Florida is not a state known for whitewater. Beaches? Absolutely. Springs? We have some of the most beautiful in the world. Swamps? More than enough, thank you. Mountains, dramatic elevation changes, and raging rivers? Not so much. And yet, hidden along the Suwannee River near White Springs is a place where Florida breaks its own … Read more
Hidden beneath sprawling live oaks on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, stands a massive concrete reminder of a battle that never happened. Fort Fremont was built at the end of the nineteenth century to protect one of the most important naval facilities along the southeastern coast. It was armed with enormous disappearing guns, staffed by … Read more
Sometimes the places that stay with us weren’t part of the plan at all. On the fourth morning of our 2016 trip to Puerto Rico, my son woke me a little after six. I could hear him upstairs playing with Paco, my parents’ dog, so I dragged myself out of bed and joined everyone. For … 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
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
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
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
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
There are some places you plan carefully for. And then there are the places that seem determined to make you work for them. Fort Matanzas fell firmly into the second category. A few months before this visit, my son and I were heading north on our Washington D.C. road trip. Fort Matanzas was supposed to … Read more