The tallest sand dune in America is in Great Sand Dunes National Monument outside of Alamosa. This bizarre 46,000-acre landscape of 700-foot sand peaks was the creation of ocean waters and wind more than one million years ago.Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument near Cripple Creek is a lesson in history set in the one-time shadow of the Guffey Volcano. The volcano erupted millions of years ago, creating fossils and leaving the valley filled with petrified trees.Dove Creek is the “Pinto Bean” capital of the world.About St. Patrickís DayThe first St. Patrickís Day parade wasnít held in Ireland, but in New York. Irish soldiers serving in the British army threw a parade to celebrate the holiday in 1762. These days, cities all over have parades full of traditional music and dance.From 1903 to 1961, bars in Ireland were all closed on St. Patrickís Day for religious reasons. Can you imagine St. Patrickís Day without a pint of beer?St. Patrick was actually British, with Roman parents. He was born in Wales or Scotland, not Ireland.Lots of cities throw quite the party on St. Patrickís Day, but no one does it likeChicago. On the day of the parade, at 9:15 a.m., the†Plumbers Local hop on boats and dye the Chicago River an electric green color. Itís quite the sight†to see, but it only takes 25 pounds of the dye to turn the entire river green for a few hours.
