Spaces & Places
Finding a nice place to sleep on a tight budget can always be a gamble.
In previous travels I’ve ended up in some really crummy lodgings, but I’ve also lucked out and landed at some surprisingly remarkable abodes.
Going into my Panama trip, I had heard talk of this place called The Lost and Found … Read more
Spaces & Places
Spending five days on remote islands was a phenomenal experience. No two islands were the same, and I came to appreciate the diversity of nature that each new place had to offer.
Here is a collection of some of my favorite middle-of-paradise activities.
My face was less than an inch from … Read more
Spaces & Places
Some of my best travel moments have been impromptu decisions that have left me breathless in wonder and joy. Choosing to sail the San Blas islands in Panama was a spur-of-the-moment decision; the details were finally nailed down only a day before I was whisked away from Tocumen airport to a nearby marina.
Spaces & Places
Typically I get the travel bug in January. I start researching, planning, and dreaming of summer escapes during the dreary winter months that seem to go on endlessly. You’ll recall that my epic Croatia-cation was mapped out during my snow-bound days armed with hot coffee and lots of time to think about travel.
Although I … Read more
Spaces & Places
Every so often I get scared rock climbing.
Yeah, it doesn’t happen as frequently as my dear mother would like, but I do experience fear, especially when I’m climbing outdoors.
A few weeks ago, this experience was quite acute.
My buddy and I were tackling a 5.7, a not-so-difficult climb outdoors that shouldn’t have caused … Read more
Spaces & Places
The weather was unseasonably warm, typical of March which tends to show off its extreme ranges depending on the particular mood of the wind and the sun. I hadn’t laced up my hiking boots so tightly in quite some time. The past few months had involved staying local, yearning for more sunlight, and spending dreary … Read more
Spaces & Places
I pulled into the empty trailhead parking lot, surprised to see no other cars around. It was overcast and damp, the air heavy with the promise of rain. A perfect day for adventure! Perhaps I’d have the whole park to myself for a spell?
I took a deep breath as I headed up the trail. … Read more
Spaces & Places
I looked into the distance with awe. The Blue Ridge Mountains sprawled out in a well-rehearsed formation, juxtaposing the rugged rocks rising out of the nearby soft, grassy sod. To complement the outstanding vista, a trio of wild ponies were grazing close by, recognizing me from time to time by a tilt of the head.… Read more
Spaces & Places
In the spirit of gratitude, I decided to take advantage of the Thanksgiving season by embarking on a road trip around my own state, appreciating its spectacular array of parks. Virginia State Parks have won various accolades and awards for customer service, overall quality, and just being darn good nature places.
*Round of applause*
I … Read more
Spaces & Places
Every so often I have one of those moments that fill me with an insurmountable sense of wonder and delight. It’s akin to an emotional burst of awe experienced by a child on Christmas morning upon first glance of the present-laden tree.
For me, this wonder-filled moment occurred last weekend with two-toed creatures known for … Read more