he Mid-Atlantic states (PA, NJ, MD, DE, WV, and VA) and the District of Columbia (DC) have stories that are as varied as their landscapes, their native flora and fauna, their soils, and the people who settled these lands beginning 15,000 years ago. Stories of success and failure; joy and sorrow; immigration and emigration; ebb and flow; flood and drought; change and durability; colliding continents; people changing the land and the land changing the people. Flowing like water from the past to the present, these River Stories are woven into enlightening and entertaining presentations and workshops that I would be glad to offer to your organization, school or social/service group.

Let River Stories open new doors of exploration for you:

• Book a program or workshop and let me introduce your group to new ways of seeing this region and get your feet headed to marvelous new places.
• Contact me to create a customized day trip for your group or family.
  
• Browse this web site for my personal recommendations for places to go and things to see and do.  Also visit my RESOURCES pages for excellent lists of web sites, learning materials, and recommended places to visit. 
  

My goal is to get people fired up to go outside and experience, first hand, all the wonderful scenery, history, sights, sounds, smells, and tastes that make this region the special place that it is.  If you follow my suggestions, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you find off the beaten path (and some times on it).

Thanks so much for stopping by and letting River Stories open doors to the Mid-Atlantic for you.

Upcoming Events:

Sun, Oct 30, Talk:  An Eco-History of the Potomac River Valley) 10:30 to 11:30 AM, Potomac Conservancy’s Lock House 8, Cabin John, MD.   I will present an entertaining and informative one-hour talk on the Eco-History of the Potomac River Valley which weaves fun, facts and local lore into a tapestry of time, terrain, climate and regional ecology.   This talk will explore the ways in which the land has shaped us and the regional biotic community (including humans) and, in turn, have shaped the land.  Free and Family Friendly.  Contact me via the Contact Page on this site or for directions go to the Potomac Conservancy website.

Check Out:

This is a great time of year to get out and explore.  To get away from the computer, TV and electronics and fill your lungs with fresh air, your nose with wood smoke, your eyes with breathtaking fall colors, and your heart with the magic that only Fall can provide.  I have some excellent suggestions for Great Family Destinations for Autumn that will make your exploring a delight.  For additional suggestions on where to go and what to see and do, visit my detailed list of regional sites that offer visitors multi-layered experiences (e.g., history, scenic beauty, outdoor trails, and industrial history) and see what catches your interest. I have tried to provide insights into places that may not get front billing in the regional travel literature and thus might be unknown to you.

My Place of the Month:  Shepherdstown, WV - What do these Happy Elves, savoring a rosemary flavored cupake along with a great cup of coffee, browsing a great indie bookshop and a enjoying great walk along the C&O Canal all have in common?  You can find them all in Shepherdstown, West Virginia - the best kept secret in this area.  It's only a short drive away and will provide you with a wonderful day trip that offers dining, shopping and recreation all in one stop. It is centrally located for several remarkable spring hiking spots:  the Ferry Hill Plantation with its amazing display of spring wildflowers right across the Rumsey Bridge im Maryland on the bluff overlooking the Potomac River, the Yankauer Preserve with its lovely carpets of Twin Leaf blooms is only a 20 minute drive north, and the Snavely Ford Loop Trail at the Antietam Battlefield is a 15 minute drive to the east.

The Chesapeake Conservancy can help you find great events at local gateways that will be fun, educational and a great time for the entire family.  Sign up for their helpful email summaries of what is happening each week.

Simplicity Matters Earth Institute (SMEI) offers a self-guided discussion program, 'Discovering a Sense of Place,' (DSOP) which utilizes an informative supplement on the Chesapeake Bay Region that I wrote specifically for this program.  Forming a DSOP discussion group can you help forge deeper connections to the place where you live.