The Observatory itself is great with its art deco architecture, but the views of the Hollywood sign and all of Los Angeles below is what really makes the Griffith Observatory a “must see attraction” on your visit to LA. And hey, they shot part of James Dean’s “Rebel Without a Cause” here, so there’s that, too.  If you’re on vacation in California, take the drive up into the Hollywood Hills and check this out.  It’s free, so you really don’t have an excuse not to go.

Yellowstone was the first area of American wilderness declared a national park and with good reason. The topography varies dramatically throughout its millions of acres. One area especially dramatic is the Norris Geyser Basin. It might not get as much publicity as Old Faithful, but it’s actually got a lot more geothermal activity than that one geezer geyser, which means it’s a much more substantial destination to visit in Yellowstone. And it’s more photogenic, which for the average traveler means a lot. So grab a big memory card and check it out.

South Dakota tourism just doesn’t stop at Mount Rushmore. It doesn’t even stop at Wall Drug or Badlands National Park. No, the plains state of South Dakota keeps its travel attractions coming with Custer State Park. It’s definitely the forgotten travel destination in an area overflowing with road trip-friendly stops. Well, tack this one on your road trip, too. With beautiful scenery, wildlife, and no Yellowstone-like traffic jams, Custer State Park is a must see for those who want the great American road trip experience.

Ever thought it would be a good idea to buy an elementary school and turn it into a hotel and microbrewery? Well, someone beat you to it. That already exists in Portland, Oregon. You can sleep in a refurbished classroom, watch second run movies in the school’s auditorium, and drink some high quality microbrews in several bars and restaurants “on campus.” And the best part is you don’t even need a hall pass.

Nothing can please a lover of books more than Portland’s one-city-block bookstore:  Powell’s Books. With used and new books next to one another on shelves, Powell’s doesn’t try to hide the fact buying used books is cheaper. In fact, they encourage it. It’s another one of those progressive ideas in the Pacific Northwest. And with no sales tax in Oregon, you can stock up for beach reads, college textbooks, and Christmas presents and save 10%. Just make sure you have enough space in your luggage.