We’ve been crisscrossing the nation, ticking off as many national parks as possible, and Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has always been on the list. Unfortunately, a park named for a massive, deep blue lake isn’t always about lakeside strolls, especially in early spring! We spent a day at Crater Lake, and what a day it was. When we pulled in, the roads were clear, but the snow was
In the spring of ’25, we decided to travel north along the Pacific Coast along the 101. Not only was this a beautiful drive, but it also gave us a chance to tour Redwood National and State Parks in California. Redwood National and State Parks are very unique in that they’re not one park surrounding a feature, like Black Canyon of the Gunnison or Hot Springs. Redwood NP and SP
Few prisons have attracted as much attention as Alcatraz. “The Rock” has been a touchstone of our culture since its establishment, and that establishment was further back than any of us realized. We stayed outside of San Francisco, in Tradewinds RV park, specifically to visit this location. During our tour of Alcatraz Island National Park, we were surprised and impressed by the deep history. The History of Alcatraz Island For
It’s no secret that we’ve made a bit of a mission to see as many national parks as possible as we crisscross the nation. From the Big Five in Utah to the often bucket-listed Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns, we’ve seen a lot. One charming and often overlooked park, however, is Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. What to Expect at Petrified Forest National Park From the title, you may
Mesa Verde National Park is probably the one most anticipated by Mom. This land is sacred to the Puebloan people of the Southwestern United States. It is the site of some of the most iconic and culturally significant ancestral sites in the world! Mesa Verde National Park: A Study in Change and Sensitivity When Mom and Dad were in school, the term “Anasazi” or “Anasazi peoples” was in the textbooks
One of the “youngest” national parks, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is still a sight to behold. Located just outside of Montrose, Colorado, this small section of the Gunnison River still has some spectacular views. The section of the canyon the park encompasses holds some of the steepest and darkest sections in the world. Some areas only receive 30 minutes of direct sunlight due to the steepness and narrowness of
While we had to flee Utah to escape the summer heat, that didn’t necessarily mean our National Park quest was at an end. While we were camped out at Stillwater Pass, we were just minutes from “The Land of Extremes”: Rocky Mountain National Park. Things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park In addition to hiking and camping opportunities, Rocky Mountain National Park has several unique attractions for the historians
While exploring Capitol Reef National Park, we struggled a bit to find a good spot to Boondock. We actually spent time at two different spots. The first spot, just off of South Northam Road, was just outside the park but had no cell service. Since we didn’t have a satellite dish for our internet, we needed to find a different location. Luckily, Gun Range Road fit the bill perfectly. Secluded
Capitol Reef National Park was third on our attempt to hit the “Big 5” in Utah, and unfortunately, the one we could barely explore. This wasn’t due to any illness or injury, but the fact that the majority of the park’s scenic drive was closed for maintenance and repair. The rest of the park’s roads were limited to high-clearance all-wheel drive vehicles only. However, what we were able to see
Being the second most popular national park in the United States, finding a great place to stay within easy reach can be a little intimidating. Luckily, as we’ve experienced with nearly every other national park we’ve stayed near, they are almost always surrounded by accessible public land. Because Grand Canyon National Park is best described as two unique experiences, we’ll split this post up into the BLM camping on the