Off the southern coast of Florida, there is an island that is largely unimportant. Unlike Sanibel, it has no beaches. Its size is relatively inconsequential, being the 118th largest island in the United States. It is home to only four towns, Pine Island Center, St. James City, Bokeelia, and Pineland. This island is Pine Island. The island has no traffic lights and a single road leads to the mainland. This negligeable, eighteen mile long isle is its own little world. From the small shops of the neighboring island Matlacha to Little Pine Island, a 4,700 acre island of wetlands that are conserved for wildlife, Pine Island feels like home even when one has only seen the bridge from the mainland to the island. To the estimated 9,000 that call this island home, it is a little slice of paradise. Many of the homes on the island were once double-wide RVs that have since been put on bricks and built out to permanent homes. One such RV is owned in part by my stepfather Kevin. Kevin, my mother, and I have visited the little house two times and are planning another trip for this coming November. The house is situated in an unorganized community of RV’s and permanent homes. It sits along a canal out to the ocean. The driveway is shared with the house in front of us. Said house has an avocado tree that we pick from when no one is in the home. The neighbors to the side have a King Charles Cavalier spaniel and offered to take us out on their boat. The canal makes it humid and “No-See-Ums”
Deep in the thick swamps and woods of Northern Gulf County, amidst the buzz and sting of mosquitoes, chirps of squirrels, and swirls of the Apalachicola, is a long-lost story. One hundred and eighty years ago the town of Iola sprang out of the cypress swamp of what is now north east Gulf County. That small community, was, and still is an enigma in the wilderness of territorial Florida and has all but faded from the memory of Gulf County and is nothing but a boat ramp now.
Arizona is a beautiful place for anyone to live. Growing up in Phoenix has been quite the experience. I have had a few encounters with different animals such as snakes, scorpions, and coyotes. With mountains surrounding us all around it is hard to avoid these creatures. Each mountain has a different view to offer and they are the most unbelievable sites, especially when the sun is setting. The scenery in Arizona is something out of a book. It does get pretty hot in Arizona, but if you like the cold weather all you have to do is drive a few hours up north to experience snow in the winter and cooler temperatures in the summer. The most popular type of food in Arizona would have to be Mexican food. There is a variety of restaurants all around
With soaring temperatures, pool parties during the day and the hottest clubs in the country to heat up these hot nights, there’s no place like Las Vegas in the summer. However, having an equal opportunity appreciation for more traditional summertime fare, Sin City Press hit the road for a few days to visit a different, yet equally popular summer destination, scenic and historic New England. During the summer of 2015, we visited three unique travel destinations, and here’s what we found: Located approximately 35 miles from the state capital of Providence, historic and picturesque Newport Rhode Island has played host to many filming locations for both movies and television, and has been the subject of just as many features in print (notably, Theophilus North). Thanks to Ms. Andrea Carneiro, Director of Communications for the Newport Preservation Society, we were able to visit one of the city’s most notable attractions, the Newport Mansions.
Three Mile Island in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contained the most serious commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history. The events that followed taught the U.S. a lesson learned about nuclear power and the damage it can cause. The Three Mile accident paved the way for reforms in the way nuclear power plants were operated and regulated. the location of the island, the accident, the meltdown, the aftermath, and the media circus were all critical points in the lessons learned.
One of the most beautiful stretch of beaches on the East coast of Florida; Hutchinson Island is an island off the coast of the Treasure Coast. It is home to 48.1 square miles and also beautiful, tropical weather year round. It has many other interesting festivities such as the Elliot Museum, Sailfish Point, and many royal golf courses. The bold actions of James Hutchinson were a major influence to the growth of the island and it might not be the same without him!
On a small peninsula, 70 miles southwest of New Orleans, there is a single stretch of road that leads into a fascinating place called Isle de Jean Charles. This is a place where living off the land is a way of life that is quickly becoming impossible to accomplish. The wetlands that used to provide nourishment for the plants and wildlife have now been replaced with the water from the Gulf and neither the freshwater marshes nor the vegetation were able to sustain this intrusion. Where there used to be a forest full of animals for trapping and hunting, there is salty water rippled only by poisoned carcasses of massive oak trees that still stand. The people living on the island are desperate and the Army Corps of Engineers has the power to help. The residents of Isle de Jean Charles deserve to see their children and grandchildren grow up on the land that they call home, but at what cost?
I have seen several home improvement company vehicles around the community suggesting that residents appear to take pride in the appearance of their homes. The area appeared to be a solid middle class community that would be a nice place to raise a family. There is no evidence of abandoned homes and several real estate signs dispersed throughout the community. The island at its lowest point is 160 feet above sea level but is still susceptible to flooding, especially from after Hurricane Sandy. The aftermaths of the hurricane left some homes on the northeastern shoreline damaged and are still under construction for repair.
The mystery of Roanoke Island has yet to be solved. How can a group of settlers
The City of Sanibel is a 12 mile long island (12,000 acres) with ecosystems ranges from coastal beaches, dunes, upland ridges to freshwater wetland to mangrove swamps off the in the Gulf of Mexico (Duerksen & Snyder, 2005). This small community cherishes its cultural, social, ecological, and economic diversity. Their permanent population of 6,000 residents choose to live in harmony with nature; creating a human settlement distinguished by its diversity, beauty, uniqueness, character, and stewardship. Sanibel has become know as the most effective and progressive nature and biodiversity protection program in the U.S.
The exhilaration of a terrifyingly glorious leap sends ardent shrills down my spine. As I fly through the thick canopy of leafy chlorophyll-filled greens, I reach out to the sky and the sun smiles back at me. Inhaling the fresh raw air, the earthy petrichor floods my nostrils with an indescribably sprightly scent; I thank the prolific trees for such a crisp, oxygen abundant delight.
The main character in the story is Jim Hawkins. He is a young boy who looks for adventure. He and a few experienced men search for Ben Gunn, and want to have him enlist in their cause. They steal the Hispanolia (a ship) and return it to the captain to which it rightfully belongs.
As the years have gone by there have been some successes in finding articles in the pits, including a small piece of parchment that said vi
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for our trip to commence, we finally arrived on the dreamy island. Rather than staying at a hotel, we rented a beach house that was supposedly only a six minute walk from Marco Island Beach. While pulling up to the magnificent home, I was holding back tears of joy. The pale grayish-blue house looked like it had jumped right out of a framed photograph hanging up in the waiting room of a doctor's office. Among it’s
The ruckus from the bottom of the truck is unbearable, because of the noise and excessive shaking. As we slowly climbed the mountain road to reach our lovely cabin, it seemed almost impossible to reach the top, but every time we reached it safely. The rocks and deep potholes shook the truck and the people in it, like a paint mixer. Every window in the truck was rolled down so we could have some leverage to hold on and not loose our grip we needed so greatly. The fresh clean mountain air entered the truck; it smelt as if we were lost: nowhere close to home. It was a feeling of relief to get away from all the problems at home. The road was deeply covered with huge pines and baby aspen trees. Closely examining the
When the sun slowly peeps over the range of mountains, birds shake the morning dew off their feathers and give a cheerful song that would lift even the most sorrowful of spirits. A light fog wraps around the mountain range, reaching to touch every bit of life thriving there. The slight chill in the air is enough to give a gentle shiver, but not enough for the need of a jacket. A breeze tickles the trees, making their leaves shake and sway with laughter. Sunlight seeps in past the thick canopy of branches with hopes of being able to reach the damp mountain earth. The mountains are the best place to live to be relaxed, see the most beauty, and never get bored.