"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom" Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg… Continue reading The Peculiar Peace of Gettysburg National Military Park
There's something appealing about a place you can't technically drive to. Although you can have a car on Ocracoke Island, it necessitates loading your car onto a 60 minute ferry then driving about half an hour into the only town on the island. The alternative is a new passenger ferry that is 70 minutes but… Continue reading Hidden Gems: Ocracoke Island
I think most people have some place that is "their" vacation spot - a place the family goes regularly enough that it feels like both a home away from home and a clear indication that you're one vacation. My personal vacation spot is the Outer Banks where my family has vacationed for years. We don't… Continue reading One Week on Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Besides the well-known National Parks, the US Park Service also recognizes certain National Rivers such as the New River in West Virginia (As of 2021, this is the newest official National Park). This "park" technically includes 70,000 acres of land along the river, and the best way to see it all, in my opinion is… Continue reading Hidden Gems: US Route 60
Monongahela National Forest has always been one of my favorite places in West Virginia. I've loved taking weekend trips in the area with my family, and I"m excited to share a few of my favorite places here! There's so much to do - from state parks to caves to cute little towns with amazing food.… Continue reading How to Spend a Weekend in Monongahela National Forest
One of the great things about being in Tucson is all the amazing places to visit nearby, including one of my favorite National Parks sites - Tumacácori. While it isn't as famous as the Grand Canyon, and while there's not as much to do here as at Carlsbad, Tumacácori captured my attention the first time… Continue reading All About Tumacácori National Historical Park
One of the most famous symbols of "the desert" is a cactus with its arms reaching out to the sky. There's even an emoji for it! 🌵 But actually, this kind of cactus is a Saguaro (pronounced sah-waar-o), and it is native only to the Sonoran Desert which spans Arizona (US), Sonora (Mexcio), and Baja… Continue reading All About Saguaro National Park
Before coming to Arizona, I had never heard of Chiricahua. With so many big famous landmarks and parks like the Grand Canyon, it's understandable that this out-of-the-way National Monument would be overlooked. But that's a huge mistake! If you are visiting Tucson or road-tripping through the Southwest, Chiricahua is an amazing place to visit and… Continue reading All About Chiricahua National Monument
Wonderlust Wanderings 