Avalon, New Jersey

August 23-30, 2014 -- I recently visited the South Jersey Shore and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it is given the image in the popular media of what "The Shore" is supposed to look and feel like. I can tell you that at least in Cape May County the people are friendly and the scenery is spectacular and very natural and not too built up.

Costa Rica Adventure August 2014

Arenal Volcano

This summer I took a group eco tour of amazing Costa Rica in Central America. Enthusiastic and experienced environmentalist Ami Greener and his travel company Greener Travel organized the ten-day adventure. The tiny nation the size of West Virginia is one percent of the world's land mass and yet contains five percent of the world's biodiversity. The flora and fauna, the pristine beaches, the happy people, the many cultures, the rainforest, the volcanoes, the cities. When you visit Costa Rica you understand why their most famous saying and national greeting is "Pura Vida," or "Pure Life!"

Photos: Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware

I recently visited the Hagley Musuem and Library -- a non-profit educational institution located along the Brandywine River in Wilmington, Delaware.

New Orleans, Louisiana

May 8, 2014 to May 12, 2014 -- I recently visited the Crescent City for the first time for a friend's wedding and was really impressed by New Orleans considering I had no idea what to expect as to how the city was still recovering after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I can tell you from my experience that while NOLA has its problems, the city is bouncing back in a big way and is well worth a visit.

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida is a place that can feel very disconnected from nature. Shopping malls, strip malls, freeways, housing developments, gated communities, golf courses and man-made lakes dot the flat, tropical landscape. But nature reveals itself in unexpected ways, reminding people that we are part of a vast, complex ecosystem that should be respected and taken care of for future generations to enjoy. For example, there are little lizards that pop up around South Florida, exotic birds along the canals and ancient trees with strong roots.

Cherry Blossoms 2014

It is always tricky trying to guess when exactly the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin will be at peak bloom. The peak bloom only last sometimes a few days to a week so timing is everything. Luck helps too and we got lucky visiting the Tidal Basin just when the Cherry Blossoms were at their glorious best (us and thousands of other tourists from around the world).

Photos: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

I recently visited the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex at Washington Dulles International Airport in the Chantilly area of Fairfax County, Virginia. The annex isn't as popular as the more widely visited and more centrally located main museum on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. But that is a good thing because the annex is still one of Washington's best kept secrets and there is a treasure trove of artifacts.

Las Vegas, Nevada

March 21-23, 2014 -- I recently visited Sin City for my friend's bachelor party weekend and my other friend's March Madness gambling weekend. After flying out to Las Vegas from BWI on Southwest Airlines and admiring the Grand Canyon off the right side of our westbound airplane, I landed at McCarran International Airport and took a bus that conveniently dropped me off very close to The Signature at The MGM Grand where I stayed with my friend from the Maryland suburbs of D.C. and his friend from the Virginia suburbs of D.C.