Where would you live if…?
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Feb 24, 2011 | by Kevin Loughlin
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| American Robin |
During my trips I am often asked, “What’s your favorite trip?” My standard reply, because its the truth… “Whatever trip I am on!” However, few people ask me, “Of all the places you have visited, where would you choose to live if… [insert qualification here]?
There are so many great places to visit. I have been to 49 US States (missing Hawaii), 10 Canadian Provinces (the easier ones), Antarctica and 11 other countries between the USA and Antarctica. Side note: You may have noticed, all my travels have been in the Western Hemisphere, so I have many more destinations to explore!
No matter where I go, however, I always come home to Pennsylvania, where I have lived all of my 48 years northwest of Philadelphia. I really can’t imagine living full-time anywhere else. Pennsylvania has all four seasons –we had a taste of spring last week before snow came again reminding us winter is still here. The Appalachian Mountain Range cuts right through PA helping create a wonderful diversity of species, from the amphibians I wrote about in my last post to many resident birds and mammals, including the largest black bears in the world.
From my home in southeast PA I can reach many wonderful birding destinations in three states in 2 hours or less. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Middle Creek WMA , the Pocono Mountains, the Susquehanna River and our first designated Important Bird Area, the John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, are all in PA. Nearby Delaware offers Bombay Hook NWR and Henlopen SP. New Jersey, while best known for Cape May, also offers the Forsythe NWR, Barnegat Light and Sandy Hook.
No matter the season there is always a great place to go birding within an easy day-trip of my home. My wife just landed a new job (after a year of unemployment!) so we will be moving… one county over! We will now be close to the Delaware River rather than the Schuylkill River, but still within 2 hours of all the well-known hotspots. Soon I get to explore a new neighborhood and town for new local hotspots at the peak of migration! Life is a fun adventure!
So my turn to ask. Where would YOU live if… [any or all qualifications apply: money no object, no family ties, etc.]?
photo and text © Kevin Loughlin
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Hola Kevin!
"Where would YOU live if…"
Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico!
Great place, great birds, great food, great climate!
World's largest bird migration, in the cloud-forested mountains, less than an hour from the coast, and very important: world-class, shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee!
Come on down and visit amigos!
I'd like to spend at least a few years living in Hobart, Tasmania. Of the various places we visited in Australia it is the only one with a climate that would suit me – proper seasons without so much of the all-or-nothing style of rainfall that much of mainland Australia suffers from. There are all sorts of interesting habitat types within a few hours drive – rainforests, alpine and subalpine areas, and plenty of salt water and the birds are so very different than the birds in Pennsylvania
In this country……it would have to be in one of the canyons in the sky islands of Southeast Arizona.
The combination of mountains and desert, spectacular scenery, outstsanding birding year round and wonderful wildlife.
I would have to agree with you…living in beautiful Bucks County. I found your blog looking for photography workshops. I am in the middle of my first photography course and loving every minute of it. I want to get out and put it into practice. Your photos are beautiful. I bookmarked your blog! thanks for sharing.
Glad you found us Nancy! I am looking forward to house hunting this weekend in Bucks County. Hopefully the flooding won't be too bad!
-Kevin