Our National Parks
Every National Park tells a story, from breathtaking landscapes and ancient forests to historic landmarks that preserve our shared past. Each visit offers a chance to pause and reflect, to feel gratitude for what endures and to witness how nature and history together remind us of the beauty worth protecting.
Recent Posts
Booker T. Washington Historic Monument – Virginia
During our 1996 family road trip to Atlanta for the Olympic Games, one of the historic sites we stopped along the way was Booker T. Washington National Monument in rural southwestern Virginia. Tucked into the rolling countryside, the site preserves the birthplace and early childhood environment of one of the most influential African American leaders in […]
Scotts Bluff National Monument – Nebraska
Another memorable stop on our 1995 family cross-country road trip was Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska. Coming from the eastern part of the country, we wanted our daughters to see first-hand what life was like for families who traveled west by wagon train. Rising from the plans, Scotts Bluff was one of the […]
Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial – Ohio
As we continued driving west on our family road trip in 1995, we boarded a boat on Lake Erie and crossed the water to the Perry’s Victory and International Peak Memorial. Reaching this site by water made visiting it more intentional and part of the story. Rising from South Bass Island is this 352-foot granite column that […]
Pipestone National Monument – Minnesota
During our 1995 cross-country road trip, our route carried us through a part of Minnesota, where we stopped at one of the most remarkable sites: Pipestone National Monument. Here, the soft red stone, pipestone, has been quarried for centuries by Native people and carved into ceremonial pipes used in prayer and spiritual life. This is […]
Pecos National Historical Park – New Mexico
Set against the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Pecos National Historical Park is a palace where centuries of history unfold quietly across the land. This land was home to the Pecos Pueblo, one of the most influential pueblos in the Southwest. For hundreds of years, Pecos served as a vital crossroads of trade linking […]
Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana
On our cross-country family road trip in 1995, we stopped at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The massive sand dunes stretch along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and they are interwoven with wetlands and beaches. The dunes were formed over thousands of years as glaciers retreated in the wind and water shaped the sand into ridges […]
Obed WSR – Tennessee
When I traveled through Tennessee, I found myself moving through the landscape of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Unlike many places we visit and clearly arrive at, this was a landscape you enter without gates or formal entrances. At the Obed WSR there are miles of creeks and rivers. This remarkable river system came […]
Mount Rushmore National Memorial – South Dakota
Carved into the granite face of the Black Hills are the towering likenesses of four of our presidential leaders. Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a ceremonial experience. Upon approaching the site, we walked the Avenue of Flags, with flags representing all U.S. states and territories. This walk takes us to the overlook where the […]
Mt. Grant-Kohrs Ranch – Montana
On a road trip to Glacier National Park, we took a few side trips to see more of the beautiful state of Montana. We followed long stretches of open road with expansive valleys and distant mountain ranges. One of our destinations along the way was the Grant-Kohrs Ranch. Coming from the East, it is difficult […]
Marsh-Billing-Rockefeller National Historical Park – Vermont
Marsh-Billing-Rockefeller National Historical Park is the only National Park Service site in Vermont. Unlike other parks created to preserve wilderness or historic battles, this park tells the story of the birth and evolution of conservation through stewardship. In the early 19th century, George Perkins Marsh, who grew up on this land, published the book: Man and […]
Pullman National Monument – Illinois
While teaching in Chicago in 2018, we took a trip to Pullman National Monument, a relatively new addition to the National Park Service at the time. The Pullman community was a grand idea. It was created in the 1880s by George Pullman, founder of the Pullman Palace Car Company. His vision was to create a […]
Grand Canyon – Arizona
I wanted to be someplace special on my 65th birthday, and my thoughts naturally turned to Grand Canyon National Park. My December birthday comes with some challenges as many of the majestic national parks have limited access that time of year, but the Grand Canyon felt right. I can still remember the first time I stood […]
