Hiking McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Explore Texas / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Hiking McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park

McKittrick Canyon has been called “the most beautiful spot in Texas.”  With good reason.  It’s where Guadalupe Mountains National Park started.  Hiking in the national park was one of the main reasons I made a trip to El Paso.  I spent three days in El Paso exploring its missions, food, ancient pictographs in Hueco Tanks … Continue reading

Tour a Historic Fort in Georgia:  Fort Pulaski National Monument
Explore The Parks / U.S. National Monuments & Sites

Tour a Historic Fort in Georgia: Fort Pulaski National Monument

While staying on Tybee Island, Georgia, for a few days I had a chance to check off another national park site. Fort Pulaski National Monument is on Cockspur Island, between Savannah and Tybee Island. Fort construction started in 1829, but it took 18 years to complete. In 1833, it was named after Casimir Pulaski, a … Continue reading

A Day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

A Day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

I had no idea there’s a haven of lush forest and a vibrant railroad history paralleling the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron until I spent a day in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I knew there are beautiful rolling hills covered with forest near Cleveland, but what I wasn’t expected was beautiful waterfalls, picturesque serene … Continue reading

Drawn Back to the “Deserted Valley”
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Drawn Back to the “Deserted Valley”

Have you ever been to a place that immediately whisk you away into mystical serenity?  That’s what you experience at Hovenweep National Monument.   I first visited this magical spot right after my brother passed away in late May 2016.  I guess a stop at a place with “weep” in the name on a trip … Continue reading

A Delicate Hike – Hiking to Delicate Arch on Earth Day
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

A Delicate Hike – Hiking to Delicate Arch on Earth Day

I’ve hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park before, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to hike it again on Earth Day.  I’d planned to do a sunrise hike, but when the alarm went off, I hit snooze for a bit longer, but still managed to make it to the trailhead before the … Continue reading

Sunset From Below Sea Level
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Sunset From Below Sea Level

Magical, stunning, spectacular, mesmerizing, fantastic, breathtaking – all wonderful ways to describe a sunset in Death Valley National Park.  But, watching sunset from 282 feet below sea level in Badwater Basin will leave you speechless. Standing in the lowest spot in North America and watching the sky turn from shades of yellow to pink and … Continue reading

Hike inside Capulin Crater
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Monuments & Sites

Hike inside Capulin Crater

Ever wanted to venture into the crater of a volcano?  In Northeast New Mexico, you can do just that in Capulin Volcano National Monument. Capulin is in the heart of the 8,000-square-mile Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field.  Capulin Volcano rises more than 1,300 feet above the shortgrass prairie.  The first time I saw it was at sunset … Continue reading

Hike to Fortynine Palms Oasis
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Hike to Fortynine Palms Oasis

Joshua trees are known for their spiky leafed, branches reaching for the heavens are ubiquitous in most of Joshua Tree National Park, but not on this trail.  The elevation is too low for the yuccas (Joshua trees don’t have rings so they are not really trees).  Instead, you’ll find palm trees in this secluded oasis … Continue reading