Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve witnessed the end of something until years later. When we visited Los Morrillos Lighthouse in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, in 2016, I certainly didn’t. To me, it was another afternoon exploring the island with my family. My son and Grandpa hiked up to the lighthouse while Mom and I stayed … Read more
Sometimes the best discoveries aren’t on the itinerary—they’re the ones you almost drive past. I almost missed this stop. Just after crossing the St. Johns River, a small green historical marker caught the corner of my eye. By the time I realized what I’d seen, I was already past it. If you’ve followed Travel Made … Read more
A three-day North Florida journey built from one simple errand, a lot of extra time, and more detours than expected Some road trips begin with a carefully chosen destination. Others begin because somebody needs paperwork signed. This was definitely the second kind. What started as a simple weekend trip to Lake City, Florida, quickly turned … Read more
Sometimes history announces itself with a towering monument, a roadside marker, or a museum filled with artifacts. And sometimes it quietly hangs a little bronze plaque on the side of a building and waits for somebody nosy enough to stop and read it. Hi. I’m somebody. In May 2026, I was wandering through downtown DeLand, … Read more
Some of the most unforgettable places aren’t the ones you planned to visit. They’re the ones you almost drive right past. That afternoon in Puerto Rico, my son and I had one destination in mind: the Cabo Rojo Lighthouse. As we wound through the island’s southwest corner with my parents, the conversation drifted from retirement … Read more
Some historic places celebrate victories. Others preserve tragedies. And then there are places like the Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site in Irwin County, Georgia—a place that many people misunderstand before they ever step onto the grounds. When Dusty and I visited during our drive home from our unforgettable Milledgeville adventure, I expected to find another … Read more
There are two kinds of road trips. The ones where you stick to the itinerary… …and the ones where a random historical marker sends you down a rabbit hole you never expected. This was definitely the second kind. I was on my way to visit Bulow Plantation Ruins when I spotted a historical marker along … Read more
May 8 – June 8, 2016 Some trips are remembered for the places you visit. Others are remembered for the people you share them with. This one became both. What began as a Mother’s Day visit to my parents in Puerto Rico turned into one of the most meaningful journeys I’ve ever taken. My son … Read more
Most people see an abandoned prison and assume it was always meant to lock people away. Scott State Prison tells a very different story. Long before it became a correctional facility, this building stood as part of Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia. It was originally built to care for patients, not incarcerate inmates. Over … Read more
Some places are beautiful because of nature. Others are beautiful because of history. And then there are places like Bulow Plantation Ruins—where the beauty exists despite the painful history beneath it. When Dusty and I finished our Volusia County Bingo Passport adventure, we decided to squeeze in one last stop before heading home. Bulow Plantation … Read more