Wanderlust: Places to Take a Lesson
I missed my window to write about Wanderlust on Sunday, but it's a long weekend, so I'll share some travel thoughts today. It's Labor Day here in the US, which marks the official last hurrah of summer. Many of you are at picnics and parties... You've traveled somewhere for this last chance to play. In our minds, after this, vacation is over — Whether you have kids or not, the mood is "Back to School."
Back to School. That's how I feel whenever I travel. Because there's always something to learn. I would argue that's one of the best benefits of having Wanderlust. It's like a field trip. Where would you suggest as a good place to take a lesson? Here are some that I can think of — no matter where you go, there are lessons all around.
Back to School. That's how I feel whenever I travel. Because there's always something to learn. I would argue that's one of the best benefits of having Wanderlust. It's like a field trip. Where would you suggest as a good place to take a lesson? Here are some that I can think of — no matter where you go, there are lessons all around.
| Travel is Study — Eight Places to Take a Lesson Alpha by Subject | |
| ASTRONOMY Griffith Observatory Los Angeles, CA The Griffith Observatory has been in the news of late, because it was just saved from the deadly California wildfires. Good thing for science and dreamers. This icon of Los Angeles is one of Southern California's most visited attractions. Thankfully it will remain so. They're celebrating the Year of International Astronomy — 2009 is the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope observations. |  |
| BIOLOGY South Beach Miami, FL Living things can be studied anywhere you go, but the science of people watching is decidedly more interesting when they put themselves on display. As an avid people-watcher, I could do a whole post on places to study. I highlight South Beach Miami for today. |  Photo: grahamblackall |
| CHEMISTRY Wine Tasting Calveras County, CA Alcohol is a generic name for a large group of organic chemical compounds. So consider drinking an education. For example, grapes react with Oxygen to create wine. Wine reacts with your brain to create happiness. See, you are testing chemical science. California is famous for its wineries, and a tasting tour at any is fun homework. I highlight Calveras County because I've been a test subject there myself. The town of Murphy's in the Sierra foothills comes to mind. |  Photo: SMCGee |
| ENGINEERING Hoover Dam Boulder City, NV A power plant? Really? Why would you want to use vacation time to see that? Because it's a fascinating feat of engineering, the creation of which had a tremendous social and economic impact. The mere fact that this was possible fires the imagination. If you're in the Las Vegas area, I recommend it as a destination. |  Photo: Tim Pearce |
| GEOLOGY Grand Canyon NP Williams, AZ A trip to any national park is as educational as a day in the classroom, and looking at this massive canyon is sure to expand your mind. No one knows how the Grand Canyon was formed — all we have are theories. The prevailing theory that it was carved by the Colorado River was disproved when elevation measurements showed the river would have to have flowed uphill. So they're still studying to come up with new theories. A scientist's work is never done. |  Photo: TheWordWire |
| GEOMETRY Sugar Mountain Boone, NC A ski trip is more than mere physical education, it's a practical application of math. The lift running parallel to the side of the mountain, dropping you off to calculate slope. I'm not an experienced skier myself, but you can find places to do it all over the country. I highlight Sugar Mountain in Boone, NC — yep, you can even study geometry this way in the South. |  |
| PHILOSOPHY Canyon Ranch Tucson, AZ Tabula Rasa... John Locke's philosophical thesis meaning "blank slate." It's a theory that we are born that way, that our knowledge comes from experience and perceptions. It's nurture, not nature that determines how we think. That's how I connect the dots between a spa visit and philosophy. That kind of nurturing can relax you right down to your tabula rasa. Takes away all the stress so you can think. Which you do, of course, because you are. Philosophy indeed. |  Photo: Canyon Ranch |
| SOCIAL STUDIES Mesa Verde NP Cortez, CO When Rufus and I set out to visit Mesa Verde, we thought we we'd learn about history. Sure, ancient ruins of a Native American city is a look back in time. But what I came away with more was the look at their society. It's a great education to think about cultures other than our own. To learn from the differences, and as importantly, make note of the similarities. The people who lived here are as American is you can get. Learning about how these people interacted with each other and their neighbors changed my understanding of American history. |  |
Posted by TheWordWire at 9/7/2009 7:32 AM 
Categories: Observing Holidays,Wanderlust,Earth and Sky
Tags: Hoover Dam south beach calveras county Grand Canyon Sugar Mountain Mesa Verde griffith observatory Canyon Ranch Spa
Categories: Observing Holidays,Wanderlust,Earth and Sky
Tags: Hoover Dam south beach calveras county Grand Canyon Sugar Mountain Mesa Verde griffith observatory Canyon Ranch Spa
I LOVE your idea of education. Especially visiting a spa to "relax you right down to your tabula rasa." LOL!
This is a very witty and inspiring post - and I'm happy to say that I've been educated at four of these... Griffith, California wineries, Hoover, and the Grand Canyon. Yeah, me! I'm half-learned!
To add a few, I've learned quite a lot about geology at Mammoth Cave National Park, a little about biology at the Big Texan Steak Ranch (just how much meat CAN fit into a human stomach?), and a few things about astronomy just by looking at the stars near my little lake in northern Michigan. Meteor showers look awesome up here!
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Thanks Laura! I'm guessing anyone who writes under the heading of "American Nomad" is very well educated. I've been in school all week -- Utah canyon country! Look forward to sharing all the lessons. Thanks for your great comment!
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