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
Channel Islands National Park California Day 2 – An Unforgettable Voyage to Santa Rosa Island A Tale of Whales We had booked the Island Packers ferry to the Channel Islands National Park, to Santa Rosa Island, on this beautiful day. Sailing to the island was an unexpected sea safari, and it was the most incredible […]
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Our Introduction to Channel Islands National Park California Learning About Channel Islands NP Our first introduction to Channel Islands National Park was at the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center in Ventura, CA. As always, the center proved to be the necessary starting point for exploring Channel Islands National Park, also referred to as “America’s Galapagos.”
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS – Day 3 California Hiking the Hidden Gem of Marble Falls Trail On our last visit to Sequoia National Park, we saw no Sequoia trees but hiked one of the park’s hidden gems, the Marble Falls Trail. Along the way, we enjoyed the varied scenery of the Sierra Nevada foothills.
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS – Day 2 California A Visit to Kings Canyon NP Entrance Kings Canyon Kings Canyon Visitor Center We continued our visit to the Sierra Nevada’s towering forests, arriving at Kings Canyon National Park via E Kings Canyon Road. We marked our entry with a photo and then made a quick
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS – Day 1 California Entrance Sequoia NP Foothills Visitor Center We began our visit to Sequoia National Park with a scenic drive along the Generals Highway. Rather than undertaking long hikes, we made several short stops to see and photograph some of the park’s iconic landmarks. We started with two
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The Lost Pine Cabin in Oakhurst, CA California A Scenic Retreat Near Yosemite From Mammoth Lakes, CA, we drove through Yosemite National Park to our Airbnb in Oakhurst, CA, the “Southern Gateway” to the national park. The welcoming “Lost Pine Cabin” was situated on top of a ridge, allowing us to enjoy the views of
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Yosemite’s Iconic Loop, Mist Trail Up and John Muir Trail Down California Yosemite National Park – Day 5 Hiking The Yosemite Waterfall Loop On our fifth visit to Yosemite National Park, we spent all day hiking the Mist Trail up and the John Muir Trail down. The beginning of the Mist Trail was easy, with
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A Day with Yosemite’s Falls California Yosemite National Park – Day 4 Seeing Bridalveil Fall Through John Muir’s Eyes September 20, 2023 0.89 mi 19:49 min 37 °F We were early birds again in Yosemite National Park and became two of around four to five million people who travel to Yosemite National Park each year to
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Spectacular Gems in Yosemite:Glacier Point, Taft Point, and the Mariposa Grove California Yosemite National Park – Day 3 Breathtaking Vistas from Glacier Point September 19, 2023 0.91 mi 0:23:25 hrs 45 °F On our third day in Yosemite National Park, we arrived early at Glacier Point, a viewpoint overlooking Yosemite Valley at a staggering elevation
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Tioga Road’s Highlights in Yosemite National Park California 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 east side, we saw
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