Vacation places that inspired you!

[Alexa Stott]

I think that perhaps one of the best things to do for a vacation is to visit another country for a week or two. Just to spend time there, learning all about a different culture can be a really great experience.

I'm not sure if anyone has heard of it, but there is the student ambassador program, People to People. I participated in that back in 7th grade (about 2 years ago) and went to Australia for 3 weeks. On the trip, we stayed with an Australian family for 3 days, where we lived the lifestyle of the average Australian. Programs like that, if you can get in, are really great to participate in.

[RoboMadi]

I'd like to mention Madame Tussauds in London.
Mix with the famous at the world famous collection of realistic wax figures in specially designed settings which include The Garden Party, 200 Years, Superstars, Sports Heroes, Famous Actors, The Grand Hall, The Chamber of Horrors and The Spirit of London. Also special exhibitions from time to time.
They also have a lot of celebrities figure and etc.
They all look just soo real; its amazing

[Pat Arnold]

I love the Smithsonian In Washington D.C., so I was thrilled when my family was vacationing in Germany to spend a few days exploring their Deutsches Museum in Munich. Fantastic displays included a cutaway section of a boat, simulated salt mine shafts, and 3 floors of exhibits to touch, feel or gape at.

[Dick Linn]

If you get to the Smithsonian in D.C., do check out one of the older Smithsonian buildings across the mall, near that new round art gallery. One has a display of old machine tools that is absolutely fascinating if you are into machining. I think it's one of those old red brick buildings that looks a bit like a castle.

I did once get a tour of the Tokamak fusion reactor at Princeton University, but that's been shut down, unfortunately.

[RoboMadi]

Originally Posted by Dick Linn

If you get to the Smithsonian in D.C., do check out one of the older Smithsonian buildings across the mall, near that new round art gallery. One has a display of old machine tools that is absolutely fascinating if you are into machining. I think it's one of those old red brick buildings that looks a bit like a castle.

Its the Smithsonian Headquarters, mainly known as Smithsonian Castle

[Kim Masi]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Boston Museum of Science.

Especially in 2001 when there was 2 FIRST robots on display there.

151 right in the main lobby, and I believe 177 in the first great room on the right of the main entrance.

The Boston Museum of Science is INCREDIBLE. I spent 24 hrs there at a girl scout sleep over a longggg time ago. There's so much interaction and hands on exhibits its AMAZING. Not to long ago I saw a later Beatles show there....heh.

and as for 177 being displayed there... REALLY??? never heard about THAT one...

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by billbo911

OK, an update. I visited my favorite National Park this past week. Here are some more recent shots. By the way, the snow runoff was AMAZING!!!

Hope it's not too late. Looks like the main road into Yosemite valley will be out of commission for a while.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Richard

Hope it's not too late. Looks like the main road into Yosemite valley will be out of commission for a while.

There are still three more entrances you can use. Hwy 120 when coming from anywhere north of Manteca/Stockton. Hwy 41 when coming from the south, say Fresno. In between, flip a coin. If you are coming from the east side of the park, the Hwy 120 entrance off Hwy 395 may be open soon. They are still clearing snow, so check first.
Hwy 140 has been open and closed so many times, I can't even remember. The land shifts that have caused concern have been going on for a couple months. I wouldn't plan on using it at all this summer.

[UCGL_Guy]

Great thread ---

In no particular order
A. OKC bombing memorial - it is close and everyone should see it once.
B. Colorado - specifically Phantom Canyon - gorgeous
C. WWII memorial and Vietnam Memorial - takes your breath away.
D.Gettysburg - specially walking Picketts Charge
E. Air Force Museum - Dayton Ohio
F. Cosmosphere - Hutchison Kansas - the restoration place for space - more space hardware than anywhere else on the planet.

Any beautiful Oklahoma sunrise that God blesses us with -

Attached the OK shy after a Thunderstorm

[Rich Wong]

For my 2006 Spring Break, I watched an Ocean City sunrise at 6AM, pet a wild pony with my kids at Chincoteague, played on a Jokey Ridge sand dune with the family, admired the beauty of engineering on a battleship, and watched a Shenandoah sunset.
All inspiring...

[Joe Matt]

Walt Disney World - engineering, story telling, themeing, architecture, and planning. What could be better? It's inspired all my career ideas, from engineering to english, from business to architecture, from media to hot dog vendor.