Last month I took you on the first part of my journey through getting a Scuba Certification from Mac’s Sports in Clearwater. After completing our first checkout dive at Hudson Grotto, my boys and I left feeling quite accomplished and in awe of what life was like while breathing under the surface. Hudson was a […]
Diving Rainbow River Read More »
Part 1: The decision, the dream and the first steps When my son told us he wanted to apply to the United States Naval Academy, I knew we were stepping into something much bigger than a college application. The Naval Academy application process is a journey. I want to share that journey. Not just the
The Journey to the Service Academies Read More »
For years I’ve been looking into getting scuba certified, but I always found a reason not to do it. Too busy, too expensive, I don’t know where to go…the excuses were endless. On a quiet Saturday morning I was looking for something to do for the weekend when I opened Groupon and there it was
There are plenty of places in Florida where you can launch a kayak, paddle for a few hours and enjoy the scenery. I feel like we are on a perpetual quest to find the best spring in the state, yet it seems to be the one closest to us. Enter the Weeki Wachee River, where
A Paddling Adventure up Weeki Wachee River Read More »
For Westchase resident and SLAM Academy wrestling coach Alfonso Vargas, wrestling was never part of the original plan. In fact, his journey into the sport began after a disappointment that could have easily ended his high school athletic career before it started. A freshman at Jesuit High School in 2016, Vargas had grown up surrounded
From Accidental Wrestler to Life-Changing Coach Read More »
Ben Iorio is transforming potential into performance. At just 16 years old, Westchase resident Ben Iorio is carving out a name for himself on the mats at SLAM Tampa, proving that dedication, discipline, and the right mindset can transform potential into performance. A junior, born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Ben’s journey in wrestling began
Florida is home to many “Capitals of the World.” The “Shark Tooth Capital of the World” is Caspersen Beach, the “Shark Bite Capital of the World” is New Smyrna Beach, and the “Golf Capital of the World” is Naples. So, on what our family likes to call Sunday Funday, we decided to take a ride
A Day in the Sponge Capital of the World Read More »
Westchase resident Brock Glover is the kind of wrestler whose story is built on commitment, faith, and perseverance. 17 years old and an 11th grader at Jesuit High School, Glover has carved a reputation as both a dependable competitor on the mat and a respected leader within the school community. His 5-year wrestling journey is
Nothing Works Unless You Do Read More »
Every year, as Florida’s Gulf waters begin to cool and the winter air settles in, something magical happens beneath the surface. From November through late March, manatees make their annual pilgrimage from the chilly open waters of the Bay and the Gulf into the state’s warm, crystal-clear springs. Manatees, officially known as Trichechus Manatus Latirostris,
Where to See Manatees Read More »
The Sunshine State is filled with history. Florida’s coastline is sprinkled with relics from centuries past, each telling its own story of times forgotten. From shipwrecks resting beneath our tropical waters, historic ruins hidden inland, and more than 300 historic forts and batteries, Florida’s past lingers all around us. Just south of Fort De Soto
Historic Egmont Key Read More »
