Sandra Friend

Sandra Friend

For three decades, I've shared my love of travel, hiking, and the outdoors with people like yourself through my articles, books, and photography.
09
Jul
America’s Great Hiking Trails

America’s Great Hiking Trails

Be inspired by America's Great Hiking Trails, a coffee table book about our National Scenic Trail system, written by Karen Berger and photographed by Bart Smith.
2 min read
08
Jul
Ponce De Leon statue

The Pint-sized Ponces of Punta Gorda

Ponce de Leon, it seems, was a short fellow. In Punta Gorda, Florida, you'll find pint-sized statues, murals, and even the Fountain of Youth to recollect his 1513 visit to Charlotte Harbor.
3 min read
02
Jul
Monticello and its gardens

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

President Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home and plantation of Monticello offers a glimpse into the early life of our country, and his role as a Founding Father of the United States.
6 min read
01
Jul
Being, in Palolem

Being, in Palolem

Arriving on the shores of Palolem after six weeks of adventures across India and Nepal, my sister Sally and I were ready for some quiet time and a place to heal.
4 min read
08
Jun
Rocksylvania on the AT

Rocksylvania

The "Pennsylvania Rocks" of the Appalachian Trail are legendary. They come in every size and shape and simply can't be avoided.
1 min read
20
May
Off Season

Off Season

Tugging at Ken McAlpine's thread about the timelessness of beach communities in Off Season, I find frustration in change, especially in the context of Florida, the difference in past and present a painful reminder of what was and will never be again.
2 min read
17
Apr
Atlantis rollover

On a Mission with Space Shuttle Atlantis

Thirty years. Six spacecraft. 135 missions. Learn the rich history of the Space Shuttle program inside Space Shuttle Atlantis, a compelling exhibit space at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, with its primary focus the orbiter Atlantis.
8 min read
10
Mar
Orlando Wetlands Park

Winter at Orlando Wetlands

Winter is the best time to visit Orlando Wetlands Park, a prime birding destination located along SR 50 between Orlando and Titusville in the small town of Christmas.
3 min read
31
Oct
John and the elusive chanterelle

Foraging for Mushrooms in Oregon

Foraging for fungus in Estacada, Oregon, means immersing in a pastime that locals pursue with a passion.
5 min read
26
Oct
Mount Hood as seen on the approach to PDX

Aloft

Viewing Earth from 30,000 feet is a humbling experience, yet the miracle of air travel has become routine, a commodity.
2 min read