TerriM
Fresh lynx tracks weave through deep powder near Quesnel Lake in British Columbia's Cariboo Mountains. At minus 18 degrees Celsius, the morning air crystallizes our breath as Ryan, our EcoTours BC guide, motions us to pause. Though the elusive lynx remains hidden, its story is written in the snow. Here, it stalked a snowshoe hare. There, it rested beneath a sheltering spruce. Its tracks trace a single line across the surface of a frozen river. The vast wilderness stretches before us, an untamed landscape where mountain peaks disappear into low clouds and ancient forests harbor secrets beneath 27 feet of annual snowfall.
People tend to skip over Sumatra when they travel to Indonesia. Bali is always their top pick. In North Sumatra lies Lake Toba, a hidden gem that intertwines historical and cultural allure.
Yolanda ‘Yollie’ Copeland is a woman with a mission. The retired sheriff’s deputy, who moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2013, is committed to making sure that the city’s rich Black history isn’t erased. She does it by tooling around town in an advertising-covered, low-speed electric vehicle, wearing a bright yellow shirt, shoes, and hat, and sharing her love for the area and the people who shaped it.
There’s no denying John Ware lived a legend-worthy life. Born into slavery in the American South, he rose far above his humble beginnings to become a Black cowboy with a successful career as a rancher in the Canadian province of Alberta. Throughout his journey, Ware faced racism, prejudice, and the numerous challenges that came from a white-dominated industry. John Ware overcame those obstacles as he managed thousands of cattle and horses for highly successful ranches, ultimately developing a ranch of his own. His renowned skills and experience in the industry, along with his remarkable character, earned him a solid place among the legends of the Canadian West.
It was about 10:30 pm, the darkness so inky you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The leafy boughs of late-spring trees blocked even the starlight. My friend whispered, "Do you want to see the blue ghosts? They live near the cemetery up the trail."
One of the best aspects of travel is stumbling on interesting stories. I discovered one highlighting Native American history during a photography tour of Antelope Canyon X with Taadidiin Tours. Antelope Canyon X is one of several slot canyons that inspire millions to visit the Navajo Nation near Page, Arizona, each year.
Imagine a communal farm founded in 1942, where sustainability is put over profit and a Christian community that welcomes all people of any, or no faith, to join their community. I recently visited Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia, and discovered a way of life I thought died in the 19th century.
Even the dogs in Toronto wear coats. Whether you’re shopping on Yonge Street or in Kensington Market, puffers don’t just appear in one-of-a-kind vintage stores or the sprawling Eaton Centre mall. Rather, they also cloak Toronto’s dachshunds and greyhounds, who strut through the city as unphased as their owners. On a weekend in December, a particularly spoiled French bulldog dons an embroidered Maple Leafs jersey, not unlike Carlton — the hockey team’s polar bear mascot.
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN. Now the home of the National Civil Rights Museum, this historic structure not only immortalizes this unforgettable moment in time but showcases more than 400 years of African American history.
In the town of Plains, Georgia, President Jimmy Carter was affectionally referred to as “Mr. Jimmy.” Everybody in the tiny town was related to or knew him personally. Never before has a president devoted so much of himself to his hometown both before and after his presidency.
Mexico is comprised of 31 states. One of them, Oaxaca, is known for its indigenous culture and its enormous impact on Mexican cuisine and culture. Quintana Roo, another state on the Yucatán Peninsula, boasts a 206-acre Caribbean-seaside resort, the jungle-surrounded Grand Velas Riviera Maya, which celebrates all of Mexico’s charms with the luxury-VIP vibe turned all the way up.
As we rounded the final curve to the Hallerangerhaus, the Austrian flag came into view. After 12 miles of hiking, with some calf-burning steep sections, the high mountain lodge in the Karwendel mountains was a welcome sight. I’m not much of a cruise person, and I get restless after too long at the beach. My way of unwinding from the stress of daily life is to push myself into action. Trekking to one of Austria’s high mountain huts was an adventure that strengthened my body and spirit.
