ice. 4. 5. 6. Carnevale, or “Carnival,” has been a Venice tradition since the 13th century. 7. 8.
10 Most Famous Trees in the World Famous trees come and go. L’Arbre du Ténéré was once considered the most isolated tree on Earth, a landmark on caravan routes in the Sahara, until it was knocked down by a drunk Libyan truck driver in 1973. This year in August, the famous Anne Frank tree in Amsterdam was blown down by high winds during a storm. Luckily, there are still many special trees out there. 10Arbol del Tule Árbol del Tule, a Montezuma Cypress, is located in the town center of Santa María del Tule in the Mexican state of Oaxaca . 9Cotton Tree The Cotton Tree is an historic symbol of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. 8Boab Prison Tree The Boab Prison Tree is a large hollow tree just south of Derby in Western Australia. 7Major Oak The Major Oak is a huge oak tree in the heart of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. 6Lone Cypress The Lone Cypress Tree near Monterey is probably the most famous point along the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic road through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. 5Tree of Life 2Cedars of God
9 Ridiculously Creepy Medical Museums Open to the Public The gruesome appeal of medical museums is twofold. While dissected cadavers, preserved parasites, and diseased organs fulfill the sick fascination for human oddity in all of us, the fact that it is a “museum” makes visiting them a commendable act of self-education. A real win-win! This dichotomy between repulsion and fascination for the human body is nothing new. Medical museums are unquestionably not for the squeamish, but there are a surprising number of them out there. (WARNING: some of the following images, while taken mostly of plastic models, are extremely detailed and graphic in nature. 1. Image: Curious Expeditions/Flickr Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician born in 1818 who has been credited with being the “savior of mothers” by discovering something modern people think of as basic knowledge. Images: Curious Expeditions/Curious Expeditions/Curious Expeditions/Flickr Solution? Images: Curious Expeditions/Curious Expeditions/Flickr 2. 3. Image: C. Image: C. Image: C. 4. 5. 6.
Watkins Glen State Park Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks located on the edge of the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The main feature of the park is the hiking trail that climbs up through the gorge, passing over and under waterfalls. The park has a lower part that is next to the village and an upper part that is open woodland. Watkins Glen State Park is in a 400-foot-deep narrow gorge cut through rock by a stream that was left hanging when glaciers of the Ice age deepened the Seneca valley, increasing the tributary stream gradient to create rapids and waterfalls wherever there were layers of hard rock. The rocks of the area are sedimentary of Devonian age that are part of a dissected plateau that was uplifted with little faulting or distortion. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade.
10 of the best budget hotels in New York Posted on: September 21st in Cool Hotels, Travel by Graham Padmore. Like this Post? The Big Apple may be one of the ultimate city break destinations – shopping, art, sightseeing and so much more. It’s also (like most major capital cities) unfortunately notoriously expensive. So for those wanting to maximise their spending money, you will have to seek out some good NYC budget hotels. To save you the time and the hassle here are 10 of the best budget hotels in New York: A good tip is to book as far in advance as possible, this way you’ll get the best price. The Gershwin This Manhattan midtown hotel is just a block away from 5th Avenue and close to both Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building. Prices from $32 a night.Check prices and availability for The Gershwin Hotel The Jane Once home to salty sailors and Titanic survivors, The Jane is a living work of art. Prices from $90 per night.Check prices and availability for The Jane The Pod Broadway Hotel and Hostel Holiday Inn Long Island
12 Guy Trips That Will Change Your Life digg 1. Paddle the Grand Canyon Tackle 300 miles of some of the most powerful white water on the planet the old-school way, in a wooden boat.Why: Spending 13 to 18 days navigating the Colorado River through the mile-deep canyon, gazing up at 2 1/2 billion years’ worth of the earth’s crust on a nimble dory that launches you off the lips of roiling rapids turns you into a geologist, a waterman, and a more humble human being. 2. The Chyulu Hills of Kenya—the inspiration for Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa—are where three national parks converge to protect lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards—the big five—and Masai warriors have become its conservationists and guides. 3. The world’s largest mammal can reach lengths of 100 feet (think three school buses) and weigh in at 200 tons—more than an entire herd of elephants. 4. 5. 6. You’ll be stripped of your watch and cellphone. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Moab meets the Grand Canyon 200 miles south of the U.S. Source: menshealth
The Ultimate Road Trip Playlist — 50 Best Road Trip Songs | The Jetpacker No road trip is complete without a playlist of songs that capture the spirit of traveling on the open road. So we’ve compiled a list of the 50 best road trip songs . In order to make this be-all end-all totally definitive list that all other lists look up to, the songs had to meet the following criteria: a.) encompass the excitement and freedom of road tripping b.) make the time pass faster c.) keep you awake without the assistance of questionably legal pills named “No Doze” d.) contain lyrics so singable that you’ll legitimately consider trying out for the next “American Idol” e.) keep you distracted long enough to make you forget you need to pee (which subsequently means stopping at a heinous rest stop where the bathroom stalls are tagged with death threats and truckers hit on you) f.) drown out the sound of your annoying friend who complains about a developing deep vein thrombosis from being crammed in the backseat (tough it up!) 50. Tags: Music