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Trip tracker

Whether they be man-made or formed by nature, monoliths hold a spiritual fascination for many who witness their awe-inspiring, giant beauty. A chance to see massive rock formations up close will leave you with a sense of not only nature's powerful forces but the shear determination, strength and engineering it took for ancient civilizations to erect these monuments.

www.gotostonehenge.com Tour Stonehedge and the nearby Roman city of Bath in a luxury travel coach. Although theories of its original purpose range from a temple of worship to burial ground or an astronomical observatory, many believe the giant stones, dating at least 4,000 years, "tis a magic place where the moon doth rise with a dragon's face."*

www.ayersrockresort.com.au

Ayers Rock is a sandstone rock that sits as a giant icon in the middle of the outback of Australia's Northern Territory. The Aboriginal people of the area believe the rock hold the dreams and memories of their ancestors. Tours to the rock include camel rides, 4x4's, helicopter flights and even a cruising tour on Harley Davidsons.

www.devilstowerclimbing.com

Located in the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming, Devils Tower juts out of the landscape with perfectly formed striated columns of hardened magma. Want your own close encounter with the tower? Devils Tower Climbing offers guided climbs to the top this monolith, with expert assistance for an out of this world experience.

www.zionnational-park.com

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Zion, the Hebrew name for Jerusalem, is also considered by the Kabbalah as the spiritual point from which reality emerges. Red and tan cliffs surround Zion canyon in Zion National Park, near Springdale, Utah. Sandstone monoliths including Angels Landing, Three Patriarchs and The Great White Throne tower above the canyon floor.

Trip Tracker is compiled by Joy Guest. Is there a vacation or excursion that interests you? E-mail jguest@adn.com or comment online at adn.com/life/travel. *Lyric from "Stonehenge" by Spinal Tap.

The mystery of Easter Island and its indigenous inhabitants has intrigued travelers and archaeologists for many years. Where did these ancient people come from? How did they transport almost 1,000 giant statues from the quarry to their platforms? And most important, what does it all mean? -- www.easterisland.southpacific.org

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