halloween - 2011

icebox of the nation

International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota. The population was 6,703 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the Rainy River directly across from Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. International Falls long promoted itself as the "Icebox of the Nation", however the trademark for the slogan has been challenged on several occasions by the small town of Fraser, Colorado. After several years of legal battles, the United States Patent and Trademark Office officially registered the slogan with International Falls on January 29, 2008, Registration Number 3375139. Only a few days after announcing its success in the trademark battle, International Falls had a record low temperature of −40°F, beating a previous record of −37°F. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

utah resort

Deer Valley is an alpine ski resort in the Wasatch Range in the Park City area of northern Utah. and is for skiers only, as it prohibits snowboarding. During the 2002 Winter Olympics Deer Valley hosted the freestyle moguls and aerial, and alpine slalom events. Deer Valley Resort was named the #1 ski resort in North America in 2007 and again in 2008 by Ski Magazine. In its 26 years of existence, Deer Valley Resort has become a favorite for skiers and is one of only four skier only ski resorts in North America. Deer Valley is known for its amazing amenities such as free parking lot shuttles, ski valets, gourmet on-mountain cuisine, uncrowded and immaculately groomed ski slopes, a friendly staff, ski lessons, rentals and child care and complimentary ski storage.

(courtesy: Wikipedia)

jerome, arizona

In 1883, a mining camp named Jerome was established on the side of an Arizona hill called Cleopatra. The United Verde Mine would produce over 1 billion dollars in copper, gold and silver over the next 70 years and the population would boom to well over 15,000. Feast to famine was to follow. By the late 1950s with the last of the mines closed, the population had dwindled to less than 50. Modern day Jerome with a population of 350 has made a rebound of sorts, becoming a tourist destination with many of the abandoned and refurbished buildings from its boom town days being converted to serve new purposes.

grand canyon mule mail

Phantom Ranch is a resort village within (and at the bottom of) Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The ranch's elevation is 2,400 feet; that is about 4,600 feet lower than the South Rim and about 5,800 feet lower than the North Rim. The average daily high and low temperatures in Fahrenheit are 106/78 during July, and 56/36 in January. The ranch continues to be one of the most popular destinations in the national park system; its accommodations are often sold out for two years in advance. To hikers and rafters, it is an oasis of cool water, greenery, and comfort. Phantom Ranch also holds the distinction of being the one of the only two places left in America whose mail is still delivered by mule, the other being Havasu Falls, also located on the Colorado River in Arizona

home of dollywood

Pigeon Forge is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,083. Situated just five miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is primarily a tourist resort. The city's attractions include Dollywood and numerous outlet malls and music theaters. Attractions and events in Pigeon Forge include the Dollywood theme park, the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, the award-winning Country Tonight Theatre, the Comedy Barn, the Miracle Theater, Dixie Stampede, Zorb Smokey Mountains, Flyaway Indoor Skydiving and many other entertainment venues. (Courtesy: Wikipedia