Mountain View
Allison Burney
Try Your Luck Spotting Florida’s Most Elusive Feline On a Swampy Adventure
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons. Florida is home to all kinds of amazing wildlife, from the American alligator to the West Indian manatee to five different species of sea turtles. There are even wild monkeys roaming one of the state’s parks.
The Undetected Swimming Buddy Accompanying You on Your Beach Vacation
Florida is known for its beaches, and the Fort Lauderdale area is no exception. Locals, tourists, and even American snowbirds all head to this paradise to soak up the sun’s rays and enjoy some beach time, or to escape the cold winter weather back home when it starts getting them down.
Walk Among the Closest Thing to Dinosaurs in Florida’s Everglades
I’ve heard many things about Florida’s ‘Alligator Alley’ over the years. I even drove through parts of the Everglades on a road trip a few years ago, but unfortunately I didn’t have enough time on that trip to make a proper stop in what Nat Geo WILD refers to as “a real Jurassic Park.”
Come See the World’s Only Owl That Lives Underground
There are hundreds of species of owls around the world, but I’m only familiar with a few. I’ve seen Snowy owls, Barn owls, and Great Horned owls in nature documentaries and photos, and even in bird demonstrations, but I’ve never seen them in the wild.
Sled Down Giant Sand Dunes in This Diverse National Park
I recently learned that Alaska is home to some pretty massive sand dunes that are 100 feet tall in some places. This was a huge surprise to me because I’ve always associated sand dunes with desert landscapes—and Alaska is by no means a desert. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a vast wilderness and wildlife haven that transforms from an oasis of lush greenery and rushing rivers in the spring and summer to a frozen tundra in the winter months. Nowhere in there was I aware of sand dunes.
This Manmade Hot Tub Is a Manatee Viewing Hot Spot
When it comes to Florida’s wildlife, manatees have become one of the state’s icons. Thousands of people who come to Florida on vacation each year make a point of seeing the manatees (myself included), and they hold a special place in the hearts of many local residents. It’s not hard to see why—they’re adorable! Without a doubt, manatees are the gentle giants of Florida’s waterways.
Track Down Gray Wolves on This Wintery Wilderness Adventure
I’ve always been both fascinated by and a little afraid of wolves. Since I’ve never actually seen one in the wild, I can only blame myself for allowing the media’s portrayal of them as frightening killers to shape my own views. (Twilight’s mega-sized wolves ripping off the heads of vampires with teeth the size of my arm didn’t help this, I must admit.)
Meet the Thriving Monkeys of Florida's Swampy Forests
Cruising the Silver River feels like you’ve gone across the world and back in time. — Quincy Dunn-Baker. I’ve been to Florida several times and have come to love the Sunshine State’s sandy beaches, beautiful warm weather, and abundance of water-related activities.
The Best Place To See Wild Elk up Close Is Actually in This Town
When I think of seeing wild animals, I usually picture them being far off in the distance, going about their business, undisturbed by humans. At least, that’s how I think it should be. I love animals of all kinds, and will take any chance I can get to see them thriving in their natural habitats, but I also want to respect their space and make sure I’m not negatively impacting them just to get a closer look.
The Alaska-Canada Border Is a Wilderness Surveying Feat
How many times have you stood on the border between two countries?. For me, the answer was never—until my Alaska trip, that is. These days (at least prior to the Covid-19 pandemic), international travel is so sophisticated and easy that we rarely stop to realize just how wild it really is.
This Important Underwater Preserve Was Almost Lost In the 1950s
Florida is known as a land of fun in the sun, and it's no surprise that it draws visitors of all kinds looking to escape to a sunny paradise. Its abundance of warm weather and bright, clear skies make it the ideal destination, and there are plenty of beautiful beaches and seemingly endless activities for water lovers of all kinds to enjoy.
Walk Through Totem Pole History on Sitka’s Totem Trail
I’ve always found totem poles fascinating. Standing at the base of one, looking up—sometimes as high as 20 meters—you can’t help but be amazed by the incredible detail. I imagine how difficult it must be to transform a log into a totem pole, and I’m moved by how much history, culture, and meaning each one carries.
This Tiny Town Has Become the Polar Bear Capital of America
Just off the northeast coast of Alaska lies Barter Island in the Beaufort Sea, only about four miles long and two miles wide. In one of the most remote places in the world sits the island’s main town of Kaktovik, with a population of only around 250 people. At just one square mile in size, this tiny village would easily go unnoticed—except for one thing.
Alaska’s Little-Known Landscape of Massive Sand Dunes
Massive mounds of golden sand look like a desert landscape randomly plopped in an Arctic forest. — Atlas Obscura. Before ever traveling to Alaska, I imagined it to be many things. But I have to admit that a land of giant sand dunes certainly wasn’t one of them.
How To Choose a Responsible Whale Watching Tour You Can Feel Good About
Alaska is home to many wild giants like moose and bears, but its biggest creatures of all—its many whale species—occupy its coastal waters. As noted by Alaska Collection, “Alaska’s pristine icy waters are the perfect habitat for the world’s largest mammals.”
Allison Burney
223+
Posts
809K+
Views
Freelance writer & proofreader. I love travel, reading, coffee, and exploring nature. On a mission to keep learning, growing, and enjoying this adventure we call life.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.