Whenever I am in Fort Myers seeing family, a visit to the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is always at the top of my to-do list. It’s a beautiful spot with walking trails, bike paths, an abundance of wildlife with over 245 species of birds. Ding Darling is located on Sanibel Island, a popular vacation destination […]
One of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have is one that frightens you then ends up being tons of fun. Such was the case with the SkyRider, the zipline at Hunter Mountain in New York’s Northern Catskills, one of the fastest, highest and longest in North America. Why was I afraid you ask? I […]
Updated: December 29, 2019 “Here they come!” Racing toward us a huge pod of dolphins eager to ride the bow waves of our boat, their dorsal fins slicing through the Sea of Cortez like hot knives through butter. Propelled by the swell, they weave in and around each other with the deftness of a con […]
There are moments when the stars align and everything comes together and this is one of them. Above us, lounging in the crook of a sprawling jackalberry tree, an adult female leopard is bathed in golden light and to my delight, she knows how to work the camera. I can tell, it’s going to be […]
No one would ever mistake Manhattan for being a touchy-feely city. People mostly keep to themselves and the pace can make even the most type – A personality long for a breath. But now and then a holiday comes along and the city softens. Crowds brim with laughter and smiles and the only goal is […]
Updated March 2019 If you’re like me, fascinated by the criminal mind, fading ruins, and history in its most infamous, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia will make your day. It’s an icon of the world’s early penal system turned tourist attraction. You may recognize its cavernous cell blocks and post-apocalyptic vibe from the 1996 Sci-Fi […]
On a trip to Africa, my mission was two-fold: I needed to escape my A.D.D., a necessary evil if you want a career in Manhattan (Africa, I found, is one of the few places on earth I can truly relax and be present), and to improve my wildlife photography skills. I have a seemingly infinite […]
As the sea lions swim past me––banking, rolling, diving, zooming around in loop de loops like Hotwheels on a track––I am sure of one thing, even if this UnCruise adventure sucked (which it doesn’t), the trip would be worth it for this one hour. The Island of Los Islotes We are at the base of […]
It was he, Scarface the lion (Scar), curled up like a housecat in the grass, his thick dew-covered mane sparkling in the sun. His brothers Hunter, Sikio, and Morani were nearby; they also slept. The Four Musketeers, known for their prowess and savagery, instead looked precious where they lay. Updated Oct 2020 Though all are well […]
It’s mid-morning and I’m crossing the long, raised boardwalk leading to the island, my excitement building with each plank left behind. I’ve come to Duba Explorers Camp, in Botswana, part of the Great Plains Conservation portfolio, in the first half of an eight-day Okavango Delta safari. BK and Daps, two members of the Duba Explores […]