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Archive for National Parks

 August 4, 2022

St. Louis: The Arch Is Cool, But There’s So Much More

Towering 630 feet over the city of St. Louis, Gateway Arch rises gracefully from the banks of the Mississippi River. There is a timeless quality to the sleek, stainless steel design—it perfectly embodies the spirit of exploration, just as it was meant to do. The arch is, undeniably, the iconic symbol of St. Louis. But there’s […]

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Categories : Missouri, National Parks, Travel
Tags : Babler State Park, Balkan Treat Box, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Dred Scott, Forest Park, Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Zoo
 April 2, 2022

The Magic Of Acadia National Park

There’s something magical about Acadia National Park. We love the national parks of the Pacific Northwest and the parks of the desert and red rock Southwest. And Yellowstone, with its surreal landscape, will always be one of our favorites. But there’s something special about Acadia National Park…a unique combination of natural beauty and rich history…the […]

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Categories : Maine, National Parks, Travel
Tags : Abbe Museum, Acadia National Park, Asticou Azalea Garden, Bar Harbor, Bass Harbor Light Station, hiking Acadia, Islesford, Jordan Pond, Little Cranberry Island, Pemetic Mountain, Schoodic Peninsula, South Bubbles hike, Thuya Garden, Wild Gardens of Acadia
 March 19, 2022

Dusting Off Our 2019 Adventures: Lubec, Maine

In approximately three months, we’ll be taking off on a four-month trip to explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. But before we’re immersed in brand new adventures, I want to complete writing about the last part of our 2019 journey, as we traveled from Nova Scotia to Florida. Browsing through photos, I feel as though I’ve […]

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Categories : Maine, National Parks, New Brunswick, Travel
Tags : Campobello Island, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lubec, Sunset Point Campground, Tea with Eleanor, West Quoddy Lighthouse
 February 9, 2022

Fall On The Blue Ridge Parkway

We’ve always wanted to catch the fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In early October, we got our chance as we left Lake Toxaway and headed to the North Carolina High Country, nestled in the northwest corner of the state. Driving the parkway while towing a trailer is surprisingly easy. The speed limit is […]

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Categories : National Parks, North Carolina, Travel
Tags : Anvil Arts Gallery, Banner Elk, Beacon Heights Trail, Blowing Rock, Blowing Rock Art Museum, Boone, Driving Blue Ridge Parkway, Hiking Blue Ridge Trails, Linville Falls, Linville Falls Winery, Moses Cone Memorial Park, Over Yonder Restaurant, Rough Ridge Trail, Stick Boy Bread Company, Tanawha Trail, The Blue Ridge Parkway, The Speckled Trout, Valle Crucis
 March 17, 2019

Beautiful And Desolate Death Valley National Park

A dozen years ago, we drove through Death Valley National Park on our way to somewhere else. We were pulling our little Bigfoot trailer (our previous rig), and when we finally made it across the park, Eric said, “I am never doing that again.” The unrelenting steep grades, sharp curves, and the rollercoaster two-lane road […]

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Categories : California, National Parks, Travel
Tags : Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Badwater Basin, China Date Ranch, Death Valley National Park, Delight's Hot Springs, Furnace Creek Campground, Furnace Creek Inn, Golden Canyon Hike, Zabriskie Point
 August 25, 2018

Mountains, Mansions, And Hippies: Asheville, North Carolina

You guys are the best. In the past week, I’ve been reminded of another important reason why I write this blog. It not only serves as a journal of our travels but has connected us with a community of wonderful people. I’d still write our blog even if no one was reading, but knowing that […]

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Categories : National Parks, North Carolina, Travel
Tags : All Soul's Pizza, Asheville, Biltmore, Brahmari Brewing, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Mama Gertie's Hideaway, The Market Place Restaurant
 April 5, 2018

Big, Beautiful, Big Bend National Park

Thank you, dear friends, for your compassionate, generous, and supportive comments in response to my last blog post. While this blog is primarily about our travels, everything that happens along the way is part of the journey. I don’t write about every flat tire or mosquito bite, but I do write about the big challenges. […]

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Categories : National Parks, Texas, Travel
Tags : Balanced Rock, Big Bend National Park, Boquillas Canyon, Burro Mesa Pouroff Trail, Chisos Canyon, Grapevine Hills Trail, Hiking Big Bend National Park, Lost Mine Trail, Panther Junction Visitor Center, rafting Big Bend, Rio Grande, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Santa Elena Canyon, Study Butte RV Park, Window Trail
 August 14, 2017

Wildflowers And Wildlife: Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

When we hiked on Hurricane Ridge a couple of years ago in October, we were enthralled by the display of autumn colors blanketing the hills. A fellow hiker on the trail remarked, “You really should come in the spring to see the wildflowers.” Hurricane Ridge went right back onto our list. (This is precisely why our […]

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Categories : National Parks, Travel, Washington
Tags : Hurricane Hill Trail, Hurricane Ridge, mountain goats, Olympic National Park
 August 3, 2017

A Rainy Day Hike To Sol Duc Falls

Set deep within the temperate rain forest of Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Falls is considered to be one of the most photogenic waterfalls in Washington State. In years when water is abundant, the fall divides into four separate channels just before plunging 40 feet into a narrow, rocky ravine. We were looking forward to […]

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Categories : National Parks, Travel, Washington
Tags : Lake Crescent, Lover's Lane Trail, Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Falls
 July 21, 2017

Return To The Edge Of The World: Neah Bay, WA

At the furthest northwesternmost point of the continental U.S., the wild, stormy coastline meets the deep, mysterious rainforest. This far-flung, untamed place is the land of the Makah, a Northwest Coastal people who have called the remote headland home for thousands of years. We first visited Neah Bay and the Makah Reservation a couple of […]

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Categories : National Parks, Washington
Tags : Cape Flattery, Hobuck campground, Hobuck RV Park, Makah Museum, Makah Reservation, Neah Bay, Point of Arches, Shi Shi Beach
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Welcome to our blog!

Eric and Laurel

If you enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, birding, art, music, quirky towns, good food, and good friends—you'll enjoy traveling with us. Join us as we explore the backroads of North America—we love company and comments!

~Laurel & Eric

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~Mary Oliver

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Recent posts

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  • Hurricane Helene
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