Some readers just sent in lists, enumerating their picks one to 10,
sometimes with "honorable mentions" attached. Others wrote long
descriptive paragraphs about each recommendation, explaining what
made it special. One respondent deconstructed the whole idea. "A
critical distinction … is nature versus man-made," opined Gordon
Heap of
Seattle,
Washington. He then provided two Top 10 lists, one
of natural wonders (Iguazú Falls topped it) and another of man-made
treasures (Machu Picchu ranked highest).
The responses took a variety of tones. There were reminiscences -
"The first time my son and I went down in the
Grand Canyon …" began
Bob Thomas of Leland,
North Carolina. There were disclaimers -
"Here's my list, but it is only based on the places I've been,
which do not include the Grand Canyon," wrote Carla Haase of
Trumbull,
Connecticut. There were even apologies, of a sort -
"Hardly comparable to the Grand Canyon, Graceland is compelling and
memorable. It tops my list," said an anonymous respondent.
(Hmmmm, a lot of Grand Canyon mentions, I just noticed.)
The replies also ranged emotionally, from the sentimental - "You
have to be an iron man to not shed a tear when you stand on the USS
Arizona Memorial," wrote one person who didn't give a name - to the
wacky - "Castroville, CA, the Artichoke Capital of the World.
There's a 15-foot-tall artichoke that all family photo albums
should have," wrote Lou Cantolupo of
Chevy Chase,
Maryland.