3. Nashville’s Parthenon is Better Than the Original
Athens, schmathens. There’s a full scale replica of the Greek capital’s Parthenon right in the center of Music City, Tennessee. This one’s not in ruins, which gives you a great sense of what the real Parthenon looked like way back when. While it’s not as old as the Greek original (built around 447 BC), it still has some historical pedigree having been built in 1887 – quite ancient by American standards. The classical structure with 46 columns was built to precise mathematical and geometrical specifications according to classical Greek design. An enormous statue of the goddess Athena is housed inside, just like the one in ancient Greece did before the Romans took it. Originally built for an exposition, the Parthenon in Centennial Park now serves as an art museum in the city known as the “Athens of the South”.
4. Alaska’s Denali Mountains Will Give You That Himalayan Feeling
Alpine enthusiasts won’t be disappointed with the the mega-mountains in Denali National Park. This spectacular range rivals anything the Himalayas have to offer. Sure, they may have Everest, but Alaska’s Mt. McKinley is just 9000 ft shorter. If you want to get technical, when measured from base to peak McKinley is actually the tallest land based mountain on earth (Everest is only taller because it starts high on the Tibetan Plateau). But size isn’t everything. The grandeur of this mountain range and the pristine wilderness around it will bring awe to anyone who explores it.
