The Dogue Trail: A Short Foray in the Forest Read More »
The Dogue Trail, in Mason Neck State Park, might be on the shorter side as far as hikes go (about an .85-mile loop), but it’s just about the right length to allow you to gather your thoughts, recharge, and benefit from all that being out in nature offers. There are somewhat busier (and longer) trails […]
Kusadasi Shore Excursion Read More »
This is post number 9 in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. In this chapter, we continue our journey through Turkey and share the second half of our Kusadasi shore excursion,a cultural detour full of handcrafted rugs, friendly locals, and one very unexpected meal. The first half included a tour of the Virgin
Mauna Ulu Eruption Trail Read More »
Take a trip into the past or to another planet; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers both, or at least it leaves you feeling that way. My thoughts as we hiked to and roamed the site of the Mauna Ulu Eruption of 1969. Self-guided tour of Mauna Ulu Eruption Trail Our self-guided tour of Hawaii Volcanoes
Spending Time in Nature: Clear the Noise Read More »
Finding Calm in Nature We live in a world that rarely pauses. The 24/7 news cycle churns in the background, always urgent, always breaking. Social media fills the gaps, pushing us to react, comment, and scroll without end. Even in our quietest moments, the noise follows us. Step outside, and you’ll find that the pace
Low-Angle Nature Photography – A Simple Trick Read More »
Why Low-Angle Nature Photography Matters When photographing nature, I often need to get my camera just a few inches off the ground. Mushrooms, small flowers, small critters, and even forest textures look entirely different from this perspective. That’s why low-angle nature photography is such an important part of my work — and why having the
Kusadasi: Visiting the House of the Virgin Mary & Ancient Ephesus Read More »
Our stop in Kusadasi included a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus. This is post number eight in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. In this post, we take you through our excursion highlights, from the peaceful hillside shrine believed to be Mary’s final home to the inspiring ruins
Chickpea Tacos: A Fast, Flavor-Packed Plant-based Meal Read More »
Chickpea Tacos – Easy, flavorful, satisfying With two cans of chickpeas in the pantry and not being too interested in making my regular chickpea salad, I went to my go-to for a new idea: A Couple Cooks website. Having tried at least half a dozen of their recipes in the past, I found them all
Pilot Boats: Unsung Navigators Read More »
Pilot Boats: Unsung Navigators is post number seven in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. In this post, we take a closer look at a small but mighty presence we kept noticing near every port, a boat we didn’t give much thought to at first. But the more we saw them in action,
The Magic of Santorini: Cliffside Views, Blue Domes, and Baklava Read More »
The Magic of Santorini is post number six in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. In this post, we take you through our time in Santorini, with visits to Pyrgos, Oia, and Fira. From hillside charm and blue-domed vistas to flaky baklava and a surprise encounter with local cats, it was a day
A Day at Sea to Unwind Before the Islands Begin Read More »
As our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” continues, we drift farther from routine and closer to the quiet magic of open water. This is post five of the series, and we are aboard the Odyssey of the Seas for our first full day of life at sea with no destination in sight, just sky,