FYI.....
If you tried to take the travel personality quiz in this post from a week or so ago and found that the link didn't work, please try again. I've fixed it. Apologies.
If you tried to take the travel personality quiz in this post from a week or so ago and found that the link didn't work, please try again. I've fixed it. Apologies.
I came across this Plog Travel Personality Quiz, which can tell you -- based on your responses to a page of questions -- what type of traveler you are.
Yes, I know that geography isn't always a priority in the American education system. But seriously, you don't want to end up one day on a stage or in a job interview looking like poor Miss South Carolina did at the Miss Teen USA pageant. (See this video)
She did put together a geography quiz after the fact, which you can try here. I'll tell you, some of those questions were pretty hard. I only got 4 out of 7 right.
I'm so ashamed, I might just go home and hang my head over my atlas now.
Post a comment and share how you did.
...Atlantic City, NJ.
The country's first boardwalk was built at the popular vacation spot in 1870 as a way to help keep sand out of hotels along the beach. (Although in my experience, nothing can keep sand from getting into anything and everything that comes near it.)
Today, the Atlantic City boardwalk stretches for nearly 4.5 miles.
And so Carmen upholds her reputation for being a "supergeekknowitall." :) Congratulations!
If you want to know more about the history of the boardwalk in Atlantic City, look here or here.
I wasn't surprised by the Coney Island guesses though... I've never been there, but to me, it seems more legendary that Atlantic City and so an obvious guess.
Anyone who frequents the Jersey Shore or Ocean City, Md., knows that besides the sun, sand and waves, the main attraction at the beach is on the boards.
But did you know that the boardwalk wasn't named for the planks of wood the walk is made from?
Of course not. That would be too easy.
Just this weekend, I learned it was named for railroad conductor Alexander Boardman, who got tired of all the sand in his train's seat cushions when passengers took off their shoes on the trip home from the beach.
The country's first boardwalk was built in 1870.
Without doing a Google search, calling a friend or otherwise cheating, post a comment and tell me where it was. Bonus points if you know how long this boardwalk is today.
... in U.S. geography after the Friday-afternoon pop quiz of a few weeks ago, let's move south of the equator and see how well you do at identifying South American nations on this map.
If you guys do well enough with South America, maybe we can move to the more challenging Eastern European and African maps?
C'mon, I know you can do it!
After you take the quiz, post your score in the comments section and tell us what was hardest or easiest.
(Yes, I put myself to the test already. I did better with South America than the U.S.! But then again, fewer countries there than states in the U.S. Plus, I lived in Venezuela for a summer, so I got to know those tricky three at the top.)
If you didn't try your hand at the US quiz, you can find that post under the "Quick Quizzes" category of the drop-down menu on the right.
...our winner is none other than Annie Swade, with her amazing memory for random facts!
She got the answer right on: the Susquehanna River travels for 444 miles from its headwaters in New York to the Chesapeake Bay. 444 -- now that's a nice orderly number that someone like me, who likes orderly things, can really remember. :)
In case you want another bit of trivia about the river, it's the longest one on the American east coast.
And it looks pretty darn beautiful early in the morning or late in the evening when you're looking south from Highpoint in York County, or across at the Harrisburg skyline and the many bridges (from the West Shore in Cumberland County).
Each July 4, the city of Harrisburg explodes fireworks over the river and boaters hit the water to watch from below. This year, I watched from Negley Park in Lemoyne. It was pretty impressive.
After spending parts of the past two days on or near the Susquehanna River for stories I'm working on, I have a fun, river-related pop quiz for all my readers.
How long is the Susquehanna River?
As always, no cheating, no Googling, no asking a friend. Just pick a number and post it in the comments.
Hint: It's in the hundreds.
Hint No. 2: The river starts in New York State, runs through Pennsylvania and empties into the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
I'll announce the answer and the winner tomorrow.
I'll admit it.
I'm a nerd when it comes to geography.
I once spent an entire summer filling a three-ring binder with information about every country on the map: Capital city, major languages, relgions, literacy rates, largest imports and exports, flags. I studied it obsessively, intent on winning the local geography bee that fall.
Finish reading 'How do you measure up?' »
... Mali! (a country in northwest Africa)
In the 12th century, Timbuktu was the crossroads of the four most important caravan paths supplying the Arab world. It was the site of one of the earliest universities. Most recently, it was on the list of 21 finalists to be named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Speaking of the new seven wonders, here's a story from Saturday's 7-7-07 announcement of the new seven.
I agree with most, but take issue with a couple.
Where is the legendary Timbuktu?
Post your guess/answer in the comments, and I'll tell you the answer on Monday.
No cheating and googling it!
Comments (0)