In the United States, we’re now officially entering the 12th month of the global pandemic. It’s probable that even if you’ve been living under a rock, in some way or another, your life has been affected by COVID-19. This past year, we’ve been living under a microscope.

Categories: Best OfStoriesImage: In the United States, we’re now officially entering the 12th month of the global pandemic. It’s probable that even if you’ve been living under a rock, in some way or another, your life has been affected by COVID-19. This past year, we’ve been living under a microscope. It’s definite that there are extensive differences stemming from choices to living arrangements, restrictions to pre-existing conditions, urban, rural, rich, poor, ability, mobility, acce

Categories: Best OfStoriesBody: It has been a long 12 months for the majority of parents across the country. With schools being closed for many towns and cities, many parents have either been forced or made the choice to homeschool their kids in order to keep them as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. And what may have seemed like a relatively innocent adventure into homeschooling for the first time has likely now snowballed into a state of pure exhaustion on the part of pa

Categories: Best OfStoriesImage: Connection, learning, grieving, resilience, recovery: these are among the gifts music offers. In the United States, February is a month designated to remember and celebrate Black history. That is not the only time to consider the lives of Black people, past and present, nor is it the only time when connection and learning take place. There are many stories left untold, though. Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi honor those stories with their song Te

Categories: Best OfStoriesBody: Publisher's note: we LOVE the amazing articles from our US Fish and Wildlife Service about our natural world. Here's one about tracks in the snow! Who goes there? Winter is a great time to find out. The snow tells secrets about the natural world. In woods and plains and less trafficked city streets, the movements of many shy creatures can be revealed in a fresh cover of snow. A wide and even downhill trough in the snow is the mark of a playful otter at T

Toward the end of 2020, my boyfriend and I had the most wonderful time driving across almost all of Scotland. For 2 months, we explored the stunning coastlines and rugged mountain peaks. We spent all but a few nights wild camping, enjoying the calm and scenic countryside Scotland has to offer. NC500 roads We experienced the full force of Scotland’s unpredictable weather, and got to enjoy close encounters with the fiery locals and the infamous Highland cows. If you are considering a road trip…

Categories: Best OfTravelingImage: Toward the end of 2020, my boyfriend and I had the most wonderful time driving across almost all of Scotland. For 2 months, we explored the stunning coastlines and rugged mountain peaks. We spent all but a few nights wild camping, enjoying the calm and scenic countryside Scotland has to offer. NC500 roads We experienced the full force of Scotland’s unpredictable weather, and got to enjoy close encounters with the fiery locals and the infamous Highland

Snow can reveal the mysterious lives of critters in the night. These tracks were made by elk. The tracks indicate that elk were zig-zagging through the snow, digging for vegetation buried beneath. Unamused by barking dogs and wandering humans, elk keep their distance from populated areas during the day. In the night when all domestic life has fallen silent, elk will move closer to neighborhoods in search of food. As the rumbles of dawn and human movement fill the air, elk quickly retreat. By…

2021 is officially well underway. Vaccines are finding their way into the arms of awaiting humans to hopefully help bring this global pandemic to a close. Students and teachers are finding new ways to navigate the world of digital learning and are hopeful that those who want to attend in person classes will be able to do so perhaps even prior to the next school year. The US has inaugurated a new administration and policy shifts are occurring faster than you can bat an eye. With the changing…

Categories: Best OfStoriesImage: 2021 is officially well underway. Vaccines are finding their way into the arms of awaiting humans to hopefully help bring this global pandemic to a close. Students and teachers are finding new ways to navigate the world of digital learning and are hopeful that those who want to attend in person classes will be able to do so perhaps even prior to the next school year. The US has inaugurated a new administration and policy shifts are occurring faster th

Categories: OpportunitiesJobsBody: Let’s be honest: the last few months have really made us want to leave our houses, jump on a plane and go somewhere, anywhere, far, far away. And yes, at the moment it might seem like being able to travel again is still far in the future, but as the world slowly starts to open up again, we can prepare for the day we can happily step out of house and into the big, wide world. You might not know this, but one of the most popular ways of travelling the

Max Quinn is one of the world's most experienced polar filmmakers. His career, which spans 50 years, has taken him to the ends of the earth, from his native New Zealand to Alaska, and Antarctica to the Arctic. His new book, A Life of Extremes is a personal account of his work, featuring vibrant text and stunning images that illustrate 20 years of adventures in polar climates. He has filmed in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, creating documentaries for the likes of National…

Categories: Best OfTravelingBody: The Marriott is one of the world's largest hotel chains, and has one of the most robust loyalty programs. Their recent tie-up with Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz Carlton has the Marriott-Bonvoy rewards program one of the world's largest. The Marriott Bonvoy rewards point has 30 brands across several price points. It allows for all types of travelers to earn free nights and utilize the various elite status benefits at different properties worldwide

Categories: Best OfStoriesBody: Max Quinn is one of the world's most experienced polar filmmakers. His career, which spans 50 years, has taken him to the ends of the earth, from his native New Zealand to Alaska, and Antarctica to the Arctic. His new book, A Life of Extremes is a personal account of his work, featuring vibrant text and stunning images that illustrate 20 years of adventures in polar climates. He has filmed in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, creating docum

Old Man of Storr. From Artist Spotlight: Melanie Whitson, MelArt Scotland

Categories: ArtisansArtisan of the monthImage: The internet is an incredible place. I first saw Melanie Whitson's art on facebook, in a Scotland group. Her clean, beautiful drawings truly capture the essence of place. My favorites? While they are all so evocative, her Leanach Cottage at Culloden has grasped my heart. I feel the wind blowing across the battlefield, smell the smoke and humanity, and remember moments of history, both large and small. Leanach Cottage, Culloden Let's not f