Dothan Area Botanical Gardens
Alabama is home to several fine botanical gardens. Travelers heading south may want to explore the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, where a peaceful stroll through the 50 acres of manicured gardens awaits. While the grounds may not be as extensive as others around the state,...
Tuscaloosa’s Riverwalk
On game days in Tuscaloosa, traffic grinds to a chaotic crawl as some 100,000 fans converge on the west-central Alabama town’s football stadium. However, during the other 350 or so days of the year, residents and visitors seek out other diversions, including the town’s libraries,...
To Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave
One hundred years ago, tragedy struck at the site of what is now Mammoth Cave National Park. Nevertheless, the heartbreaking incident led to nationwide recognition of the astonishing cave system and the surrounding area. With over 420 miles of mapped passageways, it’s the largest known...
To Georgia’s Spectacular Providence Canyon
It seems almost every state lays claim to possession of a mini version of the Grand Canyon, and Georgia is no exception. Just a 2-hour drive from Montgomery, Providence Canyon State Park near Lumpkin is a jewel amongst Georgia’s 47 state parks. Just past the...
To the AUM Forest Trail
Enjoying an urban forest with meandering walking paths or hiking trails is not always a luxury available to city dwellers hoping to briefly escape the fast pace of metropolitan life. Fortunately, the Auburn University at Montgomery campus is home to such an inviting green haven...
To Florida’s Rainbow Springs State Park
With 175 state parks spread across the Sunshine State, the Florida State Park system is one of the largest in the U.S., providing visitors with the opportunity to explore a range of diverse environments. If you’re looking for parks with jaw-dropping crystal-clear water, it’s hard...
To Clingmans Dome in the Smokies
Some consider the spiraling observation tower perched atop the Great Smoky Mountains a concrete blemish overlooking the pristine landscape of the nation’s most visited National Park that welcomed some 13 million guests in 2023. Eyesore or not, we made the half-mile uphill trek last summer...
To Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge
Photographing alligators in the wild isn’t difficult – if you know where to look. Sporting powerful jaws, fierce protruding teeth, penetrating eyes, and an intricate pattern of rugged scales, they cut quite a compelling image through a lens. Besides, it’s just plain cool to hang...
Hot Springs National Park
Strolling along the footpath on the east side of Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, it’s easy to forget you’re in a National Park. Cross the street, and you’ve officially stepped out of Hot Springs National Park and into the city of Hot Springs...
What’s Not to Love About New Zealand?
If you’re looking for a New Year’s adventure, two words: New Zealand! Some years ago, I visited the small but stunningly beautiful country, and everything was spectacular – the scenery, the people, the food, the native animals, and the preponderance of woolly livestock where sheep...