Recent Stories
Dream weddings take place in scenic chapel
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif. —Every girl dreams of her wedding day with the images of a beautiful white dress, a perfect groom and a fantastic ceremony. Weddings, after all, are one of the most important days in her life. To create a perfect moment, they, more often than not, will chooseRead More…
Friends go kayaking for birthday celebration
HOMESTEAD, Fla.— I was really excited to go kayaking. After all, it had been almost five years since I got together with friends, rented a kayak and got in the water. What was different about this trip, however, was that I was going to spend the day with friends I hadRead More…
A surprise adventure on Biscayne Bay
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — The day began bright and early and the sun’s rays acted as a natural wake-up call. Very excited, I started calling everyone, making sure they were getting ready and reminding them not to say anything to the birthday boy. After all, it was supposed to be aRead More…
Deer encounter provides special moment
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif. — My mouth dropped the moment I saw him; I couldn’t believe whom I had been staring at for the past five minutes. I first witnessed him casually walking towards the bustling Degnan’s Café in Yosemite Valley. It was part of his normal routine – he didn’tRead More…
Shark Valley visit busts Everglades myths
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — As a Floridian, you will exhaust some state tourist destinations by the time you graduate high school. Thanks to all the field trips and family outings, I have visited most of the attractions found between the Florida Keys and Orlando. While I now know Mickey onRead More…
Exhibit highlights butterflies found in park
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — It’s wonderful what can be found on only five percent of land at Biscayne National Park. From state-of-the-art exhibits to a Community Artist Gallery and auditorium, the park preserves some of its most delicate species by combining science and art. Located at the Dante Fascell Visitor CenterRead More…
Bicycles offer close-up way to tour Yosemite
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif. — As I coast around a corner on an old yet reliable beach cruiser, golden leaves flutter down from the branches that canopy the trail. Continuing east, I can still hear Yosemite Falls’ rushing water crashing on rocks behind me. I pick up speed going through theRead More…
Ferry provides adventure en route to fort
DRY TORTUGAS, Fla. — Located 70 miles west of Key West, the Dry Tortugas is one of the most remote national parks in the United States. It is only accessible by two ferry services based in Key West. One service, the Yankee Freedom II, offers a safe and fun experienceRead More…
Coral Nursery Program benefits reef area
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Inside his University of Miami office, marine science professor Dan DiResta ponders over the condition of coral reefs in Biscayne National Park. Their conservation has been the subject of his research for decades. He leans forward in his chair. “When I started working on coral reefs inRead More…
Shuttle driver helps visitors enjoy Yosemite
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif.— It is 7 o’clock on a late October morning. As the sun bathes the land in light, the birds chirp merrily in the trees and the deer begin to bound through the woods. A man in a blue work suit is shuttling Yosemite’s employees as well asRead More…
Paddleboats provide Biscayne adventure
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — It is 11 a.m. on yet another gorgeous fall Sunday in Miami. The sun beams in through my curtains, completely unobstructed, as there is not one cloud in the perfectly blue clear sky. My cell phone buzzes on the bed side table next to my sleep-deprived heavyRead More…
Yosemite Post Office has history of service
YOSEMITE VALLEY, Calif. — Bill Carroll was busy putting the outgoing mail through the cancellation machine, when the telephone rang at his office. He answered the call even though it was the busiest time during his day. He had to have all the outgoing letters and packages ready to dispatchRead More…