Having grown up an hour away from the New River Gorge, I've been there several times and love the area, so I was excited when I learned it was officially becoming a National Park. Because I really enjoyed writing my posts about National Parks like Saguaro and Carlsbad, I decided to do a nice long… Continue reading All About New River Gorge National Park
In my freshman year of college, my mom and I began planning a post-graduation road trip through Colorado. The itineraries varied; my first idea was a two-week exploration of the entire state, which was kind of a lot. Ultimately, I spent four days in Colorado - three with my family and one bonus day on… Continue reading Colorado Road Trip: Denver, Pikes Peak, and Sand Dunes NP
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
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
In the summer of 2017, I did two programs at the University of Arizona prior to officially starting school there in the fall (Arabic Jumpstart and UAdvantage) as well as a road trip out west with my family. My blog has evolved a lot since then, so I'm combining those posts here to keep them… Continue reading Arizona Summer 2017
"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 Address,… 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
Wonderlust Wanderings 