A private lesson from master sand sculptor, Lucinda “Sandy Feet” Wierenga, in South Padre Island, TX First, dig a hole. I was surprised to hear that because we would be building sandcastles, which are above the ground, not below it. Digging a hole seemed counterintuitive. My group of travel writers and I were taking […]
Hello, dear travelers, I was thrilled when TravelAwaits.com recently asked to interview me as one of their featured bloggers! In case you’re not familiar with this fantastic website, it’s where your next adventure begins. TravelAwaits.com highlights unique, hidden and overlooked possibilities that seasoned travelers crave to experience. You’ll find stunning photography and up-close accounts of […]
One way to see the world is by work-camping, sometimes called work-kamping. Work-campers tour the country in motorhomes and recreational vehicles, stopping along the way to earn money to supplement their lifestyles. Some jobs pay dollars, and some pay in free campsites and utility hook-ups. Irene and Jimmie Ray of Columbia, MS, have been dedicated […]
Allen Goss has logged more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His main job is manning an information desk one day a week at Sugarlands Visitor Center near the Gatlinburg entrance. He also helps the staff with special events and programs. We caught up with him one recent afternoon […]
On panoramic photographs of mountain playground Gatlinburg, TN, a rotund structure emerges from the dense leafy backdrop. It’s the Park Vista, a hotel as iconic as the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City or the Bellagio, with its thrilling dancing fountains, in Las Vegas. You surely heard the hotel was severely damaged during the multi-day wildfires […]
Chicagoans headed to South Texas this winter will be strolling the beaches hours sooner. That’s because United Airlines launched a new nonstop route between O’Hare International Airport and Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. The inaugural flight took off Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. I was thrilled to be invited for the ride. So was […]
The Foo Foo Festival in Pensacola could be the best time you’ve never had. Simply put, it’s a 12-day extravaganza of art, culture, cuisine and entertainment. Dozens of events and activities run in various (mostly) downtown locations, and they range from the silly to the sublime. Some require you to purchase a ticket, but many […]
