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
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 […]
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Saguaro West, The Volcanic Oven of the Tucson Mountains Arizona May 2021 XX A few days later, we explored the West Side of Saguaro National Park. This part of the park is located in the Tucson Mountains, on the opposite side of the city from where we had hiked before. We started up the Hugh
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The Crown Jewel of the Anza National Historic Trail Arizona May 2021 The Anza Corridor After our visit to the ruins of Mission Tumacácori, we followed part of the 1,210-mile Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. This route commemorates the 1775–1776 expedition led by Anza, who guided more than 240 settlers from New Spain
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Exploring the Pimería Alta at Tumacácori Mission Arizona May 2021 Preserving the Unfinished, Tumacácori Mission Instead of hiking in nature, we went to explore Tumacácori National Historical Park, near the Mexican border. The story of Tumacácori Mission goes back to January 1691, when the Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived in the area. Tumacácori was
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Bloom in the Rincon Mountains at Saguaro NP East Arizona May 2021 The Desert in Full Pride We picked the perfect day to visit Saguaro National Park because, in May, the majestic saguaro is in full bloom. We explored the Rincon Mountain District, the park’s eastern section. A century ago, grazing and development threatened the
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An Adventure at Tonto Natural Bridge Arizona May 2021 Boulders, Bridges, and Coatis at Tonto Natural Bridge Following a local recommendation, we spent the afternoon at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, one of Arizona’s hidden gems. The natural bridge is considered the world’s largest travertine bridge. It is enormous, with a height of 183 feet,
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An Otherworldly Day At Petrified Forest National Park Arizona May 2021 The Painted Desert, Vistas, Ravens, and Route 66 Monday, May 17, 2021 61 °F – 64 °F We entered through the North Entrance off I-40 and began exploring Petrified Forest NP by following Petrified Forest Road. After a quick photo at the entrance, we
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Sky-High Homes and Sacred Springs Arizona May 2021 Montezuma Castle, The Sinagua Legacy May 16, 2021 0.75 mi 18:50 min 73 °F A peaceful green oasis surrounded by the enormous desert! That’s how Montezuma Castle and its flourishing surroundings felt. Montezuma Castle remains one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. The Sinagua must
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Exploring the Ruins of Tuzigoot at Crooked Water Arizona May 2021 The Legacy of Tuzigoot After our morning activity, we continued with a beautiful drive through the Tonto National Forest. One of our stops was at the Tuzigoot National Monument, whose name means “Crooked Water” in Tonto Apache. It is a fitting title for a
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The Legacy of Pipe Spring Arizona May 2021 A Visit to Pipe Spring NM, The Desert Oasis After many days of hiking and cycling, we wanted to give our legs and feet a much-needed break. So, we drove south to Arizona, through the desert to the Kaibab Indian Reservation, and paid a visit to the
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