You don’t have to travel to Europe or book an African safari in order to see some amazing world wonders. New England has them in spades right here in your own back yard! If you’re already sick of apple picking and leaf peeping, Fall is the perfect time to visit one of these natural attractions.
Smack dab in the middle of the rolling green hills and cool babbling brooks outside Freeport, Maine there sits a stunning natural phenomenon – a desert. Researchers concluded that the 40 acre anomaly was carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago creating a massive sand-filled valley complete with sun bleached dunes. The site of the pale sand amidst the lush landscape and colorful foliage makes this natural wonder all the more awe inspiring.
Visitors to the area can enjoy guided tours, frisbee golf, 4×4 dune rides, gemstone hunts, a butterfly room, campground and giftshop.
The aptly named Mystery Hill outside of Salem, New Hampshire is home to one of America’s oldest archaeological sites. No one knows if the series of chambers and walls were built by Native Americans, European settlers… or someone or something else.
America’s Stonehenge is believed to be the oldest man-made structure in the country, dating back at least 4,000 years. It has been determined that the site is an accurate astronomical calendar. It was, and still can be, used to determine specific solar and lunar events of the year. You can also check out the various carvings and inscriptions along the walls of what’s believed to be ancient ceremonial meeting spaces.
Wild Species
Action Wildlife Foundation in Goshen, Connecticut sits on a 116 acre former dairy farm. The place is unique in that it is a refuge to dozens of species indigenous to Connecticut, and others from far off lands like Africa, New Zealand and India – all living in a cage-free adaptive setting. The major attraction is the drive-thru safari where you can spot deer, bison, elk, water buffalo and zebras – just to name a few. There is also a petting zoo for the kids and a gallery museum.
Love horses? Check out the majestic wild Clydesdales of Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Ghost Towns
You may picture tumbleweeds blowing across the dusty remains of a Wild West village when you hear the term “ghost town” but New England has more than a dozen creepy abandoned towns spread all throughout the region.
A massive hurricane in the 1900s washed away the village of Whitewash, Massachusetts. More than 200 people reportedly lost their lives in the chaos. Only the old lighthouse remains as proof that the town was ever there.
Strange collections of stones mark the area known as Hanton City, Rhode Island. It’s rumored that the town was used as a quarantine for sick villagers in colonial times. Others say it was a settlement of runaway slaves. Either way, not much remains of Hanton City today.
Want to see more? Check out the Facebook page, New England Ghost Towns.
Despite his untimely demise in 2003, the Old Man of the Mountain remains a cherished New Hampshire landmark and the state emblem to this day. Naturally carved by the elements in the side of Cannon mountain, “The Profile” or “The Great Stone Face” sat 1,200 feet above Profile Lake and was 40 feet tall by 25 feet wide.
Featured Image via CreativeCommons/DaveyNin