- In Thurston County, Washington, mysterious mounded landforms create a wavy surface at the 637-acre Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve (NAP). This fascinating geological phenomenon will likely leave you wondering, “How did these mounds form?” Don’t worry, you’re not the only person asking this question. Researchers are also puzzled. For many, the appeal is more than the mystery—it’s the views and picturesque hikes. As you wander the trails of this secluded natural area, the raw beauty of the landscape will consume your senses. Enjoy views of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens to the east, and the green hills of Capitol State Forest to the west. In the spring, purple camas flowers speckle the lush green grass that blankets these puzzling landforms. Come visit the Mima mounds and see what theory you come up with while enjoying this beautiful Washington natural area.
- San José, Costa Rica (Wikipedia)
San José (Spanish: [saŋ xoˈse]; meaning “Saint Joseph”) is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is in the center of the country, in the mid-west of the Central Valley, within San José Canton. San José is Costa Rica’s seat of national government, focal point of political and economic activity, and major transportation hub. San José Canton’s population was 288,054 in 2011, and San José’s municipal land area is 44.2 square kilometers (17.2 square miles), with an estimated 333,980 residents in 2015. Together with several other cantons of the central valley, including Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago, it forms the country’s Greater Metropolitan Area, with an estimated population of over 2 million in 2017. The city is named in honor of Joseph of Nazareth.