Trivia for the Travel Lover

When I met the husband, one of the many things I learned is that trivia is a big part of British culture. This love affair with head-scratchers is most often seen in the form of pub trivia, a phenomenon that has migrated to the US in recent years. And though these events, for me at least, are little more than public displays of incompetence, I do participate in (read: contribute nothing to) pub trivia from time to time. Barring the occasional Tudor history or grammar question, I sit there like a lump of useless corpuscles. These embarrassing experiences have, though, made me privy to some inventive team names . . .

• A Team Has No Name
• Les Quizérables
• James & the Giant Impeachment
• The Quizard of Oz

. . . though top team-naming honors must go to my friend Brent and his trivia team: The Credible Hulks.

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/eat-and-drink/2017/01/the-trivia-stakes-are-high-in-our-city-s-brainiest-bar. Photo by Everett Dennison

The British penchant for Q&A becomes most pronounced, however, during the Christmas season. For that reason, I’m ending this year of blogging by presenting you with some travel-themed trivia for your holiday celebrations. The great thing about trivia at home is that there’s something for everyone. Hate trivia? You can ask the questions.

As promised on Podcast episode 102, I present you with the complete set of trivia questions and answers we used to get people mixing at our Travel Bucket List Party & Fundraiser.

Have fun, good luck, Happy Holidays, and see you in the new year!

1. Which US state holds the biggest annual hot air balloon festival?
2. If you need an ambulance in England, what number do you dial?
3. What is the world’s largest hotel chain?
4. True or False: The Great Wall of China is visible from the moon.
5. What is the only Central American country whose official language is English?
6. How many provinces does Canada have?
7. Which continent has the most languages?
8. Only two countries have a square flag.  Name one of them.
9. Which state is home to America’s newest national park?
10. How many Olympic games has the US hosted to date?
11. In 2019, what was the world’s most visited city?
12. What US state has the most national parks?
13. Which European city is commonly known as The City of Light?
14. Which is the only country with a five-sided flag?
15. In what country is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building?
16. In what country is Chichen Itza located?
17. Name the island that is home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
18. What human foodstuff is in the mortar of the Great Wall of China?
19. In what city is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing?
20. What is Myanmar’s former name?
21. The Taj Mahal is located in which Indian city?
22. Name one president depicted on Mount Rushmore.
23. In what month is Cambodian New Year?
24. Which country has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites?
25. What is the name of Paris’ underground train system?
26. The longest passenger flight (by miles) goes from New York to where?
27. What is the largest passenger plane currently in service?
28. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO site in Laos.  What is it?
29. How long will the EU’s new ETIAS visa waiver last?
30. Name the statue shown in our rum dispenser (from Brussels, Belgium).

Tie Breakers:

a. What are Arab bazaars/marketplaces called?

b. The African kingdom of Eswatini is more familiarly known by what other name?

c. What is the fifth largest continent by area?

d. What European city is commonly called the Eternal City?

e. Name the most active volcano in Europe.

Question	Answer
1. Which US state holds the biggest annual hot air balloon festival?	New Mexico
2. If you need an ambulance in England, what number do you dial?	999
3. What is the world’s largest hotel chain?	Marriott
4. True or False: The Great Wall of China is visible from the moon.	False
5. What is the only Central American country whose official language is English?	Belize
6. How many provinces does Canada have?	10 (the rest are territories)
7. Which continent has the most languages?	Asia with 2300 (Africa = 2000)
8. Only two countries have a square flag.  Name one of them.	Switzerland or The Vatican
9. Which state is home to America’s newest national park?	West Virginia (New River Gorge NP)
10. How many Olympic games has the US hosted to date?	8 (4 summer/4 winter)
11. In 2019 (just before the pandemic hit) , what was the world’s most visited city?	Bangkok
12. What US state has the most national parks?	California with 9
13. Which European city is commonly known as The City of Light?	Paris
14. Which is the only country with a five-sided flag?	Nepal
15. In what country is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building?	UAE (United Arab Emirates)
16. In what country is Chichen Itza located?	Mexico
17. Name the island that is home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.	Hispañola
18. What human foodstuff is in the mortar of the Great Wall of China?	(sticky) rice
19. In what city is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing?	Tokyo (Shibuya Crossing with 2500 people/hour at rush hour)
20. What is Myanmar’s former name?	Burma
21. The Taj Mahal is located in which Indian city?	Agra
22. Name one president depicted on Mount Rushmore.	Roosevelt, Lincoln, Jefferson, or Washington
23. In what month is Cambodian New Year?	April
24. Which country has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites?	Italy (58)
25. What is the name of Paris’ underground train system?	The Metro
26. The longest passenger flight (by miles) goes from New York to where?	Singapore
27. What is the largest passenger plane currently in service?	Airbus A380
28. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO site in Laos.  What is it?	A city/town
29. How long will the EU’s new ETIAS visa waiver last?	3 years
30. Name the statue shown in our rum dispenser (from Brussels, Belgium).	Manneken Pis
a. What are Arab bazaars/marketplaces called?	Souks
b. The African kingdom of Eswatini is more familiarly known by what other name?	Swaziland
c. What is the fifth largest continent by area?	Antarctica
d. What European city is commonly called the Eternal City?	Rome
e. Name the most active volcano in Europe.	Mount Etna