Tucked away in the Blackwater River State Forest, north of the beaches and far from the hustle and bustle of the tourists, is a magical place called Adventures Unlimited situated on the banks of Coldwater Creek. It is an outdoor enthusiast's heaven. You can kayak clear, spring-fed creeks, mountain bike the local Black Bear Lake trail, or hike the Juniper Creek trail. And for those that like the rush of adrenaline there is a zip line canopy tour with 14 platforms that allow you to shoot across tree tops and rivers. Read the full story »

We make a point to celebrate our little boy Noah's birthday every year. It is a very hard day for us yet very special and one we look forward to. Sometimes it does not make sense to call it his birthday as he was never born that day. While Sharon did deliver him physically, his spirit had already passed on. He never took a breath. A ritual we do as a family is got to the same place on the beach and release balloons up to him with Happy Birthday wishes on them. And not to let Nora out we let her send up a pink balloon. The day was hot but very sunny. We set off the balloons and . . . Read the full story »

A solitary flip-flop sits in the white sand of Pensacola, Florida, with chunky bits of goo spilled on top and to the side like chocolate sauce. The large amount of oil that washed on shore June 23 had just marred the coastline. Randy Hamilton spots the sandal, captures a photo and files it in his archives as specimen 359. Just another lost shoe for his collection of forgotten footwear photos, but this one is different. It speaks to yet another crisis in his land and in his life . . . Read the full story »

It is the morning after I went out to Pensacola Beach to view the oil slick that had finally washed ashore from the BP disaster. The beach was surreal. The parking lot was full of TV crews and their trucks with giant satellite dishes perched on top. All lined up to report on the latest happenings. I have seen this here before during hurricane season's . . . Read the full story »