Travelsmartplanet

This huge Seattle wall mural is made of colorful mosaic pieces.

The fantastical sheet metal walls of MoPop were designed by Frank Gehry. It is often quoted as looking like a smashed electric guitar. Gehry himself had made the comparison, “We started collecting pictures of Stratocasters, bringing in guitar bodies, drawing on those shapes in developing our ideas.”

Despite some critical reviews of the structure, the building has been called “a fitting backdrop for the world’s largest collection of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia.” The outside of the building which features a fusion of textures and colors, including gold, silver, deep red, blue and a “shimmering purple haze,” has been declared “an apt representation of the American rock experience.

Really. It ‘s all gum. Seattle’s Gum Wall is pretty in a pop art kind of way – until you get really close.

Fun Trompe d’oeil mural on wall near a dog park in downtown Toronto. So cool that a bride and groom are taking photos here. Maybe they have a doggie? Some of the windows are real. Can you tell which ones?

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When in London, kids make a pilgrimage to the Kings Cross tube station where Harry Potter left for Hogwarts on special platform numbered 9 3/4. When we first visited this spot, a decade ago, there was the simple sign on the wall. It was a real treasure hunt to find it in the station.
Nowadays, it’s very easy. Just look for the giant lineup of kids and their parents willing to pay to take photos in front of it – AND- the very busy shop next door selling everything Harry Potter possible. You don’t need to pay to get into the Tube to get to this part of the station.

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Who would expect flowers to be growing on the wall of the 72nd floor of a building? Great photo op at the Top of the Shard in London.

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The Shard is the newest tourist attraction in London and it was fabulous. You lift off in multiple elevators to get to the 72nd floor where there are 360 degree views, viewing platforms, selfie options, a flower wall, and a café. You can walk down to the 68th and 69th floor for more views. Notice here the Tower Bridge, the snaking path of the Thames and the London Eye.

Voiles en Voiles is a family-oriented park in the Old Port of Montreal, based on a pirate ship and consisting of aerial climbing, zipping, wall climbing and inflatable bouncing games. This is an idea of what you are up against at Voiles en voiles.

The SOS Labyrinth is one of the great family attractions at Montreal’s Old Port. Essentially, you have to make your way through this huge complex maze and find 4 items: the Captain’s hook, a pair of Dutch wooden shoes, a travel wallet and a Cuban pitchfork. The stories behind these items can be found on the wall as you enter the labyrinth, and they are also on their web site. Plan to spend about an hour here. 

One of many wall murals found in the Plateau area of Montreal. This one was on Ontario St E.