Mellow Wanderer

Steve "Mellow Wanderer" Geiger is a retired broadcast news executive and EMMY Award winning producer, reporter, and writer. Steve is an avid traveler and writes about his various adventures and the places he visits.

photo of lightning

Tourist Beware: This Summer Destination Is America’s Lightning Capital

Summer tourists flock to Florida to experience the Sunshine State’s famous beaches and expansive theme parks. However, many outsiders are unaware of the frequent, explosive, and dangerous lightning strikes that occur every year. In fact, Florida has the highest number of lightning-related deaths in the United States, far surpassing any other state. It’s important to…

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Historic Brew With A Topless Mermaid: A Visit To The First Starbucks Store In Seattle

You can’t go anywhere these days without running into a Starbucks. The coffeehouse is a global empire. Like the common cold, Starbucks’ popularity is a contagion that keeps spreading. They all virtually look the same, except one. You’d swear the original Seattle, Washington Starbucks is a knock-off. Let’s start with the obvious—the topless mermaid logo….

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Summer Sizzles In Key West

No place spells f-u-n more than Key West, Florida, especially during those hot, humid summer days when the pace slows to a crawl. You won’t find the crowds like you do during the cool winter and spring tourist seasons. What you will find is lower prices at hotels, resorts, and B&Bs. If you stay Monday-Friday…

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Epic Inspiration: South Carolina’s Lowcountry Is A Natural Wonderland

Summer on the southern salt marsh of the South Carolina Lowcountry is a symphony for the senses. The pluff mud at low tide crackles with the sounds of tiny snapping shrimp. The air is filled with the aroma of decomposing marsh organisms, which can be either foul or sweet, depending on your mood or makeup….

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DRY TORTUGAS

Dive Into Adventure: Snorkeling Dry Tortugas National Park

After two long, frustrating years of waiting, we finally made the trip to our dream destination: the Dry Tortugas, a nearly two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride south of Key West, Florida. This place is so popular you need to book a year in advance. We did just that in 2022 for an October 2023 trip. Everything was…

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