Ryan's MINI travels the world
Ryan's MINI has embarked on countless amazing adventures! Discover more about some of the most interesting and exciting locations it has explored.
MOAI STATUES - EASTER ISLAND, CHILE
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is a Polynesian island in the SE Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park. Polynesian people settled on Easter Island in the first millennium CE, and created a thriving culture, as evidenced by the moai and other artifacts. However, human activity, the introduction of the Polynesian rat and overpopulation led to gradual deforestation and extinction of natural resources, which caused the demise of the Rapa Nui civilization. MORE INFO
MACHU PICCHU - PERU
Machu Picchuis a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupiccu District in Peru. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley which is 50 miles northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologiests believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450, but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. MORE INFO
THE GREAT PYRAMID AT GIZA - EGYPT
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. Based on a mark in an interior chamber naming the work gang and a reference to fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb over a 10 to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. Initially at 481 ft., the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. MORE INFO
THE DEAD SEA - JORDAN
The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are 423 metres (1,388 ft) below sea level Earth's lowest elevation on land. The Dead Sea is 377 m (1,237 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. With 33.7% salinity, it is also one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish, hence its name. Biblically, the Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David. MORE INFO
PETRA - JORDAN
Petra (stone) is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma’an that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Established possibly as early as 312 BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourist attraction. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah, the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. MORE INFO
SUMMIT OF MT EVEREST - NEPAL
At 3 am Nepal time on March 26, 2012, Jon Kedrowski and his Sherpa Jangbu successfully summited Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth. Jon reported, "I have great news! I took Ryan's car to the top of Everest! While I don't have a summit photo with the car, I can say that I always kept that car in my pack, and it touched the top of the world. The Car was blessed by the Puja, so that it would be safe for the entire expedition!". Jon explained that he sought to reach the summit not only for himself but but for his family, friends and those who will never have the same opportunity, "It’s for the Little Girl Ryan Marie who passed away too early in life". MORE INFO
AYERS ROCK “ULURU” - CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Ayers Rock is one of Australia's most recognizable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 1,142 ft high with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 5.8 mi. Ayers Rock is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Ayers Rock is listed as a World Heritage Site and is notable for appearing to change color at different times of the day and year, most notably glowing red at dawn and sunset. MORE INFO
LOVER LOCKS ON MT. HUANGSHAN “YELLOW MOUNTAIN” - SOUTH CENTRAL CHINA
On Mt. Huangshan, you may see lots of concentric lover locks on the guard bars and iron chains. On locking the concentric locks, lovers will throw the key into the cliff, then, their love will be forever existing, never leave each other. With the witness of blue sky, white clouds, and beautiful Mt. Huangshan, the couples’ love must be immortal. Except for the concentric lover locks for people’s immortal love, there are also locks for a family’s happiness and locks for a kid’s health. People put the concentric locks on Mt. Huangshan, wishing for love, happiness, health, etc. No matter it is new or old; each concentric lock has an impressive story. MORE INFO
THE BIG MUSKIE - McCONNELSVILLE, OHIO
"Big Muskie" was once the World's Largest Earth Moving Machine. Weighing nearly 13,000 metric tons and standing nearly 22 stories tall. What remains today is a monstrous metal bucket. Big Muskie was the world's largest dragline, and one of the world's largest mobile earth-moving machines. Built in 1969, Big Muskie could move 39 million pounds of earth and rock every hour, revealing rich coal seams 100-150 feet down in southeastern Ohio. BM could swing its boom 600 feet, creeping across the landscape on four giant shoes. The immense dragline machine was at full production until 1991, when power demands convinced the owners to shut down. MORE INFO
FENWAY PARK - BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
The home of the Boston Red Sox resounds with the echoes of great baseball players. Fenway Park is actually the second home for the Sox. In 1901, the Boston Pilgrims became one of the charter members of the American League. The Pilgrims played ball at the Huntington Ave. Grounds. General Charles Henry Taylor, a Civil War veteran, bought the team for his son John I. Taylor in 1904. In 1907, owner Taylor changed the club's name from the Pilgrims to the Red Sox. In 1910, Taylor said he would build a new ballpark for his Red Sox. Taylor dubbed the new ballpark Fenway Park because of its location in the Fenway section of Boston. MORE INFO
CADILLAC RANCH - AMARILLO, TEXAS
The Cadillac Ranch, located along the tatters of historic Route 66, was built in 1974, brainchild of Stanley Marsh 3, the helium millionaire who owns the dusty wheat field where it stands. Marsh and The Ant Farm, a San Francisco art collective, assembled used Cadillacs representing the "Golden Age" of American Automobiles (1949 through 1963). The ten graffiti-covered cars are half-buried, nose-down, facing west "at the same angle as the Cheops' pyramids." The Cadillac Ranch influenced subsequent artistic works wrought in Detroit metal. Witness Alliance, NE's over-the-top Carhenge and Berwyn, IL's Cars on a Spike.
SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON’S GRAVE - GRYTVIKEN, ISLAND OF SOUTH GEORGIA
Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. His first voyage of the polar regions was in 1901. He was nighted by King Edward VII as a hero. Shackleton's death marked the end of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, a period of discovery characterized by journeys of geographical and scientific exploration in a largely unknown continent, without any of the benefits of modern travel methods or radio communication. His wife chose to have him buried in South Georgia. MORE INFO
‘PELE’ KILAUEA VOLCANO - THE BIG ISLAND, HAWAII
Kīlauea is the home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Hawaiian chants and oral traditions tell in veiled form of many eruptions fomented by an angry Pele before the first European, the missionary Rev. William Ellis, saw the summit in 1823. The caldera was the site of nearly continuous activity during the 19th century and the early part of this century. Since 1952 there have been 34 eruptions, and since January 1983 eruptive activity has been continuous along the east rift zone. All told, Kīlauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and may even top the list. MORE INFO
GIANTS CAUSEWAY - COUNTY ANTRIM, IRELAND
The Giants Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Radio Times readers rated the Giants Causeway as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 meters high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 meters think. Today, the Giants Causeway is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland MORE INFO
THE STANLEY HOTEL - ESTES PARK, COLORADO
The Giants Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Radio Times readers rated the Giants Causeway as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 meters high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 meters think. Today, the Giants Causeway is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland MORE INFO
HA LONG BAY - VIETNAM
Ha Long literally means descending dragon(s) and according to local myth: Long ago when their forefathers were fighting foreign invaders from the north, the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend their land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long bay and began spitting out jewels and jade. Upon hitting the sea, these jewels turned into the various islands and islets dotting the seascape and formed a formidable fortress against the invaders. The locals were able to keep their land safe and formed what is now the country of Vietnam. The Dragon family fell so much in love with this area for its calm water and for the reverence of the people of Vietnam that they decided to remain on earth. MORE INFO
GENTOO PENGUIN - ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
The Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua, is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of its head. Adult Gentoos reach a height of 20-36 in. making them the largest penguins outside of the two giant species, the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin. Gentoos breed on many sub-antarctic islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs. Nests are usually made from a rough circular pile of stones. Gentoos live mainly on crustaceans such as krill, with fish making up only about 15% of their diet. MORE INFO
BAIKONUR COSMODROME - REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the oldest and largest space launch facility in the world. Its located in the desert steppes of Kazakhstan, about 124 mi. east of the Aral Sea and is managed jointly by the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Russian Space Forces. The first manmade satellite to orbit the Earth was launched from here. This site has been the source of all manned Soviet and CIS launches and of most lunar, planetary, and geostationary orbit launches. During the temporary lapse of the US Space Shuttle program after the Columbia disaster in 2003, it played an essential role in operating and resupplying the International Space Station with Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. MORE INFO
ROME’S GREAT LIBRARY - EPHESUS’, TURKEY
The Ephesus Library was situated to the south of the Agora. This elegant monument was built in AD 135 by Julius Aquila in memory of his father, Celsus Polemaeanus of Sardis, Roman Senator and Proconsul of the province of Asia. The grave of Celsus was beneath the ground floor, covered by a statue of Athena the goddess of the wisdom. Scrolls of manuscripts were kept in cupboards in niches on the walls. There were double walls behind the bookcases to prevent the them from the extremes of temperature and humidity. The capacity of the library was more than 12,000 scrolls. It was the third richest library in ancient times after the Alexandra and Pergamum. MORE INFO
THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON - SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, NC
The Tail of the Dragon, also known as Deals Gap or just the Dragon, is considered by many as one of the world's best motorcycling and sports car roads. Anyone looking for an exciting piece of asphalt will enjoy this stretch of US 129 at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line. The Dragon has a notorious past. Much of the route was originally just an animal track worn down by large herds of buffalo and then used by native American Cherokee Indians for centuries. The Dragon has 318 curves in only 11 miles & draws driving and riding enthusiasts from all over the world. The Dragon is not forgiving and some who pushed the limits paid the price, but if done right the Dragon is a must ride for any car no matter how small. MORE INFO
DISNEY’S CASTAWAY CAY ISLAND - BAHAMAS
Castaway Cay is a private island or "out island" in the Bahamas which serves as an exclusive port of call for the Disney Cruise Line Ship Disney Magic. It is located at near Great Abaco Island, and was formerly known as Gorda Cay. It is owned in full by The Walt Disney Company, giving them substantial control over the experience of visitors to the island. Gorda Cay has also been used for filming; the beach where Tom Hanks first encounters Daryl Hannah in Splash is on the island. The island is developed in the theme of a castaway community, with buildings made to look as if they had been improvised after a shipwreck. The pirate ghost ship, The Flying Dutchman, from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest has landed and made Disney's Castaway Cay its new home. MORE INFO
SANTA FE LOCOMOTIVE NO. 3759 - KINGMAN, ARIZONA
Presented to the city of Kingman as an historical monument by the Santa Fe Railroad in 1967. This "Mountain Type" coal-burning steam locomotive was built in 1927. No. 3759 was on the passenger run between Los Angeles and Kansas City for many years, making ten round trips monthly. Average east-bound speed was 54.3 MPH; west-bound 60.2 MPH. Kingman was a "water stop" on the east-bound run. No. 3759 traveled a total of 2,585,600 miles during its years of service and made the final steam powered run form Los Angeles to Barstow in 1953. MORE INFO
PARTHENON - GREECE
The Parthenon (Παρθενών) is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, built in the 5th century BC on the Athenian Acropolis. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order, one of the three Greek organizational systems. Its decorative sculptures are considered one of the high points of Greek art.. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy, and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. MORE INFO
“THE THREE SISTERS” - NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
The legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe. These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters. As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come. MORE INFO
JFK MEMORIAL - DALLAS TEXAS
Although the body of President John F. Kennedy lies in the National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., beneath an eternal flame, the Kennedy Memorial in Dallas commemorates his life. This square, spacious, roofless room, called a centograph, symbolizes the freedom of Kennedy's spirit. Inside the room, a coarse granite square bears the name John Fitzgerald Kennedy in gilded letters. This scant verbal inscription inspires reverence and reflection. The JFK Memorial is the first memorial by famed American architect, Philip Johnson. The monument was approved by Jackie Kennedy herself. MORE INFO
SOYUZ ROCKET - BAIKONUR KAZAKHSTAN
The Soyuz TMA-13 capsule carrying American computer game millionaire Richard Garriott soared into a clear sky atop a Russian rocket as the latest paying space traveler's family watched from a viewing platform. Garriot dreamed of being a NASA astroanaut but poor eyesight ended his hopes. He paid $30M to make the flight. Also aboard were U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov. MORE INFO
THE AWAKENING - NATIONAL HARBOR MARYLAND
The Awakening is a 100-foot statue of a giant embedded in the earth, struggling to free himself. It was created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr and originally installed in 1980 for the International Sculpture Conference. The statue consists of five separate pieces buried in the ground, giving the impression of a panicked giant trying to pull himself to the surface. Although its Natl. Park Svc. "temporary permit" had long expired, the statue proved so popular that it remained for 27 years at the southern end of Hains Point in Washington DC. It was moved in 2008 to the National Harbor in Prince Georges County, MD. MORE INFO
PENTAGON 9/11 MEMORIAL - ARLINGTON VIRGINIA
The Pentagon Memorial, located just SW of The Pentagon, is a permanent outdoor memorial for those 184 killed in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001 at 9:37 am. Dana Falkenberg was just three years old, the youngest of the Pentagon victims. Dana, her Mother, Father and sister Zoe were traveling on Flight 77 en route to Australia. David Laychek, who also passed away in the 9/11 attacks grew up just around the corner from Ryan’s Mom. We will never forget. MORE INFO
NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE - BAVARIAN GERMANY
Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill near Fussen in southwest Bavaria Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner, the King’s inspiring muse. The Castle is one of Germany’s most photographed buildings as well as one of the most popular tourist destinations. Ludwig did not allow visitors, but since its opening in 1886, over 50 million people have visited the Castle. The palace has appeared in several movies, and was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland Park. MORE INFO
US AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET CHAPEL - NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS CO
The USAF Academy Cadet Chapel, completed in 1962, is the distinguishing feature of the Cadet Area at the USAF Academy. Originally controversial in its design, the Cadet Chapel has become a classic and highly regarded example of modernist architecture. The structure is a tubular steel frame with seventeen spires and 100 identical tetrahedrons. Each tetrahedron is spaced one foot apart creating gaps that are filled with colored glass. The Cadet Chapel was designed specifically to house three distinct worship areas under one roof, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths. MORE INFO
BEN’S CHILI BOWL - U STREET WASHINGTON DC
Ben's Chili Bowl was founded in 1958 by husband and wife team Ben and Virginia Ali. The building they chose was that of Washington's first silent movie house, the Minnehaha, est. in 1911. At the time, Washington was officially segregated, and U Street was known as "Black Broadway." Many jazz greats of the day, such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, & Nat King Cole, would stop by the restaurant when they performed at U Street clubs. In 1968, U St. was devastated by the ’68 riots following MLK’s assassination, Ben’s Chilli bowl was asked to stay open to feed the police, firemen and black activists. MORE INFO
VIRGINIA TECH MEMORIAL - BLACKSBURG VA
This memorial to those lost on April 16, 2007, was inspired by a spontaneous arrangement of 32 Hokie Stones-the cornerstone of buildings throughout campus-created by grieving students following the tragedy. Today the memorial stands both as a testimony to the Hokie Spirit and sense of community that arose within all members of the Virginia Tech family, and, more importantly in remembrance of the 32 inquiring minds and inspiring lives that will be forever treasured. “We Will Prevail ~ We Are Virginia Tech” MORE INFO
ZERO MILESTONE - ELLIPSE WASHINGTON DC
The Zero Milestone is a monument located in Washington DC, intended as the initial milestone from which all road distances in the United States should be reckoned when it was built in 1919. At present, only roads in the Washington, D.C. area have distances measured from it. The monument stands just south of the White House at the north edge of the Ellipse, within President’s park. Atop the monument is a bronze 16-point compass rose with a very small worn-down pyramid at its center whose top serves as a National Geodetic Survey benchmark. MORE INFO
‘STEP’ PYRAMID - SAQQARA EGYPT
Across the Great Court of the Pyramid Complex of Djoser (Zoser) (2667 - 2648 BC), the second king of the 3rd Dynasty, stands the Step Pyramid, located close to modern day Cairo. It is believed to have been created by one man, Imhotep. He has been called Doctor, Sage, Architect, Astronomer and High Priest. During an excavation in 1924-26, a pedestal of a statue of Djoser (Zoser) was found. This complex represents the first major work in stone. That is, unless there are other works that have yet to be found. MORE INFO
RYAN’S POND - HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK, ALEXANDRIA VA USA
Ryan’s Pond was created and funded by those who love Ryan and the spirit and sense of exploration that all children posses. Ryan and her Dad spent many afternoons searching for birds, animals and critters in the forest, meadows, and wetlands that reside in Huntley Meadows Park. The pond is the center piece of what will become an outdoor nature learning center. Each year hundreds of children visit Huntley Meadows Park to learn about nature and all of its beauty and majesty. MORE INFO
FLINTSTONE PALACE - CAMP SLAYER, BAGHDAD IRAQ
Due to his grandchildrens love for the 1990’s spin off movie from the classic cartoon series The Flintstone, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered artchitects to create a replica of the Flintstone Village now known as the Flintstone Palace. The enormous play structure is located on a manmade lake. The replica building is complete with fanciful cave-like dwellings, odd-shaped windows, and maze-like walkways. One can almost imagine the wonder and joy of the children when they first saw their new fantasy land. MORE INFO
MOUNT SINAI - SINAI PENINSULA EGYPT
Mount Sinai is a 2285 m-high mountain also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gebel Musa or Jabal Musa ("Moses' Mountain") by the Bedouin. The summit of the mountain has a mosque and a Greek Orthodox chapel (which was constructed in 1934 on the ruins of a 16th century church) neither of which are open to the public. The chapel supposedly encloses the rock from which God made the Tablets of the Law. At the summit also is "Moses' cave" where Moses is supposed to have waited to receive the Ten Commandments. MORE INFO
SWILCAN BRIDGE @ 18TH HOLE, THE OLD COURSE, ST ANDREWS - SCOTLAND
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Swilcan Burn meanders across the first and 18th fairways, and provides the only water hazard on the Old Course before emptying into the North Sea at the Southern end of the West Sands. The little stone bridge (circa 800s), which predates the course, is a small, weathered stone relic of a forgotten pathway used by townsfolk returning from the nearby sea. It is also the only patch of the Old Course upon which you can be absolutely positive almost all of the golf greats of the past have trod. MORE INFO
“ORRY” THE 2006 15TH ASIAN GAMES MASCOT - DOHA QATAR
The mascot of the 2006 Asian Games was ‘Orry”, a Qatari Oryx. Oryx are native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian peninsula. The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia’s Olympic-style sporting event that was held in Doha, Qatar. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games. There were 46 disciplines from 39 events contested. It was the first time that all 45 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia took part in this event. MORE INFO
VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING (VAB) - KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FLORIDA USA
The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is the largest one story building in the world. It was originally built for assembly of Apollo/Saturn manned rockets and was later modified to support US Space Shuttle operations. The VAB covers 8 acres and is 525 ft tall, 716 ft long and 518 ft wide. It encloses 129,428,000 cubic feet of space. One indicator of the building's scale is that each of the stars on the American flag painted on the building is 6 feet across, the blue field is the size of a regulation basketball court, and the stripes are as wide as a standard road lane. MORE INFO
