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Join our adventure in the story links below. Discover how three college towns gave us three completely different experiences. Each campus showed us an array of southern charm and character, each with distinct qualities. The pastel-colored University of South Carolina was warm and welcoming with a personalized approach. The classically inspired University of Georgia was…
Continue reading → 3 Southern US States, 3 Universities, 3 Styles
Our first visit to the state of Alabama started out with a bang—of lightning, that is. The whipping wind in Birmingham warned us of the brewing storm. Then, upon our arrival, Tuscaloosa greeted us with a tornado warning. That morning was relatively warm. We had just driven from the University of Georgia in Athens to…
Continue reading → A Whirlwind (literally) of Grandeur in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama
Jubilant students on TV rushed to ring a chapel bell as Georgia beat Alabama in the college football national championship game. A few weeks later, we find ourselves standing at that same bell hanging from within a white trussed tower. A student marches eagerly up to ring the bell with vigor, a tradition first recorded…
Continue reading → Finding a Haven at the University of Georgia
Just a couple blocks from the South Carolina State House, we enter through one of two openings in the brick "Horseshoe Wall" that once protected the campus from burning during the Civil War. The cozy atmosphere invites us in. A brick path leads us into a tree-lined park setting where two centuries of pastel-colored history…
Continue reading → Guided by Warm Charm at the University of South Carolina
Mostly improved, but missing one thing—the restaurant The centerpiece of the 1962 World's Fair, the futuristic Space Needle got a $100 million renovation—mostly for the better—using 176 tons of glass to achieve a lighter and brighter feel. Although, now something's missing—actually, replaced. This time around we opted to enjoy the Space Needle from on the…
My life took a detour, years ago, when I settled for a while in one of the world’s most majestic settings. From here I was able to see the forest through the trees—literally and figuratively. I discovered, not only an amazing landscape, but myself in the process, and began a new chapter... in California. Growing…
Continue reading → My Personal Soul-Searching Journey to Lake Tahoe, California
National Mall — “America’s Front Yard” — is the heart and soul of Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia), the capital of the United States of America; a city separate from, while still connected to, every state in the union. As this country continues to forge a path forward, it is important to honor and uphold the…
Winter Deluge Enhanced the Beauty of this Natural Treasure Original article on Medium Yosemite Valley — photo by Caden Giaudrone Wet Winter February 2017 — according to reports, this was the wettest water season on record in Northern California. One stormy winter day, flashes of lightning filled our dimly lit sky. Daylight struggled to find its way through thick, ominous…
Our visit to Los Angeles over Thanksgiving reminded me of how fortunate I am, how grateful I feel... and how much there is to see and do in this megalopolis. With two boys who both play soccer year-round, and family in the area, we find ourselves in SoCal frequently throughout the year. Anytime we travel,…
This lavish estate, inspired by Spanish Colonial and Mission style architecture, was the ultimate achievement of architect, Julia Morgan. The Hearst Castle remains a symbol of the extravagent wealth that peaked in the United States during the 1920s. Commissioned by media tycoon—newspaper magnate, film producer, art collector—William Randolph Hearst, this ostentatious country home was constructed in the…
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