Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Joshua Tree for me symbolized music, not a National Park. But because of the music, the park has always held a certain allure. Once I discovered how close it was to LA, it moved to the…
California is home to 28 national parks and sites scattered throughout the state. From the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite, to the desolate in Death Valley and the big trees in the North at the Redwoods, there is no shortage…
During our recent visit to the San Francisco Bay Area, we unexpectedly found ourselves at a national park site that we didn't even know existed. Researching this a bit more, I was surprised to learn there are 10 national park sites…
If you follow us regularly, you know we are national park obsessed. But it's not just nature parks that we love to go to, we also enjoy visiting many of the monuments and historic sites that are part of the…
Last summer we took a 10 day road trip through Arizona and Utah with our family friends from Texas. While researching that trip I came across Dinosaur National Monument in northern Utah and western Colorado. We weren’t planning to be…
The Bay Area is one of my favorite places on earth. Not just because I lived there for almost a decade, but because no matter where you turn you are surrounded by so much beauty. The abundance of beautiful scenery,…
In celebration of the 100th year of the National Park Service, I will post at least once a month in some way relating to our wonderful national park system to help bring awareness to an awesome part of our country that is…
A visit to the Big Island of Hawaii isn't complete without a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Having the opportunity to see a real live active volcano in person was one of the main reasons in going to Hawaii…
In celebration of the 100th year of the National Park Service, I will post at least once a month in some way relating to our wonderful national park system to help bring awareness to an awesome part of our country that is…
Did you notice this year's Tournament of Roses Parade theme? Have you seen the commercials? If so, you probably already know that 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the national parks system. If not, it's a huge deal and is…
One of the beauties of living in a large metropolis like Los Angeles is having access to everything from cultural events, museums, nightlife, and of course the amazing nature opportunities. Unknown to many outside of the city, but Los Angeles is…
Driving back from Yosemite, not quite ready for our trip to end, we checked the map to see if there was anywhere else we could stop for a day or two. It was then that we realized how close we…
One of America's greatest natural wonders is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. This dazzling canyon plunging 5000 feet deep is almost impossible to grasp. It is one of the few landmarks visible from space. Standing on the edge offers vistas…
Zion National Park is one of the best kept secrets of the national park system. When visitors discover the beauty and magic of Zion Canyon, they will be hooked! It doesn't have that one eye catching feature that sells postcards or…
Road tripping is the quintessential American summer vacation. We joined the masses this year with a 10 day road trip through Arizona and Utah. Every year, (OK, this is only year 2, but we hope it continues for many years to come!), we…
One of the main reasons we chose the Big Island over the other Hawaiian Islands was to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. My son had seen a brochure about the park at a friend's house last summer and has wanted to go…
I love nature, hiking and animals, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine taking time on a Sunday to go bird watching. But yep, this is what happens in my household every month. The Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society…
One of the coolest and maybe least known activities at many national and state parks is the Junior Ranger Program. I don't know why the National Park Service doesn't market this more, because it is an amazing program for children…
A family trip to Yosemite National Park is the quintessential American summer holiday. Camping (or glamping as it is for us!), getting dirty, splashing through rivers, and spending time with friends and family - what else can you ask for…