This site needs to work on it's Location Settings. There is no such place as Ihop, Maryland. I just happen to be at an Ihop in Bowie, MD. Geez... This definitely isn't typical for Off Exploring; if it is, God help us. The only exploring I'm doing right now, is my desire for some alone time with inexpensive, tasty pancakes (and turkey bacon) at the International House of Pancakes. It's crowded, as usual, but one of the best things about traveling solo is never ha...

I'm back in Accokeek What can I say! The last morning of my West Coast adventure consisted of me skipping, cartwheeling, tripping, and toe-sticking in the Pacific Ocean. My Uncle Charles [Bonner] took me to one of the Bay Area's many beaches; and, I'd say, it's a big deal to bounce around in the tide of an Ocean that makes the Atlantic (much love and respect to my first Ocean) look like a pond. Despite the cold water, I experienced the pure pleasure of acting li...

I think there's only a few times in your life when you can say that something's magnificient, and actually mean it. The Muir Woods--home to the Cathedral of the Redwoods is, in my eyes, just such a place. These giant trees were given the Latin name sequoia sempervirens (Sequoia that is everliving) and many of them are 1,000+ years old, so it's not hard to see how they got their nickname name. I'd mentioned to my friends for years that I'd love to see the Redwoods...