About Me from a Spatial Aspect
Hi, my name is Rick Schmidt. This Story Map will highlight some of my favorite places I have lived and visited in my lifetime.
Franklin, PA
This is the town I grew up in. It is a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania situated in the Allegheny foothills at the confluence of the French Creek and the Allegheny River.
Otavalo, Ecuador
Before graduating with my undergraduate degree in anthropology in 2006 I had the opportunity to study abroad in Quito and Otavalo, Ecuador. Living in the Andes Mountains for a summer was an amazing experience I will never forget.
Port Orange, FL
In the 2011, my wife and I decided to relocate to Port Orange, FL. One of my favorite places to enjoy the beach is at Lighthouse Point Park.
Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, FL
One of my favorite places to visit in Florida is Blue Spring State Park. This spring is an excellent place to view manatees in the winter months as well as swim during the summer. It also has a rich history dating back thousands of years when Native Americans occupied the area around the spring.
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens, Port Orange, FL
One of my favorite historical/archaeological sites in my hometown is the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. This site is the home of the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Plantation dating back to late 1800s. Today you can see the remains of the plantation and enjoy the vast botanical garden that now accompanies the site. Here is a picture I took of one of the old growth Live Oaks that still exist on the property.
Photography
One of my favorite hobbies is photography. Although I take photos everywhere I go one of my favorite genres is motorsports. Here are a few photos I recently took while covering an event at Sebring International Raceway for the ChampCar Endurance Series as well as another I took at this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona. To view my work please feel free to visit my IG page here .