12 Unique Placed Sports Venues

When it comes to sports venues, they are often located in the usual places. These are the most peripheral parts of towns and other settlements, and in major cities are located in strictly urban areas. But if you search hard enough, you’ll find there are some unusually placed venues that are worth of being called unique. Here are twelve such examples.


1. Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, USA


The Coeur d'Alene Resort is a luxury resort hotel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Located on the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene, the Coeur d Alene Resort features a marina, convention facilities, spa, as well as a notable 18-hole golf course. The hotel has 338 rooms and suites, and its main tower has 18 floors.



Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course in Idaho is best known for its par-3 14th hole, which features the only movable island green in the world. Built on a barge on submerged tracks, the green is moved daily by computer and distance can range from 95 to 200 yards (87-183m).



Water taxis transport golfers to the hole, which can moved to change the difficulty of the shot (you have to swing from the mainland).



Designer Scott Miller planned the course to feel like a park, and it has since been ranked among the best resort golf courses in the United States by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and others.



2. Eidi Stadium, Faroe Islands


Located just a few yards from the Atlantic Ocean, the Eidi Stadium is home to some of the Faroe Islands' semi-professional football (soccer) teams.



There is just a small amount of standing room around the outside of the pitch, with fans the only thing stopping wayward shots heading straight into the sea.



The stadium is located in EiĆ°i - a village on the north-west tip of Eysturoy, Faroe Islands. Its name means isthmus in the Faroese language. The town has a population of 669 inhabitants. In the center of the village there is a large stone church from 1881. It was built in connection with the village's centennial.



3. Tennis Court at Burj Al Arab, United Arab Emirates


The world’s highest tennis court stands atop the fourth highest hotel in the world - Burj al-Arab at Dubai. The tennis court is circular in shape and when no session is at play, it doubles as a helipad.



The exact height of the tennis court is not known, but the hotel is 321 m (1,053 feet) tall and the court is located very near the top.



In 2005, when Roger Federer and Andre Agassi were at Dubai for a tournament, they were invited to play a few rounds at the Burj’s helipad-converted-tennis court.



Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) from Jumeirah beach and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge.



The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. Sometimes referred to as "the world's only 7-Star hotel", its star rating is disputed.



4. The Float at Marina Bay, Singapore


‘The Float at Marina Bay’, is an architectural treat to the eyes. It is the only stadium in the world that literally floats. At 120 meters (394ft) long and 83 meters (272ft) wide, this floating stage is the largest in the world. Located on the Marina Reservoir in Marine bay, this massive stage has the capacity of seating 9000 people. The total weight capacity of it is 1,070 tones.



The stadium can hold 30,000 people in its seating area. Built within a short span of 13 months, in April 2007, this Stadium has attracted tourists from far and near, who come to marvel at this exquisite architectural delight.



It is a pleasure to behold the beautiful scenic appeal of the surroundings. One can see the city skylight, boats, ships and the daily hub of the busy city. This stadium is well equipped with lightings for night time sport as well. Giant viewing screens provide close ups and scores of the games.



However being an outdoor stage the weather might play an important role in determining events and games. Suspension cords hold the structure together and bright colors are used throughout.



This stadium is a vision accomplished that never ceases to delight the beholder by blending perfectly the scenic natural surroundings of this beautiful land with the concrete city. For sure every game played and every trophy won here would be more than just memorable.



5. Ski Dubai, United Arab Emirates


An indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert? Yes, that’s weird. Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort with 22,500 square meters (27,000 sq yds) of indoor ski area. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was developed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties, which also operates the Mall of the Emirates.



Opened in November 2005, the indoor resort features an 85-meter-high (280ft) indoor mountain with 5 slopes of varying steepness and difficulty, including a 400-metre-long (1,300ft) run, the world's first indoor black run, and various features (boxes, rails, kickers) that are changed on a regular basis. A quad lift and a tow lift carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain.



Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-metre (3,590 sq yds) Snow Park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slide, climbing towers, giant snowballs and an ice cave.



Ski Dubai is also home to a number of penguins who come out to play several times a day. Penguin encounters can be booked, allowing the public to interact directly with the penguins. Winter clothing, ski and snowboard equipment are included in the price of admission.



An extremely efficient insulation system helps the facility maintain a temperature of −1 °C during the day and −6 °C at night when the snow is produced.



6. Rooftop Mini Football Pitch, Japan


There’s no beating the location of this singularly picturesque football (soccer) pitch: it sits atop the Tokyu Toyoko department store, right next to Shibuya Station.



Adidas Futsal Park opened in 2001, in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup that Japan and South Korea co-hosted the following year, and it's been doing a strong trade ever since.



Prices start at ¥5,250 ($54) per hour for teams that are members (¥8,400 or $86 for teams that aren't), rising to over ¥20,000 or $205 for 1.5 hours at peak times.



7. Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium, Switzerland


Swiss village side FC Gspon don’t have many claims to fame, but the one they are able to laud is a beauty. Carved into the mountains just outside the resort of Zermatt and above the valley of Saastal, Gspon’s Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium clocks up a lofty altitude of around about 2,000 metres (6,561 feet) above sea level, making if the highest stadium in Europe.



The "stadium" was built on the only available flat piece of land which wasn’t actually big enough to accomodate a full-size pitch, so Gspon FC play on a 3/4-scale pitch turfed with artificial grass as the altitude prevents real grass from taking root sufficiently to cope with the rigours of regular football matches.



The Ottmar Hitzfeld is also too high for vehicles to function properly, so all players and staff are forced to arrive by cable car from the nearby village of Stalden.



8. Igraliste Batarija, Croatia


Batarija is a football (soccer) ground in the Trogir where HNK Trogir plays. This ground is unique in the world because it is located between two protected monument - Kamerlengo Castle and tower of St. Marco.



This tiny stadium have a capacity of 1,000 people. It looks like a nice stadium but perhaps there are more viewers watching matches from the restaurant on the roof of the castle located at the side of the field, than from the stands.



9. Angled Stadium, Ukraine


Gravity is not a best friend of players on this team. We don’t have additional info about this pitch and is there any football matches going on on this field, but for sure it is fun for drivers on this road. Precisely, this football stadium is located in Zakarpattia Oblast, on the road to Uzhgorod city.



10. Grand Central Squash Court, USA


Grand Central Terminal is a commuter (and former intercity) railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States. This the most famous train station in the world has also, hosted a squash tournament. It’s all an attempt by the World Squash Federation to grow the sport.



11. The Uummannaq Ice Golf Course, Greenland


No joke. There is an ice golf course in Greenland. The World Ice Golf championships have been held yearly, since 1997, in Uummannaq, Greenland in March, 600 km (373 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. Uummannaq is the world’s northernmost golf course and the course is re-designed every year on shelf ice. This spectacularly different tournament attracts golfers from across the world.



12. Tornio Golf Club, Finland/Sweden


Green Zone or Tornio Golf Club is perhaps a unique golf course with 9 holes in one country, Finland, and the remaining 9 in another, Sweden. The border follows the Tornio River which runs through the course.



Due to its location, it is possible to play golf at anytime of the day or night in full sunshine during the golfing season. If that isn't a unique golfing experience, we don't know what is.




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8 Most Beatiful Train Routes

In this day and age, the act of traveling is really considered more of a means than an end. However, something is lost when we look at it this way; after all, the world is full of beautiful scenery that goes wholly unnoticed when you're flying above it at 10,000 or more feet. While trains might not be the fastest or most comfortable ways to travel across the country, they're the perfect way of really getting to see some of the most beautiful scenery the globe has to offer.

Although our fast paced, "no-time-for-frills" culture encourages us to pass these things over in favor of more "productive" pursuits, there are nonetheless some incredible train journeys where the experience itself will make your destination seem irrelevant. With that being said, here are eight of the most scenic train journeys you could possibly take.


Rocky Mountaineer This scenic train route which takes you from Vancouver to Calgary is a growing tourist tradition. This service carried only 10,000 passengers in 1990 and now carries over 100,000 per year. Through the first passage to the West, Vancouver, you will see Castle Mountain, the continental divide, Stony Creek Bridge and the station at Lake Louise. Of note, you'll also see canyons, mountains, and glacial lakes. If you choose to take the special Gold Leaf Service, you will experience all of these magnificient views through a glass dome as a cover of the train. This all around view will include reclining chairs, a restaurant and complementary drinks. Well worth the extra fair.











The Ghan
The Ghan has been traveling through Australia for over 80 years. This line brings you from Adelaide through Red Centre, and up to the Top End, then finishes in Darwin, which is the capital of the Northern Territory. For three days and two nights you will experience astonishing views. During the trip there is a stop in the town of Alice Springs where you can take the day to enjoy history and take in the natural beauty.







The Bernina Express
This ride will take you from St. Mortiz in Switzerland to Tirano, Italy in 2 and a half hours. The scary thing about this ride is that the whole path was built without rack rails or cables. You will enjoy the view over 196 timeless bridges and 55 tunnels. The carriage is open-air, so it's perfect for a quick Spring ride.







Conway Scenic Railroad
This scenic route makes use of what used to be the Maine Central Railroad's Mountain Division Line. The tracks were laid in 1870. You'll see steep ravines, brooks and streams, lush forests, mountains, and more. It's a five hour ride to Crawford Station. The Notch Train is a vintage cart which offers a wonderful scenic view from a domed coach. The most popular season for this route is during early foliage season, especially for the dining excursions.







Alaska Railroad
This train trip, which lasts a staggering six days, shows you Alaska's most scenic sights. It runs through both Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks. You'll see the mountains, forest, and coastline, as well as Mount McKinley, which is Alaska's tallest mountain. There are multiple stops along the way so passengers can take part of various activities, such as rafting among icebergs, hiking in Denali, or cruising through Kenai Fjords with the whales.







Glacier Express
This eight hour ride runs only one way - from Zermatt to St. Moritz, which is 180 miles away. You'll go through 91 tunnels and over more than 250 bridges. The entire time, you'll be at an altitude of over 5,000 feet. This train is not necessarily an “express” route; it is one of the slowest express trains in the world therefore allowing you to take in the unbelievable views you pass through. There's also a pretty amazing dining car, where you can enjoy Swiss cheese, wine, and other desserts.











The California Zephyr
This route allows you to see almost half of the country. It travels about 2,500 miles and lasts a little over two days. You'll ride from Chicago to Emeryville, California. You'll see the Colorado River, the desert in Nevada, and pass through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The California Zephyr is operated by Amtrak and stands as their longest and most scenic route.







The Southwest Chief
Running a similar route is the Southwest Chief, which stretches from Los Angeles to Chicago. It clocks in at 40 hours, which is a little less than the California Zephyr, and travels 2,256 miles. You'll travel through the Mojave Desert in Arizona, through New Mexico, then up through Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and, finally, Illinois.





There are many different scenic train routes to take in all sorts of countries, and these are just a few notable ones. Have you been on any amazing train rides lately?




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