Mountain View
Allison Burney
What Airbnb Has Taught Me About Success
It’s funny. I always thought it would be writing that would show me what’s really possible in life. But something else beat it to the punch. I’ve recently been through a very different entrepreneurship experience that has completely opened my eyes to the way things work and to the laws of the universe.
Pigeon Racing Can Mean Big Money for Those Training These Incredible Birds
What’s faster than a cheetah, more agile than a great white shark, and more muscular than a gorilla?. If you’re wondering how on earth that description could possibly fit a pigeon (comparatively speaking, of course) I don’t blame you. I was also shocked to learn that there was so much more to this common bird than meets the eye.
Llama Yoga: Get Your “Zen” on Alongside These Furry, Rescued Friends
Yoga is a lot more mainstream than it used to be. People no longer look at you sideways when you tell them you’re taking yoga classes or practicing on your own at home. Perhaps this is because over time, yoga’s been proven to have numerous benefits for both our physical and mental health. Anyone who engages in even a few minutes of yoga or meditation a day knows the calming effects it can have on their mind and body.
I Now Understand Why People Love Hiking the Camino de Santiago
In early October, my fiancé and I landed back in Toronto, having just completed our very first long-distance hike together. Neither of us are avid hikers by any means, but I’d learned about the Camino de Santiago, a vast network of pilgrim trails winding across western Europe, from a movie called The Way a few years ago.
Lessons in Building Something of Value From a 30-Year Real Estate Veteran
A few years ago, one of my freelance jobs was to transcribe podcasts for a top real estate professional in the Toronto market. Each week, he’d record a new podcast about a topic that had been on his mind lately. Sometimes it was a rant about something in the industry that made him angry, like journalists reporting incorrect information about the real estate market. Sometimes it was an idea he wanted to share with the public and others in the industry, or information to help realtors excel in their business.
4 Underrated Reasons You Need To Become a Daily Walker — Starting Today
The benefits from this simple activity are endless. Lately, I’m all about walking — and for good reason. My partner and I are setting off on a 260+km “walk” on the Camino de Santiago through Portugal and Spain in about a month — so preparing ourselves for long days of hiking is definitely a strong motivation to get moving more.
Spending Money on Hobbies Isn’t Frivolous—It’s Crucial to Feeling Alive
To my surprise, personal finance expert Ramit Sethi agrees. I got the email notification just before lunch. When I first saw the box, though, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sheer size of it shocked me — and that was before I even tried to lift it!
This Historic Canyon Community Needs Your Help To Survive
For centuries, people used mules and donkeys for transport because they were the best pack animals that existed. Strong and agile, they could successfully navigate even the most challenging terrain—all while carrying up to 20% of their own body weight (up to about 200 pounds!) It's no wonder that people relied so heavily on them.
Chesapeake Bay’s Surprising Reality Stars Continue To Delight People Worldwide
When most people think of reality stars, they think of people: celebrities, entertainers, etc. Most of us don’t picture animals being ‘internet sensations,’ but there are a couple of birds near Annapolis, Maryland that are have been proving everyone wrong for several years now.
A Sea Creature Scavenger Hunt the Whole Family Will Love
One of the reasons many people love going to aquariums is that you get to see and learn about so many different marine creatures all in one place. Aquariums are full of sea animals of all kinds and are brimming with enough information to make your head spin. For those who don’t live near the ocean or don’t like to swim, an aquarium could be the only opportunity to see what lies beneath the surface of the water up close.
Where To See Clusters of Beautiful Monarchs, and How You Can Help Save Them
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love butterflies. What’s not to love? They’re beautiful and elegant, providing you with a moment of grace as they flutter by on the wind, pollinating the flowers in your garden as they go. Often bright, bold colors, butterflies easily catch your eye as they pass, brightening up your day at the same time.
Get up Close to the Bloody Battles of Elephant Seals
I’ve always found elephant seals extremely odd-looking. Compared to other seal species, such as the adorable fluffy white harp seal babies of the Arctic, or the round faces and bodies of the harbor seal, I've never been quite as drawn to elephant seals.
Watch a Massive Bison Stampede on South Dakota’s Great Plains
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to hear bison thundering across the plains in the Wild West. While this would have been a common sight to witness a few centuries ago, things are much different today. There are still a few successful modern-day herds of Plains bison roaming the United States, but not in the same way they did prior to the 19th century.
Search for Glow-in-the-Dark Scorpions in the Desert
Despite my astrological sign being a Scorpio, I have to admit that I don’t know much about real-life scorpions. Whether consciously or not, many people (including myself) have assigned them to the general list of ‘creepy-crawly things to avoid’ category when it comes to the natural world.
See Wild Chickens ‘Booming’ and Putting On a Show in the Prairies
I grew up in the country, and chickens were a normal part of life that I got used to seeing at farms in the area and at fairs. From my perspective, there didn’t seem to be too much about chickens to get excited about.
See Thousands of ‘Walking' Fish Storm the Beach in the Dark
America is full of surprising creatures that engage in totally unexpected behaviors. One of those such creatures is the California grunion, a species of fish that lays its eggs on land and “dances” across the beach at night during spawning season. It’s so weird, in fact, that some people still think this phenomenon is a myth!
Head to the Moose Capital of Colorado To See One of These Giants
Moose are one type of wildlife that simply commands respect. If you’re lucky enough to see one in the wild, their stature and presence just makes you stop and stare in awe. You wonder how something so big and stately could also be so quiet and graceful.
Allison Burney
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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.
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