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
Exploring the Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi A Scenic Drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway We drove a part of the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile route stretching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The parkway roughly follows the Old Natchez Trace, a historic trail used by various groups, including Native Americans, early settlers known […]
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A Petrified Forest in the South Mississippi Ancient Giants: Mississippi’s Petrified Forest The Mississippi Petrified Forest, a registered natural landmark since 1966, is a unique natural wonder and one of only two petrified forests in the eastern United States. Although we visited the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona last year, we were glad we
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Exploring the Beauty of the Buffalo River Arkansas A Scenic Hike on the Ozark to Pruitt Trail On this beautiful autumn day, we hiked the Ozark to Pruitt Trail, a moderate and popular part of the Buffalo River Trail. The Buffalo River is a national river that winds its way through the heart of the
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Exploring Congaree’s Untouched Beauty South Carolina March 2022 Getting Soaked in Congaree National Park Despite the anticipated rain and thunderstorms, we explored Congaree National Park on our last day in the Windsor area. At the Harry Hampton Visitor Center – the name pays tribute to the man who helped save Congaree – we learned that
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Old Sheldon, Beaufort, and the Unfinished Civil War South Carolina March 2022 Old Sheldon Church Ruin, History and Haunting We drove around Beaufort County and visited the Old Sheldon Church Ruin grounds. These historical ruins are what’s left over what once was the Prince William’s Parish Church, which was constructed between 1751 and 1757. After
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Fort Caroline, Where French Ambition Met Spanish Might Florida March 2022 Fort Caroline, The 1st French Settlement During our stay in Jacksonville, we included a visit to Fort Caroline National Memorial, part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve. The French Huguenot settlement of Fort Caroline commemorates France’s first attempt at colonization in 1562. We
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St. Augustine, A Journey Through America’s Oldest City Florida March, 2022 St. Augustine, America’s First City As part of our trip, we visited St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. Our stroll through the historic district allowed us to see the many ‘must-see’ landmarks St. Augustine has to offer.
DeSoto National Memorial & Historic Fort DeSoto Florida Februari 2022 A Glimpse into the Past at De Soto National Memorial The landfall of Hernando de Soto and his army on May 30, 1539, is commemorated at De Soto National Memorial. We joined a living history demonstration and learned about Hernando de Soto’s controversial exploration, the
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Everglades National Park Florida February 2022 Everglades National Park The weather had changed, so we drove eagerly to the Everglades for a new adventure on this beautiful day. We spent a long day hiking six trails, ranging from short loops to longer treks, totaling about 11 miles. A Glimpse of the Everglades at Royal Palm
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Biscayne National Park & Homestead Bayfront Park Florida February 2022 Today reminded us that we must prepare and plan when visiting a National Park. At the visitor center of Biscayne National Park, we learned that the park’s sole hiking trail was closed. We also hadn’t realized that Biscayne National Park is primarily a water park,
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