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
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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Whenever we visit our sons in Seattle, we drive by Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River. We never planned to visit, but after after reading an article in the AAA magazine, our curiosity was piqued. Surprisingly, Vancouver started in 1824, it is the oldest city in Washington State, and is therefore steeped with history!
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Driving Back Home Again Road Trip 2008 – Day 13 . Driving Back Home! Again we had a long day of driving ahead. We left the Beaver Lake Campground in Custer, SD, at 8 am, and almost two hours later, we entered Badlands National Park, a 244,000-acre park. We drove the Sage Creek Rim Road
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial Road Trip 2008 – Day 12 . Driving Back Home! After a good night’s rest, we drove to “Mount Rushmore National Memorial.” We arrived early before the large groups and enjoyed the impressive statues! We learned about the sculptor Gutzon Borglum and why he carved George Washington (1st), Thomas Jefferson (3rd),
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Hiking in Yellowstone National Park Road Trip 2008 – Day 10 . Hiking in Yellowstone National Park While the kids were still sleeping in their tent, we decided to go for some more hiking in Yellowstone National Park. We left a note telling them we would be back in two hours. Walking at dawn is
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Yellowstone National Park Road Trip 2008 – Day 9 . Yellowstone National Park . Date Sunday, August 10, 2008 Distance xx miles Moving Time xx Weather xx °F
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Road Trip 2008 – Day 7 Yellowstone Park, WY – Day 4 . Yellowstone Park, WY – Day 4 The boys wanted a day of rest after almost a week of traveling through the states and Yellowstone Park. No driving, no hiking, just some swimming in Lake Yellowstone. Unfortunately, the weather had changed, and the
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Road Trip 2008 – Day 6 Yellowstone NP, WY – Day 3 . Yellowstone NP, WY – Day 3 The next day, we saw “Old Faithful,“ one of the world’s most famous geysers! We sat down, and it started to perform its activity after about ten minutes. Later, we read that the interval between Old
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Road Trip 2008 – Day 5 Yellowstone National Park – Day 2 . Yellowstone National Park – Day 2 Our first night in Yellowstone National Park was quite an experience. We didn’t expect it to be freezing cold in August! We put on some extra clothes during the night because our sleeping bags could not
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