Wupatki National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 12/03/2019

As the road out of Sunset Crater descends into the Painted Desert of Arizona, the snow gives way to the…

Throwing Snowballs on the Lava Flow Trail – Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 12/03/2019

Hiking the Lava Flow Trail at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff, Arizona while it was covered in snow…

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 12/03/2019

The next National Park Unit on our agenda for the day was Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument! Sunset Crater was…

Hiking the Island Trail – Walnut Canyon National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 12/03/2019

After checking out the indoor museum of Interpretive Exhibits, we enjoyed the Island Trail hike at Walnut Canyon National Monument…

Walnut Canyon National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 12/03/2019

Flagstaff, Arizona is one of my favorite locations for hitting National Parks, and getting to experience a multitude of geological…

Junior Rangering in Anchorage – Alaska Public Lands Information Center – Anchorage, Alaska – 07/24/2018

The hub for all things National Park and Junior Ranger related in Anchorage is the Alaska Public Lands Information Center….

NPS: Great River Road Visitor Center at Freedom Park – Two National Park Units in One! Mississippi National River and Recreation Area / St. Croix National Scenic Riverway – Prescott, Wisconsin – 05/29/2018

Great River Road Visitor Center at Freedom Park – Prescott, Wisconsin Located at the confluence of the St. Croix River…

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center (Now Indiana Dunes National Park) – Porter, Indiana – 05/16/2018

We’ve been through several areas of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore prior to this trip, but this marks the first chance…

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park – Atlanta, Georgia – 06/04/2016

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park consists of several buildings in Atlanta, Georgia that interpret the deeply moving history of…

Decoration Day at Blue Heron Mining Community – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – Stearns, Kentucky – 05/07/2016

The Blue Heron Mining Community is a former coal town along the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in…

Junior Ranger Shenanigans at Mammoth Cave National Park – Mammoth Cave, Kentucky – 04/03/2016

Cave Tours are the big draw to Mammoth Cave National Park, in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. But, before or after you’ve…

A National Park Scavenger Hunt – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Bandy Creek Visitor Center – Oneida, Tennessee – 03/19/2015

After a morning of Owl Pellet Dissection, we still hadn’t had enough National Park fun! Ranger Mary gave Trillian a…

Owls in the Big South Fork – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Bandy Creek Visitor Center – Oneida, Tennessee – 03/19/2015

Ranger Mary with the Big South Fork NRRA in the Jamestown / Oneida, Tennessee districts is SUCH a valuable asset…

American Eagle Foundation: Birds of Prey Event – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Crossville Visitor Center – Crossville, Tennessee – 03/14/2015

The American Eagle Foundation out of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is an education, advocacy, and support group that works tirelessly to…

Hiking the Weeping Rock Trail – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 07/04/2012

Weeping Rock is a lovely trail, with a magnificent destination! It is definitely a trail that I highly recommend to…

Junior Rangering at Antelope Island State Park – Syracuse, Utah – 07/01/2012

The Utah State Park System has a great Junior Ranger Program, just like those in the National Park System, that…

Junior Rangering on the Dry Tortugas – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/13/2011

Earning a Junior Ranger Badge in the Dry Tortugas was not only an honor because of its uniquely remote location,…

Day Two in the Dry Tortugas – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/12/2011

We’ll just group most of Day Two’s Adventures into one post for now, but I might come back later and…

Gone Fishin'! – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/12/2011

Spending our days frolicking in the clear waters and exploring the marinelife was definitely the collectively preferred way to enjoy…

A Whole Fort to Ourselves! – Fort Jefferson After the Crowds Leave – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

After the ferry boat packs up the Day Visitors and embarks upon its journey back to Key West, campers are…

Day One: A Little Exploration – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

We didn’t really get settled into camp until after the ferry boat left the island for the evening with all…

Earning The South Florida Junior Ranger Trifecta – Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center at Everglades National Park – Homestead, Florida – 09/03/2011

If you complete Junior Ranger Badge Programs at Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park, you…

Biscayne National Park Junior Rangers – Biscayne National Park – Homestead, Florida – 09/03/2011

Biscayne National Park was #2 out of 3 on our South Florida Trifecta Mission! We had a lot of fun…

Junior Rangering at Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center – Big Cypress National Preserve – Ochopee, Florida – 09/02/2011

The first park for the South Florida Junior Ranger Trifecta… Big Cypress National Preserve in Ochopee, Florida and beyond. This…

Independence Visitor Center – Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 10/11/2010

Every Philadelphia Adventure starts at the Independence Visitor Center at Independence National Historical Park! Here you can catch Museum Exhibits,…

Junior Ranger Pledge Ceremony – Independence Visitor Center – Independence National Historical Site – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 10/11/2010

After a long, fun day of interactive experiences throughout the Historical District of Philadelphia, hanging out with Benjamin Franklin, visiting…

Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague Island State Park – Berlin, Maryland – 10/08/2010

Home of the famous Wild Ponies! The Assateague Wild Horses on the Maryland side, and the Chincoteague Ponies on the…

Capitol Reef National Park – Torrey, Utah – 06/07/2010

Cruising the Utah backroads, Utah Highway 12 runs into Utah Highway 24 in Torrey. From here you can head East,…

Sunset Point – Bryce Canyon National Park – Bryce Canyon, Utah – 06/07/2010

Bryce Canyon National Park, one of the Mighty 5 National Parks of Utah, is a breathtaking expanse of geologic amphitheater,…

Junior Ranger Ceremony – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 06/06/2010

Another day of fabulous National Park adventures means another Junior Ranger Badge! Lots of hard work, learning cool things about…

Visitor Center and Shuttle Bus Ride – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 06/06/2010

From checking out the Visitor Center exhibits, to taking in the awe-inspiring scenery along the Shuttle Bus Route, our adventures…

Junior Rangering at Grand Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon Village, Arizona – 06/02/2010

Ranger Bryan provided such meaningful interaction with the kids, that it was in this moment we decided just how much…

Wukoki Pueblo Ruins – Wupatki National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 06/02/2010

As you leave Sunset Crater, you descend from ancient volcanic lava fields in the San Francisco Mountain Range, into the…

Lava Flow Trail – Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Flagstaff, Arizona – 06/02/2010

Sunset Crater Volcano is the youngest Volcano in the San Francisco Volcanic Field in this area of Arizona. Its last…