15 Incredible Travel Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
World’s Best Destinations – Japan tops Michelin-star list
Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants (226) than any other city in the world, with 11 restaurants boasting a three-star rating. Japan as a whole is home to 668 Michelin-starred restaurants, with Osaka and Kyoto coming 3rd and 4th on the Michelin Star list, behind Paris. www.japan.travel/en/uk
World’s Best Destinations – Comic-Con began in San Diego
World renowned comic book convention, Comic-Con, began in San Diego. Launched in 1970, it was attended by just 100 people. Today, more than 130,000 people attend Comic-Con every year and there are conventions held in cities around the world. www.sandiego.org
World’s Best Destinations – Valencia is home to the Holy Grail
Although there are hundreds vying for the title of home to the Holy Grail, Valencia tops the list having been recognised by the Vatican. Spain’s third city is one of the world’s ‘Eight Holy Cities’ and the ‘City of the Holy Grail’ with two popes having held mass in Valencia with the chalice. One of humanity’s most sought-after treasures, the Holy Grail is believed to be the cup used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. www.visitvalencia.com/en
World’s Best Destinations – The Everglades is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live together
Florida’s Everglades National Park – one of the world’s most unique ecosystems – is home to over 200 different species of birds, manatees, dolphins, and is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles live together. www.paradisecoast.com
World’s Best Destinations – The Statue of Liberty can fit inside this California cave
Discovered by miners in 1851, the Moaning Caverns in Yosemite’s Tuolumne County has the largest single cave chamber in California and is big enough to hold the entire Statue of Liberty. The Spiral Chamber Tour leads visitors into the marble deposit of the Calaveras Formation for 165 feet. www.visittuolumne.com
World’s Best Destinations – Pittsburgh has the one of the steepest streets in the US
Contrary to popular belief, Canton Avenue located in the Beechview neighbourhood, Pittsburgh, holds the title of the steepest official recorded public street in the US. www.visitpittsburgh.com
World’s Best Destinations – Denver, Colorado has more live music venues than Austin, Texas
Colorado’s capital of Denver has more live music venues than Austin, Texas. The city alone buys more second-market tickets than anywhere else in the world. www.colorado.com
World’s Best Destinations – Greater Palm Springs is home to the world’s largest rotating tramcars
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway operates the world’s largest rotating tramcars, and the eight-minute ride up from the desert floor to the mountain station is one of the steepest ascents in the world. www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
World’s Best Destinations – The world’s only vineyard exclusively accessible by boat
The Islands of Tahiti is home to one of the first vineyards in the South Pacific. The world exclusive Vin de Tahiti is produced by Domaine Dominique Auroy, a one of a kind vineyard that grows vines on the Rangiroa atoll and is only accessible by boat. www.tahititourisme.uk
World’s Best Destinations – West Hollywood: Origin of the Go-Go Dancers
West Hollywood’s lively and progressive culture scene nurtured monumental changes in music and entertainment. It was also the invention site of a common fixture at dance clubs: the go-go dancer. Specifically, the infamous and still-running Whiskey a Go Go club brought this form of amusement to the world. www.visitwesthollywood.com
World’s Best Destinations – Sacramento originated underground
Sacramento’s original city is actually underground. In 1862, Sacramento was hit by a massive storm and the subsequent flooding ended up being among the worst in California’s recorded history. Whilst most left, many locals stayed behind to persevere and work on raising the streets (literally). This ended up creating underground spaces and walkways that are more than nine feet below ground. www.visitsacramento.com
World’s Best Destinations – Yosemite sparked the idea of National Parks
Twenty-six years before it was a national park, President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant on 30 June 1864, protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley. It was the first time the government protected land because of its natural beauty so people could enjoy it. www.yosemite.com
World’s Best Destinations – There’s a vineyard or winery for every 70 people in Slovenia
It might be a small country but in total Slovenia has around 22,300 hectares of vineyards. Whilst also having more than 28,000 wineries which translates to 80-90 million litres of wine being produced annually. This equates to a vineyard or winery for every 70 people. www.slovenia.info/en
World’s Best Destinations – Seattle has more UFO sightings than anywhere else in the country
Surpassing the most famous extraterrestrial destinations such as New Mexico, Area 51 and the ‘UFO Highway’, Seattle is said to have more sightings of alien transport than any other place in the country. In total they’ve had 78.2 sightings per 100,000 people. www.visitseattle.org
World’s Best Destinations – California has pink snow
In the summer months, California’s Sierra Nevada surprises and delights visitors with its magnificent “watermelon snow.” As a result of microscopic algae, pink-tinted snow drapes the mountains, and some even say it smells and tastes just like watermelon. www.visitcalifornia.com
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