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
Denali National Park – Alaska
Flying into Anchorage, our first destination was Denali, and the drive itself felt like the beginning of the adventure. Leaving the city behind, the road quickly opened into vast stretches of wilderness where the scale of Alaska became unmistakable. The Parks Highway winds north through wide valleys and uninterrupted views that seem to stretch forever. […]
Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota
I have traveled with intention, seeking out the place that tells the fuller stories of the Presidents of the United States. Over the years, I have visited all the Presidential libraries, along with many of their birthplaces, homes and the lesser-known sites that reveal who these men were beyond their public offices. It is often these […]
Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Another spectacular National Park is Rocky Mountain National Park. My oldest daughter Emily lives in the foothills of this park, so we have enjoyed more visits than most. From the rugged alpine cliffs to the mountain lakes, this landscape reminds us how diverse this park is. Established in January 1915, when Woodrow Wilson signed the act […]
Thomas Edison National Park – New Jersey
Thomas Edison National Historical Park is one of those places where I could wander for hours. Every corner feels like stepping into the mind of a man who reshaped the modern world. From his personal office, preserved just as he left it. To his rigid time clocks that kept his workers on schedule, to the […]
Valley Forge – A Different Kind of Battleground – Pennsylvania
The last time I visited Valley Forge was in 2019. So many of our National Parks are preserved because they were battlefields: places where lives were lost and freedom was defended. Valley Forge is different, it is not a battlefield, no shots were fired here. Yet it remains one of the most important sites in the […]
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield – Georgia
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is just one of many national park sites set aside to honor the battles that shaped our nation. Across the United States, the National Park Service preserves dozens of historic battlefields, forts and military landscapes. These places were chosen not only for the events that happened there, but also for the stories they continue […]
Weirs Farm National Historic Site – Connecticut
Visiting historic places was a cornerstone of our homeschooling journey when our daughters were young. We crossed the country together, discovering National Historic Sites and learning the stories that shaped our nation. Here in New England, Weir Farm in Connecticut remains one of the few National Parks in this state and is the only National […]
Springfield Armory National Historic Site – Massachusetts
I have visited the Springfield Armory National Historic Site a few times over the years. I have left with a deep appreciation of how this place shaped American history. Founded in 1794, at the direction of George Washington, the Springfield Armory became the center of American military manufacturing for nearly two hundred years. During its […]
Yosemite National Park – California
August 2019 was the last time, but not the first time, I visited Yosemite National Park. When people think of our National Parks, many envision vast, majestic landscapes and Yosemite is the very definition of that. The first time I drove into Yosemite Valley, I remember a moment of pure speechlessness. Countless writers and explorers have […]
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site – New York
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is a remarkable home and a lasting testament to the giant of a man, Theodore Roosevelt. Much has been written about this extraordinary figure who rose to the presidency at the young age of 42. Often regarded as one of the most intelligent and dynamic presidents. Roosevelt left an indelible mark with […]
Walking the Freedom Trail: Where America’s Revolution Still Echoes – Massachusetts
My journey through the national parks may have begun with Minute Man, but it didn’t end there. Here in Massachusetts, we embrace our colonial past, and whenever friends visit, I love to take them to Boston and walk the Freedom Trail. This 2.5-mile path winds through the city’s streets, marked by a red line that […]
From Theme Parks to National Parks: How a Little Passport Changed Our Family Vacations
Growing up in New Hampshire , I never realized there were places so historically or naturally significant that our federal government would protect and financially support them for everyone to enjoy. It wasn’t until I had my own daughters that I discovered the National Park System. The first park I brought them to was Minute […]
