It was inevitable that the Spanish, French, and British would fight for hundreds of years over control of the New World, and the place we now know as Florida was one of the most hotly contested. Whoever controlled Florida controlled the rich shipping lanes coming from the Spanish Caribbean, and those world powers bathed the […]
Yesterday was a busy day for me. My third proofreader, Roberta, sent back the last chapters of my new John Lee Quarrels book, Ka-Bar Karma, and after I made all of her changes and tweaked a couple of things that seemed a little flat, I printed out the entire manuscript for Terry to start proofreading […]
You can take a step back in time and experience life before the days of cellular phones and the other trappings of modern life with a visit to Millbrook Village in New Jersey’s Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The original settlement began in 1832, when a farmer named Abram Garis built a gristmill on […]
An outpost of westward expansion, Fort Laramie in eastern Wyoming was crucial in the transformation of the American West. The fort served as a fur trading post, military garrison, and as a way station for fur trappers, Indian traders, missionaries, and Oregon Trail emigrants for over 50 years during one of the most important time […]
The Civil War had dragged on for four long, bloody years, laying the countryside to waste and taking a terrible toll on both soldiers and civilians. By the early days of 1865, it was apparent to Confederate General Robert E. Lee that the end was near. On February 8, 1865 he sent a message to […]
I love trivia and finding out oddball facts, especially about some of the places where we travel. So today, just for fun, I thought I’d share 5 Weird Things You Never Knew. Mount Rushmore, polygamy and the KKK – There are few things that make a statement about America’s power and glory more than Mount […]
While you might picture the wide open spaces out west when you think about wild horses, you really don’t have to venture any further than the Outer Banks of North Carolina to see some of these beautiful creatures living wild and free. Shackleford Banks, an island located three miles from the mainland in Cape Lookout […]
Born into slavery sometime in the early to mid-1860s in Missouri, George Washington Carver recognized the value of an education at a very young age. In that time and place in America it wasn’t an easy goal to achieve, but we can all be grateful he never gave up on his quest for knowledge. It […]
Note: In answer to several requests, this is a repost of a 2010 blog. I have just two things to say about our visit to Canyon de Chelly National Monument – “Awesome!” and “If you have never been to this natural wonderland, put it at the very top of your travel plans NOW! You won’t […]
Mention Cape Cod to anybody who has never been there, and the image that comes to mind is probably one of scenic back roads leading to miles of pristine beaches, with the occasional picturesque small village along the way. At least that’s what I imagined. The reality is more like bumper to bumper traffic, people […]
It was inevitable that the Spanish, French, and British would fight for hundreds of years over control of the New World, and the place we now know as Florida was one of the most hotly contested. Whoever controlled Florida controlled the rich shipping lanes coming from the Spanish Caribbean, and those world powers bathed the […]
Lavish plantation homes are the symbol of the antebellum South and throughout the region stretching from Georgia to Mississippi, many fine examples of these old homes have been lovingly preserved and restored. While some remain in private hands, serving as homes or bed and breakfast operations, others are owned by historic preservation organizations that open […]
An outpost of westward expansion, Fort Laramie in eastern Wyoming was crucial in the transformation of the American West. The fort served as a fur trading post, military garrison, and as a way station for fur trappers, Indian traders, missionaries, and Oregon Trail emigrants for over 50 years during one of the most important time […]
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident age 62 or over, time is running out to get a National Parks Senior Pass for just $10. On August 28 the price of the pass, officially named the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase to $80. A page on the National […]
Note: This is a reprint of a story that previously appeared in the Gypsy Journal. During the second half of the 1880s, entrepreneurs set up trading posts on many Indian reservations to supply everything from food staples and tobacco to farming equipment. Many times the traders accepted animal furs, Indian artwork, and crafts in lieu […]
It’s hard to believe that our three weeks here at the Chesapeake Bay Thousand Trails preserve is over already. Where did the time go? Oh, that’s right, it went by fast while we were playing tourist and exploring all of the places to see and do in this area of southeast Virginia. Being a mystery […]
Most of the folks from the dog show have left the Pima County Fairgrounds and it’s a lot quieter here. The last two mornings the only thing that woke me up was my own snoring. Miss Terry says she doesn’t know which is worse. But the dogs have been replaced by new critters. Last night […]
Until you’ve been in old town St. Augustine, Florida on Halloween evening, you just have not seen Halloween! We spent the day playing tourist in America’s oldest city, and saw everything from pirates and soldiers to zombies, witches and werewolves. I think they were dressed up for Halloween? Maybe that’s just the way folks roll […]
I love trivia and finding out oddball facts, especially about some of the places where we travel. So today, just for fun, I thought I’d share 5 Weird Things You Never Knew. Mount Rushmore, polygamy and the KKK – There are few things that make a statement about America’s power and glory more than Mount […]
With fuel prices reaching record heights, I am hearing from a lot of RVers who are wondering if they can continue to travel, or who are cutting back on their travels until prices level out. Well, believe it or not, there’s good news, and there’s more good news! The first bit of good news is […]