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
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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Spectacular Gems in Yosemite:Glacier Point, Taft Point, and the Mariposa Grove Our Stay in Oakhurst, CA Yosemite National Park – Day 3 Breathtaking Vistas from Glacier Point On our third day in Yosemite National Park, we arrived early at Glacier Point, a viewpoint overlooking Yosemite Valley at a staggering elevation of 7,214 feet. At this
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Tioga Road’s Highlights in Yosemite National Park Our Stay in Oakhurst, CA Yosemite National Park – Day 2 Driving the Scenic Tioga Road We refueled before driving the scenic Tioga Road through Yosemite National Park to Oakhurst, CA. Signs had warned us that no gas stations were available along the 46-mile route. On the park’s
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Hiking Yosemite’s Cathedral Lakes Trail Our Stay in Mammoth Lakes, CA Yosemite National Park – Day 1 A Legendary Path Through Granite Giants We spent a magnificent day conquering the Cathedral Lakes Trail in Yosemite National Park’s Tuolumne Meadows. The hike followed a section of the John Muir Trail, a legendary long-distance path that crosses
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Humboldt Lagoons State Park Our Stay in Trinidad, CA A Hike at Humboldt Lagoons State Park Humboldt Lagoons State Park is a fascinating collection of four distinct lagoons: Big Lagoon, Dry Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and Freshwater Lagoon. The formation of these lagoons is a story of powerful forces working together. Waves tirelessly carve sandy bars,
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Lady Bird Johnson Grove & The Big Tree Redwood National and State Parks – Day 2 Our Stay in Trinidad, CA Lady Bird Johnson Grove We drove early to the Lady Bird Johnson Grove trailhead on Bald Hills Road near Orick, California. Although parking can be full, we were fortunate to find a spot that
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James Irvine Trail, Redwood National and State Parks – Day 1 Our Stay in Trinidad, CA The James Irvine Trail Gives A Captivating Journey Through A Green Wonderland. We were excited for a long day of hiking the James Irvine Trail, a 10.4-mile out-and-back trail in the Redwood National and State Parks. The path winds
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Lassen Volcanic National Park – Day 3 Our Stay in Westwood, CA Sulphur Works & Ridge Lakes We couldn’t get enough and visited Lassen for a third time! Just one more post about this amazing park. On our last day in this magnificent park, we walked to Viewpoint Sulphur Works, an area with bubbling mud
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