Midnight in Death Valley – Death Valley National Park – Death Valley, California – 12/06/2019

Midnight Adventures can often be the best kind of adventures. But, let me tell you, It’s DARK in Death Valley!…

US Route 95 North – Las Vegas, Nevada into Amargosa Valley, Nevada – 12/06/2019

Heading North out of Las Vegas, Nevada, US Route 95 is an incredibly scenic highway! Through vast desert landscapes, you’ll…

Hands-On Learning at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center – Boulder City, Nevada – 12/06/2019

You’re never too old for hands-on learning! Toddlers, teens, and everyone in between! National Parks are some of the greatest…

Desert Gardens at Lake Mead National Recreation Area Visitor Center – Boulder City, Nevada – 12/06/2019

If you’re in the area to pay a visit to Hoover Dam, don’t forget to stop by the Lake Mead…

Sisters for a Snowy Grand Canyon Sunset – Desert View Watchtower – Grand Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon Village, Arizona – 12/03/2019

Our final adventure for the day, a Grand Canyon Sunset. It was cold, it was quiet, it was surreal. But,…

South Rim of the Grand Canyon at the Desert View Watchtower – Grand Canyon National Park – Grand Canyon Village, Arizona – 12/03/2019

And we made it to the Grand Canyon National Park! I rarely have words to describe the Grand Canyon. The…

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…

Fort Smith National Historic Site – Fort Smith, Arkansas – 12/01/2019

Situated along the Arkansas River, the Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves an 80 year span of history in this…

Oconaluftee – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Cherokee, North Carolina – 03/20/2019

We celebrated a GREAT First Day of Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We drove from Gatlinburg, Tennessee…

Newfound Gap – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Newfound Gap, Tennessee – 03/20/2019

Newfound Gap, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a mountain pass situated at the border where Tennessee gives…

Alum Cave Trail – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – 03/20/2019

The First Day of Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an exquisite juxtaposition of warm sunshine, cool…

West Prong of the Little Pigeon River – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – 03/20/2019

Rivers and creeks are a beautiful part of the grand scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But they…

Hiking the Chimney Tops – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – 03/20/2019

In November 2016, something horrific happened that changed our lives forever here in Tennessee. Fire. Now, our Tennessee House is…

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…

Picnics and Paddlewheelers – Bohemian Flats Park – Minneapolis, Minnesota – 05/25/2018

Bohemian Flats Park – Minneapolis, Minnesota The Bohemian Flats Park sits unassuming in its simple, yet lushly green beauty, along…

Upper St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center and Lock and Dam – Minneapolis, Minnesota – 05/25/2018

St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center and Lock and Dam St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center and Lock and Dam offers fabulous…

The Song of Hiawatha at Minnehaha Falls Regional Park – Minneapolis, Minnesota – 05/25/2018

The Song of Hiawatha at Minnehaha Falls Regional Park Poet extraordinaire, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, gave us ‘The Song of Hiawatha’…

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…

Some Artsy Photo Fun in the Dunes – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Glen Arbor, Michigan – 05/15/2018

The longer we stay in one place, the more likely we are to let the photos get creative! Just having…

Fun in the Sand – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Empire, Michigan and Glen Arbor, Michigan

Start your vacation fun at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a visit to the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center,…

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…

Lora Blevins Farmstead – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – Oneida, Tennessee – 04/04/2016

A lovely day on the Lora Blevins Farmstead in the Bandy Creek region of the Big South Fork National River…

Blevins Cemetery – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – Oneida, Tennessee – 04/04/2016

Blevins Cemetery is located on the Lora Blevins Farmstead in the Bandy Creek area of the Big South Fork National…

Bandy Creek Loop Trail – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – Oneida, Tennessee – 04/04/2016

A beautiful Spring Day calls for a lovely hike in the woods! We hit up the Bandy Creek Loop 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…

River Styx Spring Trail – Mammoth Cave National Park – Mammoth Cave, Kentucky – 4/03/2016

Hiking down the River Styx Spring Trail in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park makes for a lovely afternoon! Hiking back…

Babies in National Parks – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – Oneida, Tennessee – 03/19/2015

While Trillian was working with Ranger Mary on her Scavenger Hunt Activity, Ribby decided to do a little Deep Woods…

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…

You Otter Be in the Big South Fork! – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Crossville Visitor Center – Crossville, Tennessee – 03/14/2015

Throughout Cumberland County, and the city of Crossville, Tennessee, you can “hunt for otters” by being on the lookout for…

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…

Stunning Fall Vistas as Far as the Eye Can See! – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – 10/26/2012

Brilliantly Autumn Scenic Route! – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Townsend, Tennessee – 10/26/2012

Fall is in the air! Gorgeous fall colors all around! Even a drive through the winding roads of the Smokies…

Autumn in Cades Cove – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Townsend, Tennessee – 10/26/2012

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has an intriguing human history that has left its mark on the beautiful land….

Little River Trail at Elkmont – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Gatlinburg, Tennessee – 10/26/2012

Such a lovely Fall Day for a hike along the Little River at Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains National…

Horseback Riding in Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 07/19/2012

If you are looking for a unique, and absolutely unforgettable way to experience Zion National Park, consider doing so on…

Zion Canyon Shuttle Bus – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 07/04/2012

We are frequently asked which National Park is our favorite. Out of the larger NPS Units, Zion, is, by far,…

Riverside Walk – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 07/04/2012

In Zion National Park, the Riverside Walk offers a pleasant stroll along the Virgin River, as it meanders through jaw-dropping…

The Road to Zion – Zion National Park – Springdale, Utah – 07/04/2012

From Springdale, along Utah 9, east into the Western Entrance of Zion National Park. It’s Independence Day! No better way…

Elk in the Beaver Meadows – Rocky Mountain National Park – Estes Park, Colorado – 06/30/2012

As you begin the descent from the highest elevations of Alpine Tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park, back to the…

Tundra Snowfield Hike – Rocky Mountain National Park – Grand Lake, Colorado – 06/30/2012

Looking for snow in June? The Rocky Mountains have you covered! If you make it all the way up to…

Alpine Tundra – Rocky Mountain National Park – Grand Lake, Colorado – 06/30/2012

Wow! 11,796 feet above sea level! It’s a whole different world in the higher elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park!…

Entering Rocky Mountain National Park from the Western Side of Trail Ridge Road – Rocky Mountain National Park – Grand Lake, Colorado – 06/30/2012

Coming through Grand Lake, and into the Rocky Mountain National Park, your first Visitor Center is at Kawuneeche. Continuing along…

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,…

A Few Random Day Three Shots – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/13/2011

After three days on a remote island in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles from civilization, my…

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…

Waking Up in Paradise! – Day Break on the Dry Tortugas – Dry Tortugas National Park- Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/12/2011

Our first night of camping in the books, as we wake to our own peaceful solitude; with calm waters and…

…The Full Moon Shall Rise – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

When all the elements align, you know you are experiencing MAGIC! On top of everything else, the full moon over…

As the Sun Sets in Paradise… – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

Such glorious sunsets in this perfect paradise. Where the sun melts into the Gulf Water Horizon… We find joy. Togetherness….

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…

Camping on the Dry Tortugas – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

Ahhh… A trip to the Dry Tortugas was one of THE top things on my Bucket List for many years…

Snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas – Dry Tortugas National Park, Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

Snorkeling in these perfect, warm, crystalline waters was an experience like no other! The kids had a blast splashing, playing,…

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…

Yankee Freedom Ferry Ride to Fort Jefferson – Dry Tortugas National Park – Dry Tortugas, Florida – 09/11/2011

Exploring the Dry Tortugas National Park spent many years in one of the highest spots on my Bucket List! And…

Night Sounds of the Swamp – Everglades National Park – Homestead, Florida – 09/03/2011

As the sun begins to lower in the sky, the swamps come alive! Frogs, insects, birds… And who knows what…

Sunset in the Swamp – Everglades National Park – Homestead, Florida – 09/03/2011

Gorgeous skies, from pinks and purples, to deep blues, and ultimately blacks… Storm clouds and lightning bolts… And stars… Oh,…

Manatees in Flamingo – Everglades National Park – Flamingo, Florida – 09/03/2011

Flamingo is the Southern Terminus for the Everglades National Park. In the bays surrounding the Southernmost tip of the Florida…

A Day in the Everglades – Everglades National Park – Homestead, Florida – 09/03/2011

The Everglades National Park boasts an unimaginable quantity of wildlife! Turkey vultures, black vultures, birds of prey, shore birds, song…