The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is about 30 miles east of Naples, and is an incredibly accessible way to view the Everglades ecosystem. The 2.5 mile walk along elevated boardwalks takes you through “pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America”. There is an abundance of wildlife to observe, and plenty of spots along … Continue reading Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
The Naples Botanical Garden is a wonderful blend of both wild and trained. Walking through the 170 acres of both small gardens and sweeping views, it’s hard to believe that just ten years ago, this garden did not exist. After more than a decade of planning, construction began in 2008 as the lakes were dug and the land was sculpted into shapes that would give … Continue reading Naples Botanical Garden
A visit to Fort Sumter was a terrific way to start my big trip. It’s located on an island in the Charleston harbor, and is accessed via a ferry ride from either Patriot’s Point on the Mount Pleasant side, or from Liberty Square in Charleston. I left from Patriot’s Point, and as the ferry pulled away from the dock, I found my way to … Continue reading Fort Sumter National Monument
I worked as a ballot clerk on Election Day in November of 2016. It was a wonderful experience and I finally got to see first hand how the voting process works, how the integrity of it is carefully protected at the local level, and how people of different political views come together to make sure everything is fair and runs smoothly. I’m lucky to … Continue reading The Women’s March on Washington
London, England The idea for this blog (the whole blog, not just this post) started back in 2010, when I was visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, an exquisite space of famous architecture and history. Below the main area, there is an underground crypt filled with monuments and statues. I was standing in that crypt the moment it occurred to me that I wasn’t seeing … Continue reading Cities and Their Monuments
This was my first visit to the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and let me just say from the very beginning that I will be going back . It’s phenomenal. The museum opened September 24, 2016, and almost immediately became a daily sell out. I lucked out and arrived early on a cold, rainy December morning just in time to … Continue reading Smithsonian NMAAHC
Even during the quiet of winter, the area around Sharpsburg, MD and the surrounding hills are strikingly beautiful. For me, it was difficult to wrap my head around the history of the area because the serenity of the scenery, and the reality of the day memorialized here, starkly contrast one another. One is incredibly peaceful, the other horrifically brutal. All in a Twelve Hour Battle … Continue reading Antietam National Battlefield & Cemetery
An introduction to this blog. Continue reading Welcome to the Magic Carpet Caravan!
Magic Carpet Caravan 