Kyle Magnuson Profile

I am originally from Northern Wisconsin. I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in History, and a Master's degree in Teaching (Social Studies) from the University of Southern California (USC). As an undergraduate I completed coursework in China, Scotland, and Korea. As a member of AmeriCorps, I provided educational services to communities throughout Los Angeles. Today, I am a founding teacher at Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy #8, where I teach U.S. History.

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Complete California

NEXT TRIPS: 2019-2020

- Washington DC - Mt. Vernon (Spring 2019)
- Wisconsin - Taliesin (Summer 2019)
- UK: Edinburgh to London (Summer 2020)

ROAD TRIPS: 2019-2020

- Yellowstone & Glacier National Park
- New Orleans, Poverty Point

California - United States of America Last Update 13.01.19 71 WHS Visited 113 Reviews 71 WHS Rated 42 TWHS Visited

Visited Sites Kyle Magnuson

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Recent Reviews Kyle Magnuson

Carlsbad Caverns

Kyle Magnuson California - United States of America - 26-Dec-18

Government Shutdown: Review

After the uproar of the 2013 government shutdown which laster 16 days, the National Park Service developed a contingency plan that allowed many national park service sites to remain partially open, but without any form of visitor services (concessions, tours, visitor center, restrooms, etc). However, NPS sites with vulnerable or fragile resources such as Native American ruins, historic buildings, and caverns were locked and closed. In addition, no fees were collected.

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Route of Magellan. First around the World (T)

Kyle Magnuson California - United States of America - 02-Sep-18

A cultural route that connects Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Chile, Indonesia, Philippines, Portugal, and Spain? This is an ambitious undertaking only comparable to the Silk Road and Qhapaq Ñan world heritage sites.

Based on numerous tangible and intangible elements, its still unclear which sites would make up this world circumnavigating route. One wonders will there actually be large natural marine areas from Africa to South America included as components?

"A fascinating trail whose waterways, landscapes and geographical landmarks remains intact as they were seen by Magellan and his sailors 500 years ago." - UNESCO description

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Monastery of Alcobaça

Kyle Magnuson California - United States of America - 02-Sep-18

This was the first monastery we visited on our road trip to Coimbra. It certainly was not a disappointment as the day was ideal for these rural small town monasteries. The royal pantheon is noteworthy and the details on these tombs are really superb. These sarcophagi with their stories finely carved on their exteriors are memorable.

There are some unique elements to Alcobaça that stand out. The kitchen (later addition) is so huge that at first I was not sure this is actually what it was. The Cloister of Silence is really special, the carvings and statuettes are finely detailed. It was fairly obvious which cloister columns have been repaired. Certain columns looked almost new, while others were heavily weather-worn.

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Monastery of Batalha

Kyle Magnuson California - United States of America - 02-Sep-18

For me this was the most exceptional Monastery in Portugal. The whole structure is photogenic, well-kept, and simply a lovely place to explore. The weather during my visit was perfect, it really does make a difference when visiting world heritage sites.

The royal tombs here are all finely detailed. The Cloister of King Afonso is undeniably beautiful and with a blue nearly cloudless sky, it was very pleasant

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Sintra

Kyle Magnuson California - United States of America - 27-Aug-18

My trip to Sinta was blessed with triumphs and (unavoidable?) pitfalls. I planned early based on reviews in our community that a day trip was not enough. Moreover, staying one night and using a rental car allowed me to see a pleasant mix of what Sintra offers. Granted, there was plenty I did not see.

Weather was not great, overcast, and spotty showers were always a threat. Tourism numbers at some key sites were reminiscent of China. Considering, I arrived early on Thursday and left late morning on Friday, I was not quite prepared for this. In fact, I would describe my driving as absolutely courageous and I will always be proud that my rental did not suffer a scratch.

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Profile Data

Name: Kyle Magnuson
Country: California - United States of America
Most Impressive: Machu Picchu (Peru), The Great Wall (China), Grand Canyon NP (USA), Yosemite NP (USA), Istanbul (Turkey)
Proposal: Ancestral Sites of the Diné (Navajo Nation), Sinagua Cultural Landscape (Arizona)

Recently Visited WHS

Update 13.01.19: Carlsbad Caverns

Visited WHS

Rating Stats

Great Wall 5

Machu Picchu 5

El Pinacate 4.5

Grand Canyon 4.5

Imperial Palace 4.5

Istanbul 4.5

Mesa Verde 4.5

Redwood 4.5

Yosemite National Park 4.5

Chaco Culture 4

Edinburgh 4

Everglades 4

Jeju 4

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor 4

Mexico City and Xochimilco 4

Olympic National Park 4

Paris, Banks of the Seine 4

Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries 4

Segovia 4

Sintra 4

Statue of Liberty 4

Taos Pueblo 4

Teotihuacan 4

Toledo 4

University of Coimbra 4

Central University City Campus of the UNAM 3.5

Changdeokgung Palace Complex 3.5

Convent of Christ in Tomar 3.5

Cuzco 3.5

El Escurial 3.5

Gyeongju 3.5

Haeinsa Temple 3.5

Hahoe and Yangdong 3.5

Macao 3.5

Mammoth Cave 3.5

Monastery of Alcobaça 3.5

Monastery of Batalha 3.5

Mount Taishan 3.5

Namhansanseong 3.5

Qhapaq Ñan 3.5

Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple 3.5

Silk Roads 3.5

South China Karst 3.5

Southern Öland 3.5

Summer Palace 3.5

Temple of Heaven 3.5

Temple, Mansion and Cemetery of Confucius 3.5

Versailles 3.5

Works of Antoni Gaudí 3.5

Aranjuez 3

Baekje Historic Areas 3

Baroque Churches 3

Belem 3

Cahokia Mounds 3

Forth Bridge 3

Grand Canal 3

Hwaseong Fortress 3

Imperial Tombs 3

Independence Hall 3

Jongmyo Shrine 3

Kronborg Castle 3

Lima 3

Par force hunting landscape 3

Roskilde Cathedral 3

Royal Joseon Tombs 3

San Antonio Missions 3

Drottningholm 2.5

Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen 2.5

Skogskyrkogarden 2.5

Carlsbad Caverns 2

New Lanark 2

Reviewed WHS

Visited TWHS

Reviewed TWHS

Top 50 Missing Sites

Bagan
Chicago School of Architecture
Ciudad Perdida, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Concordia
Dilwara Temples at Mt Abu
Dzongs of Bhutan
El Nido Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area
Kaieteur National Park, Iwokrama Forest and the Kanuku Mountains
Klondike and the Gold Rush Trails
Laas Gaal
Lake Titicaca
Major Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright
Nan Madol
Okavango Delta
Plain of Jars / Sites Mégalithiques de la province de Xieng Khouang
Silk Roads
Sistema Vial Andino/Qhapaq Ñan
Svalbard
Torres del Paine National Park
Ur

World Heritage Site

for World Heritage Travellers

Kyle Magnuson Profile

Visited Sites Kyle Magnuson

Legend

Recent Reviews Kyle Magnuson

Carlsbad Caverns

Route of Magellan. First around the World (T)

Monastery of Alcobaça

Monastery of Batalha

Sintra

Profile Data

Recently Visited WHS

Visited WHS

Reviewed WHS

Visited TWHS

Reviewed TWHS

Top 50 Missing Sites

Top 200 WHS