The "Tree of Life" at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a great centerpiece to the park. Carved into the replica baobab tree are 325 animals inspired from eight different Disney movies. Inside the tree is a 400 seat 4-D theater that screens a movie derived from A Bug's Life called It's Tough to be a Bug.
This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90.
Summer season on Beech Mountain comes to a close this weekend. This was Lori's view from her yoga class at 5506' Skybar at the top of the mountain a couple of weeks ago. Everything will be open again in three months for ski season so it's not so much "good bye" as "see you soon!"
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
A little rain can't slow down the deer of Beech Mountain. The two bucks and two does appear to be on a double date. There are so many deer up on Beech Mountain that you are virtually guaranteed to see a handful on any given day.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
This is one of the best public decommissioned aircraft hangars in the world. Take a look around and you'll see a Thunderbird F-16, MH-53M "Super Jolly" Pave Low, F-111 Aardvark, RQ-4 Global Hawk, U-2 reconnaissance plane, and the pièce de résistance, an SR-71 Blackbird. Not just "any" SR-71 mind you, THE SR-71 that set the world speed record of 2,193 miles per hour! In 1976. And the record still stands. It even flew from New York to London in under 2 hours. Take that, Concorde! See all of the people in the hangar? They're listening to the pilots from those eventful flights sharing their war stories, beneath the nose of their aircraft.
If you're thinking about planning a trip to the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB to check out this hangar, it's worth mentioning that there are several other hangars and an entire field full of amazing aircraft, including an A-10 Thunderbolt, AC-130A Spectre Gunship, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, B-29 Super Fortress, B-52 Strato Fortress, B-1B Lancer, C-130E Hercules and a whole lot more! It's definitely worth the visit!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
One block north of Broad Street and sandwiched between the South Carolina Historical Society and the Historic Charleston Foundation Shops is Chalmers Street. The idyllic cobblestone street — which runs for only two blocks — is made of tumbled stone that almost seems too beautiful to drive on when the light hits it just right. Many of the old roads in the historic district are crafted of cobblestone, lest you forget you are in one of America's oldest and most beautiful cities.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
Diagon Alley isn't the only place where one can purchase potions and wizardwear. The discerning wizard often prefers a trip to Hogsmeade Village for gillyweed and robes.
The Hogs Head Tavern — not to be mistaken with the Hog's Breath Saloon — makes the extra trip out to the country worth it every time.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
This huge LEGO creation was just one of many at the Charlotte comic festival, HerosCon. The annual convention has been going on since 1982 and is named for Charlotte's iconic comic shop, "Heros Aren't Hard to Find."
In this case, the hero seems to be Hulk doing what he does best: SMASH!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
These vines climb outside Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. I've never asked anybody for the backstory to the hops. I'm assuming they are more than a really cool decoration and that there is an intention to harvest the buds when they appear on these vines and create a homegrown beer.
I'm not not sure if the number of vines would be sufficient for brewing to scale. It's more likely a batch for some test brews with scale to follow if they are successful. They may also be trying their hand at breeding a hybrid, although that is way beyond my scope of knowledge if they are.
I think I need to ask for more details the next time I pay them a visit. If you have any first-hand knowledge, please drop it in the comments below!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
I took this photograph before the Norway World Showcase became Arendelle, but I have to admit I'm excited to go back and see the renovations that Anna and Elsa have made. I took this while we were waiting for lunch at Akershush, which was a ton of fun for the kids.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
This is a view from the top of Beech Mountain. All of the little bits of road that you see are connected — they form the Beech Mountain Parkway as it traverses its way up the mountain.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.