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
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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A Glimpse of Canyonlands National Park Utah April 2021 Standing on the Edge at Canyonlands’ Grand View Point After Dead Horse State Park, we visited Canyonlands National Park. The park is divided into four regions, each with its own characteristics: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the Colorado River with its tributaries.
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City of Rocks National Reserve Idaho 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 for four-wheel-drive vehicles. The short
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Boise Highlights: Greenbelt & Former Penitentiary Idaho April 2021 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: the Boise River
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Craters of the Moon National Monument Idaho April 2021 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 recently, the landscape
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Balanced Rock, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Malad Gorge State Park Idaho March 2021 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 was Balanced Rock,
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