North Americans have been fans of competition throughout history. Dempsey v. Louis never made headlines after boxer Jack Dempsey admitted that he was too frightened to get into a ring with the champ. The Depp v. Heard divorce hogged every headline as the bickering reached a boiling point, and you would be hard pressed to name a political contest not billed as one between Democrats…
What’s to blame for the extreme weather North America experienced at the beginning of 2026? A stratospheric polar vortex lingering 20 miles above the Earth’s surface, compounded by a southward jet stream dip, warmer-than-usual Gulf of Mexico, and rapid Arctic warming. “The most intense winter storms we’re experiencing are likely to become more intense,” say Mathew Barlow and Judah Cohen of the Weather Channel. One…
Named for the so-called laughing gulls which formerly used the island as a nesting site, Laughing Bird Caye is a small (1.8-acre/0.73 ha) island located approximately 11 miles (17 km) off the coast of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Today, the island is the epicenter of Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a protected nature reserve that includes the island as well as the surrounding…
South African writer Mpho K. Makibelo admits to having a lifelong love affair with words and phrases. So when the idea of a “jumping-off point” caught his attention, he wrote an essay about why they matter, and how they can help launch new projects or pursuits. But few associations are as compelling as jumping-off points linked to vacations. Does it matter where you begin your…
How important are Belize’s beaches, reefs, and cultural artifacts and reserves? So important, Belizean leaders took part in a landmark tri-national forum with Guatemala and Mexico this fall to discuss protecting the expansive Maya jungle that stretches 14 million acres through all three nations. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, called this summit “historic…a living space for thousands of species with an invaluable cultural legacy that we…
If you recall the Noah’s Ark story you know that two of every animal boarded the ark for safekeeping during rains meant to cleanse the earth of evil doers. Since then, human couples have dominated the leisure travel scene, but not so these days. Singles have become world travelers, writes Forbes magazine contributor Irene S. Levine. Solo travel has grown so popular, she calls it…
Western Hemisphere folks who can’t get enough diving, snorkeling, and fishing, don’t want to travel to Australia to experience that nation’s barrier reef due to steep expenditures in money and time. Happily, there’s a remarkable reef off Central America’s coast, and if you’ve kept tabs on travel trends, you know that the Belize Barrier Reef offers visitors a vast marine ecosystem, making Belize the go-to…
How many times have you used a phrase that perfectly describes what you’re thinking, but you’ve absolutely no idea where that phrase originated or what it means? Those of us who love ferreting out “sweet spots”—while being clueless about the phrase’s roots—would love to help educate you. The meaning of “sweet spot” evolved from sports commentators describing the ideal place or area a game ball…
If you’ve ever traveled around Florida, you realized that no two cities are alike. Miami Beach’s glitz is nothing like Orlando where the Disney complex sets the area’s tone. Towns situated in the panhandle offer southern charm usually found in Alabama. This phenomenon is not unique to the U.S. Find astonishing diversity on peninsulas in Malaysia, Iceland, and Italy, but who wants to spend endless…
You’re in good company if you celebrate on December 21st each year. Winter solstice arrives on that date, which means you enjoy a minute or so of extended daylight each day—whether or not the sun is out! The solstice is an especially difficult time for folks who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression caused by a lack of daylight. If you suffer…