Arizona doesn’t look all that large on an overall map of the United States. I convinced Bucko to do a 10-night road trip there to see my bucket list item of Antelope Canyon in the northwest and …

For longer than I have known him, my husband of nearly 50 years has had a “bucket list” that he made when he was just a lad on Long Island. And, over the years, he has seen them all, some …

In my life, I pay attention when three unconnected experiences reveal something in common to me. Recently it’s been pigs and hogs, the members of the mammal family Suidae. I didn’t go out …

Our anniversary road trip in central Georgia did not end with Macon, which I covered in my last column. There was still more to explore. We aimed for our favorite hotel in Georgia, the Windsor Hotel …

Bucko and I always try to find an interesting place to spend our anniversary. And to be interesting to me, it has to be something or some place that is different. I hate routine. And, even though …

One recent morning I jumped out of bed early because I had a hunch that dawn over the beach would be perfect that day. And I was right! I rushed to the Simmons Road access, close to my home, and got …

It has been a while since I visited Jonathan Howard at his Otter Space Wildlife Center in Hilliard and I know a lot has happened there since my last visit. I called him first, as usual, and stopped …

One Sunday not long ago, I got to Fort Clinch State Park early one morning to walk on the beach near the fort. It was low tide, and I had to get to the west inlet parking area beside the fort before …

For a change, I jumped out of bed early to head to the beach near the fort in Fort Clinch State Park to catch low tide and to nab a parking spot before all the fossilized shark tooth hunters took up …

Last week I found myself driving a dirt road to nowhere, outside of Gainesville, trying to find the High Springs Orchard ). I somehow missed the orchard and ended up at a dead end in someone’s …

These days it’s not only nuts I am discovering on the ground during my walks. It’s also grapes, the native type, muscadines, the only native grape here and the only ones that can survive …

It may be hotter than blazes here on Amelia Island right now, but there are signs that autumn is coming. When I walk around my usual trails in the woods, my eyes are now focused on the ground, and …

I guess maybe Bucko and I are too old to visit the Jacksonville Zoo. On a recent attempt, we almost gave up, and we were already in the parking lot. It turns out you have to sign up for admission …

It was only about a month ago when we had to put our beloved 15-year-old cat Dumela to sleep — a tragic time in our household. But wow, have things improved since then. We had a lot of travel …

Little did I know when I was in Belize a few weeks ago watching “ 60 Minutes ” about Smith Island, Maryland, that I would soon see this remarkable place myself. My Fernandina snowbird …

My brother Ken only turns 80 once in his life and the time is now. So what if I just got back from a couple of weeks in Belize? In two days I was off to Philadelphia for a family gathering to …

I’m in Belize again, and I’ve got something new to focus on this visit: seaweed. My seaweed adventures began on my first day here when I strolled down Placencia’s main street and …

Bucko and I are back in our happy place in time for the Placencia Lobster Festival just down the beach from our usual hotel in Belize. We were still reeling from the overcrowded, heavily touristed …

It seems like many of my weekly stories are about adventures in far-off places, but really enjoying my own backyard is its own adventure. Now it is clearly spring, nearing summer, and my yard has …

When I travel anywhere I am always on the lookout for sights and experiences that I can relate to my local readers in Florida. And there is always something. This time, I’m reminiscing about …