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
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado July 2021 A First Impression of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Tuesday, July 6, 2021 3.07 mi 1:45:06 hrs 74 °F Equipped with the park brochure, we started our visit at Tomichi Point and hiked the Rim Rock Nature Trail toward the South Rim Visitor Center
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Read More »
Stepping Back in Time in Old Town Albuquerque New Mexico June 2021 Exploring Albuquerque’s Historic Heart After exploring the historic volcanic trails of the Petroglyph National Monument, we headed into the historic heart of the city, Old Town Albuquerque. The ten-block historic district, founded in 1706, preserves centuries of Spanish colonial history with classic adobe
Stepping Back in Time in Old Town Albuquerque Read More »
Petroglyph NM, Albuquerque’s Ancient Canvas New Mexico June 2021 Exploring Albuquerque’s Ancient Canvas We were on our way early to visit the Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque, NM. This monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, preserving designs chipped into the dark “desert varnish” of volcanic rocks by Ancestral Puebloans and
Petroglyphs NM, Albuquerque’s Ancient Canvas Read More »
The Continuous Ridges of the Great Sand Dunes New Mexico June 2021 The Great Sand Dunes Illusion While driving toward the Great Sand Dunes National Park, we saw the dunes appearing at the foot of the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Because these mountain peaks are over 13,000 feet high, we doubted that these dunes
The Continuous Ridges of the Great Sand Dunes Read More »
Climbing The Ladder at Bandelier National Monument New Mexico June 2021 Bandelier National Monument, A Quiet Wonder We arrived at Bandelier National Monument around 9:00 AM and had no trouble parking near the visitor center, which was a relief. We were so glad we bought the $2 paper trail guide at the entrance. It was
Climbing The Ladder at Bandelier National Monument Read More »
Carlsbad Caverns, A Magical World Underground New Mexico June 2021 Luck and Learning at Carlsbad Caverns We had a long 180-mile drive ahead to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the vast Guadalupe Mountains. To get there on time, we left at 7:00 AM for a 3.5-hour drive through the Texas-New Mexico borderlands. It was a
Carlsbad Caverns, A Magical World Underground Read More »
White Sands National Park, Catching A Sunset New Mexico June 2021 The Collision of Light and Storm at White Sands After visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, we drove back north through New Mexico’s oil country. Although it added a 50-mile detour to Las Cruces, it was worth it to arrive at White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park, Catching A Sunset Read More »
White Sands National Park, The Alkali Flat Trail New Mexico June 2021 Eerie and Mesmerizing, The Alkali Flat Trail White Sands National Park is a world like no other, a 275-square-mile area of radiating gypsum. It felt more like an alien planet than a desert. While it was designated a National Monument in 1933, its
White Sands National Park, The Alkali Flat Trail Read More »
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, A Desert Sanctuary Arizona June 2021 The Beauty and Rupture of Organ Pipe Visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was an absolute must for us. We didn’t mind the long drive from Tucson to reach this remote corner of Arizona, right on the edge of Sonora, Mexico. It’s actually the
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, A Desert Sanctuary Read More »
The White Dove of the Desert, San Xavier del Bac Arizona May 2021 Preserving San Xavier del Bac Every disadvantage has its advantage. While we didn’t complete the trail in Saguaro NP, the extra time allowed us to visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac, a stunning example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United
The White Dove of the Desert, San Xavier del Bac Read More »
