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Fossil finding, cliff walking highlights of hike along England’s Jurassic Coast

By STEVE WARTENBERG The Associated Press We were only a mile into our four-day, 32-mile hike from Lyme Regis to Exmouth along the beautiful Jurassic Coast of southern England. Beneath us were the fossilized remains of sea creatures and birds dating back 150 million or more years. We were immersed in forest, with cliffs to the right, the English Channel to the left. “Where are you headed?” asked a hiker, who came up behind us at a brisk pace and stopped to chat. “Beer today, eventually Exmouth,” I answered. (Beer is an actual town, as well as an end-of-the-day goal.) ...

Survey: 25% of Americans dive into summer as early as April

By Michael Dinich Wealth of Geeks Half of Americans surveyed think summer is the season with the best food. Nearly a third of Americans prefer a good hot dog over a Thanksgiving feast (32%), according to new research. A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that people are psyched for summer, feeling “very” or “extremely” excited about the change of season (54%). A third of respondents are so excited that they considered the start of summer as happening earlier than June (31%), looking out for warm weather (50%) and longer days (21%) as the hallmarks of the season. And people ...

Lots to love about living your golden years in the land of Lincoln

By Danny Newman Wealth of Geeks With its lack of tax on retirement income, competitive cost of living, strong economy, and access to vibrant cities and unspoiled farming locations, the Prairie State has plenty going for it - especially if you’re preparing for a life in retirement. Even so, some Illinois towns offer a better quality of life than others. If you’re going to find somewhere to suit your tastes, interests, needs, and budget, then it’s essential to know your options. To help, financial planning experts weigh in with their top picks of places to consider spending your ...

Central Pa. Humane Society near overpopulation issue

By Rachel Foor rfoor@altoonamirror.com ALTOONA — Stray animals, “COVID pets” and owner surrenders are overwhelming area humane societies, with the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society taking to Facebook recently to say it is “overly full” and asking when enough will be enough. “You see our posts,” the post read. “We do not hide what we are going through. What is even more sad, is that we rely on our community for help yet our community is who is putting us in this position.” Shelter Manager Dylan Kotrick said that while the shelter having a lot of animals is ...

Billion-dollar industry driven by national park’s unrivaled beauty

By Karee Blunt Wealth of Geeks Banff’s list of accolades reads like a brag sheet for Mother Nature’s masterpiece. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the third oldest National Park in the world, home to the iconic, emerald-hued Lake Louise, and a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, from elk to the elusive grizzly bear. Beyond its ecological significance, Banff also has a substantial economic footprint. Amidst all its natural splendor, Banff generates a staggering 3.1 billion Canadian dollars a year in tourism revenue, proving that preserving nature can be a treasure ...

Versailles perfume gardens transport public back in time

The Associated Press VERSAILLES, France — The Versailles flower gardens were once a symbol of the French king’s expeditionary might and helped water-deprived courtiers perfume their skin. Now, they have been reimagined to give today’s public a glimpse — and a sniff — into the gilded palace’s olfactory past. Holding secrets to the original concept of flower power, scents of Bulgarian rose, mint and citrus from hundreds of vividly colored historic blooms unveiled this week waft into the nostrils of paying visitors at the Chateauneuf Orangery of the Grand Trianon, ...