Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa

Built in 1894 and completed in 1898, Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa was originally devised by three German immigrants who wanted a faster link between Heritage Hill and Burlington's downtown business district. Because of the steep grade, the road was made to wind down the hill with bricks laid at an angle so horses had better footing as they descended. San Francisco's iconic Lombard Street has a few more turns in it, but Ripley's Believe It, Or Not! once recognized Snake Alley as the 'Crookedest Street in the World'.
 

Mississippi River

Newport Beach, California

A few visual highlights from Newport Beach in Orange County, California.

Manyberries Train Station in Alberta

Originally built in 1917, the former train station in Manyberries, Alberta is now a private family residence. The Canadian Pacific Railway operated this remote line in southern Alberta as primarily a grain gathering branch, however it closed in the 1980s and the rails were later removed in the 1990s. I followed up on an invitation to come down and explore this uniquely restored property, and was amazed by all of the rail history that still resides here.