A graveyard at Brookgreen Gardens

Just 18 miles north of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens stands as the country’s first public sculpture garden, with 50 acres of lush, landscaped gardens dotted with over 14,00 artworks spanning the early 1800s to the present.  Besides art, nature trails, a zoo and exhibits, Brookgreen Gardens also boasts ancient graveyards that give a peek into the history of the people that lived on the land centuries ago. Read More »

A farmer volunteer guide at the living history farm.

Farming is the foundation of American history but sadly, farms are quickly disappearing from the daily landscape of  the typical American experience. Generations of kids are growing up without a clear understanding of where their food comes from and how it’s produced. The L.W. Paul Living History Farm provides an active example of how small, one-horse family farms operated generations ago. Read More »

The Circus roundabout in downtown Basseterre

As a small volcanic  island in the Eastern Caribbean, St. Kitts offers 69 sq. miles of rain forest, mountains and beaches to explore.  With  scenery so lush and varied, the most engaging way to explore this lovely island  is by bike.  Most  St. Kitts resorts offer bike tours and I quickly signed up for the two-hour tour of Basseterre, the charming capitol of St. Kitts, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. Read More »

Participants march down State Street during the Chicago Memorial Day Parade

When I was growing up,  Memorial Day meant that most Chicago neighborhoods boasted huge American flags proudly waving from every porch.  I remember my grandmother visiting the cemetary to put tiny flags on the graves of my grandfather and great uncles and most people I knew followed the same traditions.  Those customs aren’t so common today but one  Memorial Day activity that remains is the annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown Chicago. Read More »