Category: Destinations

Adventure Awaits at Primland

“You want me to go where?” my mind shouted as I barreled down a 90-degree angle that led into a wall of mud- and gravel-encased woods. I was driving—or more accurately surviving—an ATV excursion at Primland in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. On the hour’s ride, when I was willing to unclutch the steering wheel long…


Fun, Whimsy, and Sunshine in St. Petersburg, Florida

If you’re dreaming of a walkable waterfront city with art, culture, history, and many ways to get outside and get active, it may not surprise you to find that such a place can be found within the real-life paradise of Florida—in a small city that supposedly holds the Guinness World Record for “most consecutive days…


Sacha Lodge: Where the Wild Things Still Are

After a breathtaking ride over the snowy peaks of the Andes Mountains, the turboprop plane descended from thin air to the thick, humid atmosphere of the jungle. Below us, a muddy river coiled through vibrant verdant forest—until the thick tangle of trees gave way to the dull brown patchwork quilt of agriculture. Ahead lay the…


Explore the Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains

When we moved to Greenville, South Carolina, we had no idea how popular the area had become since Bonnie was a child growing up here. Now, Upstate South Carolina is one of the top destinations in the United States for visiting and for living, with tremendous growth in both. The Upstate area, along with the…


Dancing Spirit Ranch: ‘The Peace of Wild Things’

The Montana mountain air was cool and fresh, and as I breathed it in, something inside of me awakened: evasive like magic or childhood. I pulled on my rain boots and walked quickly to keep up with my daughters, who had already raced off of the porch and through the mud to the purple sky…


Finding Wild Times in Israel

It’s a strange and thrilling moment. “Hold on tight and, if you’re nervous, don’t look down,” my guide tells me as I settle into the harness and prepare to drop. We’ve reached the edge of this cliff on mountain bikes, spotting Nubian ibex and other curious desert creatures as we rolled through the Negev, a…


Revisiting History at Kings Mountain National Military Park

Up a windy road lined with trees in Blacksburg, South Carolina, stands Kings Mountain National Military Park. My children, ages 2 and 4, had begged us to stay at the nearby (and equally beautiful) Kings Mountain State Park, which had, among other amenities, an impressive playground. Luckily, my husband is as enthusiastic a lover of…


Funk, Frivolity, and Florida History in Key West

Key West, Florida, is more than a place. It’s a spirit, a funky energy that enters your soul and takes residence in your worldview as well as your inner vision. A state of mind more than a city; a way of life more than a place to live. It’s a lifestyle, not a destination. All…


Enjoying the Simple Life in Patrick County, Virginia

One place that my wife, Fyllis, and I visited promised a “luxury boutique” that has won accolades as among the best resorts in the country. The other invited us to “experience the simple life.” These very different settings stretch along the Virginia–North Carolina border. Together, Patrick County, Virginia, and the Primland resort offer an inviting…


Panama: A Haven for Nature Lovers

Everyone knows the canal, but Panama, the diminutive land-bridge of a country, doesn’t seem to get the attention it’s due. Did you know Panama stretches east-west, and that the northern entrance to the canal from the Atlantic is actually farther west than where it meets the Pacific to the south? I lived there for a…