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
Some places leave you with photographs. Others leave you with questions. Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, gave me both. Long before we ever reached the patient cemeteries or drove beneath the towering pecan trees, I already knew this place carried a heavy reputation. If you grew up in parts of Georgia, “Milledgeville” wasn’t just … Read more
Not every travel day goes according to plan. During our Georgia road trip, after stopping briefly at the Georgia Welcome Center, Dusty and I found ourselves visiting two museums we had hoped to explore in depth: the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village and the Georgia State Cotton Museum. Unfortunately, both visits ended with … Read more
There are some places you visit because they’re famous. There are others you visit because you feel like you should. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum fell into that second category for me. It was our final full day in Washington, D.C. The next morning, my son and I would leave the nation’s capital behind … Read more
Some places tell you exactly what they are the moment you arrive. Others whisper. Fort King, tucked away beneath the pines of Ocala, is one of those places. At first glance, it’s a peaceful historical park. Families wander through the reconstructed fort. Visitors browse museum exhibits. Birds sing overhead as the Florida breeze drifts through … Read more
Not every stop on a road trip becomes a destination. Some exist simply because they’re there—a place to stretch your legs, use the restroom, or grab a snack before climbing back into the truck. Most travelers probably don’t give them a second thought. But every now and then, even the smallest roadside stop has something … Read more
There are places that feel preserved. And then there are places that feel rescued. The road into Barberville Pioneer Settlement narrows beneath sprawling live oaks draped in Spanish moss, the kind of old Florida canopy that makes the world feel quieter before you even arrive. The modern world slowly slips into the rearview mirror. Traffic … Read more
Sometimes the most interesting stories aren’t the ones displayed on the historical markers. They’re the ones hiding between them. Milledgeville is one of those places that immediately feels important. Wide streets lined with towering oaks. Elegant antebellum homes. Historic churches standing watch over quiet neighborhoods. At first glance, it looks exactly like you’d expect Georgia’s … Read more
Some Places Refuse to Be Forgotten Most people visit Rock Springs Run State Reserve for the hiking trails, wildlife, and beautiful Florida wilderness. We came looking for a ghost town. Hidden beneath towering pines and miles of sandy trails lies the forgotten community of Ethel, Florida. Once home to pioneering families, a railroad stop, a … Read more