Recent Stories
Discovering Everglades mangroves, wildlife
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — Whether on your way to the Everglades National Park or in search for a quick afternoon getaway from the urban life of Miami, airboat tours are a must do. I decided to head to Gator Park, one of the numerous airboat tour locations situated west ofRead More…
Paramount Ranch rallies after 2018 wildfire
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — On Nov. 9, 2018, the sky in this northern suburb of Los Angeles was filled with rising plumes of orange smoke, and the dry Santa Ana winds delivered a familiar smell of wildfires. The Woolsey Fire had started near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in SimiRead More…
Missile base tour tells 1960s Cold War story
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Leon Howell stands in front of the former headquarters of the Nike Hercules Missile Base in Everglades National Park and surveys the tour group in front of him. Despite the hat and sunglasses obscuring half his face, his grim expression is apparent. “Now, I don’t care whereRead More…
Ten things for a day trip to the Everglades
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — Just a short drive from Miami, this north entrance to Everglades National Park gives visitors access to 1.5 million acres of wetlands that are home to alligators, snakes, crocodiles and a whole host of birds. There are numerous walking trails and boardwalks to for wildlife viewing,Read More…
Everglades offers landscape views, wildlife
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — Covering 1.5 million acres on the southwestern tip of Florida, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It is also an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International Importance. “The Everglades once encompassed three million acres,Read More…
Sea breezes, bay views draw many to park
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The calm sea breeze blew strongly enough to shake the trees that surrounded the serene atmosphere of Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center. On a low-tide part of the day from the visitor center, by facing the right position looking across the beautiful Biscayne Bay, itRead More…
Everglades can be overwhelming for visitors
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — Just about anybody entering Everglades National Park will be immediately taken by its vast and open landscape. While it initially may underwhelm some as they might be expecting a forest or New Orleans-like swamp, this is a one-of-a-kind ecosystem of water and grass with trees andRead More…
Ellis Island museum tells compelling story
NEW YORK— Jeff Dosik, a librarian at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, sits at the front desk of his office on a rainy Thanksgiving Eve while pondering on the most educational exhibition currently featured at the attraction. “I think ‘Treasures From Home’ is the most educational exhibition weRead More…
Fort’s re-enactments give lessons in history
PENSACOLA, Fla. — “It was awesome. I ain’t never saw a cannon fire, so I loved it. Shook me up a little bit, though. It was cool. I’d definitely come back here to do it again.” Kbrain Jones and his friends got an unexpected history lesson when they arrived atRead More…
GoPro camera enhances park experiences
ESTES PARK, Colo. – As my legs fatigued and my breath shortened, the photo and video enthusiast within me motivated me to keep going. “It’ll all be worth it,” I repeatedly said to myself, trekking higher and higher in altitude. Rocky Mountain National Park – where the majestic mountains nearRead More…
Beginner’s guide to the Everglades
FLORIDA CITY, Fla.- As a senior in college with no concrete plans of staying in South Florida post-graduation, I knew my chances of going to Everglades National Park were quickly disappearing. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, but I never knew how to plan my trip. When I finallyRead More…
Liberty Bell Center evokes rich history
“Ring Loud that Hallowed BELL! … Ring it till the slave be free…” — R.H. Moore’s “The Liberty Bell” PHILADELPHIA – Steeped in the rich history of America – a nation which prides itself on vanquishing the evils of wrongdoings long passed – tourists and locals alike swarm theRead More…