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.


Roosevelt’s Hyde Park

Springwood. Hyde Park. New York. Home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Historic Site

Explore Springwood, the birthplace, lifelong home and burial place of the 32nd President of the US, Franking Delano Roosevelt. Continue reading

Fort Bowie

Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Willcox, Arizona

Explore the ruins of a fort that helped conquer the West. Continue reading

Chiricahua

Chiricahua National Monument. Arizona

Check out some of the most insane rock formations in Arizona.  Continue reading

Hiking in Saguaro

Saguaro National Park. Tucson, Arizona.

I return to the amazing Saguaro National Park to hike an amazing trail in the wilderness.  Continue reading

The Valley of Death

Racetrack, Death Valley National Park, California

Explorations of Death Valley National Park, the driest and hottest area of the United States. Continue reading

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Explore a National Park unique for its desert environment and vegetation. Continue reading

Goodbye to 2018

Hopi Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Saying goodbye to a very interesting year.  Continue reading

Wandering San Diego

Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Cabrillo National Monument. San Diego, California

Explore the history of this Southern California city. Continue reading

The Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Coast Highway. California Route 1

Tag along as I drive one of the most beautiful roads in America. Continue reading

Wandering San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California

Explorations of the City by the Bay. Continue reading

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island. San Francisco, California.

Explore what remains of the most famous prison in America. Continue reading

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California

Explore one of the most famous valleys in the United States. Continue reading

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Sequoia National Park, California

Explore two national parks (and a national forest) full of giant trees and amazing views.  Continue reading

Endless Desert

Kelso Dunes, Mojave National Preserve, California

Explore California’s Mojave National Preserve and all its awesomeness.  Continue reading

Weekend in Utah

Cedar Breaks National Monument. Utah

A quick trip to two of Utah’s amazing National Parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion National Park.  Continue reading

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park. Nevada

Explore Nevada’s famous Valley of Fire State Park. Continue reading

Roasting in Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Las Vegas, Nevada

Located just outside Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is a great place to burn off those buffet calories. Continue reading

That Dam Tour

Hoover Dam. Arizona. Nevada.

Explore the history of the most iconic dam in America, the Hoover Dam.  Continue reading

Glen Canyon

Navajo Bridge. Colorado River. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Arizona

Even Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has history behind it.  Continue reading

Some Ruins and a Trading Post

Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Arizona

Explore more ruins in the Four Corners and a historic trading post. Continue reading

Chaco Canyon

Pueblo Bonito. Chaco Culture National Historical Park. New Mexico.

Explore the mysterious ruins of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.  Continue reading

Mesa Verde

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park

An archaeologist explores a bunch of awesome cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Continue reading

The Four Corners

Tower Point, Hovenweep National Monument, Utah

An adventure starts in the Four Corners with two National Monuments.  Continue reading

Hiking Sedona

West Fork Trail. Sedona, Arizona.

Hiking one of the most beautiful trails in Sedona, Arizona.  Continue reading

Cliff Dwellings and Petroglyphs

Montezuma Castle National Monument. Arizona.

A day full of amazing Sinagua cliff dwellings and petroglyphs in Central Arizona. Continue reading

Grand Canyon: Hike to Dripping Springs

Hermit Trail. Grand Canyon National Park. Arizona.

Hiking along one of the Grand Canyon’s more interesting trails. Continue reading

Ruins of Walnut Canyon

Cliff dwelling. Walnut Canyon National Monument. Flagstaff, Arizona.

Step back in time at the cliff dwellings of Walnut Canyon. Continue reading

Volcanic Arizona

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

Did you know that Northern Arizona is full of volcanoes? Neither did I. Continue reading

Wupatki Ruins

Lumaki and Box Canyon Pueblos, Wupatki National Monument, Arizona

What now is a fairly desolate area used to be the home to thousands of farmers.  Continue reading

A Day in Ruins

A day of archaeology as I explore three Native American ruins in Central Arizona.  Continue reading

Saguaro

saguaro national park, tucson, arizona

A journey through the very interesting Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. Continue reading

Exploring Southern Arizona

Coronado National Memorial, Southern Arizona

A road trip exploring Southern Arizona history. Continue reading

Icy Hiking at the Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Just a little winter hike down the famous Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon. Continue reading

Greetings from the Grand Canyon

Hermit Road, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

A new adventure begins at the amazing Grand Canyon. Continue reading

Saying Goodbye to Acadia

Gorham Mountain, Acadia National Park

Saying farewell to a great summer at Acadia National Park. Continue reading

10 Must See Memorials in Washington, D.C.

Jefferson Memorial

These are the top ten memorials that you should not not miss in America’s capital city! Continue reading

The Tomb of America’s Dutch President: Martin Van Buren

The tomb of a forgotten president that deserves a little more credit. Continue reading

Acadia: Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park, Maine

Explore one of the most popular destinations in Acadia National Park as I follow the Jordan Pond Trail. Continue reading

Acadia: the Ocean Path

Foggy Ocean Path, Acadia National Park, Maine

Explore one of the most picturesque places in Acadia National Park. Continue reading

Ste. Genevieve: A Colonial Town on the Mississippi River

Explore the hidden history of a small French colonial town in Missouri.  Continue reading

Greetings from Acadia

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park

You may have heard about Acadia National Park, but have you seen it from a wanderer’s perspective? Continue reading

Governors Island: The Birthplace of New York

Castle Williams, Governors Island, NYC

New York wasn’t born on Manhattan, but instead on a very unlikely place in the harbor.  Continue reading