National Parks and Public Lands

Experience what all US public lands have to offer.

National Parks are dear to my heart. Not just National Parks themselves, but also National Monuments, National Historic Sites, etc. Not all US public land is run by the National Park Service but also the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, state parks, non-profits, etc. Most people may not know the difference between all these agencies, or really care and for this blog, it doesn’t matter either. So this topic will cover all public lands in the United States, no matter who runs it. Yay!

The West Fork Trail in Sedona, Arizona, part of the Coconino National Forest.

I love to explore cities but I also like to explore parks. A nice hike is good for the soul. However, hiking is not the only thing to do in parks. Many are historic sites that are national treasures as well. I now try to visit as many National Park sites that I can but that wasn’t always the case. Better late than never I guess. Stay tuned for the journey!

National Parks preserve more than just nature. Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park.

Come explore US Public lands and state parks with me.


Amelia Island

Fort Clinch. Amelia Island, Florida.

A northern Floridian island complete with an adorable downtown, a lighthouse, a fort and even a fantastic cemetery.  Continue reading

Wandering St. Augustine

historic district. St. Augustine, Florida

Explorations of the colonial side of one of the the oldest European-settled cities in the United States! Continue reading

Cathedral Caverns

Cathedral Caverns State Park, Alabama

Explorations of a cave that really lives up to its name.  Continue reading

Lookout Mountain

Little River Falls. Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama

One mountain, three states, and a whole lot to see.  Continue reading

The Appalachians of Georgia

All the gorgeousness of the Appalachians all the way down in Georgia.  Continue reading

Congaree

Congaree National Park, South Carolina

Explorations of one of America’s forgotten National Parks. Continue reading

Jekyll Island

deer on trail. Jekyll Island, Georgia

Explorations of one of Georgia’s Golden Isles! Continue reading

Gulf Islands

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida

Sandy beaches, ruined fortifications and alligators, explore Gulf Islands National Seashore! Continue reading

Dauphin Island

tunnel. Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, Alabama

Off the Gulf Coast of Alabama is an island steeped in history.  Continue reading

Poverty Point

Poverty Point State Historic Site, Louisiana

Check out a mysterious ancient culture and the 3,000-year-old mounds they left behind. Continue reading

French Illinois

Fort du Chartres, Illinois

The French were not just in Louisiana. They were all along the Mississippi.  Continue reading

Piney Creek

Piney Creek Nature Preserve, Illinois

This post has a lot of fungus in it. I’m not sorry. Continue reading

Wandering St. Louisish, Part 2

Even more explorations of a bunch of places in St. Louis and its suburbs.  Continue reading

Wandering St. Louisish

Jewel Box. Forest Park. St. Louis, Missouri

Explorations of a bunch of places in St. Louis and its suburbs.  Continue reading

More Ozarking

Amidon Memorial Conservation Area. Missouri

More explorations of the Ozarks of Missouri! Continue reading

Missouri State Penitentiary

Tour a really creepy old prison in the middle of Missouri’s capital.  Continue reading

Land Between the Lakes

Lighthouse Landing Lighthouse. Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

A unique geographic area with a unique kind of park.  Continue reading

The Little Grand Canyon

Little Grand Canyon, Shawnee National Forest, Illinois

A former Grand Canyon, Arizona, resident visits Illinois’ Little Grand Canyon. Continue reading

Giant City

Granite City Nature Trail. Granite City State Park, Illinois

A surprisingly gorgeous state park in Southern Illinois.  Continue reading

The Ozarks of Illinois

Indian Point Trailhead, Garden of the Gods. Shawnee National Forest, Illinois

Explorations of the gorgeous Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Continue reading

Badlands, Part 2

Cliff Shelf Nature Trail. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.

More explorations of the gorgeous Badlands National Park! Continue reading

Badlands, Part 1

Yellow Mounds Overlook. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Who knew that a place called badlands could be this gorgeous!?! Continue reading

Jewel Cave

Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota

Check out the third longest cave in the world! Continue reading

Wind Cave, Part 2

Lookout Point Loop. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Wind Cave National Park has much more to offer than just a breezy cave. Continue reading

Wind Cave, Part 1

Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Check out the seventh longest cave in the world! Continue reading

Custer State Park, Part 2

Needles Highway, Custer State Park, South Dakota

Explore the dramatic Needles Highway in Custer! Continue reading

Custer State Park, Part 1

bison. Custer State Park, South Dakota.

Explore South Dakota’s fantastic gem of a park, one of the best state parks in the country.  Continue reading

Roosevelt’s Badlands, South Unit

Buck Hill. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. South Unit. North Dakota

Walk in the footsteps of the man himself in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit! Continue reading

Roosevelt’s Badlands, North Unit

Little Missouri Trail. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit, North Dakota

Explore the wonders of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park! Continue reading

Makoshika

Kinney Coulee Trail. Makoshika State Park, Montana

Explore the gorgeous badlands of Montana! Continue reading

Medicine Rocks

Medicine Rocks State Park, Montana

Weird, eroded rocks in the middle of nowhere Montana.  Continue reading

Devils Tower

Devils Tower, Wyoming

A giant tower of stone in Wyoming’s Black Hills.  Continue reading

Agate Fossil Beds and Toadstool Park

Toadstool Geological Park. Oglala National Grassland, Nebraska

Check out two of Nebraska’s lesser-known attractions! Continue reading

Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff

Explore two iconic stops on the Oregon Trail! Continue reading

The Ozarks: State Parks

Francois State Park, Missouri

Explorations of a whole bunch of parks found on the Ozark Plateau. Continue reading

Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks as seen from Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri

Explorations of two state parks on the banks of the Lake of the Ozarks.  Continue reading

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Alley Mill at Alley Spring. Ozark National Scenic Waterways

A boring name for a gorgeous National Park.  Continue reading

The Ozarks: Taum Sauk

view from Trail to Mina Sauk. Taum Sauk State Park, Missouri

A hike to a waterfall on Missouri’s tallest mountain. Continue reading

The Ozarks: Elephant Rocks

Elephant Rocks State Park, Missouri

An interesting name for some unique rock formations.  Continue reading

Cahokia

Monks Mound. Cahokia, Illinois

Before Columbus, there once was a large metropolis on the Mississippi larger than most European cities of the time.  Continue reading

Stone Mountain

A mountain of stone and a great state park in North Carolina. Continue reading

Wonderful Waterfalls

An intrepid explorer goes in search of more waterfalls through the forests of Tennessee and North Carolina. Continue reading

The Smokies: the Deep South

With history, waterfalls, and a giant lake, visiting the southern side of the Smokies is a treat! Continue reading

The Smokies: Around the Middle

More explorations of Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Continue reading

The Smokies: Creeks and Waterfalls

Come along as I explore follow some gurgling creeks and see some wonderful waterfalls in the Northeastern part of the Smokies. Continue reading

The Smokies: Cataloochee

History and nature collide in the Cataloochee Valley.  Continue reading

Blue Ridge Parkway: North Carolina

Take a journey along 252 miles of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway. Continue reading

Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia

Explorations of the first 216 miles of the very scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Continue reading

Shenandoah: the South Side

With gorgeous views and wonderful waterfalls, Shenandoah National Park’s south side doesn’t disappoint. Continue reading

Shenandoah: Big Meadows

With waterfalls, mountain views, and a giant meadow, Shenandoah’s Big Meadows is a hiker’s paradise. Continue reading