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
White Sands National Park, Catching A Sunset New Mexico June 2021 xx xx xx . xx xx Exploring White Sands National Park White Sands NP – Alkali Flat Trail Date Saturday, June 12, 2021 Distance ~ 1 mi Moving Time ~ 1 hr WEATHER 95 °F,fresh breeze
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Grand Canyon National Park Arizona May 2021 Grand Canyon – Pipe Creek Vista – Yaki Point May 19, 2021 3.90 mi 1:12:38 hrs 76 °F Grand Canyon – Parking to Rim Trail May 19, 2021 1.70 mi 0:34:39 hrs 77 °F Grand Canyon – Hermits Nest to Monument Creek Vista May 19, 2021 3.10 mi
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The Legacy of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Illinois April 2026 A Story That Shouldn’t Be Forgotten April 19, 2026 Temple Church 38 °F Imagine your 14-year-old son visits family, is accused of whistling at a woman, and is subsequently tortured and murdered by racists. This was the reality for Mamie Till-Mobley in 1955. Her
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Indiana Dunes NP – Day 2 Indiana June 2024 First the Pin, Then the Trails June 22, 2025 0.32 mi 10:30 min 82 °F The first thing we did on our return visit was go straight ahead to the visitor center to buy an Indiana Dunes Nation pin. Today, there wasn’t a long line, the
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Just Scratching the Surface of the New Jersey Pinelands New Jersey November 2025 New Jersey Pinelands, The Essential Three The New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (also known as the New Jersey Pine Barrens) is a 1.1-million-acre protected region in southern New Jersey. It was established in 1978 as America’s first National Reserve, containing forests, wetlands,
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Fall at the Springfield Armory NHS, MA Connecticut October 2025 Springfield Armory NHS, from Arsenal to Academia Just over the border in Springfield, Massachusetts, we visited the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Even though the museum and visitor center were closed, it was still possible to stroll around the site. Not really a problem, since
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The Saint-Gaudens’ Sanctuary New Hampshire October 2025 A Sculpture’s Life and Works at Saint-Gaudens NHP Despite the rain and the closure of the park due to the government shutdown, we still went for a visit to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. This historic park preserves the home, gardens, and studios of one of America’s leading sculptors,
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The Farm & Home of the 20th U.S. President, James Garfield Ohio June 2025 A Presidential Stop in Mentor, Ohio A visit to the James A. Garfield National Historic Site was also on our to-do list. Once, this site in Mentor, OH, was the farm and home of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President.
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Day 3 Ohio The Ledges Trail, A Farewell to Cuyahoga Valley Our last hike in Cuyahoga Valley National Park was on The Ledges Trail, a 1.8-mile loop, within the Virginia Kendall Park Historic District. Cuyahoga Valley was only federally protected 50 years ago, initially as a National Recreation Area for
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Day 2 Ohio Boston Mill, From Canal Town to NP Gateway We parked in the village of Boston Mill, conveniently located near the Boston Mill Visitor Center, for our hike to Brandywine Falls. Boston’s history is deeply connected with the Ohio & Erie Canal, along which it developed in the
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