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…
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…
Are you starting to think about the Thanksgiving holiday and the traditions associated with this all-American celebration? You’re smart to do it now, since iffy tariff matters continue to make headlines, thus early sales of the Thanksgiving-related goods that turn a meal into a tribute to folks who settled the nation may be in short supply. Nevertheless, gratitude isn’t restricted to holidays, so let’s not…
If you love words, you know that the word dive has so many meanings, you would be hard-pressed to put them all into a single sentence. Dive can indicate rapid movements—like diving into a taxi, dessert, or a hobby—or it could indicate that stocks and bonds you’re counting on for retirement have taken a dive! The word dive also refers to a bar that’s sleazy,…
Dear Thrifty Adventure Seeker: Has anybody told you that your timing is perfect? Allow us to deliver news that Belize’s Laru Beya Resort, located on the trendy Placencia Peninsula, announced a two-week-long flash sale, a tribute to the resort’s rebranding of money-saving Low Season rates. You’re getting this news before it goes viral on September 9, 2025. What does that mean for you? More adventure….
The U.S. Travel Association (U.S.T.A.) has taken on a subject that could become a point of contention between people who love to plan vacations and those who wouldn’t dream of planning anything. It seems some people are born planners. Others take a more spontaneous approach to their getaways. If you’re a planner, some experts insist that you have distinct advantages over spontaneous folks because statistically,…
Did you know that just planning a getaway can make you a happier person? From the moment you pick your destination, you’ll go into “vacation anticipation” mode, a state of mind studied by researchers who insist that the benefits of a vacation begin the moment you start the process. “In a sense, we start to ‘consume’ a trip as soon as we start thinking about…