Stonehenge

Stonehenge’s builders raised the stones using joints normally found only in woodworking, and not seen at any other prehistoric monument. This makes it the most architecturally sophisticated surviving stone circle in the world. (English Heritage)

In 1986, together with Avebury, it was one of the very first sites in the UK to be made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Santorini

When thinking of the Greek Isles, one often imagines these classic white buildings with blue trim & roofs. Despite being the most popular of all the Greek islands, attracting millions of tourists every year, Santorini still manages to retain its traditional Greek charm. The light blue and white buildings on Santorini are instantly recognizable. With a reputation as a paradise island, Santorini delivers – if breathtaking vistas are your thing. Its volcanic dark-sand beaches and steep, rugged coastal rock formations deliver idyllic views from almost anywhere on the island. Luxury hotels are another part of Santorini’s appeal and the island is particularly popular with couples and honeymooners. A word of warning though: cruise ships visit regularly so summers on the island can get crowded. (ABC News)

While this island often creates the image, it does not not have the charm and feel of the warmth of the people who can call these buildings home. We found the people in Mykonos to exhibit these attibutes more than Santorini.

The Sacred Pools of Ohe'o

On the island of Maui, located at Mile Marker #42 on Hana Highway in Kipahulu — roughly twelve miles past Hana proper — the Pools of Ohe’o are part of Haleakala National Park. With Ohe’o translating to “something special,” the beloved place reinforces that ancient Hawaiians were spot-on in their descriptions: with its lofty cascades, surrounding tranquility, and that surf pounding away in the distance, the Pools of Ohe’o crystallize the dynamic, radical beauty of Hawaii.

This area of the coast has been inhabited by native people for hundreds of years and remains an integral part of a thriving culture. Visitors to the Kīpahulu District are treated to views of waterfalls, sweeping ocean vistas, and Hawaiian cultural experiences. Click HERE for more information.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

For more than a century, Heceta Head Lighthouse has helped seagoers navigate the Pacific Ocean’s treacherous currents.

The cape owes its name to Don Bruno de Heceta, who in 1775 embarked on a secret voyage for the Queen of Spain to sail up the West Coast. Due to the onslaught of scurvy, Heceta and his crew turned back just before the Columbia River, but not before he noted the shallow waters and rocky headland that now bear his name.

A century later, mariners frequenting the dark waters between Coos Bay and Newport asked for a lighthouse to guide their journeys up and down the coast. On March 30, 1894, the lighthouse cast its first beam. During World War II, the Coast Guard Beach Patrol manned Heceta Head with 75 men. They guarded the beaches between Florence and Yachats with attack dogs and lived in wooden bunkers where the Head Keeper’s house once stood. After WWII, the Coast Guard continued to man the Lightstation as an aide to navigation. Two men and their families remained at Heceta.

In 1963, Head Lightkeeper Oswald Allick witnessed the end of the era of Lightkeepers when the Lighthouse was automated and turned over to computers. The Keeper’s House was then turned over to the U.S. Forest Service. Click HERE for more information.

Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls is a waterfall located in Hilo, Hawaii. It is 80 ft (24 m) tall and almost 100 ft (30 m) in diameter. The falls are part of the Hawai'i State Parks.

At Rainbow (Waiānuenue) Falls, the Wailuku River rushes into a large pool below. The gorge is blanketed by lush, dense, non-native tropical rainforest and the turquoise colored pool is bordered by beautiful, although non-native, wild ginger. Monstera is also in abundance. The falls are accessible via Wailuku River State Park, Waiānuenue Avenue, and are best seen from the park's viewing platform.

Known in the Hawaiian language as Waiānuenue (literally "rainbow water"), the water flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess.

Rainbow Falls derives its name from the fact that, on sunny mornings around 10AM, rainbows can be seen in the mist thrown up by the waterfall. Click HERE for more information.

Trinidad is a seaside city in Humboldt County, located on the Pacific Ocean, 8 miles north of the Arcata-Eureka Airport (McKinleyville) and 22 miles north of Eureka.

Situated at an elevation of 174 feet above its own North Coast harbor, Trinidad is one of California's smallest incorporated cities by population (367 residents in 2010, up from 311 residents in 2000). As seen in the picture above, Trinidad is noted for its spectacular coastline with ten public beaches and offshore rocks, part of the California Coastal National Monument, of which Trinidad is a Gateway City. Fishing operations related to Trinidad Harbor are vital to both local tourism and commercial fishery interests in the region. Click HERE for more information.

Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery

The Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery spreads over 6 miles of shoreline around Point Piedras Blancas on the central coast of California. The viewing areas are located 90 miles south of Monterey, 5 miles north of Hearst Castle State Historical Monument in San Simeon, 1.5 miles south of Point Piedras Blancas. The viewing areas are open every day of the year, are wheelchair accessible, and free. Click HERE for more information.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier is about 13-and-a-half miles long located in Mendenhall Valley, and about 12 miles northwest of downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska. Click HERE for more information.