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.

New D.C. Cab Red and Silver Livery

Washington, D.C. wants to be like New York City with a taxi fleet painted the same color. Instead of yellow, D.C. taxis are slowly one by one switching to red and silver livery.

No More Names Rally to End Gun Violence at U.S. Capitol

This past September, only days after the mass shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., the organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns concluded its "No More Names" tour in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol with a rally for stronger gun safety laws to prevent another Newtown, Navy Yard and the gun violence that kills and injures more than 100,000 Americans every year.

ZooLights 2013

If you are in the nation's capital during the holiday season, definitely head on over to the National Zoo for the free ZooLights, which is an amazing nighttime lighting display that turns the Zoo into a magical winter wonderland.