Tahtakale is a small neighborhood just south of Eminönü Square. It’s one of the oldest areas of Istanbul and a great place for an authentic local experience.
Çukurcuma is the place to go for antiques in Istanbul. Through the narrow streets, you’ll be able to find all kinds of interesting treasures.
Bağdat Avenue (Bağdat Caddesi) is one of the most important streets in not only the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, but the entire Asian side. It runs from east to west from Maltepe to Kadıköy for about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles).
The historic Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida, is a place where people can “visit Greece without leaving Florida”. It’s a place I make a point to visit every time I’m visiting family in Clearwater, although it’s been Disneyfied and doesn’t have the same authentic feel it once had. Still, it’s a great place to eat Greek food if you can get past the over-commercialization.
16 years before Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1889, James Longmire built a 13 mile long trail from Ashford to a hot springs he discovered in what is now know as the Longmire Historic District. By 1890, he had built cabins and a small hotel, attracting up to 500 guests each summer by the turn of the century. His family also built a trail to the Paradise area, six miles away.
The small town of La Push, Washington, is located a short drive west of Forks. It sits on the Pacific Ocean and within the Quileute Nation. The small town features resorts and a marina, and all businesses are owned by the tribe. La Push is also mentioned in the Twilight series.
There’s no doubt that Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga is popular, selling more than 100 million copies worldwide in over 50 countries and being converted into films. Twilight enthusiasts have been flocking to remote Forks, Washington, the setting for the series, in order to get a glimpse of the places they learned about from the books and movies.
Neah Bay is a town on the Makah Reservation in Washington. It’s a popular place for fishing and hiking to places such as Cape Flattery and Shi Shi Beach.
If you’re visiting Olympic National Park in Washington, the town of Forks is the biggest settlement on the western side of the park to base yourself in. We spent two nights in Forks to explore parts of the park and found it to be very centrally located.
NOTE: Amish Acres closed at the end of 2019. It was sold and reopened on May 15, 2020, as The Barns at Nappanee. They plan to focus on events, festivals, and food. I’ll write a separate page for the new business when I have a chance to visit.
Amish Acres is a historic farm and park located in Nappanee, Indiana. It’s centered around the Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns Farmstead, which was built in 1873. The farm was purchased in 1968 and Amish Acres opened to the public in 1970 in order to enlighten and educate outsiders about the Amish way of life.