Most of the time if someone asks what my favorite part of a trip was, it's hard to give an exact answer. But my trip to New Mexico last month is an exception: Carlsbad Caverns National Park blew me away, and though I loved the whole trip, this park was by far my favorite place… Continue reading All About Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Since starting college, I thought it would be fun to do a spring break road trip, and I planned out different hypotheticals (including a hiking-intensive 9 National Parks in 9 days trip that, physically, I don't actually think I could do). Last fall, with the pandemic still dragging on and online classes keeping us in… Continue reading New Mexico Road Trip: Carlsbad, White Sands, and Las Cruces
Blackwater Falls is one of the loveliest places in West Virginia and especially well-located in Tucker County near lots of other fantastic places to explore! While I've been there numerous times over the years, we decided to spend this past Christmas at a cabin in the state park, which was an excellent decision in my… Continue reading Winter at Blackwater Falls
Early on October 17, 1859, the sleeping town of Harpers Ferry became a battleground in one of the key events that marked the dawning of the Civil War. Though the war would not officially begin until April 1861 with the Battle of Fort Sumter, John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry was indicative of the tension… Continue reading Harpers Ferry: Then and Now
Though well-known in and around Tucson, I had never heard of Sabino Canyon before living here, which is a shame because it has some truly amazing trails and views. I've visited this site a few times now, including for night hiking - Tucson is not favorable to hiking in the afternoon. While there are many… Continue reading Hidden Gems: Sabino Canyon
Prior to last September, I had not heard of Madera Canyon, which is somehow less than an hour from Tucson and also the home base of Mt. Wrightson, the tallest mountain in Southern Arizona. However, I went from not knowing a thing about this place to visiting in September, December, and January, and I can… Continue reading Day Tripping to Madera Canyon
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
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 