Some historic places announce themselves. They have signs along the highway, parking lots, interpretive markers, and plaques explaining exactly why you should stop. Others are much quieter. Sometimes you glimpse a few old headstones through the trees as you drive past and think— Wait. Was that a cemetery? That’s exactly how Dusty and I discovered … Read more
Sometimes the destination isn’t the part of a trip you remember most. When my son and I visited Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, the plan that afternoon was to see Los Morrillos Lighthouse. Playa Sucia was simply part of the journey—a beautiful beach sitting below the cliffs we were actually there to explore. At least, that’s … Read more
Sometimes the wrong turn is the one worth remembering. There are places we carefully plan to visit. We research them. Add them to an itinerary. Figure out where to park and what we want to see when we arrive. And then there are places we find completely by accident. Micanopy Historic Cemetery was one of … Read more
Some places earn a spot on the itinerary because of their history. Others earn it because somebody put up a sign that says “Dead People’s Things for Sale.” This was definitely the second kind. While traveling through Woodbine, Georgia, Dusty and I had an actual planned stop at a little antique shop called Me and … Read more
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