1

Block Island, Rhode Island

Image: John Angel

One of the "Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere, as declared by the Nature Conservancy, Block Island has done a great job at preserving its natural beauty, with 40% of its territory being devoted to wildlife refuges.

32 miles of coastline and inland trails, along with beaches, biking, and trekking provide ample opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors. And, when the sun goes down, a healthy scene of bars and restaurants with an easy-going atmosphere and great food welcomes visitors.

2

Alamosa, Colorado

Image: Shelby Cohron

Colorado is not just about ski resorts and mountains, as Alamosa proudly demonstrates. If you head down south in the Centennial State you will find this high-altitude agricultural community mainly known to UFO sightings chasers and birdwatchers.

The town, packed with antique shops and craft breweries, is near the Great Sand Dunes National Park, a surreal place that makes visitors feel as if they were in the Sahara desert. The San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo mountains, also near, provide ideal spots for hiking and exploring during the summer months.

3

Ice Age Trail, Wisconsin

Image: Dave Hoefler

Hiking trails might not look like the most crowded places but they can be—the popular ones, at least. Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail offers 1,200 miles of scenic hiking paths without the heavy foot traffic of places of most known trails.

The trail can be thoroughly enjoyed without the need to traverse it in full, as it has many segments that can be discovered individually. Wooded hills, gorgeous glacial lakes, and plenty of trailside camps and small communities to rest make this trail a great spot for a holiday in nature.

4

Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts

Image: Larry Ferreira

There is much more to Massachusetts than Boston, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires—for example, the Pioneer Valley . Carved by the Connecticut River, this peaceful area is home to several vintage mill cities turned into modern towns full of restaurants and one-off shops.

Hikers can walk the north woods on the New England Trail and Springfield visitors can discover the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where the sport was born in 1891, as well as the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum & Sculpture Garden.

5

John Day Region, Oregon

Image: Anna Vineyard

While it has managed to avoid massive crowds for all of its existence, it's hard to believe that a natural wonder as picturesque as John Day Region will remain a calm place for much longer in this day and age. Take a moment to Google-search John Day Region’ s Painted Hills and you will get the idea.

And if that is not enough reason to make you plan a visit, the region is packed with old-growth rainforests, canyons, high desert plains, and undammed rivers complete with sandy beaches and gorgeous meadows, all in an easy-to-move-around area.

6

Pennsylvania Wilds

Image: Lera Kogan

When considering the abundance of wildlife and untamed mountain creeks, ancient trees of the Forest Cathedral, and Pine Creek’s own version of the Grand Canyon, it becomes clear that the Pennsylvania Wilds is a region that lives up to its name.

Sprawling across a vast expanse of the rugged Allegheny Plateau, the region boasts 29 state parks, two national wild and scenic rivers, a world-class stargazing center at Cherry Springs, and human relics like the Kinzua Bridge.

7

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Image: Drew Harbour

A city that has a ton of amazing things to offer but never appears on those glamorous Top-Cities-To-Visit lists, Tulsa is a hidden jewel of the Midwest. Its beautiful Art Deco architecture, impressive museums and cultural institutions with collections rivaling those of major cities, lively music scene, and craft breweries make it a great long weekend destination.

The best time window to visit would be from September to November when the temperate weather is ideal for walking tours and bike rides in the historic neighborhoods. The Tulsa International Airport has nonstop flights from all over the country, all year long.

8

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia

Image: Parker Hilton

Combining beach fun and outdoor adventure with copious wildlife, Cumberland Island National Seashore receives visits that usually stay for the day. But staying overnight at beachside campgrounds or the Greyfield Inn is a fun adventure as well.

Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island is full of wild horses, sea turtles, wild turkeys, and infinite birds everywhere to be seen along the island’s 18-mile-long beach.

9

Western Tennessee

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

An enticing blend of nature, history, music, and food tells us that there is so much more to Tennessee than the tourist magnet that is Nashville. From the cradle of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll that is Memphis to the historical sites of Shiloh National Military Park and Fort Donelson National Battlefield to the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park that conserves nearly 13,000 acres of rare hardwood bottomland along the Mississippi River, including eerie bald cypress swamp. Western Tennessee is a place to explore.

10

Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas

Image: Oliver Graham

The few visitors who venture past Hot Springs National Park, and into the highlands of west-central Arkansas are rewarded with a haven of solitude and natural wonder in the form of the Ouachita range.

These mountains are ideal for those who like their hiking, camping, and fishing in a peaceful environment. And, if that proves to be too calm, Magazine Mountain is a regional hang-gliding mecca that also boasts amazing mountain biking routes.

1

James Dean’s red jacket in Rebel Without a Cause

Image: visualsofdana

James Dean owned the screen in Rebel Without a Cause while wearing a red Harrington jacket . Jim Stark’s rebellious spirit resonated with a generation of teenagers, turning the jacket into a symbol of youthful defiance. That cool, casual style caught on in the ’50s and influenced menswear for years to come.

2

Tom Cruise’s aviator sunglasses in Top Gun

Image: Nitin Dhumal

When Top Gun soared into theaters in the ’80s, sales of Ray-Ban Aviators took off like a jet fighter, reportedly increasing by 40%. Tom Cruise’s confident Maverick made these shades the ultimate symbol of effortless cool .

The latest installment of the franchise once again led to a surge in sales. Worn by pilots and by pop stars, Aviators remain a classic icon of the tough-guy aesthetic.

3

Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel’s haircut in Friends

Image: Ilse Orsel

"The Rachel" wasn’t just a haircut—it was the haircut. Salons were flooded with requests for Jennifer Aniston’s bouncy, layered style .

The irony? Aniston reportedly hated it. But that didn’t stop an entire generation from chopping their locks in pursuit of sitcom-perfect hair .

4

Nancy Sinatra’s go-go boots

Image: Heriberto Jahir Medina

Nancy Sinatra’s "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’"—along with the groovy go-go dancers on "Laugh-In" —made white go-go boots the must-have footwear of the swinging ’60s.

Fun, fashionable, and full of youthful energy , they became a symbol of the era. Every mod girl needed a pair to complete her look and strut her stuff.

5

Marilyn Monroe’s white dress

Image: Stephen Leonardi

A subway grate, a gust of wind, and boom. One of the most famous dresses in movie history was born. Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white halter dress is still a summer fashion inspiration more than half a century later.

Her signature winged eyeliner, red lips, and the Chanel No. 5 she allegedly wore to bed were also picked up by women all over the world.

6

Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat & suits

Image: Florida Memory

Jackie Kennedy’s impeccable style captivated the nation. Her elegant suits and perfectly perched pillbox hats turned heads with every public appearance.

Women everywhere sought to emulate her sophisticated, polished look, turning the First Lady into an unexpected fashion icon.

7

Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair in Charlie’s Angels

Image: Flybynight

An example of one poster that became one million salon appointments. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered waves became the ultimate hair trend of the 1970s, thanks to Charlie’s Angels.

Women flocked to salons, armed with cans of hairspray and dreams of achieving the perfect Farrah flip.

8

Madonna’s lace gloves & layered bracelets

Image: Paolo Sbalzer

Madonna was as much a fashion icon as she was a music sensation. During her Like a Virgin era in the ‘80s , she introduced a bold new style: layered rubber bracelets, rosary beads, lace gloves, and a rebellious attitude. Young girls everywhere embraced her edgy, playful look, making it a defining trend of the decade.

9

Run-D.M.C.’s Adidas sneakers

Image: Rahul Shah

No laces? No problem. Run-D.M.C. turned Adidas shell-toe sneakers into hip-hop royalty . Their song "My Adidas" made the brand explode, and suddenly sneakers with the three stripes were everywhere. Comfortable, stylish, and effortlessly cool—now that’s a trend anyone could get behind.

10

Reese's Pieces in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Image: FlyD

Did you know that in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , the beloved alien was originally supposed to be obsessed with M&Ms, not Reese’s Pieces ? Luckily for the latter, Mars turned down the offer to feature their product in a Spielberg movie.

The result? After the movie’s massive success, sales of Reese’s Pieces skyrocketed by 65%. A perfect example of how sweet product placement can be.

11

Etch-a-Sketch in Toy Story

Image: Nong

Sure, Toy Story featured dozens of different toys, but one classic that had been around for decades experienced a major resurgence after the movie’s release.

The Etch A Sketch saw a spike in sales in the ’90s, thanks to its memorable cameo in the Pixar movie. Maybe kids were drawn to its simple shake-and-draw magic , or perhaps parents couldn’t resist a wave of nostalgia.

12

Kurt Cobain’s grunge look

Image: Ralph Rabago

Kurt Cobain didn’t dress for the cameras or the music industry, yet he defined an iconic style in the ’90s. His thrift-store flannels, ripped jeans , and round sunglasses became the uniform of a generation.

Ironically, the grunge aesthetic—born from a rejection of mainstream fashion—became one of the decade’s biggest trends.

1

Pictionary

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Who hasn’t played Pictionary at least once in their life? The whole gameplay boils down to drawing a picture so that others can guess what it is. It’s like "charades" with drawings instead of actions.

While this is a board game, the board itself is the least important part of the game. The only things that matter are the drawings and how people guess what they are. Anybody of any age can get into the game and have a good time.

2

Game of Life

Image: Jaciel Melnik

One of the most popular board games of all time, the Game of Life, was created in 1960. The idea is that you want to end the game with more assets than anyone else. The basic gameplay involves spinning the spinner and making a handful of key decisions at intersections. It is in those moments that you influence which way your "life" will turn out.

The whole game is, like life itself, very luck-driven and not very strategic. This game laid the groundwork for many modern, narrative-driven games.

3

Clue

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Clue was the first mass-market game to make bluffing and deduction an explicit part of the game. During gameplay, you’re always trying to analyze your opponents’ moves and react accordingly.

A game that spawned a million more games, Clue takes its participants on a journey to solve a murder using a series of clues given throughout the session. Even if you never played it (and chances are that you have), you know it.

4

Chutes And Ladders

Image: Biao Xie

Chutes and Ladders was inspired by an ancient Indian board game that originated around the year 200 BC. The game is luck-driven; there is no strategic element to either the ancient or the modern version.

Just like in The Game of Life, the gameplay involves spinning a spinner and advancing the specified amount of spaces it indicates. Ladders move you up higher on the board, and chutes drop you down to lower spaces.

5

Risk

Image: Dave Photoz

Risk has one of the most recognizable boards of any board game, with its colorful map divided into strange countries. The focus is set on one of the oldest of human ambitions: to conquer the world.

It is not the kind of game you want to play if you only have a few minutes to spare, since the entire gameplay can take up to a few hours. But, if you have the time and at least one other player, it is well worth it.

6

Trivial Pursuit

Image: Claudia Wolff

If answering questions about different topics of general human knowledge is your thing, then Trivial Pursuit is definitely your game. The board itself is not the center of the game. It serves the purpose of marking which theme must be answered in each turn and where each player is in the gameplay.

Some prefer the questions about sports, while others hope to get the questions about culture. But there is always something for everyone.

7

Scrabble

Image: John Benitez

Another well-known board game, Scrabble is the foundation of just about every word-based tabletop game that has come since its first appearance in 1948. In this game, the pieces you work with are thrown into a bag and doled out by random chance.

You can make maneuvers to benefit yourself and to block others, but the real advantage is in the hands of those with a strong vocabulary and a good memory to recall the words at the right time.

8

Checkers

Image: Gabriel Meinert

A game so simple that it can be played and enjoyed by children, Checkers is a very straightforward strategy game, similar to Chess in some aspects (especially the board) but simpler in many others.

The gameplay, intended for two players, involves forward movements of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces.

9

Monopoly

Image: Joshua Hoehne

Another all-time modern classic, Monopoly shares a similar objective as the previously mentioned The Game of Life: finishing the game with the most properties and money possible.

Monopoly has many themed versions and variants, including popular culture themes, and digital versions. But the gist in all of them is: roll the dice, buy properties, pay rent to other players, and pray not to land on Boardwalk or Parkway Avenue, especially if there are hotels (unless you own those two).

10

Chess

Image: Randy Fath

Let us finish this list with the Game of Kings itself, Chess : the best-selling game of all time, played by countless generations across the globe. Learning the basic moves is simple; mastering them is something different altogether.

Whether you are an advanced player, an aficionado, or someone who is considering learning it, Chess is good for you. It provides excellent exercise for your brain, infinite hours of fun, and can be played at any age.