Travel Thursday!

This week I'm looking at locations "F".  I came up with far fewer places than I thought I would. 



Fiji
This island chain is located in the South Pacific, about 2000 miles NE of New Zealand.  If you've ever seen the movie "Twins", this is where Arnold Schwarzenegger's character was raised.  These are beautiful islands that I hope to visit one day. 

Frankfurt, Germany
This largest city in Germany is also home to one of the world’s busiest international airports.  I've flown through here a couple of times on my way to other destinations.  I haven't seen much of Frankfurt, yet, but here are a few interesting factoids:  Frankfurt is one of only three cities in the European Union that have a significant number of skyscrapers. With 11 skyscrapers, Frankfurt is second behind Paris with 14 skyscrapers, but ahead of London which has 10 skyscrapers.  Also, Frankfurters are named for Frankfurt, the city of their origin, where they are sold and eaten at beer gardens. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Flagstaff, Arizona

This northern Arizona town is located near the Grand Canyon.  It has a much higher elevation than Phoenix, so the summers aren't as hot and winter can often bring snow.  Flagstaff was a main stop on the historic Route 66, a road my family traveled every summer.  Interesting factoid:  This area is known for it's very dark skies.  Due to this unique feature, Flagstaff is home to two major astronomical observatories - Lowell Observatory and the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station.  In 1958, the city council passed the nation's first ordinance governing outdoor lighting.  

One of my favorite buildings in Flagstaff is the train depot.  The station, built by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1926, now doubles as a visitor center and is located among shops, cafes, and boutiques in downtown Flagstaff.

Farmington, New Mexico
Another of my favorite places in New Mexico.  Farmington is located near the Four Corners area, where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico come together.  This area is also known for some fantastic geographic features - most notably Shiprock.  Farmington is also central to many native american tribes, including the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Southern Ute, and Hopi.   There are many things to do in this area, from hiking and skiing, to golf and water sports, fishing and exploring indian ruins.  The landscape is unique in the world, and a place where I truly feel at peace.