The Southwest Border Area

In my latest travel adventure I went to the region known as the Southwest Border Area. This region extends from Southern California all the way to Southern Texas following the southern border. There is a lot of desert in this region so I was excited to check it out and see what kind of cool things that I could find.

In my first visit I went to see the Grand Canyon which is a huge canyon that was carved out of rock by water of thousands of years ago. It was truly a breathtaking seen as it was a great way to cap off my final adventure. I was able to go up in a helicopter and see it from the air which is something that I have always wanted to do. I also got to see it from an observatory with other people who were just stunned by the beauty of this canyon. This connects well to the region because it is a tourist attraction that captures the imagination of everyone who decides to check it out. If you do then you won't regret it.

The Grand Canyon as dusk.

 

 

 

The Grand Canyon from an aerial view. 

 

 

 

In my second visit in the region I went to Northern New Mexico the check out the ancient Aztec ruins. I thought this would be cool to check out because I had never seen anything like this before. These ruins are located near Animas River and date back to being built in the 11th and 13th century. I thought that it was cool to see how the people who first came to the region and see how they operated. I also met some people who were visiting for the first time. They thought it was cool also to see how the Aztecs had built the structures and lived there day to day in the conditions they were in.

 

This connects well to the region because it is a historic place from where we can see where the first people that lived in the region. I definitely think that I will return to this region someday.

 



 

 





Califronia

In my recent traveling adventure I went to the region in Minnesota known as the California Region. This region covers all of the state of California and even a small section of Nevada by Las Vegas. I have been told that California is the place to go so I figured that I would go out there and see what made this region so great. In California everyone talks about how the beaches are great and it is a paradise. So I made a couple stops to very popular places and here is what I saw.

In my first stop I went to the iconic Hollywood sign in Hollywood. This sign can be seen in a lot of movies and is even a symbol of America. The sign is situated on Mount Lee overlooking Hollywood and the stardom that happens there. Luckily I was able to get on a tour that went up to see the sign. When the group started looking they were shocked by how big it was. I thought it was big also, and it was just big. That is the best way I can explain it. Everyone was happy to be able to get pictures with the letters and see it up close. I know I was happy because I had always seen in on TV but seeing it in person was a lot better.

This connects well to the region because Hollywood is what help put the region on the map. The sign has also become a major tour destination for people to come see and check out.

This the Hollywood sign from a far.

 

This was the Hollywood sign a lighten up at night.

 

 

 

In my second visit in the region I went to Yosemite National Park. It was such a beautiful place and the sights were breathtaking. I was able to do some hiking and it was a lot similar to many of my other visits to national parks. The park had a lot of old trees that had been in the park for hundreds of years. So I thought it was cool to see some of the oldest trees in the world. I also got to see some of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I also saw a lot of hikers on my path through the park it seemed like they were having a good time were taking in all the sights.

 

 

This connects well to the region because it is one of the few places in the region where you can escape all the people. It also has drawn a lot of attention to the region because of it's old trees. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to the region and hope to return someday.

 

 

One of the breath taking views.

 

 

 

A pathway from one of the old huge trees.

 



 



The Empty Interior

This adventure took me to a region known as the Empty Interior. This region is probably the biggest one that I have went to extending from the Yukon in Canada all the way down to Arizona and New Mexico along the Mexican Border. There is definitely a lot to see in this region because there are not a lot of people in this region. If you looking for a wilderness escape then this is the place to go. In my last few trips I had been to places where there were a lot of people so I felt like it was a time to get away from all the people and enjoy nature. In my first stop I went to the Great Lake in Utah. I didn't know how salty it was going to be but I hoped for the best.

When I got to the Great Salt Lake I didn't know what to expect but it was absolutely beautiful. I was able to go out on the lake with a tourist group and it was absolutely a great view. The tourists were very happy with the sights they saw and it was just a great day to be out on the lake. The Great Salt Lake is the only salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. I can cross it off with my bucket list now that I was at the Great Salt Lake. We even saw some marine life and it was just great to be out in nature. Everyone I saw was happy they were having a good time in the hot summer heat in the lake.

This connects well to the region because it helps put it on the map. It is the only salt lake in North America so many people want to see that. It is just one of the many things that this region has to offer. After spending a few days jet skiing and doing other activities on the water it was time to move onto something else that was nature.

Arial View of the Great Salt Lake. 

Sometime that I spent on the beach at the Great Salt Lake.

In my second stop of this region I went to the Yukon to visit the Klondike. This part of the region is known for its gold mining and it is also home to what is known as the last great gold rush. I was able to go visit a gold mine and see how they are able to find gold. They use a wash plant to take the gold out of the soil and the gold then gets caught up in a sluice box. We also got to walk through the claim and see how they operate things such as doziers and rock trucks. It was a very fun time to be in this area. I also got to go to the mining town of Dawson which now is a pretty small town. 

The locals were very nice to me and if I had questions to ask them they would answer them for me. Even when I talked to the gold miners they were very nice to me. It seemed like things were going well for them and they were finding gold. By the end I felt like I was a local and it seemed like I was getting gold fever like everyone else who had be finding gold. This connects well to the region because gold mining is one of the biggest business in the northern part of the region. Someday the gold will all be gone but until then these people are having fun doing the job they dream of doing. I think that I will definitely comeback to the Empty Interior now that I have gold fever.

One of the gold operations that I got to visit in the Klondike.

  

Downtown Dawson City

The Southern Coastlands

In this traveling adventure I went to the region known as the Southern Coastlands. This region extends from Texas all the way to South Carolina along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes the whole state of Florida which is the only state that is fully in this region. This region it known for its subtropical environment. It has a lot of swamps, woods, and humid weather. When I visited this region I definitely felt the heat. I visited some of the most bustling places in this region. My first stop was the Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.

This visit was probably one of the weirdest that I have had in my travels throughout the different regions in Canada and the U.S. Bourbon Street is probably the most happening place in the city of New Orleans. It is 13 blocks long that is filled with bars and strip clubs. The weird thing I noticed however was that people were actually coming and going really quickly from bar to bar buying different drinks and then going out to drink them on the street. The street was really packed with people so it was really hard to get through all the people and to a bar that wasn't full. Then I saw one of the bars from my favorite TV show Bar Rescue. The name of the bar is Spirits on Bourbon. The story is that is used to be a barber shop and the owner got killed in the bar. Now today he haunts the new bar looking for the man who killed him. The bar was a happening place people seemed really happy, and even the employees were having a good time. For me it was definitely a night to remember on Bourbon Street.

This street connects well to the region because it attracts a lot of people from around the country and even around the world who wanted to check it out. It's a big party on the street, it is popular there year round. It also helps bring fame to the region because it helps draw in the people that want to check it out as well as other things around the region. After enjoying the party for a few days in New Orleans it was time to move on to the next stop in the region.

      This is what is was like on a Saturday Night on Bourbon Street. There were a lot of people. 

This is the sign of the bar I went to.

In my second stop I went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. This was way different then Bourbon Street. I saw a lot more little kids and there were a lot of families that wouldn't have been seen on Bourbon Street at all. The park was really huge and there were also different themes throughout the whole park. I waited in line to go on a roller coaster and it took about 3 hours just to get through the line. That was mainly because there were just so many people. There were even more then I could think of. I don't know how little kids could handle it but they seemed content. I think that was mainly because they had side attractions along the lines. It kept the kids content. I had a good time and it looked like everyone also was having a thrill ride at Disney World. 

This connects to the region because everyone around the world wants to come see Disney World. Disney is known for a lot of things but mainly it's movies. It helps put the region once again on the map and helps make Florida a tourist destination. Throughout my adventure in this region I saw what makes the Southern Coastlands a happening place. I will definitely comeback soon. 

The Entrance to Disney World.

A castle at Disney World.

Appalachia and the Ozarks

In my recent adventure, I traveled to the region known as Appalachia and the Ozarks. This region extends from Tennesse to Pennsylvania. In this region, I explored different things including the coal mines in West Virginia and the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. This region is known for its rugged mountains, great views, and resources. I will show you some of the things that this region has to offer.

In terms of jobs in the region, there are a lot of opportunities to find work in the coal industry. West Virgina is where you can find jobs like this. In recent years West Virginia had been hurt when many people in the area lost their jobs due to new regulations that had been set out by the government. I had found out that now they have been able to find jobs again so I figured that I would pay a visit to them in the coal mines.

When I got there I met with some the coal workers and they told me about what had happened to them. They told me that they had lost their jobs and were unable to make money to support their families anymore. I could tell that they were happy to get back to work. They were also very emotional and you could tell that they wanted to be there. I also met with some of their families and they were very emotional too. They told me they were so excited for the workers to return. This connects well with the region because it reflects the industry in the region.

These are the workers I met with in the mind.

This is the process of cutting out the coal.P

After being in West Virginia for a few days I went to Pennsylvania to check out the Pocono Mountains which is in a National Park. I went there to check it out because it is known for its good views. This region is known for its mountains so I figured that it would be good to check out a place that reflected the views of this region. This park reflects peaks of mountains, waterways, and trees. So I thought it was pretty cool. 

When I got there I saw a lot of people hiking and checking out the bright fall colors in the trees. I also saw people canoeing in the waterways. It seemed like they were all having a good time and enjoying the outdoors. I was also excited to check this out because summer was coming to a close and winter would soon be near. Those people were also enjoying every last moment of summer they could get. It was something to remember forever. My time in that park was truly amazing and I will never forget it. My trip to this region was emotional as well as rewarding in the outdoors. 

Pocono Park 

Kayaking at Pocono Park.

The Changing South

In my recent traveling adventure, I went to the region in the United States known as the Changing South. This region extends from Eastern Texas to Virginia and covers many southern states. This region is known for its different variation of cultures so it is hard to tell what culture is in the south. In this region, I explore a couple places related to music which would be some of the cultures that can be seen in this region. It was really fun to check out.

My first stop in this region was the home of the one and only Elvis Presley. His home is named Graceland and everything related to it has something to do with him. Graceland is just outside of Memphis, Tennesse and here you can find a sense of culture that affected the south in the 1960's. Elvis was known as "The King" and became very popular with his blues music. Blues is what put the city of Memphis on the map and has continued to be a mainstay of culture since then. Blues music had been around before Elvis, but he helped put it on the map for everyone to see.

This is the front of Graceland.

This is the kitchen inside Graceland

When we got to go inside Graceland we were told that we could not touch anything. I was excited to see all of the cool rooms that Elvis had. You could tell that they were decorated by him because they were classy just like Elvis was. I was on a tour with a group and the people who were with me were drawn in and interested in checking out everything. I heard a lot of comments saying that everything was awesome and they hadn't seen a house this cool before. We also got to tour and learn about the blues. After the tour, we all felt that the blues was the best music around. The blues is definitely a culture that you can find in this part of the region.

After a few days, we went to Nashville to check out the Country Music Hall of Fame. There we learned a lot about the history of country music and how it has affected the culture of Nashville. Nashville like Memphis has developed a culture around music except for this type of music is country music. The Country Music Hall of Fame has artifacts that date back to the beginnings of country music. Some of these artifacts are from legends such as Johnny Cash and June Carter. If you go through the evolution of country music there you will see that as the music evolved the culture evolved with that. Even today the culture in Nashville continues to evolve along with the country music. In the hall, you could also see the plaques of all the members which I thought was very cool.

The Country Music Hall of Fame

Dolly Parton's Plaque

While visiting I saw a lot of kids looking at the different exhibits imagining that they were country singers. I even saw some older people looking at artifacts from country singers in the past. They were reminiscing about the good old days when they were in their prime and loved listening to country music. Country Music is also my favorite type of music so I really enjoyed checking out this exhibit. We even saw some people singing music out in front of the hall. In this city, there is definitely a passion for country music. 

Overall my visit to this region was music infested. Both of the places I talked about however represent cultures in the cities they are located in. The Changing South is known for its many different cultures and these are just a few of those. I will definitely come back sometime soon. 

The Agricultural Core

In my latest adventure, I traveled to a region known as The Agricultural Core. This region extends from Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri all the way over to New York and Ontario in Canada. This region is known for its agriculture. This includes crops, livestock, and even forestry. This is the most productive region in both Canada and the United States for agriculture which you can tell by the name of this region. In my first stop on this trip, I stopped by John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois.

John Deere Pavillion is where John Deere the major manufacturer for farming equipment has its main headquarters. The Pavillion is the main visitor center where visitors can learn more about John Deere and the history of the company. They also have a museum full of different tractors throughout the history of John Deere which was very cool to see. They also did a very good job of teaching you about the man you created the company and that was John Deere. You are able to learn about how he created the first plow and how his company got started in 1837.

When I got to John Deere Pavilion I saw a lot of people who were from the city life and I could tell that they were interested in learning more about farming and tractors. I also saw some people who I thought were farmers and were really interested in the tractors and going on about all the facts they knew about each different tractor. I was really interested because I thought that I knew a lot about John Deere but I truly didn't and this was a learning experience for me. This connects to the region very well in that it is an agriculture company that calls this region home. You can't go far anywhere in this region without seeing a John Deere tractor or something related to John Deere.

John Deere Pavilion

Inside John Deere Pavilion 

In the second stop on this trip through The Agricultural Core, I went to Jackson Minnesota. There I toured the manufacturing plant of where they make AGCO Tractors. It was an interesting place to check out because I had never seen how a tractor had been made before. The people who work there are hard workers and definitely show pride in what they do and that is putting tractors together. They also had a nice visitor center that goes over the history of AGCO Tractors.

On the tour, there were a lot of people who were interested in the tour seeing how the tractors were put together. It was like many other factory tours I had been on before. There were a lot of people interested and a lot of things were cool to them so that was fine to me. This connects to the region well because of the part of manufacturing tractors and using them heavily in this region. I will definitely not forget this trip to the region. I was definitely interested in learning more about agriculture.

Workers working on the tractors.


The AGCO Visitor Center in Jackson MN.