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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City of Rocks National Reserve Our Stay in King Hill, ID Sculpted by Nature Our day was filled with a scenic drive and adventurous hike at the City of Rocks National Reserve, just north of the Utah border. We parked near the trailhead, leaving our car behind, as the dirt road ahead seemed only suited
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Boise Highlights: Greenbelt & Former Penitentiary Our Stay in King Hill, ID A Return to Boise, ID Two years ago, while driving back to San Antonio from the solar eclipse, we bypassed downtown Boise, only seeing Idaho’s state capitol building. Finding ourselves just an hour away, we decided to explore two of the city’s highlights:
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Craters of the Moon National Monument Our Stay in King Hill, ID Craters of the Moon: The Devil’s Landscape We found a portal to another world: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, within the Snake River Plain of central Idaho. Formed by volcanic eruptions that began 15,000 years ago and continued until relatively
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Balanced Rock, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Malad Gorge State Park Our Stay in King Hill, ID This scenic day trip took us to three impressive natural wonders in the area: Balanced Rock, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Malad Gorge State Park. First stop: The Balancing Act of Balanced Rock Our first stop
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The Bruneau Dunes and Bruneau Canyons Our Stay in King Hill, ID Being Lost in The Highest Dunes in Idaho, the Bruneau Dunes! The highest dunes! We paid our $7 parking fee, grabbed a map, and started to hike the Sand Dunes Hiking Trail, following the marked path. After a few miles, the markers and
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Olympic NP – Hoh River Forest Our Stay in Grayland, WA “Time Spent amongst Trees Is Never Wasted Time.” – Katrina Mayer An Enchanting Escape to the Hoh Rain Forest A visit to the Olympic National Park is a worthwhile endeavor. We had the pleasure of exploring the Hoh Rain Forest with our sons back
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Olympic National Park – Hurricane Ridge Area Our Stay in West Seattle, WA The Dry Side of Olympic NP It was the third time we visited Olympic National Park. Over the years, we’ve been to the Hoh River area with its huge trees twice. This was the first time we saw the rainshadow side of
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