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
Some field trips teach you something new. Others quietly change the direction of your life. When I decided to homeschool my son, one of the things I looked forward to most was getting out of the classroom. Instead of simply reading about history and science, we could experience them together. That’s exactly how trips like … Read more
Some places seem destined for a single purpose. A school is built to educate. A courthouse is built to deliver justice. A hospital is built to heal. Then there are places like Rivers State Prison. What began as a hospital dedicated to treating one of America’s deadliest diseases eventually became a prison, only to spend … Read more
Some of the most fascinating places aren’t hidden deep in the woods. Sometimes they’re sitting right beside the road, looking so well cared for that you drive right past them. That’s exactly what happened to me when I set out to visit the Thomas R. Ayer House in Oklawaha, Florida. I had discovered the home … Read more
Some places become part of your story before you ever learn theirs. For me, Lake Eola has always been one of those places. Long before I knew anything about sinkholes, cattle barons, mysterious names, or iconic fountains, I simply knew it as somewhere my mom liked to take me. We’d walk laps around the lake … Read more