There's this story you get told in school about history, and it's fairly straightforward and simple. Which makes sense - elementary school kids aren't historians trying to become specialists in one area of history or another. The goal is just giving students a general understanding of history and how we got to today. And that's… Continue reading Blennerhassett Island
About a year ago, I went on a fun spring break trip with my family. It was a great trip to see them, especially since I thought I would spend the rest of the semester in Arizona; instead, I flew home two weeks later after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Consequently, it took me a… Continue reading A Taste of Hershey, Pennsylvania
Early on October 17, 1859, the sleeping town of Harpers Ferry became a battleground in one of the key events that marked the dawning of the Civil War. Though the war would not officially begin until April 1861 with the Battle of Fort Sumter, John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry was indicative of the tension… Continue reading Harpers Ferry: Then and Now
Being stuck at home means there can be a lot of time to kill. I've been doing a good bit of reading (not surprising), so I decided to make a short list of my top five recommendations for the current moment. By that, I mean books that have, on the whole, a calm tone that… Continue reading A Pandemic Summer Reading List
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom" Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg… Continue reading The Peculiar Peace of Gettysburg National Military Park
As we near the end of January and I work on planning out my blog posts for the upcoming months, I decided that, rather than a travel post (because I have been very busy), I would post this reflection on the title of my blog – Wonderlust Writings. But first, it’s January, and I’m getting […]
Did you know that Michigan is the 11th largest state based on land size? Or that Alaska is the only state with more water included in its borders? Michigan is actually surprisingly huge - although Lake Superior is even more surprising (Trust me, the question "How many Liechtensteins would fit in Lake Superior" has become… Continue reading Top Five: Detroit, Michigan
Memphis, Tennessee is famous for music - blues and rock 'n roll in particular. With Graceland just a short drive from downtown, the city has a special connection to Elvis, and Beale Street is famous for soul food and blues. However, it's about an eight-hour drive from where we live, so I was a little… Continue reading One Day in Memphis, Tennessee
Rome, the Eternal City. I spent a weekend in Rome while I was in Italy last summer, and despite the heat and crowds, I still really enjoyed it. There's a reason it's popular, after all! For me, one of the thrills of Rome is the age of everything - like a lot of places in… Continue reading Reflecting on Rome
I think most people have some place that is "their" vacation spot - a place the family goes regularly enough that it feels like both a home away from home and a clear indication that you're one vacation. My personal vacation spot is the Outer Banks where my family has vacationed for years. We don't… Continue reading One Week on Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Wonderlust Wanderings 