Special Sub-Topic: Oh, The Places You'll Go! Click Here To Play: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

You travel up to Windsor, Ontario in Canada. From there you continue due north, and cross a wide river. Suddenly you realize you have left Canada and now find yourself in a foreign land. Where are you?

Detroit, Michigan. The banks of the Detroit River are one of the few places where a US citizen can dip 'south of the border' and get a Molson instead of a Corona. So technically Windsor is south of Detroit!

You have decided to go where all the people are! This city's population ranks in the millions. And by most accounts, it has been a major population center longer than most places in North America have been places. Even before Columbus discovered America! (Hint: think south...way south).

Mexico City, Mexico. Yes, Mexico is fully part of North America (remember NAFTA?)! The area that is now Mexico City was populated by numerous ancient civilizations going back centuries to when Manhattan had more deer than people.

You have just climbed one of Colorado's Fourteeners. A 'Fourteener' is:

A mountain at least 14 thousand feet in elevation. There are 53 mountains higher than 14,000 feet in Colorado (that also have at least 300 feet of prominence). The highest is Mt Elbert at 14,440 ft. If you climb all 53, you will win a strong heart and a great set of lungs! (There was a gold rush in 1814? I didn't get the memo!).

You are sailing on the breathtakingly beautiful Great Lakes (you lucky dog). As you reach port at the east end of Lake Superior, you don't want your speech to give you away as a tourist. Quickly, which word is not pronounced exactly the same as the others up there?

Sew. "Sue" is my buddy John's wife. She pronounces her name the same as the "Sioux" Indians out on the great plains, and the same as the first word in "Sault Ste Marie" which refers to either of two port cities at the east end of lake Superior. One is in Michigan and one is in Ontario. The locals pronounce both names "Soo Saint MarEE". You should too!

You are in a raft shooting down the Colorado River where it carved the glorious Grand Canyon. As the water in the coursing rapid continues its journey, where will most of it eventually flow into the sea?

Most of the water doesn't make it to the sea as part of this river. Sadly, the needs of major cities and farming in the southwest take up virtually all of the water of the once mighty Colorado River. After 1,400 miles of travel from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, only a trickle at best makes it to the Gulf of California.

You take off in your Piper Cub from Havana, Cuba with a load of good cigars and a bunch of Cuban customs officials hot on your tail. You know you just want to get far, far away to the north, so you take a compass bearing due north and hit full throttle. What US City can you shoot for that is 1,200 miles due north of Havana?

Columbus, Ohio. Columbus? Yup, Columbus. Now you should spend less time smuggling contraband and more time studying your geography!

At 6,288 feet, Mt Washington is famous for its high winds and sudden changes of weather up top. As you hike up the mountain, the view is so stunning you forget for a moment even where you are. So...where ARE you?

New Hampshire. They once clocked the wind up there going 231 miles per hour--a one-time world record. Where's a speed cop when you need one?

You are now skiing in the mountains just outside of beautiful Salt Lake City, high up in the great state of Utah. If your great-great-grandfather had visited the first Mormon pioneers in this same location back in 1847, he would have been visiting a territory owned by which country?

Mexico. The United States annexed a large amount of territory from Mexico as part of the settlement of the Mexican American war in 1848, including what is now the state of Utah and of Salt Lake City. 'Ciudad El Lago De Sal' doesn't really roll off the tongue anyway.

You are visiting Canada, and want to be able to speak the language and fit in. You know that Canada, as a nation, is bi-lingual. But every individual province has chosen either English or French as their official language. That is, every province but one. What is the only Canadian Province that is formally bi-lingual, and recognizes both English and French as official languages?

New Brunswick. Most provinces chose English. Quebec uses French. Either is appropriate in New Brunswick.

Congratulations! It took you four months, but you have completed the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail! You walked all the way from Georgia to this beautiful secluded mountain in the wilds of Maine. So kick off your hiking boots, check yourself for ticks, and relax to enjoy the beauty of nature up on ___. (Fill in the blank).

Mount Katahdin. Now don't expect any huge vistas, mind you. I'm told it's just a spot in the middle of a pretty dense forest. And some day I hope to go see for myself. Some day...