Articles by Amy Brecount White
There’s a Giant Inverted Swimming Pool on the DC Mall
I tilt my head sideways to adjust, but that doesn’t dispel the visual shock. A twenty-eight-foot-high, white-and-cyan, figure-eight-shaped swimming pool—complete with diving board and ladder—is balanced on its shallow end on the National Mall in Washington, DC. A view of the Hirshhorn’s Central Galleries and pool from the North Overlook, including Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Passage of Reflectance and Kuen’s Surface.
Author Maggie Stiefvater on “The Listeners” and Finding Magic in Virginia
Maggie Stiefvater had moved 18 times by the time she was 18 years old. As a Navy brat born in Harrisonburg, she says the constant moving is also what “makes your family the most important unit.” It also changed how she related to place itself. “Once you see that your existence can be taken away from a zip code, you lose that sense of fear and stress in exploring a new place,” she says.
Planning for big Hugo Fall Harvest Moon Festival on track
HUGO — The Hugo Chamber of Commerce has been working behind the scenes for a number of months to create the biggest community Fall Festival in the city’s modern history. This year’s festival theme is “HARVEST MOON,” and accepting the massive role in chairing this event has been Amy White. Scheduled for Oct. 31, to be located in Lions Park on West Jackson Street in Hugo, the festival is being billed… Subscribe to continue reading Read the full story Stay connected to your local news.
Route 211 Road Trip: Best Stops in New Market, Luray & Sperryville
Dotted with three vibrant, truly small towns, U.S. Route 211 makes an ideal road trip worth taking. Starting at busy Interstate 81, the entire 59-mile highway is located within Virginia and winds eastward up and down twice to Warrenton in the Piedmont region. The towns—New Market, Luray, and Sperryville—welcome us along. Seeking respite from our suburban pace, my daughter Sam and I head to New Market (pop. 2,162) in the Shenandoah Valley.
From Bethesda Magazine: Best of Chestertown
Chestertown on the Chester River Port. Photo Courtesy Sultana/ by Chris Cerino This is the fourth part of The Best of The Bay July/August cover story for Bethesda Magazine. St. Michaels was published Monday, Cambridge was published Tuesday and Easton was published Wednesday. Feature on Tilghman Island will be published in the coming days.
These summer star parties offer the best Milky Way views of the year
Summer’s in full swing, and you’re invited to a party. A star party, that is. All across North America, both astronomy experts and club volunteers set up their telescopes, aim them at other galaxies, nebula, and planets, and invite you to take a look. Using a laser, they might lead you in constellation tours.
Québec City Offers Historic Charm in a Vibrant Atmosphere
Québec City Offers Historic Charm in a Vibrant Atmosphere United’s new direct flight from Dulles to Québec City offers a European-style immersion closer to home. By Amy Brecount White May 13, 2026 at 7:00 am Share Are you craving a coolcation escape from summer’s looming heat? United’s direct flight to Québec offers an easy jaunt to this Francophone city with European flair and flavors. The city of Québec’s history dates back to the 17th century.
From Bethesda Magazine: Rural Pennsylvania offers nature adventures and cozy inns
A red-eyed vireo, one of many bird species that may be observed around The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Pennsylvania’s Bald Eagle State Park. Photo credit: Courtesy The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle The sun is barely up, but I can already see boats heading out on a picturesque lake as the mist rises from its surface, and hear a meadow abuzz with chirps, twills, warbles and tweets from the balcony of the eco-lodge where I’m staying.
Discover 5 Destinations with Direct Flights from Northern Virginia Airports
Ready for your next getaway? These five destinations with direct flights from Dulles International and Reagan National airports offer stunning views, immersive activities, cultural enrichment, and delicious regional fare. Courtesy Visit Anchorage, photo by JoyO.Photos Direct flights are offered from Dulles on United Airlines. Choose a window seat to take in Anchorage’s mountainous and water-rich setting as you land. Start with a guided Anchorage Trolley Tour for almost guaranteed moose spotting.
In Pennsylvania, a Melodious Eco-Resort for Bird Lovers
Travel Find fresh air and a slower pace with birding, nature hikes and charming small towns in the Pennsylvania Wilds. Amy Brecount White By Amy Brecount White April 2, 2026 Share Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp Email Copy URL Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, Pennsylvania (Photo Courtesy of The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle) It’s 6:30 on a June morning, and the meadow beneath my eco-lodge balcony is abuzz with chirps, twills, warbles and tweets.
How to Attract More Birds to Your Virginia Yard
Home & Design North American bird populations have plummeted in the last 50 years. Our landscaping choices can help revive them. Amy Brecount White By Amy Brecount White March 26, 2026 Share Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp Email Copy URL Kent Anderson in his bird-friendly yard in Arlington, Virginia (Photo by Samantha Joan White) Scouting the scene with his hefty telephoto lens, Kent Anderson looks like a photographer on safari.
Lehigh University Receives $10 Million Gift to Transform First-Year Engineering Education Original
Lehigh University Receives $10 Million Gift to Transform First-Year Engineering Education BETHLEHEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lehigh University announced a $10 million gift to create dedicated space within its historic Packard Laboratory to establish a home for the First-Year Rossin Engineering (FYRE) program, an innovative curriculum for first-year students that has emerged as part of Lehigh’s Inspiring the Future MakersStrategy that empowers students to begin building and engineering on day one.
Understand Your Options for a 2026-2027 Ski Pass
Understand Your Options for a 2026-2027 Ski Pass Here’s how to navigate pass options and possibly save money on expensive lift tickets. By Amy Brecount White March 11, 2026 at 11:30 am Share After the serious winter that’s just ending, you may have a tough time imagining strapping on skis for next winter. But planning ahead and purchasing your lift tickets now can save serious money for the future. Here’s what to know about ski passes for the 2026–2027 season.
Why Are Northern Virginia’s Oak Trees Dying?
Why Are Northern Virginia’s Oak Trees Dying? Here’s why you should keep planting these keystone trees, according to local foresters. By Amy Brecount White March 10, 2026 at 8:00 am Share What’s up with local oaks? That’s a question community forester Jacob Zielinski is often asked by NoVA residents. Many have seen large oaks dying and are wondering if it’s worth planting new young ones.
Will Osprey Chick Deaths Inspire Conservation Action on Menhaden?
Every spring, Roberta Kellam looks forward to watching osprey pairs raise their chicks along the banks of the Nassawadox Creek—a tributary that flows into the Chesapeake Bay near her home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. But about seven years ago, she noticed a change: Their chicks weren’t surviving. “In the third week of April, everything looks great. As birds are fishing, they're thriving,” said Kellam, a retired environmental lawyer and president of Birding Eastern Shore.
See North America’s night sky through an Indigenous lens
Last August, elder Marina Moulton of the Tobique First Nation in northwest New Brunswick, Canada, laid 22 ancestral wampum belts on folding tables for that evening’s star party. Cedar boughs were placed underneath the tables “for protection and for it to absorb all the negative energy that is brought there,” she explains. “Our great grandparents and grandfathers were not allowed to use ceremony,” says Moulton, the keeper of the wampum belts and keeper of the star lodge ceremony.
These Outdoor Sculpture Gardens Inspire Artsy Fun
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Gardens are perennially popular as relaxing destinations for travelers of all ages, including those 50 and up. And sculpture-focused gardens are especially enticing for their eye-catching art mingled into the greenery. Travelers will enjoy the featured sculptures of all sizes. A trip to a sculpture garden provides the wellness bonus of fresh air, exercise and green spaces.
Your Travel Decisions Can Have a Positive Impact
Fields of bright-green leaf blades waved around me in a welcome breeze as I navigated a band of concrete that cut through rice fields. These were often the only road around as my husband and I followed our Mr. Biker Saigon guide on an e-bike tour of the Mekong Delta. Most Vietnamese people travel on motorbikes, not cars; our journey took us past homes, graveyards, fields, groves, and small factories.
Chef Nate Sloan Makes Seasonality the Star in Roanoke
A group of girlfriends strolls Roanoke's Wasena neighborhood in their best floral dresses. A neon sign outside flickers "bloom," and once they walk in, they know they're in for a treat. Nate Sloan, chef-owner, opened bloom just shy of the pandemic. He proudly sets beautifully plated dishes under the warm light at his restaurant, with its expansive wine bar and open-kitchen concept.
BidClever AI Launches TRS Government Tender Intelligence Platform
BidClever AI Launches TRS Government Tender Intelligence Platform BidClever AI’s TRS platform provides structured intelligence across global government tender markets, enabling organizations to assess and prioritize opportunities more effectively.
How a Small City in Florida Became the Only Certified DarkSky International Community in the Southeast
Third night of northern lights possible for Oregon, 15 other states For the third night in a row, some in Oregon may get a chance to see the northern lights. As solar cycle 25 hits its downswing, the sky continues to …
The best night-sky apps, according to park rangers and aurora chasers Original
Where was I when a magenta aurora borealis could be seen as far south as Florida? Indoors and not paying enough attention. Thankfully, there are multiple apps for that. “Many visitors come to Dark Sky Parks for a chance to see the Milky Way, since 80 percent of Americans can't see it from their hometown,” says Jackie Rabb, a Mesa Verde National Park ranger and night sky lead at this certified International Dark Sky Park.
In Praise of Dark Skies
Imagine looking up on a dark night to see a star-filled sky that seems to stretch out to eternity. That experience has inspired awe across generations—from our ancient ancestors, who etched the image on cave walls, to modern poets imagining the Milky Way in verse. Unfortunately, far too communities get to have that experience because of light pollution clouding the skies. Thanks to our overly lit urban towns and cities, all too often what we see when we look up is a murky scrim overhead.
Forever LA murals support fire recovery and celebrate the city
Los Angeles has long been a place where creativity and community intersect. From its rich design culture to its legacy in film, music, and innovation, LA continues to inspire artists and storytellers around the world. Earlier this year, wildfires swept through East and West LA, leaving behind significant loss — homes, businesses, and landmarks. In moments like these, creativity becomes more than expression; it becomes a way to heal, rebuild, and reconnect.
Play, Explore, and Indulge in Puerto Rico
Our power catamaran stops near Isla Caja de Muertos about eight miles off Puerto Rico’s southern coast. Our guide, a marine biologist, lowers a light “snack” of mackerel in a box on a line to the shallow bottom. Gray nurse sharks soon swish through the aquamarine waters. In moments, I’ll swim among them.
12601 Misty Creek Dr, Little Rock, AR 72211, US
Investment Summary Net Operating Income (NOI) minus mortgage payments. Calculation: NOI - Mortgage Payments Monthly Cash Flow -$354 Capitalization Rate is a rate of return that compares the yearly Net Operating Income (NOI) to the market value. Calculation: NOI / Market Value Cap Rate 4.3% Annual Cash Flow / Cash Invested Calculation: Annual cash flow divided by initial cash invested. Cash-on-Cash Return -5.9% Net Operating Income (NOI) divided by total debt payments.
From Bethesda Magazine: Virginia’s River Realm focuses on ecotourism, waterfront relaxation
Stand-up paddleboarding is one of many aquatic activities to try on Virginia’s rivers. Photo credit: Courtesy Virginia's River Realm The minute I lay eyes on the intimate saltwater pool steps from our private cottage at the Hope and Glory Inn in Irvington, Virginia, I feel the urge to submerge. The pool reflects the allure of Virginia’s newly branded River Realm, a coastal area boasting some 500 miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay.
Beach Communities Hit by Major Storms Search for Ways to Reclaim Lost Sand
Last year, Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton walloped Florida’s central Gulf of Mexico coastline. With Helene, in particular, many communities endured storm surges of four to eight feet, which carried and deposited boatloads of sand beyond the beaches. In some places, sand accumulation reached four feet and presented a materials management nightmare. Many compared it to northern cities dealing with a heavy snowfall—that would never melt.
Virginia's River Realm Has Small-Town Vibes and Oysters Galore
The minute I lay eyes on the intimate saltwater pool just steps from our private cottage at the Hope and Glory Inn, I feel the urge to submerge. For me, that pool encapsulates the allure of Virginia’s newly branded River Realm, a coastal area comprising some 500 miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay. The entire region is a nexus of relaxation and self-care with a generous dash of salinity.
From Bethesda Magazine: How to attract birds to your yard
Allie Chamot fills a birdbath in her Chevy Chase yard. Photo credit: Hannele Lahti Every morning, Allie Chamot wakes up and heads out to her Chevy Chase garden. “I love seeing the different colors that come into the space,” she says. Chickadees and wrens nest there, and she particularly enjoys the white-throated sparrow’s mellifluous song. But this vibrant garden brimming with wildlife used to look a lot different.
These are the best stargazing sites in North America Original
Travelers are increasingly lifting their eyes to nighttime skies in search of impressive celestial phenomena and, perhaps, more. “Looking up at the night sky is sort of what makes us human,” says Ruskin Hartley, the executive director of DarkSky International, a nonprofit group based in Tucson, Arizona. “We have done it for millennia. Every single culture has told their first stories in the stars overhead, and they found meaning in the stars.
Exploring The Parks | Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
In this newest sanctuary, NOAA partners with an Indigenous tribe to protect vital marine habitat and sacred places. My kayak paddle steadily dips into the calm morning waters of San Luis Obispo Bay as I smile at the noisy harbor seals ahead. They leap playfully out of the water near a buoy, as if jockeying for position. The misty skies are dense with moisture, known as the “marine layer”—a typical morning on the Central California coastline.
How an Indomitable Environmental Activist Saved the Outer Banks From Impending Development
Fifty years ago, Carolista Baum passionately fought to create Jockey’s Ridge State Park, an unusually biodiverse ecosystem of dunes, thickets and marshes In August 1973, three children who regularly played atop the East Coast’s tallest active sand dune system spied a bulldozer that hadn’t been there before. The children ran to tell their babysitter, who took them to the family’s nearby store in Nags Head, North Carolina, where their mother, Carolista Baum, made and sold jewelry.
Hall’s Plumbing Announces Discount on Unapproved Estimates for May
Hall’s Plumbing Announces Discount on Unapproved Estimates for May A 10% discount is available on new, unapproved work at Hall’s Plumbing throughout May. WOODLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, May 2, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Hall’s Plumbing is offering a 10% discount on any estimate or quote that has not yet been approved. The limited-time promotion will run from May 1 through May 30, 2025.
Virginia's Most Unique Spa Treatments
As I quasi-drifted toward my husband, clearly in a dizzying state of bliss, I heard him ask, "Did you have some champagne or something in there?" He eyed me carefully as I emerged-a bit wobbly-from a 105-minute gemstone light and body treatment at The Spa at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyard. "No," I whispered, although I did feel exceptionally well. My entire body felt relaxed and fluid, like I'd just shed 15-plus years of worries and stressors.
Are Your Gardening Choices Hurting Arlington's Ecosystem?
When Todd Minners and his wife, Sandy, moved into their newly constructed Bellevue Forest home in 2013, the yard featured a mix of grass, nonnative privets, boxwoods and other standard builder plantings. Over the next few years, they added a back patio, a retaining wall and planter boxes—and more plants that weren’t native to this region. “I bought whatever the big box stores sold, with no attention,” Minners says in retrospect.
More Oddly Amazing Spa Treatments in Virginia
Ready to get pampered, rejuvenated, and a little awestruck? These spas across Virginia offer peculiar and scintillating treatments to spark relaxation and curiosity. Malee Thai Massage and Bodywork, three Northern Virginia locations A traditional Thai massage combines point pressure across your body, energy meridian work, and yoga-like stretching for an invigorating and balancing experience. When I’ve pushed my body too far and am up for a muscular re-tuning, I head here.
(�/�X�(�3��G g�� ���?�إ�t����4G=�ie�W����I"�ԙ;���%��Q���HD"�+]���i���x F � t_�5l=��;�F3���g���j�*X͚�D�O(�rzn����u8k��q4o.]���/�����>�O��qխ) ����g�����u���ۛ��gY3��fq�/j�g�)�������J5A�K�۰�b�6.j1Q�f��V��_3��\�h���X=��>˺a:={��J[�Y�a������-ͻ��;�黮&tkk��_���6��̣a.�wc^�f$B��Z��ݷ6.�q�fOo��1o� �o�%ޟJ�}��֣...
Outdoor Adventures in Tazewell
Experience the heart of the Appalachians firsthand. Appalachian Trail: For amazing views, check out the section of the AT along the south rim of Burke’s Garden. However, the access road is steep and rutted, requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle. Cavitt’s Creek Park: This 300-acre park with a 54-acre lake has lots of opportunity for recreation, equipment rental, and campsites and cabins. 750 Recreation Dr., N.
Out & About Tazewell
Appa Bagworks: Hand-crafted leather products like cross-bodies, totes, and shoulder bags. Owner Tanner Hale learned the art from his granddad. 145 Main St. Facebook: AppaBagworks Between Friends: Shop for locally made goods like wood carvings, artwork, jewelry, and bright quilts. 293 Main St. Facebook: BetweenFriendGifts Burke’s Garden Artisans Guild: Showcasing regional artisans and featuring the work of glass artist Nancy Brooks.
From Bethesda Magazine: The Wright places to travel
In 2019, UNESCO confirmed what many already knew—that Frank Lloyd Wright was a master of his craft—when it added eight of the architect’s iconic structures to its World Heritage List. Among them was Fallingwater, the waterfall-straddling home that in 1936 jump-started Wright’s career. Fallingwater may be the most famous architectural marvel in the Laurel Highlands, a forested stretch of southwestern Pennsylvania, but it’s not the only one.
Ripple Effect Images turns ripples to waves for nonprofits with in-depth storytelling
A team of photographers and filmmakers use Adobe to create compelling content for aid groups that empower women and children Image source: Ripple Effect Images For a nonprofit to succeed, it takes more than the desire to make a difference. It takes the will to act and a plan to bring about genuine change. Ripple Effect Images has led by example in this regard since 2011, helping 32 aid partners raise more than $10 million for women and children around the globe.
Ripple Effect Images turns ripples to waves for nonprofits with in-depth storytelling
Image source: Ripple Effect Images. For a nonprofit to succeed, it takes more than the desire to make a difference. It takes the will to act and a plan to bring about genuine change. Ripple Effect Images has led by example in this regard since 2011, helping 32 aid partners to raise more than $10 million for women and children around the globe. Its efforts focus on seven areas of pressing need: water, food, healthcare, education, energy, economic empowerment, and climate change.
Christmas in Eastern Virginia
Wood smoke rises on street corners as fires blaze in cressets—an early form of street lighting and reminiscent of super-sized torches. A heavenly cinnamon-apple scent wafts by—it’s hot cider and just what you need to warm your bones on a cold December night. Soon the Fife and Drum Corps march into view, drummers keeping a steady rat-a-tat as staccato bursts of fifing—like excited birdsong—add joy. A group of carolers in period clothing sing “Silent Night.” Fireworks explode in the night sky.
Christmas in Central Virginia
If you like your holidays with a dash of razzmatazz, check out Charlottesville’s Christmas events. The Grand Illumination takes place at Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall on Dec. 6. The merriment commences just as evening falls and features vendors selling holiday crafts, tasty treats, and beverages, as well as a kid-friendly wonderland with bounce houses, face painting, games, and photo-ops. Exciting musical acts perform your favorite holiday tunes on stage throughout the evening.
Christmas in NoVa
If you are a bagpipe fan like I am, Alexandria invites you to their unique Christmas celebration: Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade (Dec. 7). Dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans march through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands, as well as terriers and hounds, community groups, and more. What’s the connection to Scotland? Alexandria was founded in 1749 by Scottish merchants, and the city pays homage to its heritage with this annual event.
Former Tobacco Town Winston-Salem Now Plays Well with Brews, Gardens, and the Arts
Drive time from Dulles: 5.5 hours Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was once the seat of R.J. Reynolds’ thriving tobacco industry — and even known as Camel City, after the then popular cigarettes. While the nation’s second-largest tobacco company is still headquartered in the North Carolina city, its tobacco factories are no longer downtown. As a result, the community had to be resourceful and forward-thinking to avoid being a decrepit industrial ghost town.
Secret Love Leters
For 25 years, Scribner’s editor Maxwell Perkins sent them to Welbourne, a Middleburg estate. At the epicenter of hunt country, Welbourne holds stories of horses, royals, and a secret literary romance. Built in 1750, the Middleburg estate became the home to Colonel Richard Henry Dulany, who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. A passionate horseman, Dulany founded the country’s oldest hunt club, The Piedmont Fox Hounds, in 1840.
Visit These Frank Lloyd Wright Homes in Western Pennsylvania
In 2019, UNESCO confirmed what many already knew—that Frank Lloyd Wright was a master of his craft—when it added eight of the architect’s iconic structures to its World Heritage List. Among them was Fallingwater, the waterfall-straddling home that in 1936 jump-started Wright’s career amid the Great Depression. Fallingwater may be the most famous architectural marvel in the Laurel Highlands, a forested stretch of southwestern Pennsylvania, but it’s not the only one.
Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping and Bolster North Carolina Artists Who Need Help
The ten-acre island in the French Broad River seemed like an idyllic, creative spot. Located in a hundred-year-old former high school, Marshall High Studios hosted more than thirty artists, who stored their materials and much of their finished work there. But flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene roared in and destroyed almost all of it. In Marshall, waters crested above twenty feet.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Amy Brecount
Contact Amy Brecount, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack