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Category: US National Parks and Monuments

Our goal is to visit all of the national parks in the contiguous United States!  Let’s see how that goes!

The Alaskan Adventure Begins

The Alaskan Adventure Begins

We stayed in historic Bettles Lodge (built in 1952). If you are a National Park Collector, then this is definitely one way to have ‘boots on the ground’ in both Kobuk Valley and Gates of the Arctic National Parks.

Spring in the Ozarks

Spring in the Ozarks

Hi friends! Here are a few highlights from our 2023 trip to date including The Natchez Trace Parkway, Little Rock, Hot Springs and the Buffalo National River!

But With Montana It Is Love ❤️

But With Montana It Is Love ❤️

Ahhh … Montana. Where cowboy hats, Wrangler jeans and Marlboro cigarettes are a fashion staple. Where the glacial carved mountains support a complete, diverse ecosystem. And where the sky is so wide that you can watch a thunderstorm roll in from miles away. There is a grittiness about this state and I love it here!

The Phenomenal Pacific Northwest

The Phenomenal Pacific Northwest

Our Oregon stops included national park sites, an iconic mountain and a quaint beachside town. We saw several recognizable mountains in Washington. Throughout our time in the Pacific Northwest, we both remarked that Oregon and Washington are an outdoor lover’s paradise.

One incredible month in California!

One incredible month in California!

I always knew that California was a massive state. It’s economy is the 7th highest in the world and 1 out of 8 people in the US live in California! However, I hadn’t realized the diversity of this state including the topography, climate and the wide variety of people until our visit.

Concluding our visit to Utah with a bucket list adventure

Concluding our visit to Utah with a bucket list adventure

The Zion Narrows is literally a 16 mile hike in the Virgin River. During our visit in mid-October, the river temperature was dropping into the 50s. A local outfitter provided us with drysuits, neoprene socks, boots and a walking stick. Mark and I joked that we looked like The Wonder Twins (super heroes from the 1970s)!