Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon and was established in 1902, thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt. The lake was formed over 7,000 years ago during a massive eruption of Mount Mazama. It is the deepest lake in the USA, and one of the deepest in the world. There are no rivers running... Continue Reading →
Death Valley National Park, CA
Death Valley, the name doesn't sound very inviting. When mentioning a vacation to this park, some people might reply with an incredulous "why?!?" My husband and I visited ten years ago for our anniversary. Needless to say, we received a lot of teasing about our choice of an anniversary getaway. However, it truly is a... Continue Reading →
Yosemite National Park
On October 1, 1890 thanks to the efforts of John Muir, over 750,000 acres surrounded by the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests became Yosemite National Park. The park is incredibly diverse and includes lakes, streams, granite cliffs, waterfalls, meadows, plants, towering trees, animals and much more. Yosemite Falls We visited in April, 2018 and the... Continue Reading →
Arms Raised to Joshua Tree National Park
At the convergence of the Colorado and Mojave desserts lies Joshua Tree National Park. My sister and niece recently visited this gorgeous park, which brought back some memories of my time there, which I will share with you today. The quiet, surreal beauty of the location will draw you in, and you will find yourself... Continue Reading →
The Beautiful and Terrifying Hogback
There is a four mile stretch of Scenic Byway 12 in Utah called the Hogback, that is both beautiful and terrifying to drive across. This stretch of road sits right on top of a cliff, with steeps drop offs on each side. Driving across what feels like a knife-blade, with NO guard rails on either... Continue Reading →
Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep National Monument, located on the border of Colorado and Utah, was established in 1923 by President Warren Harding, to preserve the prehistoric villages in the area. It was the home of Ancestral Puebloans who settled here around 900 AD to hunt and grow crops. They built multi-storied structures that were expertly crafted. These structures... Continue Reading →
Avoid the Crowds at Capitol Reef National Park!
Capitol Reef National Park is not one of the most popular of Utah’s Five, but it is every bit as gorgeous as Zion and Arches without the overwhelming crowds. When we told friends and family that we were going to Utah to visit national parks, everyone asked if we were going to Zion. Because of... Continue Reading →
Arches National Park, Utah
Arches became a national park in 1971, and although it is not on the list of the top-ten most popular parks in the US, it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It is known for sandstone arches, balanced rocks and other interesting geological formations. Visitors are rewarded with a stunning view after passing... Continue Reading →
Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Mesa Verde, located in southwestern Colorado, became a national park in June, 1906, thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt. The park is an archeologist’s dream with over 4,000 ancient sites to explore. After entering this 52,000 acre park, the road climbs to an elevation of up to 8,500 feet, offering stunning vistas of the sweeping landscape... Continue Reading →