XPost: van.general   
   From: gregcarrsober@gmail.com   
      
   (CNN) -- Ever been to Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg,   
   Pennsylvania?   
   How about the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg,   
   Russia?   
   If not, you're missing out on two of the world's top 10 landmarks, at   
   least according to TripAdvisor, which on Tuesday released the results of   
   its second Travelers' Choice Attractions Awards.   
   Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel located in Peru, tops the   
   travel website's list of the world's top landmarks.   
   MORE: Peru to tourists: 'Stop getting naked at Machu Picchu   
   The awards list the top landmarks, as well as the top parks, in the   
   world and United States.   
   There are also dedicated lists for Asia, Australia, Canada, China,   
   Europe, India, Mexico, South America, the South Pacific and UK.   
   Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada, is the world's top park, according to   
   the website, followed by the Garden of the Gods in Colorado, which edged   
   out Central Park in New York as the top park in the United States.   
   The awards identify leading travel spots around the world "based on the   
   millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers,"   
   said the travel website in a statement.   
   Vancouver, Canada\'s, Stanley Park took home top honors in the   
   TripAdvisor awards.   
   Vancouver, Canada's, Stanley Park took home top honors in the   
   TripAdvisor awards.   
   "Winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the   
   quantity and quality of reviews for landmark and park attractions   
   worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period."   
   The world landmarks top 10 list includes numerous religious sites,   
   including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. (#2); the Great   
   Cathedral and Mosque in Cordoba, Spain (#4); St. Peter's Basilica in   
   Vatican City (#5) and Bayon Temple at Siem Reap, Cambodia (#7).   
   MORE: 25 great skyscrapers: Icons of construction   
   The U.S. landmarks list includes four sites that honor the country's   
   soldiers and war dead -- Gettysburg National Military Park in   
   Pennsylvania, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the   
   Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial, both in   
   Washington, D.C.   
   The list features a number of head-scratchers, not so much for what's   
   included, but for what isn't.   
   Portland Head Light lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, for example,   
   comes in at number 22 on the list of U.S. attractions, but there's no   
   mention of New York's Statue of Liberty or Arizona's Grand Canyon (both   
   operated by the National Parks Service) or even Seattle's Space Needle   
   in the U.S. top 25.   
   The Cloud Gate, a modern stainless steel public sculpture at Millennium   
   Park referred to by locals as "the Bean," is the only Chicago attraction   
   to crack the U.S. top 25 -- none of Chicago's architectural classics,   
   including the Willis (Sears) Tower, Wrigley Building and John Hancock   
   Center appear in the top 25 U.S. landmarks.   
   Likewise, Egypt's pyramids (or any site in Egypt for that matter) are   
   nowhere to be found in the world's top 25 landmarks list.   
   MORE: 13 scary but awesome viewing platforms   
   "TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Attractions highlighted landmarks and   
   parks as these are places people can visit as part of their trip to a   
   destination," TripAdvisor spokesperson Erin Millard tells CNN.   
   "National and state parks are often destinations and trips in and of   
   themselves.   
   "We defined landmark as a historically, architecturally or culturally   
   significant attraction, and they are typically owned or run by a   
   governmental or non-profit organization. Registered national historic   
   landmarks and UNESCO sites are also included."   
   Click here for the full list of TripAdvisor's World's Top Landmarks and   
   Parks Travelers' Choice Attraction Awards.   
   Top 10 World Landmarks   
   1. Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu, Peru   
   2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.   
   3. Taj Mahal, Agra, India   
   4. Great Cathedral and Mosque, Cordoba, Spain   
   5. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City   
   6. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia   
   7. Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia   
   8. Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia   
   9. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania   
   10. Ancient City Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia   
   Top 10 U.S. Landmarks   
   1. Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania   
   2. Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.   
   3. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco   
   4. Alcatraz, San Francisco   
   5. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu   
   6. Cloud Gate, Chicago   
   7. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.   
   8. New York Public Library, New York   
   9. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, Georgia   
   10. Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.   
   Top 10 World Parks   
   1. Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada   
   2. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado   
   3. Central Park, New York   
   4. Millennium Park, Chicago   
   5. High Line, New York   
   6. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, Australia   
   7. Guell Park, Barcelona, Spain   
   8. Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo   
   9. Retiro Park (Parque del Retiro), Madrid   
   10. Luxembourg Gardens, Paris   
   Top 10 U.S. Parks   
   1. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado   
   2. Central Park, New York   
   3. Millennium Park, Chicago   
   4. High Line, New York   
   5. Boston Public Garden, Boston   
   6. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco   
   7. Balboa Park, San Diego   
   8. Bryant Park, New York   
   9. Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia   
   10. Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville, South Carolina   
      
   What do you think about TripAdvisor's list of top attractions and parks?   
   Leave a comment.   
      
   --   
   *Read and obey the Bible*   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)