Not the destination but the traveler

  • Birding in the Rockies: Three Beautiful Songbirds

    Birding in the Rockies: Three Beautiful Songbirds

    Bird alert! The Alberta Rockies are a most wonderful place to spot our flighty and feathery friends. Lucky for you, wonders abound when birding in the Rockies. Journey along with me today as we learn about three beautiful songbirds found in the mountain ranges of North America. Read more

  • How to Respect the Sacred Deer of Nara Park

    How to Respect the Sacred Deer of Nara Park

    Oh deer! Set foot in Nara Park and you shall soon find yourself surrounded by Japan’s sacred deer. Established in 1880, Nara Park is home to hundreds of free roaming deer and in the Shinto religion, these deer are seen as messengers of the kami deities. In fact, animals often… Read more

  • Uncover a Wonder: Three Beautiful Hikes by Moraine Lake

    Uncover a Wonder: Three Beautiful Hikes by Moraine Lake

    Feeling blue? Then, Moraine Lake may be calling your name. An iconic gem of Banff National Park, Moraine Lake captures the hearts of all who behold her stunning glory. Her peaceful waters are of a lustrous blue, whose hue reflects the mood of the day. Now, the best way to… Read more

Hike to the top of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota.

Welcome to The Unofficial Florence

My name is Florence, but I am not of the Italian sort. You will find me roaming around here and there…sometimes, because I am lost, but other times because a bird or a deer or a goat has caught my eye. Luckily, I stumbled my way back to share tales of the wild, wacky, and wonderful unofficial wonders of the world. Experience the joys and frustrations of hiking and birding from comfort of your armchair and perhaps you will embark on the adventure yourself.

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Though my social media presence is as fleeting as the tiny Black Rail, I do endeavor to appear every now and then.

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