The United States boasts many scenic national parks, monuments, and forests. They can be visited with the “America The Beautiful” Year Pass. It is THE reason my hubby and I explore the United States. After we visited America’s (and the world’s) first national park since 1872, Yellowstone, Wyoming, in 2008, we became hooked on the experience!
We visited 28* national parks fifteen years later (2023). Each park has its unique character, energy, and vibe. For me, It is a spiritual experience to wander through the wilderness.
“Between every two pine trees, there is a door leading to a new way of life. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees.”
— John Muir, Scottish-American naturalist
2008 – Yellowstone National Park, WY Badlands National Park, WY, Mount Rushmore National Monument, SD
Round Spring, Ozark National Scenic Riverways Our Stay in Ellington, MO A Day at Round Spring We ended our visit to the Missouri Ozark Mountains with a visit to Round Spring, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Though not technically a state park anymore, it began as one of Missouri’s first state parks. A […]
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Big Spring, Ozark National Scenic Riverways Our Stay in Ellington, MO Big Spring, a Natural Wonder! Big Spring is a giant spring with cool, 58°F water constantly bubbling from the base of a bluff. While the exact depth is unclear, it’s undeniably massive. Big Spring is Missouri’s largest Spring and a candidate for the third-largest
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Hiking the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Our Stay in Ellington, MO Cicadas, Springs, and Serenity So we landed in Ellington, Missouri. It’s beautiful here, but not exactly quiet! Millions of cicadas emerged. They do this periodically, every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. This is a fascinating natural phenomenon to experience, especially since
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Hot Springs National Park – Day 2 Our Stay in Hot Springs, AR Mountain Views and Natural Wonders in Hot Springs National Park Our hike began at the Hot Springs National Park West Mountain sign. We started with the Mountain Top Trail, and this invigorating climb tested my calves while going up. However, this leg-stretching
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Hot Springs National Park – Day 1 Our Stay in Hot Springs, AR Bathhouse Row – A Walk Through Time Hot Springs National Park was quite surprising! Unlike most national parks that focus on preserving natural landscapes, Hot Springs protects a collection of historic bathhouses along Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs. This Bathhouse Row
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Learning America’s History Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park Our Stay in Harlingen, TX A Pivotal Moment in America’s History The Palo Alto Battlefield, now a National Historic Park, memorializes the site of a pivotal moment in US history. On May 8, 1846, US and Mexican troops fought on the Palo Alto prairie. This Mexican-American
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LBJ Johnson National Historical ParkA Day of Delights Our Stay in Austin, TX Exploring the Ranch While Waiting for the Eclipse Our goal today was to see the total eclipse. However, with the cloud-covered sky not looking promising, we headed out early to Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Even if we didn’t see the
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Crater Lake National Park Our Stay in Klamath Falls, OR Crater Lake, Oregon’s Unique Blue Gem We first visited Crater Lake National Park on Sunday, November 3, 2019! This second time, it still made a great impression! Crater Lake is nature’s unique gem with an intense blue color like blue sapphire stone and an almost
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Pinnacles National Park – Day 2 Our Stay in Soledad, CA Hiking the Prewett Point Trail On our second day in Pinnacles National Park, California, we started with the Prewett Point Trail near the park’s western entrance—a short, easy hike with great views of the Father of the Pinnacles Hain Wilderness. We learned that nearly
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Pinnacles National Park – Day 1 Our Stay in Soledad, CA Condor Gulch Trail: A Challenging Climb with a Nostalgic Reward We checked off another national park from our bucket list – Pinnacles National Park, number 35 and counting! Established as a National Monument in 1908, this California gem officially became a National Park in
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