National Public Radio (NPR) writer David Schaper recalls “line loops through security at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport” as well as other trip legs taking him to places requiring his reporting skills. Among the trends he’s covered are more direct flights, and especially “new, unconventional domestic routes that airlines are now offering as they try to capitalize on the huge pent-up demand for leisure travel.” Have…
One of the reasons folks love visiting Florida has to do with the diversity of coasts, access to islands, and sunny weather, but these days, a Sunshine State vacation could set you back a bundle. Further, Florida stretches across 450 miles from north to south, so it could take you forever to see the top sites. Why not vacation on Belize’s Placencia Peninsula instead? This…
What do these four words have to do with your desire for a romantic getaway: reboot, repair, rekindle and revive? They’re the “secret” outcomes all couples crave, even when they tell others they need to escape the pressures of kids, bosses, unreasonable deadlines, and pressures that make us feel we’re aging faster than we’re having birthdays! Must you admit aloud that you believe that relationships…
You’re not alone if the appeal of the great outdoors is powerful during the winter months when getting out and about can be a challenge. There’s a way to escape the worst of it and have your fill of outdoor fun: Head to Belize where experiencing Mother Nature’s world can do more for your spirit than a roaring fire and piles of quilts. Belize temperatures…
They may be small, but conch shells are mighty. They house royalty, say Technology.org researchers, who point out that queen conch mollusks—living within these beautiful pink or orange shells—get free rides as they drag along the seafloor browsing for snacks and producing rare pearls on occasion for the average 40 years each conch lives. Conchs offer multiple pleasures for us humans by serving as ornaments,…
It’s easy to understand why questions are being asked about the wisdom of importing animals to zoos after being captured in the wild—especially since opportunities to see wildlife over time were mostly found on pages of National Geographic magazines! New approaches to zoo design benefit wildlife as some of these facilities expand space and create habitats designed to emulating species-specific environments. What’s changed since zoos…
You don’t have to be a grammarian to understand the power behind the word ultimate. According to Merriam-Webster, an authority that’s been around since 1828, ultimate is such a commanding adjective that editors have come up with 103 similar and opposite words. Why bring this to your attention? Because the lush finger of land christened the Placencia Peninsula by Spaniards colonizing Central America back in…
Say what you will about the differences of opinion that pervade our days, but there’s common ground when people are asked how they feel about water sports activities. Red Cross statistics verify the fact that 80% of Americans know how to swim, and age presents no barrier to people who enjoy this sport. But for most of us, swimming is just the beginning of our…
National Public Radio (NPR) newsletter contributor Marielle Segarra says it’s okay to let go of old holiday traditions, especially if you adopt new ones! She’s a fan of these rituals, saying they “foster a sense of unity with the people we love and help pass down cultural values.” Why let go of some traditions? If that ritual feels like an obligation, “requires more energy, funds,…
If the idea of tropical getaway in 2026 is at the forefront of your brain, you’ll want to select Placencia, Belize as your destination in the year ahead. This peninsula is not just a trendy and fun, but at just 16-miles-long, visitors don’t have to wonder far to find everything they crave. This finger of land was once home to Mayas who left an indelible…