Month: August 2011

Nature Travel Snapshots Solo with Others

Wordless Wednesday: Independence Mine State Historical Park, Alaska

There’s gold in them thar hills! I write this post as the end of my second day in Alaska draws to end. It’s been an amazing journey so far, a feast for the eyes as foliage is turning from green to hues of gold, orange and red. More images are to come but enjoy these […]

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Florida Fun Nature Travel Solo Travel

Alligator Hugging in Naples, Florida. Yeah, That’s Right. Gator Hugging.

Mike Sturgill sat in his Naples, Fla., souvenir shop stroking his pet named “Bobby.” With the exception of an occasional eye blink, Bobby stood still and I swear, I saw contentment on his face. If he were a cat, he’d be purring. “Would you like to hug him?” Sturgill, aka “Gatorman Mike,” asked as the […]

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Florida Fun Nature Travel Snapshots

Wordless Wednesday: Naples Botanical Garden, Florida

The 170-acre Naples Botanical Garden opened to the public in 2009 and I’m glad attending the Florida Outdoor Writer Association Annual Conference in Naples this week allowed me to visit this amazing collection of botanicals. Naples is located at 26th latitude north. The subtropical climate allows the garden to display plants between that latitude and […]

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Florida Fun Snapshots

Wordless Wednesday: Caring for Florida Wildlife in Punta Gorda

Last week I had the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda, Fla. The nonprofit organization is supported 100 percent by donations and do an amazing job nurturing Florida’s native wildlife back to health and caring for those orphaned for whatever reason. Wildlife receives tender care with the […]

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Cool Stuff Others are Doing

Writing and Sending Postcards. A Lost Art?

I received something really special in the mail yesterday. A postcard from Metsovo, Greece. Fellow travelers Paula and Keith, who I met in 2004 during a travel writing workshop in Key West, are in Europe for another summer and they generously offered to send postcards to friends. What I love about this card is that […]

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Florida Fun Solo Travel

Buck Buck Here. Stomp Stomp There. Annual Grape Stomp at Henscratch Farms in Lake Placid, Florida

Guts of muscadine grapes oozed between my toes as a I did my part to squish 2,000 pounds of grapes during Henscratch Farm’s 11th Annual Grape Stomp on Aug. 13, 2011. Yes, I admit to channeling a little bit of Lucy with each step I took in the metal bin. Stomping grapes would bring out […]

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Florida Fun Snapshots

Wordless Wednesday: Peaceful Placida, Fla.

Sunday I had the opportunity to spend some time in the adorable fishing community of Placida, located in Charlotte County in  Southwest Florida. I simply love it for its authenticity and admit I don’t spend enough time there. If you visit, plan on lunch or dinner at the Fishery Restaurant (13000 Fishery Rd. Tel: (941) […]

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Cool Stuff Others are Doing

29 Hours is Pretty Xtreme in My Book

Yesterday I posted about Diana Nyad’s amazing challenge to pursue her Xtreme Dream of being the first person to swim 103-miles from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage. While I wrote, she was somewhere in the Florida Straits at least 22 hours into her incredible journey. While many of us slept, Nyad was […]

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Cool Stuff Others are Doing

Pursuing the Xtreme Dream: Go, Diana! Go!

As I write this, 61-year-old Diana Nyad is pursuing her Xtreme Dream in an attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. With each stroke the champion endurance swimmer is crossing the Florida Straits and is closer in reaching her dream. A quick glance at her Twitter account (@diananyad no, she’s not […]

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Nature Travel Solo with Others

Planning for My Alaska Vacation Continues

Back in January when I booked my flights and most of my Alaska vacation itinerary, it seemed the trip was a long way out. Well, in about three weeks, I’ll be meeting up with a couple of dear friends I worked with in Yellowstone back in the day (the ’90s) for a week’s adventure in […]

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