Honolulu Ranked Best U.S. City for a Staycation
The personal-finance site WalletHub recently rated 182 U.S. cities on their suitability for staycations. A staycation is a chance to play tourist…
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina
Magnolia Plantation in South Carolina boasts the last intact large-scale romantic gardens in the United States. This post contains affiliate links. For…
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon in Charleston
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is a quirky museum in Charleston, South Carolina, and a backdrop to some of the defining…
Fort Sumter in South Carolina
Charleston’s Battery and Rainbow Row faded from view as my travel companion and I sailed aboard the ferry toward Fort Sumter, perched…
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in South Carolina
Boone Hall is one of the oldest working plantations in America. Since its founding in 1681, it has produced a range of…
Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, South Carolina
“8004” The gentleman quietly ordered a bottle of Dom Perignon. He then requested six glasses and two chairs for the corner half-booth…
Emblem Ceremony on Parris Island
With a CD of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” playing, drill instructors award each recruit they’ve trained the Marine emblem of…
The Crucible on Parris Island — Part 1
The recruits in this video, and the two to follow, have nearly reached the end of USMC boot camp’s Phase Three, which…
Combat Water Survival Training on Parris Island
Phase Two of boot camp features combat water survival. Many recruits arrive on Parris Island unable to swim; some actually fear the…
“They’re the Best”
Last week, I enjoyed the great honor of meeting some of the outstanding recruits at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris…