Author: Adventures

An adventure is waiting for you in Western Pennsylvania! Just an hour outside of the bustling city of Pittsburgh lies a small town fighting for its life. Tucked in a valley between the Appalachian Mountains, the mining community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania struggles to survive. Throughout its history, tragic floods have repeatedly devastated the valley, killing thousands and driving residents and employers alike to higher ground. Recent economic growth has hinted at a recovery in Johnstown, but this area faces an uphill climb. Almost 20 percent of families live below the poverty line....

An Adventure Awaits You In Romania! Are you ready for an adventure filled with mystery and legend?   The lore of Dracula brings thousands of visitors to these historic grounds to visit the many castles and experience the history and beauty of the region. Across Romania, you’ll also take in idyllic vistas with horse-drawn buggies, green mountains, cone-shaped haystacks, and endless herds of sheep.   Rural Romania reminds us of a bygone era. But as the newest member of the European Union, Romania is quickly rising out of the impoverished state that it became during Soviet...

An Adventure Awaits You In Brazil!   Thousands of bright umbrellas stretch to the horizon and powdery warm sand sifts between your toes. But not everything in Rio de Janeiro is sun, sand and music.   Rio’s leaders are carefully cultivating its image as friendly to business and tourists alike. The city is deep in preparations to host both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.   Rio works hard and plays hard.   The beloved Christ the Redeemer statue stands high on a hill, watching over this wealthy city. But as the world economy struggles, the divide...

An Adventure Awaits You In Florida! From alligators and everglades to beaches and nightlife, Florida has it all- but at what cost?     Florida is legendary for its retirees, but it has also seen tremendous growth in a younger population seeking an easier life. Fewer than one-third of Florida’s residents were born there, bringing the diverse influence of regional cultures and traditions into one melting pot.     Southeastern Florida’s Gold Coast parades tremendous wealth for all to see, but many people of Florida live in poverty. In fact, over...

An Adventure Awaits You In Hilton Head Island! Beyond the fairways and tennis courts of Hilton Head Island, the legacy of slavery lingers in the Deep South. Considered one of the top ten family-friendly beaches in the world, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina hosts more than two million tourists a year from around the world. Hilton Head offers world-class tennis and golf, cultural events, and it boasts many gated communities filled with prominent and wealthy residents. But just on the other side of the island, you will find dilapidated trailer homes of families struggling to make ends...

An Adventure Awaits You In San Francisco!   A thick blanket of fog can hide far more than city streets.   San Francisco is famous for its steep hills, cable cars, and foggy mornings. Residents and tourists alike can watch sea lions play as the sun sets over Alcatraz. An eclectic group of free thinkers, crafty inventors, and non-conventional lifestyles call San Francisco home.   But the City By The Bay faces real challenges.   Positioned as a major west-coast seaport, San Francisco has a huge population of sea faring workers who struggle to find steady jobs,...