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American Tourist: Wright brothers sites
What is it: Ohio and North Carolina both take credit for the Wright brothers and their world-changing inventions — Ohio because the brothers developed and built their design in Dayton, and North Carolina because Kitty Hawk was the site of the first flight. With a spirit of friendly rivalry, Ohio adopted the slogan "Birthplace of Aviation" (later "Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers," recognizing not only the Wrights, but also John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, both Ohio natives), while North Carolina has adopted the slogan "First In Flight." Each state features these phrases on their standard-issue state automobile license plates, and both states also included an image of a Wright Flyer on their respective 50 state quarters designs.
The main sites: The site of the first flights in North Carolina is preserved at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, while Ohio features the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
In Ohio: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park commemorates Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar. The park is a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and four partners. The sites are the Wright Cycle Company complex (the Wright Cycle Company building and the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Aviation Trail Visitor Center); Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center; the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center, at Carillon Park; and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial. The Huffman Prairie sites are located within Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but are operated by the National Park Service and are open to the public.
In North Carolina: Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau about the area's steady winds. The memorial site features the famous Kill Devil Hill Monument, a visitors center/museum and a replica hangar.
Sources/more information: Wikipedia.org; http://www.nps.gov/wrbr; http://www.nps.gov/daav; http://www.cityofdayton.org/Pages/default.aspx; http://www.kdhnc.com
The List
For those interested in architectural tourism, here are some buildings you don’t want to miss – the world’s 10 tallest:
1. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan (built 2004)
2. Petronas Tower 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (built 1998)
3. Petronas Tower 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (built 1998)
American Tourist: Wright brothers sites
What is it: Ohio and North Carolina both take credit for the Wright brothers and their world-changing inventions — Ohio because the brothers developed and built their design in Dayton, and North Carolina because Kitty Hawk was the site of the first flight. With a spirit of friendly rivalry, Ohio adopted the slogan "Birthplace of Aviation" (later "Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers," recognizing not only the Wrights, but also John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, both Ohio natives), while North Carolina has adopted the slogan "First In Flight." Each state features these phrases on their standard-issue state automobile license plates, and both states also included an image of a Wright Flyer on their respective 50 state quarters designs.
The main sites: The site of the first flights in North Carolina is preserved at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, while Ohio features the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
In Ohio: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park commemorates Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar. The park is a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and four partners. The sites are the Wright Cycle Company complex (the Wright Cycle Company building and the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Aviation Trail Visitor Center); Huffman Prairie Flying Field and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center; the John W. Berry Sr. Wright Brothers Aviation Center, at Carillon Park; and the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial. The Huffman Prairie sites are located within Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but are operated by the National Park Service and are open to the public.
In North Carolina: Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau about the area's steady winds. The memorial site features the famous Kill Devil Hill Monument, a visitors center/museum and a replica hangar.
Sources/more information: Wikipedia.org; http://www.nps.gov/wrbr; http://www.nps.gov/daav; http://www.cityofdayton.org/Pages/default.aspx; http://www.kdhnc.com
The List
For those interested in architectural tourism, here are some buildings you don’t want to miss – the world’s 10 tallest:
1. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan (built 2004)
2. Petronas Tower 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (built 1998)
3. Petronas Tower 2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (built 1998)
4. Sears Tower, Chicago (built 1974)
5. Jin Mao Building, Shanghai (built 1999)
6. Two International Finance Centre, Hong Kong (built 2003)
7. CITIC Plaza, Guangzhou, China (built 1996)
8. Shun Hing Square, Shenzhen, China (built 1996)
9. Empire State Building, New York (built 1931)
10. Central Plaza, Hong Kong (built 1992)
Zoom on over to Milwaukee
Harley-Davidson lovers rejoice! Milwaukee this summer opened its sleek-looking Harley-Davidson Museum. The campus is on 20 acres and features about 200 Harleys (including the oldest one) and other memorabilia. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October, and the Harley-Davidson company will hold its 105th anniversary celebration at the museum at the end of August. For more information, go to www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/HD_Museum/Museum.jsp?locale=en_us.
Good to Know
Planning to travel to Rome? Leave the snacks behind. The city recently adopted a strict no-snacks policy near its monuments in the historical center in order to help preserve the relics. If caught snacking – which includes drinking – you can be fined $80.
Fun Facts
- One of the features of the Diamante K resort in Tulum, Mexico, is hanging beds. (Wikitravel.org)
- Boca Raton, Fla., is a more pleasant city than its name -- which means Mouse Mouth -- might suggest. (Wikitravel.org)
Travel Tip: Looking to get into naturism touring?
Naturism – also known as nudism or a clothes-free lifestyle – has a small but enthusiastic following in a number of countries around the world. It's not about sex, but a preference to abandon the use of clothing. However, as nudity is often considered socially unacceptable, naturists often have difficulties finding travel destinations where they can practice their lifestyle and have their state of undress accepted. Many countries have laws that make nudity in a public place either a crime or at least a misdemeanor offense. Also, many societies associate nudity with erotic entertainments, which are often strictly controlled or forbidden. As a result, naturist destinations are often in remote, out-of-the-way places.
Some naturist resorts (often called "nudist camps") are "clothing optional," leaving it up to the individual whether to wear clothing and/or how much. Others require nudity in order to discourage visits by voyeurs who just want to look at naked people, and to maintain an egalitarian "we're all nude here" atmosphere. Many locations maintain fairly strict codes of public conduct, intended to keep them suitable for families with minor children and/or to avoid running afoul of laws against "lewd conduct" in public. The most common naturist destinations are beaches where nude bathing and sunbathing are either tolerated in practice or formally permitted. (Wikitravel.org)
Talk Like a Local: Spanish
I need help.
- Necesito ayuda. (neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-YOO-dah)
It's an emergency.
- Es una emergencia. (ehs oo-nah eh-mehr-HEHN-syah)
GateHouse News Service
