Photo Essay: Going to Stonehenge? Don't miss Avebury!

There's no denying the power, majesty and mystery of Stonehenge, everyone should go there at least once if they can. But the very magic of the place has created some drawbacks - it's crowded, and onlookers are kept at a significant distance from the stones. So, on your way to or from there, make sure you detour 20 miles North to stop by the extraordinary Avebury site for a more intimate experience.

Avebury is the largest known stone ring in the world. It consists of an outer circle 1400 feet in diameter that today numbers 27 stones. This circle contains two smaller circles, dated to around 2600 BC and 2500 BC respectively. The stones stand between nine and over twenty feet. Some weigh over 40 tons - and each of them has a powerful and distinct identity. Some of them are very close to the quaint houses of the small village of Avebury, others are surrounded by grazing sheep - and all of them can be approached and interacted with at close range.

My friend and co-author Bob Goldstein and I were there on a variable English summer day, where the sun appeared and disappeared between the clouds and the wind rustled in the tall grass. There was no one else there. Experiencing the majesty and silence of these ancient stones at close, intimate range with nothing but the sounds of nature around us was an unforgettable experience.