Sandra Friend

Sandra Friend

17
Mar
Magnolia Gardens

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

At America's oldest public garden, the romantic gardens of Magnolia Plantation flow through natural woodlands and swamps, emphasizing azaleas and camellias.
9 min read
19
Jul
Space center building framed by arc of sycamore leaves

Race to the Moon: Apollo and Saturn V

It's the Year of Apollo at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and nowhere is that more evident than in the renovations and additions at the massive Apollo/Saturn V Center.
9 min read
17
Jul
First footprints on the moon Apollo 11 NASA

First on the Moon

North of Dayton, surrounded by farms, the Ohio town of Wapakoneta celebrates its biggest claim to fame: it's the hometown of Neil Armstrong and home to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum.
8 min read
16
Jul
Apollo 11 earthrise

Apollo: To the Moon

Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the launch and landing on the moon by Apollo 11 at Kennedy Space Center, and what it means to American and world history.
8 min read
24
Apr
Biking on the Bartram Adventure Tour

On a Bartram Adventure Tour

On a guided Bartram Adventure Tour, we hiked, biked, and paddled to follow the travels of William and John Bartram along the St. Johns River on the newly designated Bartram National Recreation Trail, centered in Palatka, Florida.
12 min read
13
Feb
Historic Stony Brook Mill NY

Surprised by Stony Brook

Surprised by the New England feel of Stony Brook, we lingered over museums and parks, soaking in history on our overnight visit to Long Island's North Shore.
8 min read
11
Feb
Key West Express

Key West by Ferry

Using the Key West Express ferryboat instead of spending ten hours driving, we slipped away from Fort Myers Beach for an overnight adventure in Key West.
12 min read
12
Nov
Cacti poking out of tropical understory on a seaside mountainside at daybreak

Pineapple Beach Club, Antigua

Watching sunrise from a rocky promontory at a resort in Antigua, I discover the gift of travel includes the gift of time.
3 min read
06
Nov
The Road to Saltville

The Road to Saltville

Intrigued by a series of seemingly random suggestions that we take a trip to Saltville, Virginia, we discovered why getting there is so fascinating.
4 min read
01
Nov
Zen garden White Sands

Slowing the Mind

By stepping into a new pair of writing shoes - taking on the fiction writing challenge called NaNoWriMo with the goal of completing writing a novel this month - I begin to experience the world differently.
6 min read