Beyond the Adventures

07/01/2025

06/24/2025

The Floating Forest of Australia: A Unique Natural Wonder

In Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia , lies one of the most stunning and photogenic landscapes in the world : the SS Ayrfield, an old steamship transformed by nature into a "floating forest" .

Built in the United Kingdom in 1911, this ship arrived in Australia in 1912. For decades, it served as a cargo vessel and, during World War II (1939-1945) , it was used to transport supplies for Allied troops in the Pacific . After the war, it continued operating in the coal industry until it was decommissioned in 1972 and moved to Homebush Bay for dismantling.

However, over the years , the structure remained in place, and nature took over . Trees and lush vegetation grew over the ship’s hull , turning it into an awe-inspiring floating forest . Today, this phenomenon is a symbol of nature’s resilience and an unmissable attraction for travelers and photographers .

Alongside the SS Ayrfield, other ships , like the SS Mortlake Bank, were also abandoned in the bay, though they are less known due to their difficult access . These shipwrecks are part of the region’s industrial and maritime heritage , serving as a reminder of its history and transformation over time.

The floating forest is a striking example of how nature can reclaim and breathe new life into abandoned structures , turning them into breathtaking sights that captivate visitors....

06/24/2025

At Mountain Village 1890 in Bull Shoals, Arkansas, you can walk through a recreated Ozark frontier town made up of real 19th-century buildings relocated from across northern Arkansas. Each structure...from log homes and a one-room schoolhouse to a blacksmith shop and water tower...has been carefully restored and filled with original tools, furnishings, and antiques from the late 1800s. You’ll explore the general store, see a jail cell from the past, and even visit a historic church that still hosts weddings. Right next door is the entrance to Bull Shoals Caverns, making this one of the most unique historic attractions in the Ozarks.

06/24/2025

The Big Chicken Barn in Maine is a must-visit for book lovers and antique hunters alike. Housed in a 100-year-old former chicken barn, this massive 21,600-square-foot space spans two full floors. Downstairs, you'll find more than 50,000 vintage treasures—from antique furniture and retro glassware to quirky collectibles. Head upstairs and you’ll enter a book lover’s dream, with over 150,000 used books, comics, and rare editions neatly organized by genre. Blending Maine history with the thrill of the hunt, the Big Chicken Barn has become one of the state’s favorite stops for anyone who loves old things with stories to tell.

06/23/2025

A controversial military outpost throughout its lifespan, Fort Union encroached on the Mora Land Grant before being abandoned in 1891. Now the ruins of its adobe walls stand as a monument to its tumultuous history.

06/18/2025

At Old Alabama Town in Montgomery, you walk through six city blocks filled with over 50 restored buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. Start at Lucas Tavern....built in the 1820s and once a stop on the old Federal Road...now serving as the visitor center. From there, step inside original pioneer cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, slave dwellings, a blacksmith shop, and even a Victorian townhouse. You can watch live craft demos, explore a working grist mill, and see how Alabamians lived, worked, and built community over a century ago. It’s not a replica...it’s the real thing, saved and brought back to life.

06/11/2025

Kentucky’s 1800’s Life Road Trip takes you to 12 historic places in the state where you can step back in time to life in the 1800’s and even late 1700’s! From My Old Kentucky Home State Park, where the mansion’s grand rooms and period furnishings tell stories of early Kentucky life…to Boonesborough State Park, where you can wander the reconstructed fort that once welcomed settlers on the frontier…to Old Bardstown Colonial Village and Park which showcases 18th-century log cabins and a working blacksmith shop…to the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site which brings you to the scene of Kentucky’s biggest Civil War battle…to two of the state’s oldest and most beloved country stores in the Rabbit Hash General Store and Penn’s Store…this road trip across Kentucky is as historic and interesting as you’ll find!

📍Rabbit Hash General Store
📍My Old Kentucky Home State Park
📍Boonesborough State Park
📍Historic Bardstown
📍Old Bardstown Colonial Village and Park
📍Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
📍Old Fort Harrod State Park
📍Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site
📍Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
📍Constitution Square Historic Site
📍White Hall State Historic Site
📍Penn’s Store

06/10/2025

Georgia’s Tunnel Hill, tied to the “Great Locomotive Chase” of 1862 during the Civil War, is one of the most fascinating and historic tunnels in the country. Known as the Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel, it’s no longer used for trains but open today for tours...even by golf cart! Built in just 22 months, this 1,477-foot tunnel through Chetoogeta Mountain was finished in May 1850, creating a rail link from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Though it later fell into disuse, it was preserved and reopened to visitors in 2000, offering a unique chance to explore this engineering marvel of Georgia’s railroad past.

06/09/2025

Coolest pool view in the Cowboy State.

📸: Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey

06/09/2025

In West Virginia's Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, you can walk through a town steeped in Civil War history and natural beauty. Here, you’ll see John Brown’s Fort, where Brown’s 1859 raid sparked national conflict. Stroll the cobblestone streets lined with restored 19th-century buildings, many of which now house museums and exhibits detailing the town’s role in early American industry. You can also hike the park’s 20 miles of trails, including the famous Maryland Heights Trail, which rewards you with sweeping views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Visit St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church and the ruins of St. John’s Episcopal Church to see how faith and resilience shaped this community. If you love history, old homes and natural beauty...this place is well worth a visit.