National Parks | Love Dwells Here

Jennifer December 9, 2021 National Parks

Muir Woods National Monument | California

Trips to the San Francisco Bay area are often filled with the hustle and bustle of city life. If you can free up some time, make sure to visit Muir Woods National Monument on the Marin County side of the San Francisco Bay. There’s so much to do in Muir Woods with kids and it’s a perfect day trip from the city!

Located just a short drive north from San Francisco (over the Golden Gate Bridge!), Muir Woods National Monument offers a welcome contrast from the business of the city and the old-growth coast redwoods contribute to the lush views that surround you.

The land for Muir Woods was donated by Congressman William Kent, and though President Roosevelt wanted to name the monument after him, Kent pushed to have it named after the great preservationist, John Muir, instead.

Muir Woods officially became a National Monument on January 9, 1908, by a Presidential Proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt– this was before the National Park Service even existed!! In 1916, Congressman Kent introduced the bill that created the National Park Service.

We always make sure to arrive early in the day so that we can enjoy walking along the lush trails in peace– it definitely gets more crowded as the day goes on. We recommend stopping at the Visitor Center to get a park map, a passport stamp, and the most up-to-date information about things in the park. The Visitor Center is open daily from 8am-430pm, though the park stays open until 5pm.

When we went a few years ago, it was recommended to arrive early because parking is extremely limited. Now, you’re required to book a $9 parking reservation online at Go Muir Woods. While you do need to select a 30-minute arrival window and arrive within the window, you are able to stay in the park until it closes so your time in the park is not limited in any way.

However, that leads me to believe that parking could still be an issue, especially later in the day, so personally, I would still aim for an earlier time if possible. There are shuttles into the park from Pohono Park & Ride (which offers free parking) for $3.50/person over 16. Reservations are required and the shuttle is currently only operating on weekends and holidays.

Kids can become a Junior Ranger by completing a free activity book from the Visitor Center. There’s also a virtual Junior Ranger program online available for families that are choosing not to travel at this time.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike” — John Muir, 1912.

Muir Woods offers over 6 miles of trails with most visitors choosing to do the Main Trail Loop. It features a 1/2 hour loop, a 1-hour loop, and a 1 1/2 hour loop depending on which bridge you choose to cross and head back. The Main Trail Loop, departing from the Visitor Center, takes you through old-growth forests with coast redwoods towering 250 feet overhead.

The kids thought it was so cool that they could actually go inside the tree! And they were in constant awe over the size of these giant coast redwoods.

The kids were really intrigued by the bicentennial tree– and it was a great opportunity to talk about the word “bicentennial” since it isn’t used very often!

While the Bicentennial Tree is nowhere near the oldest tree in the park (some are nearly 1000 years old), it does have the same birth year as the United States!

Ellie’s favorite part of our visit was the giant bear carving outside of the gift shop! There are two separate gift shops at Muir Woods- one at the Visitor Center with a wide range of books and another, the Muir Woods Trading Company, with the usual touristy stuff. Our kids definitely had more fun exploring the Trading Company and we had to drag them out when we were done looking.

Things to Remember for a Trip to Muir Woods With Kids

Parking is extremely limited– and needs to be reserved online ahead of time.
The park is open 365 days a year but hours vary depending on the season.
In addition to parking/shuttle costs, it is $15 per adult (16 and over) to get into the park. Alternatively, you can get a Muir Woods annual pass for $45 or a National Parks Annual Pass for $80 and those cover your admission for a year. We highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass and crossing a few National Parks off your bucket list.
The Main Trail Loop is a stroller-friendly boardwalk and paved trails so bring the kids and experience the serenity that Muir Woods has to offer!

Have you ever been to Muir Woods National Monument?? What’s your favorite California National Park/Monument??

Looking for more things to do in the San Francisco area? Check out these posts:

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Jennifer February 2, 2021 National Parks

Everglades National Park | Florida

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and is the third-largest National Park in the lower 48 (and tenth largest overall). Located on 1.5 million acres of southern Florida, the Everglades is HUGE, but it’s easily accessible through Miami, Everglades City, or Homestead. Keep reading to find out how to spend a day at Everglades National Park with kids.

When we visited south Florida, not only did we do an airboat tour of the Everglades, but we also visited the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park. Exploring the Everglades by both water and land gave us a much better look at the park as a whole.

Shark Valley Tram Tour

Shark Valley is the only place in the park to take a tram tour, and you know we love guided tours when we travel, so of course, that’s where we started!

As the in-park concessionaire, Shark Valley Tram Tours handles all of the booking/scheduling for the two-hour tram tour through the northern part of the park. With naturalists on every tour, the guides are able to point out wildlife and explain the ecosystem as you see the Everglades from the open-air tram.

Alligators are the largest creatures that call the Everglades home and we saw several small ones that were about two years old. On the tour, we found out that the best time to see alligators is during the dry season (November through April) – and that’s also peak season for park attendance. The dry season brings with it lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes and biting flies, and larger numbers of animals and birds gathering near water holes.

Often referred to as a swamp, the Everglades is actually a VERY slow-moving river. The “River of Grass” connects Lake Okeechobee in central Florida with the Gulf of Mexico and travels at a speed of about 1 mile per 2.5 days (compared to the Mississippi River which flows at roughly 2MPH).

Shark Valley got its name because the water flows towards the Shark River (which does sometimes have sharks, including bull sharks!), southwest of the park. And Shark Valley really is a valley. The valley sits in a geological depression between the coastal ridges of South Florida and is lower than the surrounding area- but only by about ten feet!

Off in the distance, we caught our first glimpse of the highest accessible point in Everglades National Park. While we opted for the tram, you can also ride your bike (or a rental) out to the tower on the 15-mile paved road.

On our way to the observation tower, we actually walked right past this huge gator without even noticing. We ran into a park ranger who asked if we saw the alligator on the side of the trail and we headed back down to check it out.

Shark Valley Observation Tower

The Shark Valley Observation Tower is the highlight of the park for many visitors – and one of the main reasons that we opted for the Shark Valley area of the park rather than a more southern entrance.

Interestingly, the Shark Valley observation tower is the sister to Clingman’s Dome in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

From the 65 foot tall Shark Valley Observation Tower you can see for roughly 20 miles in any direction on a clear day.

Even if you don’t see any wildlife in the park (which is highly unlikely!) the view from the tower is worth the visit!

Like most National Parks, Everglades does have an entrance fee of $30 per vehicle and provides 7 consecutive days of admission via any of the park entrances. If you’re planning to visit more than one or two National Parks in a year, we always recommend checking to see if you qualify for a free Annual Pass (Military, Veterans/Gold Star Families, 4th Graders, Handicapped) and if not, getting the $80 Annual Pass.

Things to Remember for a Trip to Everglades National Park with Kids

There are four visitor centers in the park:
- Flamingo Visitor Center – use Homestead entrance (this is the main park entrance)
- Ernest Coe Visitor Center – use Homestead entrance
- Shark Valley Visitor Center – use Miami entrance
- Gulf Coast Visitor Center – use Everglades City entrance
Make sure to pack appropriately for the season. During the rainy season, ponchos and insect repellants are necessary. Always have enough water.
If you’re interested in doing the Shark Valley Tram Tour or renting bicycles, make sure to set that up ahead of time here.

Have you been to the Everglades?? Do you prefer exploring by land or by water??

Jennifer October 26, 2020 National Parks

Dry Tortugas National Park | Florida

Located roughly 70 miles west of Key West, in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the country’s most remote National Parks. Only accessible by boat or seaplane, the park is home to Fort Jefferson and is surrounded by beautiful blue/green water and coral reefs.

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Getting to Dry Tortugas National Park

Getting there is just the beginning of the fun! There are two options if you’re looking to visit Dry Tortugas: seaplane or boat. Seaplane Adventures is the only authorized seaplane service to the park, and it is definitely the quickest way to get to this remote island. The pictures from their website are absolutely amazing, and I’m sure that the view is unsurpassed, but for a family of 6, the price ($360-634/adult) was a bit steep. We opted to take the Yankee Freedom III from Key West, and while still a pricy option (just under $200/adult), it was much more manageable. Alternatively, if you have your own boat (or want to charter one), you could go that route instead.

The Yankee Freedom III is a high-speed catamaran and travels over 30mph on the 70-mile trip between Key West and Dry Tortugas. Since the trip takes just over 2 hours, boarding is first thing in the morning to maximize time on the island. Check-In is at 7am, Boarding is at 730am and Departure is at 8am. Even with the COVID precautions in place (temp checks and masks are required), check-in and boarding ran smoothly, and we departed right on-time.

A quick breakfast snack is included with your ticket, and while I forgot to take a single picture of it, it was delicious. I’m not sure if the breakfast menu changes at all, but it was a bagel/cream cheese, yogurt, and an apple, along with coffee and juice on our trip.

The ferry is spacious and comfortable with two decks, as well as inside and outside seating. There are four large bathrooms and three freshwater rinse showers available if you want to change into clean/dry clothes on the way back to Key West. Each deck has a bar serving beverages and extra snacks ranging from frozen mixed drinks (return trip only) to pizza and ice cream bars. We partook in beverages (both adult and child-friendly) on the trip back to Key West, and they were delicious!

With both indoor and outdoor seating, there’s something for everyone. We officially had seats indoors, and that’s where most of our group stayed, but I spent most of the outbound voyage outside on the deck, taking in the sights and looking for wildlife. The water seemed perfectly still and provided almost a mirror image reflection of the sky above- not something you typically see while out in the ocean.

On the wildlife front, from the bow of the boat, we saw: LOTS of fish and jellyfish, about 10 sea turtles, a few dolphins, and a HAMMERHEAD SHARK!! Such a cool experience!!

First glimpse of Dry Tortugas National Park on the horizon.

As we got closer, it became easier to make out the walls of Fort Jefferson and the sandy beaches of Garden and Bush Keys.

Exploring Fort Jefferson

The largest brick masonry structure in the western hemisphere, Fort Jefferson, was designed to protect the Gulf Coast. A 45-60 minute guided tour of Fort Jefferson is included with your ferry ticket, or you can download the self-guided tour and do it yourself (the tour has been adjusted slightly due to COVID and distancing requirements). While I planned to take advantage of the guided tour since they’re one of our fave things to do while traveling, we ended up exploring a bit on our own so that we could spend more time enjoying the water activities since they were a higher priority for the kids.

At its peak in the 1860s, nearly 2000 people called Fort Jefferson home; most of those men, though there were some women and children. The fort is essentially made up of gunrooms, known as casemates – cannons mounted in these casemates could fire through openings (embrasures) though none were ever fired. Carpenters built the casemates with wooden arches, and then masons laid brick and mortar on top, creating the brick arches that can be seen all over the fort.

Fort Jefferson is surrounded by a moat, partly to protect the fort from the surf but also to provide another measure of defense against those that may try to attack. Notice how the bricks at the top of the fort are redder (see pic below)? The fort was constructed during the Civil War and mostly from Florida bricks. However, Florida, a Confederate state, refused to continue supplying bricks to the Union forces that controlled the fort, so it had to be completed with bricks shipped all the way from Maine!

The girls wanted to complete their Junior Ranger books, so we wandered around the fort as we completed the books. In addition to getting their Junior Ranger badges, they each also got a free ice cream sandwich when we got back on the ferry!

Dry Tortugas National Park Snorkeling & Swimming

Snorkeling gear is also included with a ferry ticket, and the kids talked excitedly about it the whole boat ride out to Dry Tortugas. Once we got off the ferry, I covered everyone in sunscreen, and then the big kids headed off with Grandpa to pick up masks, snorkels, flippers, and buoyancy vests. We made our way to the South Swim Beach, staked a spot with a little bit of shade, and made our way into the beautiful water.

Ellie (and the GoPro for her YouTube channel that I’m *thisclose* to getting going) ran right in and quickly declared it the best beach she’d ever been to- white sands and crystal clear water will do that to you! She had a blast floating around and playing in the shallow surf near Fort Jefferson, with turquoise water reaching out as far as the eye could see.

The bigs and Grandpa got geared up and set off on a snorkeling adventure around the island. While good swimmers, they are not proficient snorkelers, so it took a few minutes to adjust to swimming with masks/snorkels and figure out how hard to kick while wearing flippers (the correct answer to that is not at all!). They explored the moat wall of Fort Jefferson before heading off to the south coaling dock ruins in search of coral and pretty fish- both of which they found!

Visitors are able to walk out on the moat wall, and I was able to follow their snorkeling adventure for a while.

And even spotted pretty fishies from my vantage point up on the wall.

I honestly think they would have been content to snorkel around the island all day – and I heard one of the boys say that he was bummed they didn’t see any sharks!

Lunch is also included with your ferry ticket, and again, I forgot to take many pictures! You have to return to the ferry to pick up your meal, but you can bring it with you to eat somewhere on the island- there are picnic tables available, but we just ate ours at the beach. Our lunch included: sandwich (either ham/swiss/white bread or turkey/cheddar/wheat bread), a bag of chips, a few chocolate chip cookies, and a drink. The sandwiches were heartier than I expected and even included lettuce and tomato! There are no trash cans around, so you do need to be mindful of the trash that you accumulate and bring it back to the ferry with you to dispose of at the end of the day.

There’s nothing better than a picnic lunch on the beach.

A nice couple camping on the island let the kids borrow their paddleboards for a few hours, and Ben and Lexie jumped at the chance to use them.

Lexie and Ellie explored the waters surrounding the moat wall for over an hour, watching the fish swim below them.

Back to Key West

All too soon, it was time to board the Yankee Freedom III and begin the trip back to Key West. Boarding was at 2:45pm, and the ship left promptly at 3pm for the 130-minute trip back.

On the return trip, alcoholic beverages were available for purchase. The piña colada with a dark rum float was absolutely delicious and at $8, very reasonable given that we were a captive audience. In fact, I felt like all of the concessions were reasonably priced- a soda or a candy bar for $1, and I even saw someone with a bag of microwave popcorn though I don’t know how much that one cost.

As he always does, Ben slept on our return voyage. There’s just something about being on a boat that puts this guy right to sleep. Thankfully he wasn’t like that on our cruise over spring break!

Sweet, smiling girls enjoying their hard-earned ice cream sandwiches. I love that there’s a fun prize for completing the Jr Ranger books (in addition to the badge)!

All in all, we had an absolutely FANTASTIC time at Dry Tortugas. It’s one of those places that I’m already trying to figure out how we can go back again, and soon! I love that the kids had so much fun snorkeling and playing in the water, but I would love to go back and do the guided tour and spend more time exploring the fort. We may end up camping there next time so that we have more time- four hours just wasn’t enough!

Things to Remember For Your Trip to Dry Tortugas

Tickets for both the seaplane and the ferry sell out well in advance, so book as soon as possible.
If you plan to camp (the only way to stay overnight in the park) book it ASAP since campsites are VERY limited.
If you take the ferry, you’ll only have about four hours on land, so have a rough plan for your day before you disembark.
Supplies are limited on Dry Tortugas and the Yankee Freedom III, so bring everything that you’ll need:
- Bathing suits and towels
- Sunscreen – and don’t forget to reapply!!
- Camera and binoculars
- Motion sickness meds (if needed) – we prefer Bonine, but Dramamine works, too.
Dry Tortugas is a pack-in, pack-out park – make sure to bring a bag to carry all of your trash back to the ferry with you.

I’m pretty sure that Dry Tortugas is one of my all-time favorite National Parks now. What’s yours?? Check out our progress to visit all of the US National Parks. How many have you visited??

Jennifer October 14, 2020 National Parks

US National Parks by State

Exploring our National Parks is one of the most popular, and the most beautiful, ways to see the United States. The National Park Service, created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, has grown over the past 100 years to include over 400 National Park Sites (including National Monuments, Battlefields, etc). All of those are listed on our comprehensive National Parks Bucket List, but for the purpose of this post, we’re just covering the 63 National Parks in the United States.

Visiting all of the National Parks has been on our family’s bucket list for as long as I can remember. While I’d ideally love to visit ALL 424 National Park Service Units, our main goal is just the National Parks- and with parks spanning from Alaska to the Virgin Islands, it’s no small feat to visit them all. As of April 2023, we’ve visited 20/63 as a family.

I’ve found that looking at the National Parks organized by state is much easier than trying to keep track of them alphabetically. I mean, who is going to Acadia National Park (in Maine) and Arches National Park (in Utah) on one trip?! And if they are, I wanna go, too!!

US National Parks by State

Alaska

◽ DENALI NATIONAL PARK
◽ GATES OF THE ARCTIC NATIONAL PARK
◾ GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
◽ KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
◽ KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
◽ KOBUK VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
◽ LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK
◽ WRANGELL-ST ELIAS NATIONAL PARK

Arizona

◾ GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◾ PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK
◽ SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

Arkansas

◽ HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK

California

◾ CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◾ DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (also NV)
◽ JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
◽ KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◽ LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
◽ PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK
◽ REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
◽ SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
◾ YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Yosemite National Park

Colorado

◽ BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
◽ GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
◽ MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
◾ ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Florida

◽ BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK
◾ DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK
◾ EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

Dry Tortugas National Park

Hawaii

◽ HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
◽ HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Idaho

◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also MT AND WY)

Indiana

◽ INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK

Kentucky

◽ MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK

Maine

◽ ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Michigan

◽ ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK

Minnesota

◽ VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK

Missouri

◾ GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK

Montana

◾ GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also ID and WY)

Nevada

◾ DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (also CA)
◽ GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK

New Mexico

◽ CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK
◾ WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

White Sands National Park

North Carolina

◾ GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (also TN)

North Dakota

◽ THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

Ohio

◽ CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Oregon

◾ CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

South Carolina

◾ CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK

South Dakota

◽ BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◽ WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK

Tennessee

◾ GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (also NC)

Texas

◽ BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
◽ GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Utah

◽ ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
◽ BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◽ CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◽ CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
◽ ZION NATIONAL PARK

Virginia

◽ SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Washington

◾ MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
◾ NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK
◾ OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

West Virginia

◽ NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK

Wyoming

◾ GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also ID, MT)

US TERRITORIES

◽ NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA, American Samoa
◽ VIRGIN ISLAND NATIONAL PARK, Virgin Islands

What’s your favorite National Park?? Thus far, I *think* my favorite is White Sands, but it’s such a hard decision! Annnnd now that we’ve visited Dry Tortugas National Park, it’s right up there with White Sands.

Jennifer January 29, 2020 National Parks

White Sands National Park | New Mexico

We’ve been to White Sands National Park, southwest of Alamogordo, New Mexico, several times over the past few years on our quest to visit every US National Park. Every time we drive back “home” we make sure to detour to White Sands because it is so beautifully different than anything on the east coast and it’s the perfect spot to add to your Southwest road trip!

About White Sands National Park

In 1933, under President Hoover, White Sands National Monument was created to protect part of the largest gypsum dune field in the world. During WWII, the military began testing missiles at what is now known as White Sands Missile Range, which shares land with the western part of the park, ensuring that development does not encroach on the park boundaries.

Due to missile testing at White Sands Missile Range, it is imperative to check the closures schedule as the park does close several mornings a week for missile tests so that always plays a role in determining our route because we want to ensure that the park is open when we go.

In December 2019, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 which redesignated White Sands National Monument as White Sands National Park, as well as adding an additional 7 square miles to the park.

White Sands Visitor’s Center

At the Visitor’s Center, you can learn all about the dunes and pick up a Junior Ranger activity book if you’re interested. The dunes were created from selenite crystals that formed during the last Ice Age that eventually wore down into gypsum sand. Unlike normal rocks, gypsum is soluble so it normally dissolves and is carried out to sea, but it has never washed away at White Sands since there are no rivers out of the Tularosa Basin. Instead, as the water evaporates, beautiful selenite crystals are formed and over time, these crystals become smaller and smaller due to the effects of wind and rain, leaving the nearly pure gypsum sand to blow around and create the dunes.

While you’re at the Visitor’s Center, definitely buy a sled (and wax!!) so that you can ride down dunes. We purchased a sled and headed out to Dunes Drive to make our way into the park. Once out of the car, the first thing that the kids commented on was that the sand was not hot at all- it was almost cool under our feet even though the sun was blazing above us!

The kids could have spent all day running up the dunes and sledding down. Even though the sand feels cool, it’s VERY reflective and you can get a sunburn QUICKLY. Make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen regularly and drink LOTS of water.

While I’m not normally a fan of the desert, there is something about White Sands National Park that I just cannot get enough of– it is one of my favorite places in the country.

White Sands Sunset Stroll

The nightly Sunset Stroll that the park offers is a great way to learn about the geology and ecology of White Sands. The tour is offered every day and departs roughly an hour before sunset from the sunset stroll sign about 5 miles into the park. Make sure to check the official schedule as the start time can vary several hours depending on the time of year.

The mile-long hike is fairly easy- our kids were able to do it as toddlers- though it is on the sand so it’s not wheelchair or stroller friendly. The tour wraps up at the top of a dune so that you can watch the sun set behind the San Andres mountains.

After the sun officially sets, the sky stays a beautiful pinkish hue for quite some time allowing you to soak in the beauty of White Sands with cooler temperatures and a totally different color palate. The park officially closes at 9pm in the summer so they do encourage you to leave pretty quickly after sunset in order to make it back to the gate before the park closes.

White Sands is such a unique and beautiful place to explore so it’s always on my recommended list of places to check out in the Southwestern US, especially if you’re a National Park lover!

What’s your favorite lesser-known National Park or Monument??

Jennifer March 22, 2019 National Parks

Death Valley National Park | California

Even though it took us a bit out of the way during the heat of summer, we purposely routed our west coast road trip through Death Valley National Park so that we could spend part of the day checking out the hottest place in the country and check it off of our National Parks Bucket List. Near the California-Nevada state line, Death Valley National Park is the largest National Park in the country (outside of Alaska), and one that we’ve been dying (ha ha ha!) to see, so it was an obvious choice to include on our west coast road trip.

First things first, when planning a trip to the hottest place on earth, make sure to come prepared– especially in the summer! We filled our water bottles, had extra water in the trunk, and had a first aid kit on hand before we even made our way towards the park.

After a quick breakfast at our hotel in Bishop, we were back on the road driving through the mountains of California. We went through a really nasty storm just outside of Death Valley National Park, and while it obscured some of our mountain views, it was a nice change of pace from driving in the sun.

Owens Lake (the dry, tan area) used to be 25-50 feet deep and was an important feeding and resting stop for waterfowl each year. However, when the Los Angeles Aqueduct was built in 1913, it effectively devastated the ecosystem of Owens Lake and left a dry lake bed in place of a beautiful blue lake. As of 2013, this dry lake bed is the single largest contributor to dust pollution in the US.

Contrary to popular belief, less than 1% of the park is covered with sand. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, near Stovepipe Wells, are the most popular dunes in the park, and the only ones to allow sandboarding. Because of the heat (and the fact that we were at White Sands National Monument a few weeks prior), we did not get out and explore the dunes but definitely would if we were there with cooler temps.

We saw a coyote as we were driving into the park, near Panamint Springs and we were surprised at how docile it seemed (and how skinny it was!) as it cautiously approached the car, though we left before it crossed the road.

At the Visitor Center, we talked to the Park Ranger about our experience and he said that the coyotes in the park are so used to getting food from visitors that they will often approach cars looking for a handout- unfortunately, all too often they get hit by cars and it has started to negatively impact their numbers within the park.

The kids all drew pictures of the wildlife they saw in the park and hung it on a bulletin board in the Visitors Center- the “ciote” was definitely the highlight.

We hiked up a short trail to check out the Zabriskie Point viewpoint. Now, this short trail was maybe 1/4 of a mile at most and I swear, we all felt like we were going to die from the heat and lack of humidity. Death Valley in the summer is no joke! Make sure you bring a water bottle and stay hydrated– even on the short walk out to Zabriskie Point.

Death Valley was a first for all of us and we were all completely in awe of the views. The park is so unlike anything we’d seen before and parts of it don’t even look real!

Manly Beacon, the high outcrop over the badlands, is a beautiful contrast to the cliffs of Red Cathedral and the surrounding mud hills.

Manly Beacon was named after William L Manly, a member of the “Death Valley ’49ers”, that traveled to California during the Gold Rush and eventually ended up lost in Death Valley due to an inaccurate map. Nearly out of food and on the verge of starvation, Manly and his friend Rogers hiked 250 miles across the Mojave Desert on foot in order to find a way out of Death Valley and then secured food and horses so that they could go back and rescue the rest of the ’49ers.

No matter where we tried to take a picture, the sun always seemed to be in the kids’ eyes but we still managed to get a few “good” ones!

This area, like much of Death Valley, is the result of earthquakes and water from millions of years ago working together to create an almost unreal landscape. The area was once level but seismic activity folded the valley floor allowing powerful rainstorms to travel through the gullies, eroding the rocks into the beautiful landscapes you see today.

The dark part at the top of the ridge is lava from a volcanic eruption that occurred 3-5 MILLION years ago!

Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth, and we planned to explore it on a hot, July day. We came prepared with plenty of water, cooled off in the a/c in the Visitor Center and in the car, and still, the kids wanted to quit after a couple of hours. We only saw a couple of the highlights of the park- and didn’t even make it to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America!- before calling it a day and driving to Las Vegas. Even though we didn’t see everything that we planned to, it was still a fun stop and we’d like to go back (maybe with cooler weather!) and spend more time exploring.

Things to Remember When You Visit Death Valley National Park

Bring lots of water!! It’s HOT in Death Valley!!
Stay on the paved roads and if your car breaks down, stay with it until help arrives– do not try to walk and find help.
Drink lots of water!! If you feel dizzy, nauseous or have a headache, get out of the sun and drink water. Heat stroke is a very real thing and it’s dangerous!
If you’re going to hike, especially in the summer, complete your hike before 10am. Make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you’ll be back and ALWAYS stay on the trail.
Death Valley is a great place for viewing the night sky– go during the new moon to see the most stars.
Bring AND drink lots of water!! A gallon per person in your car (and even more in the summer) is the recommendation. But don’t stop there, pack food and a first aid kit, just in case.

Have you ever braved the heat and been to Death Valley??

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Jennifer February 6, 2019 National Parks

National Park Bucket List

The National Park Service, a federal bureau in the Department of Interior, was officially created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson and tasked with protecting the 35 national parks and monuments in the United States. Over the past 100 years, the number of National Parks (including National Monuments, Military Parks, Battlefields, Historic Sites, etc) has grown to over 400.

For as long as I can remember, visiting all 63 National Parks has been on our family’s bucket list. We’ve increased it to all 428 National Park Service Units (so it includes National Monuments, Battlefields, etc) because there are so many wonderful places to see in our great nation. Our main goal is all of the National Parks, but we’re going to try to hit as many of the other parks as we can along the way. (updated April 26, 2023)

Alabama

◽ Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
◽ Freedom Riders National Monument
◽ Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
◽ Little River Canyon National Preserve
◽ Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area
◽ Russell Cave National Monument
◽ Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
◽ Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site

Alaska

◽ Alagnak Wild River
◽ Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area
◽ Aniakchak National Monument
◽ Aniakchak National Preserve
◽ Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
◽ Cape Krusenstern National Monument
◽ DENALI NATIONAL PARK
◽ Denali National Preserve
◽ GATES OF THE ARCTIC NATIONAL PARK
◽ Gates of the Arctic National Preserve
◾ GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
◽ Glacier Bay National Preserve
◽ KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
◽ Katmai National Preserve
◽ KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
◾ Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (also WA)
◽ KOBUK VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
◽ LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK
◽ Lake Clark National Preserve
◽ Noatak National Preserve
◽ Sitka National Historical Park
◽ WRANGELL-ST ELIAS NATIONAL PARK
◽ Wrangell-St Elias National Preserve
◽ Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Arizona

◽ Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument
◽ Canyon De Chelly National Monument
◽ Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
◽ Chiricahua National Monument
◽ Coronado National Memorial
◽ Fort Bowie National Historic Site
◽ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (also UT)
◾ GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◽ Hohokam Pima National Monument
◽ Hubbel Trading Post National Historic Site
◽ Montezuma Castle National Monument
◽ Navajo National Monument
◽ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
◾ PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK
◽ Pipe Spring National Monument
◽ SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
◾ Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
◽ Tonto National Monument
◽ Tumacacori National Historical Park
◽ Tuzigoot National Monument
◽ Walnut Canyon National Monument
◽ Wupatki National Monument

Grand Canyon National Park June 2015

Arkansas

◽ Arkansas Post National Memorial
◽ Buffalo National River
◽ Fort Smith National Historic Site
◽ HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK
◽ Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
◽ Pea Ridge National Military Park
◽ President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site

California

◽ Cabrillo National Monument
◽ Castle Mountains National Monument
◽ César E Chávez National Monument
◾ CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◾ DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (also NV)
◽ Devils Postpile National Monument
◽ Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site
◽ Fort Point National Historic Site
◾ Golden Gate National Recreation Area
1. ◾ Alcatraz Island
2. ◾ Point Bonita Lighthouse
◽ John Muir National Historic Site
◽ JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
◽ KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◽ LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
◽ Lava Beds National Monument
◽ Manzanar National Historic Site
◽ Mojave National Preserve
◾ Muir Woods National Monument
◽ PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK
◽ Point Reyes National Seashore
◽ Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
◽ REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
◽ Rosie the Riveter / World War II Home Front National Historic Park
◽ San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
◽ Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
◽ SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
◽ Tule Lake National Monument
◽ Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
◾ YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Channel Islands National Park June 2016

Colorado

◽ Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
◽ BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
◽ Camp Hale National Monument
◽ Colorado National Monument
◽ Curecanti National Recreation Area
◽ Dinosaur National Monument (also UT)
◽ Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
◽ GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
◽ Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
◽ Hovenweep National Monument
◽ MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
◾ ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
◽ Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
◽ Yucca House National Monument

Rocky Mountain National Park October 2008

Connecticut

◽ Weir Farm National Historical Park

Delaware

◽ First State National Historical Park (also PA)

Florida

◾ Big Cypress National Preserve
◽ BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK
◾ Canaveral National Seashore
◽ Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
◽ De Soto National Memorial
◾ DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK
◾ EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
◽ Fort Caroline National Memorial
◾ Fort Matanzas National Monument
◾ Gulf Islands National Seashore (also MS)
◽ Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve

Georgia

◽ Andersonville National Historic Site
◽ Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
◽ Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (also TN)
◾ Cumberland Island National Seashore
◽ Fort Frederica National Monument
◽ Fort Pulaski National Monument
◽ Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
◽ Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
◽ Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park
◽ Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Hawaii

◽ HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
◽ HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
◽ Honouliuli National Historic Site
◽ Kalaupapa National Historical Park
◽ Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
◽ Pearl Harbor National Memorial
◽ Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
◽ Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site

Idaho

◽ City of Rocks National Reserve
◾ Craters of the Moon National Monument
◾ Craters of the Moon National Preserve
◽ Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
◽ Minidoka National Historic Site
◽ Nez Perce National Historical Park
◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also MT, WY)

Illinois

◽ Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument (also MS)
◽ Lincoln Home National Historic Site
◽ New Philadelphia National Historic Site
◽ Pullman National Historical Park

Indiana

◽ George Rogers Clark National Historical Park
◽ INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK
◽ Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Iowa

◽ Effigy Mounds National Monument
◽ Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Kansas

◽ Brown vs. Board of Education National Historical Park
◽ Fort Larned National Historic Site
◽ Fort Scott National Historic Site
◽ Nicodemus National Historic Site
◽ Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Kentucky

◽ Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
◽ Camp Nelson National Monument
◽ Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (also TN, VA)
◽ Fort Donelson National Battlefield (also TN)
◽ MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK
◽ Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument

Louisiana

◽ Cane River Creole National Historical Park
◽ Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
◽ New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
◽ Poverty Point National Monument
◽ Vicksburg National Military Park (also MS)

Maine

◽ ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
◽ Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Maine to Georgia)
◽ Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
◽ Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

Maryland

◽ Antietam National Battlefield
◽ Assateague Island National Seashore (also VA)
◽ Catoctin Mountain Park
◽ C&O Canal National Historical Park (also Washington DC)
◽ Clara Barton National Historic Site
◽ Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
◽ Fort Washington Park
◽ Greenbelt Park
◽ Hampton National Historic Site
◽ Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
◽ Monocacy National Battlefield
◽ Piscataway Park
◽ Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
◽ Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Massachusetts

◽ Adams National Historical Park
◽ Boston African American National Historic Site
◽ Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
◽ Boston National Historical Park
◽ Cape Cod National Seashore
◽ Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
◽ John F Kennedy National Historic Site
◽ Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site
◽ Lowell National Historical Park
◽ Minute Man National Historical Park
◽ New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
◽ Salem Maritime National Historic Site
◽ Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
◽ Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Michigan

◽ ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK
◽ Keweenaw National Historical Park
◾ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
◽ River Raisin National Battlefield Park
◾ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Minnesota

◽ Grand Portage National Monument
◽ Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
◽ Pipestone National Monument
◽ Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (also WI)
◽ VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK

Mississippi

◽ Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
◽ Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument (also IL)
◽ Gulf Island National Seashore (also FL)
◽ Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
◽ Natchez National Historical Park
◽ Natchez Trace Parkway (also AL, TN)
◽ Natchez Trace National Trail (also AL, TN)
◽ Shiloh Military Park (also TN)
◽ Tupelo National Battlefield
◽ Vicksburg National Military Park (also LA)

Missouri

◾ GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK
◽ George Washington Carver National Monument
◽ Harry S Truman National Historic Site
◽ Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
◽ Ozark National Scenic Riverways
◽ Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
◽ Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
◽ Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Montana

◽ Big Hole National Battlefield
◽ Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
◽ Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (also ND)
◾ GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
◽ Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
◽ Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also ID, WY)

Nebraska

◽ Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
◽ Homestead National Historical Park
◽ Missouri National Recreational River (also SD)
◽ Niobrara National Scenic River
◽ Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nevada

◽ Avi Kwa Ame National Monument
◾ DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK (also CA)
◽ GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK
◽ Lake Mead National Recreation Area (also AZ)
◽ Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

New Hampshire

◽ Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park

New Jersey

◽ Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (also PA)
◽ Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River
◽ Morristown National Historical Park
◽ Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
◽ Thomas Edison National Historical Park

New Mexico

◽ Aztec Ruins National Monument
◽ Bandelier National Monument
◽ Capulin Volcano National Monument
◽ CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK
◽ Chaco Culture National Historical Park
◽ El Malpais National Monument
◽ El Morro National Monument
◽ Fort Union National Monument
◽ Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
◽ Manhattan Project National Historical Park (also TN, WA)
◽ Pecos National Historical Park
◽ Petroglyph National Monument
◽ Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
◽ Valles Caldera National Preserve
◾ WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

White Sands National Park June 2016

New York

◽ African Burial Ground National Monument
◽ Castle Clinton National Monument
◽ Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
◽ Federal Hall National Memorial
◽ Fire Island National Seashore
◽ Fort Stanwix National Monument
◽ Gateway National Recreation Area (also NJ)
◽ General Grant National Memorial
◽ Governors Island National Monument
◽ Hamilton Grange National Memorial
◽ Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
◽ Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
◽ Martin Van Buren National Historic Site
◽ Saint Paul’s Church National Historic Site
◽ Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
◽ Saratoga National Historical Park
◽ Statue of Liberty National Monument
◽ Stonewall National Monument
◽ Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
◽ Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
◽ Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
◽ Women’s Rights National Historical Park

North Carolina

◾ Blue Ridge Parkway (also VA)
◾ Cape Hatteras National Seashore
◽ Cape Lookout National Seashore
◽ Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
◽ Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
◾ GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (also TN)
◽ Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
◽ Moores Creek National Battlefield
◽ Wright Brothers National Memorial

Blue Ridge Parkway October 2015

North Dakota

◽ Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (also MT)
◽ Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
◽ THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

Ohio

◽ Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
◽ CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
◽ David Berger National Memorial
◽ Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
◽ Fallen Timbers Battlefield and Fort Miamis National Historic Site
◽ First Ladies National Historic Site
◽ Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
◽ James A Garfield National Historic Site
◽ Perry’s Victory and International Peace Museum
◽ William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Oklahoma

◽ Chickasaw National Recreation Area
◽ Oklahoma City National Memorial
◽ Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

Oregon

◾ CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
◽ John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
◽ Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (also WA)
◽ Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Pennsylvania

◽ Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
◽ Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site
◽ Eisenhower National Historic Site
◽ Flight 93 National Memorial
◽ Fort Necessity National Battlefield
◽ Friendship Hill National Historic Site
◽ Gettysburg National Military Park
◽ Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
◽ Independence National Historical Park
◽ Johnstown Flood National Memorial
◽ Lower Delaware National Scenic River
◽ Steamtown National Historic Site
◽ Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
◽ Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
◽ Valley Forge National Historical Park

Rhode Island

◽ Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (also MA)
◽ Roger Williams National Memorial

South Carolina

◽ Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
◾ CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK
◽ Cowpens National Battlefield
◾ Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
◽ Kings Mountain National Military Park
◽ Ninety-Six National Historic Site
◽ Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

South Dakota

◽ BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◽ Jewel Cave National Monument
◽ Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
◽ Mount Rushmore National Memorial
◽ WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK

Tennessee

◽ Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
◽ Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (also KY)
◽ Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (also GA)
◽ Fort Donelson National Battlefield (also KY)
◾ GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (also NC)
◽ Obed Wild and Scenic River
◽ Shiloh National Military Park (also MS)
◽ Stone River National Battlefield

Great Smoky Mountain National Park October 2015

Texas

◽ Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
◽ Amistad National Recreation Area
◽ BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
◽ Big Thicket National Preserve
◽ Castner Range National Monument
◽ Chamizal National Memorial
◽ Fort Davis National Historic Site
◽ GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
◽ Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
◽ Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
◽ Padre Island National Seashore
◽ Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
◽ Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River
◽ San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
◽ Waco Mammoth National Monument

Utah

◽ ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
◽ BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
◽ CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
◽ CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
◽ Cedar Breaks National Monument
◽ Dinosaur National Monument (also CO)
◽ Golden Spike National Historical Park
◽ Natural Bridges National Monument
◽ Rainbow Bridge National Monument
◽ Timpanogos Cave National Monument
◽ ZION NATIONAL PARK

Vermont

◽ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Virginia

◾ Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
◾ Arlington House, The Robert E Lee Memorial
◾ Blue Ridge Parkway (also NC)
◽ Booker T Washington National Monument
◽ Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
◾ Colonial National Historical Park
◽ Fort Monroe National Monument
◽ Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
◽ George Washington Birthplace National Monument
◾ George Washington Memorial Parkway (also MD, DC)
◽ Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
◽ Manassas National Battlefield Park
◽ Petersburg National Battlefield Park
◽ Prince William Forest Park
◽ Richmond National Battlefield Park
◽ SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
◽ Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park September 2015

Washington

◾ Ebbey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
◽ Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (also OR)
◾ Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
◽ Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
◾ MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
◾ NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK
◾ OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
◾ Ross Lake National Recreation Area
◾ San Juan Island National Historical Park
◽ Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Washington DC

◽ Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
◽ Carter G Woodson Home National Historic Site
◽ Constitution Gardens
◾ Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
◾ Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site
◾ Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial
◽ Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
◾ Jefferson Memorial
◾ Korean War Veterans Memorial
◾ Lincoln Memorial
◽ Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
◾ Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
◽ Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
◽ National Capital Parks
◾ National Mall
◽ Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
◽ Rock Creek Park
◽ Theodore Roosevelt Island
◾ Vietnam Veterans Memorial
◾ Washington Monument
◽ White House and President’s Park
◾ World War I Memorial
◾ World War II Memorial

Korean War Memorial March 2010

West Virginia

◽ Bluestone National Scenic River
◽ Gauley River National Recreation Area
◽ Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
◽ NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK

Wisconsin

◽ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
◽ Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (also MN)

Wyoming

◽ Devils Tower National Monument
◽ Fort Laramie National Historic Site
◽ Fossil Butte National Monument
◾ GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
◾ John D Rockefeller Memorial Parkway
◾ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (also ID, MT)

Virgin Islands

◽ Buck Island Reef National Monument
◽ Christiansted National Historic Site
◽ Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
◽ Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
◽ VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Misc

◽ NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA, American Samoa
◽ San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
◽ War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam

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Jennifer August 31, 2018 National Parks

Channel Islands National Park | California

On our quest to visit all of the National Parks, we decided to take a boat tour around Channel Islands National Park. While we didn’t technically get out and walk around in the park, realistically, this was the best that we could do given time and financial constraints. It’s wayyy more expensive to do one of the tours that include time on the islands and we’re a family of seven, so practicality won out in this case.

We did an Island Wildlife Cruise through Island Packers that departed from the Oxnard Harbor (Ventura Harbor would have been closer for us, but the day that worked the best with our schedule left from Oxnard).

While our boat didn’t land on any of the islands, we did get to cruise along the coast of Anacapa Island. On our way out there we even came across a shark(!) about fifteen feet away from the boat! The onboard photographer said he thought it was a mako shark– glad we were on a boat and not swimming!

It’s about an hour out to to the islands and it was CHOPPY!! Jake and I got stuck on the lower level with Ellie for the ride out and we got a bit wet and bounced around for most of the ride. Once it calmed down enough to climb up the ladder, we went upstairs to sit with the rest of the kids and Jake’s dad.

The park’s most recognizable landmark, Arch Rock, just off the coast of Anacapa Island.

On our way back to Oxnard we finally saw a couple of dolphins!

They seemed to have fun darting around next to the boat and put on quite the show!

After a couple of minutes, those couple of dolphins turned into a pod of about fifty dolphins! The Santa Barbara Channel, the waterway between the mainland and the Channel Islands, has more marine mammals than any other place on earth! While we saw sea lions and dolphins, Humpback, Gray, Blue, and Orca whales also call the Channel home during parts of the year. Island Packers also offers whale watching cruises although those don’t always go to the Channel Islands as it’s dependent on where the whales are.

We had a great time on our trip out to the Channel Islands and would love to do it again when we have the time (and money!) to actually land and explore.

Things to Remember When You Visit Channel Islands National Park

The only way to get to Channel Islands National Park is by the park concessionaire boats (Island Packers) or planes (Channel Islands Aviation), or by private boat, so factor that cost into your visit.
Island Wildlife Cruises out of Ventura Harbor are available, just not as frequently as the ones out of Oxnard Harbor so make sure to check the schedule carefully depending on which harbor you’re interested in departing from.
Cruises out of Ventura Harbor are much more common for the Island trips where you can actually get off of the boat and explore for the day (or camp!).
There is no food or water available on the island, and limited selections available on the boat (though they do have beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase), so pack accordingly.

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Jennifer August 23, 2018 National Parks

Painted Desert / Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona

On our drive back across the country, after spending several weeks in Arizona and California with family, we stopped at the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park to check out the sights. Petrified Forest National Park is technically located in the Painted Desert, so they’re not actually two separate parks- a visit to PFNP inherently includes going to the Painted Desert as well.

This was our seventh National Park/National Monument of the trip and the kids were definitely hooked- they all decided to include seeing all of the National Parks to their bucket lists.

It was hot and windy outside but Lexie was a good sport and got out of the car at each overlook- and then proceeded to tell the rest of the kids about what she saw since they couldn’t be convinced to get out and brave the heat and wind over and over.

The clouds totally reminded me of the ones in Toy Story!

The layers in the Painted Desert are from a variety of sediments including siltstone, mudstone, shale, and bentonite clay from the Triassic Chinle Formation, but the beautiful colors come from the iron and manganese compounds found in the rocks.

We got out of the car for a short walk through the desert and Ellie was enthralled with all of the plants. Luckily there wasn’t any cactus right by the trail or I’m sure she would have been petting that as well. Ouch!

Getting out and walking around a bit was the key to getting her to cooperate in the car on our 40-hour drive (over five days) across the country. In addition to giving her something to do and new things to look at, the physical activity wore her out and she was able to nap in the car and go to bed at night.

We checked out the ruins of Puerco Pueblo, a community of nearly 200 at its peak that was built in the 1200s. At one time, this one-story dwelling had nearly 100 rooms that surrounded a central plaza.

Plagued by droughts, the Puebloan people started building large pueblo communities and working together as a group in order to survive. Puerco Pueblo was built near the Puerco River and was a reliable source of water for farming the slopes along the river, and they were able to successfully grow cotton, corn, squash, and beans.

However, in response to climate change in the late 1300s, those that lived in Puerco Pueblo fled the area looking for a more suitable location.

The petroglyphs left by the Puerco Puebloans mark the boulders surrounding the community.

Stretching their legs on the trail to/from Puerco Pueblo. In hindsight, I should have had all the kids wear close-toed shoes since we were traipsing around the desert, but luckily, we didn’t run into any snakes, scorpions or cactus.

One of the most beautiful areas of the park is the “Tepees”, that got their name from the resemblance of the hills to Indian dwellings. The hills were created from the erosional pattern of the Blue Mesa Member of the Chinle Formation. Sediments were deposited by a tropical river system that flowed here during the Late Triassic Period (over 225 million years ago). The brown and yellow layers are sandstone from the river channel while the blue and red mudstone layers are from the floodplain, and the white layers are ash from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.

Like most kids, ours want to push the limits every chance they get, so we had to get a picture of them BEHIND the Do Not Enter sign since that means they technically entered!

Petrified Forest National Park has one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the world. Over 200 million years ago, the logs were petrified by volcanic ash and then minerals replaced the wood over time.

Some of the logs sat high, perched on the tops of the badlands rock formations, and others had tumbled down the sides from erosion and formation shifts over time.

The grays, blues, and purples of the Blue Mesa Member Badlands are a stark contrast to the reds and browns of the Tepees and the Painted Desert, but equally beautiful.

The kids thought that the layers in the formations made them look like cakes!

Once they got tired of looking for petrified wood, Ben and Lexie pretended to be bats since they are very common in the park- though we didn’t see any.

It is so amazing that the petrified wood still looks like actual wood even though it is millions of years old and is really a fossil!

The Petrified Forest is the only National Park that contains a section of Historic Route 66.

The telephone poles mark the path of the famous road traversing the American West. Though it was officially decommissioned over thirty years ago (1985) due to the emergence of interstates, Route 66 is still one of the most beloved historic roads in the world and people flock to the “Mother Road” every year.

The kids thought this 1932 Studebaker was pretty cool but could not imagine driving cross country in it– especially without air conditioning!!

We didn’t have as much time to time explore Petrified Forest National Park as I would have liked, and because of the July heat, we did not venture on many of the hikes that are available, but it was still a totally worthwhile stop. Even though I grew up in Arizona and am very familiar with the typical desert landscapes, the colors and badlands of the Painted Desert are like nothing we’d ever seen before (even in other parts of AZ). They’re so unusual and unique that the park definitely deserves a visit!

Things to Remember When Visiting the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park

Bring (and drink!) lots of water! Like most parts of Arizona, summers are VERY hot and PFNP gets the lowest amount of precipitation in the state, so it is also VERY dry!
The park is open year round (except on Christmas Day) but hours change seasonally so make sure to check ahead of time.
It’s $20 for a private vehicle to enter the park. We recommend getting the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass so that you can check out all of the National Parks in the country (and there’s a free version for military, permanently disabled, and all 4th graders!)
The main park road is almost thirty miles long and it is not a loop so plan ahead to ensure you don’t have to backtrack to see everything. If you’re traveling south/west, enter PFNP off of I-40 at exit 311 and exit at Highway 180. If you’re traveling north/east, follow the signs on Highway 180 (I-40 exit 285 at Holbrook) to enter the park from the south.

Have you ever been to the Painted Desert or Petrified Forest National Park??