When most people think of St. Louis, they think of the Gateway Arch. And as well they should; the 630 foot stainless steel monolith towers over the city. (It is in fact the tallest structure in the metro area.) But while the Gateway Arch is spectacular in its own right, especially in context to the…
When it comes to American history, few cities carry the importance that Philadelphia does. When it comes to preserving that history, only Boston can match what Philadelphia offers to history buffs like me. An exploration of historic Philadelphia is a journey through the annals of America's founding. Let me get this out of the way…
When thinking of the National Parks system, most people think of Yosemite. No, Yosemite wasn’t the first National Park (that was Yellowstone), nor is it the most visited (Great Smokey Mountains holds that distinction). But for most National Parks enthusiasts, nothing can match the grandeur of the granite monoliths and cascading waterfalls of Yosemite. Located…
A red tailed hawk circles lazily in the sky. There is a light breeze causing a gentle rustle in the trees on this beautiful December day just north of Los Angeles. The sun is shining through scattered clouds. The faint smell of smoke from a carefully tended fire greets me. It's the winter solstice at…