What a grand way to start out this dream of visiting all the National Parks.
(See what I did there?)
While we didn’t get to hike too far into the Grand Canyon, it was amazing to experience it and see it from below the rim.
I’d describe the Grand Canyon as surreal and strikingly beautiful. It’s amazing to be able to see the history and layers of the earth exposed.
Watching the sunset, seeing the dramatic shadows, and watching the moon rise were nothing short of stunning. It was a perfect day and evening to be here.
I can only hope to come back to see more views, visit the north rim, and maybe hike into the Grand Canyon a bit more.
My favorite moment from this trip was toward the end.
We had just reached the top of Clingman’s Dome—the highest point in the park. It’s a steep, but paved, incline to reach Clingman’s Dome, but it’s worth it. We got to the top and took in the views; excited to see for miles and layers of trees.
It was time for the sunset, but it was cloudy.
Suddenly, someone gasps and says, “There it is.”
The sun peaking through the clouds.
There was a collective sigh from everyone in awe of the pink sun making an appearance.
The bear we saw crossing a road in the park doesn’t hold a candle to that moment (or being able to stand in the clouds).
Experiences like this make the Great Smoky Mountains worth getting through the crowds.
If you decide to make a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, I’d recommend going to Clingman’s Dome and hiking to Laurel Falls. The Laurel Falls parking area fills up rather quickly, so go early or be prepared to circle back to it.
Knowing that Polaroids love light, I want you to go ahead and guess how some of these photos turned out in a cave.
Some of them were actually okay!
To my surprise, at the end of the tour, one of the park rangers was able to identify the location of each photo from the tour! I still don’t know how he did it.
When we went to the park, we attended the River Styx tour, which is approximately two hours. This tour covers a lot of the geological aspects of the cave. If you’re worried a 2-hour tour sounds like a long time underground, I assure it doesn’t feel that way.
If the other tours weren’t sold out for the day, we probably would have decided to go on the history tour. We passed by a lot of the historical artifacts and were able to learn a bit about some of the history during the tour, but not as much as we would have liked.
I’m holding out hope that Mammoth Cave creates a combined geological and history tour. I would definitely go back for that tour.
This is the only park I’ll be able to say I’ve been to twice (so far!).
I visited one other time, before it received its National Park designation.
It was necessary to come back to the Gateway Arch for the trip to feel official, get my stamp, and check it off the list.
I must say, the museum underneath the arch is extremely well done. It’s one of the most expansive historical-based museums I have visisted. If you’re making a trip to the Gateway Arch, make sure you plan extra time (and I do mean extra) to fully immerse yourself in the museum area.
Congaree National Park was an unexpected joy. I’ll admit, I didn’t have the highest of hopes after seeing the lack of visitors in years past.
But let me just say this: Y’all are missing out.
When we visited the park, we did the Boardwalk Loop & Weston Trail Loop. This is one of the best routes to take, especially if you have a limited time.
The history you learn along the Boardwalk Loop made this an unforgettable part of this trip. We learned about the importance of the area, historical significance, and the types of trees in the park.
Additionally, the volunteer at the trailhead was fantastic, personable, and recommended the best route and other trails in the area.
Congaree is one park I’d recommend visiting if you’re in South Carolina. You’ll won’t regret it.
I wish I had a good explanation as to why it took so long to visit my home state’s national park, but I have no excuse.
Let’s just agree that the amount of Polaroids make up for my delay in visiting this park.
Some of the hikes I’d recommend include Cowles Bog Trail and the West Beach Trails. I’d also recommend hiking to the Mount Baldy viewpoint, and if you’re lucky, you could sign up for a ranger-led hike to Mount Baldy.
This is one of those few places where the juxtaposition of the landscape can be jarring and confusing. You see large sand dunes, a beautiful beach, and smoke stacks or a cooling station in the distance. In a strange way, this adds to the appeal as much as the significance of the park.
With that being said, the Indiana Dunes are worth a visit, and a place that will hold a special place in my heart.
What a treat Cuyahoga Valley National Park was!
Not to toot my own horn, but I think I went at the best possible time, and I had lovely weather. On the first day, it was a bit overcast with some rain in the area, but that only made the Ledges Trail BETTER. It was foggy, moody, and just perfect. This was one of my favorite trails in the whole park, and maybe even the whole trip I went on!
Also, if you have the time and are able, I highly recommend taking the Stanford Trail to Brandywine Falls, rather than starting with Brandywine Falls and taking the trail. It makes the Brandywine Falls so much more worth it and enjoyable. One more thing you should do if you have time is ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad on the National Park Scenic Excursion trip! It was a lovely, relaxing train ride in the dome car to view the fall foliage.
Blue Hen Falls may have been my favorite waterfall in the park—yes, even more so than Brandywine Falls. Something about being able to hike down into the waterfall, hang out, and take in the scenery was amazing. There was a moment when the leaves started falling from the trees, and it was everything I hoped it would be.
This is a wonderful national park with a rich history. If you’re in the Cleveland or Akron area, I’d recommend checking out Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
It’s amazing that Shenandoah National Park can offer the 105-mile Skyline Drive and several overlooks to delight guests without needing to hike.
I took advantage of this feature on my third day in the park due to an ankle sprain the day before while hiking Old Rag Mountain. Do not fret, all is well. I was still able to finish the Old Rag circuit and hike to the highest peak in the park—Hawksbill Mountain.
On the trail to Hawksbill Mountain, we encountered a deer, maybe some 20 feet from us. We arrive before sunset to enjoy the views and golden hour on the jagged-cut rocks and rolling mountains.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?), we did not see any bears on our Old Rag circuit hike. But, I digress. This was—without a doubt—the most challenging trail I have done. The amount and type of rock scrambles were unlike anything I had hiked before. Worth it, though.
Funny enough, we had reached the lowest summit of the mountain and decided to stop and have lunch. We sat there, high-fived each other, and said, “We did it.” Only to continue around a rock to realize we had not even come close to getting to the peak. This remained a joke through the rest of the hike when we’d reach a summit of any kind.
And, a piece of advice, if you get car sick easily, I’d recommend packing some Dramamine for Skyline Drive.
“Wild and Wonderful,” as it reads on West Virginia’s welcome sign on the highway, is a perfect way to describe the state.
New River Gorge National Park will hold a special place in my heart as one of my favorites. Every part of this park was so beautiful in the autumn season and there’s so much to do!
We enjoyed the last white water rafting trip of the season with New & Gauley River Adventures on the Lower New. Our guides, Bean and Julianna, were fantastic and very knowledgable. During our rafting trip, we also saw a bear cub and a baby river otter. (The “wild” part of the aforementioned quote.)
On the next day, we enjoyed a walk across the maintenance catwalk of the New River Bridge with Bridge Walk. Our guide, Misty, shared so much history and fun facts about the bridge and Bridge Day (one of the largest single-day festivals). This truly was a walk to remember as the New River Bridge is the 2nd tallest bridge in the United States at 876 feet tall.
The numerous hikes available fulfilled the “wonderful” part of the quote. The Endless Wall is a must-do hike, but also the most popular. I’d recommend getting there early to find a parking spot. The Long Point trail is also a recommended if you’d like to have a full view of the New River Bridge.
Make the trip down to the Sandstone Falls. It’s a least visited area, but worth it (and the Sandstone Visitor Center is very well done). I’d also recommend a trip to the Grandview area, which also has some fantastic hikes and views of the New River.
I’d like to go back to New River Gorge some day to experience more of the historical side and learn more about the coal mining days.
When I say Arkansas, I’m sure the word “relaxation” is not the first thing that comes to mind.
But, I’m here to tell you, Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a place for relaxation.
In the early 1900s, visitors Hot Springs knew how to take it easy, slow down, and take in the waters. From hiking the east to west mountain range to soaking in the mineral waters, it’s obvious to see why people flocked to this area.
Take a scenic drive up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower to learn more about some of the local history surrounding Hot Springs and wait to see the sunset over West Mountain.
My favorite activity was taking in a traditional bath package at The Buckstaff Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. Step back into history and experience what it’s like to soak in the mineral water. The Buckstaff Bathhouse is the only facility on Bathhouse Row that has never fully closed since it opened in 1912.
(Also, take the time to admire and appreciate in the architecture of each bathhouse on Bathhouse Row.)
Make a stop by the visitor center in the Fordyce Bathhouse to walk through the bathhouse facilities, including dressing rooms, gymnasium, parlors, and more.
While you’re in town, stop at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery! The patio, friendly staff, and amazing food are completely worth it. This is the only brewery in a US National Park and the only brewery in the world to utilize thermal spring water in their beer. How could you not have a bite to here?!
And, of course, take a hike! I hiked around the Hot Springs Mountain Trail, West Mountain Trail, and part of the Sunset Trail (to Balanced Rock) while I was here.
During one of my hikes on my second day here, it started pouring rain. Normally, this would put a damper on anyone’s day. But, I had remembered a fact I learned at the museum the day before: It takes 4,400 years from when the water hits the ground, finds cracks to go into the Earth, enter the recharge zone, and come back out as a hot spring. So, while I was getting soaked up on the mountain, I thought about how in all those years, it will be at the end of the mountain, either heating a vapor chamber for a traditional bath package or providing water to townsfolk and visitors.
All in all, Hot Springs, the oldest protected land in national park system (since 1832), is full of history and activities.