Category Archives: North America

National Parks, North America, Oregon, Summer, Travel, United States

United States 59 National Park Quest #42 – Crater Lake National Park

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The sun had long since set by the time I got to Crater Lake National Park. I had made the long drive from Davis, CA to Crater Lake National Park after work to spend the weekend in Oregon’s only national park. I couldn’t wait to check out Crater Lake as it would be my 42nd national park and the last of the Cascade mountain national parks. As with most of my trips, I read up on the post of fun activities to do while camping on campingfunzone.com and headed out with the hope of this trip being better than my last one. Not to mention, this was a last minute decision to spend the weekend in Crater Lake. Continue Reading . . .

North America, Travel, United States, Washington

Recipe for Disaster in North Cascades National Park

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Kayla and I emerge from the forest and arrive at my car. We look at each other. Joe still hadn’t caught up with us. I unlock my car and pull out my phone. Kayla keeps glancing at the trailhead as I turn my phone on. Finally, it turns on. No signal, that isn’t a surprise given we are in the North Cascades Mountains in North Cascade National Park in northern Washington. Kayla looks at her watch. “It’s 5:30,” she states. “Sunset isn’t until at least 9,” I respond. We have over three hours of sunlight. “He should have realized we were going to make it to the top by now, right,” her voice wobbles. I hesitate for a moment, but respond, “Yea, he should have caught us on the way down.” With that statement, the nagging feeling that I have had the whole way down comes back. Continue Reading . . .

National Parks, North America, Own Country, Travel, United States, Utah

A visit with Angels at Angel’s Landing

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I sat near a 1,500 foot vertical drop and admired the view.  It had taken me almost 8 years of plotting and planning to make this trip a reality. The view from Angel’s Landing exceeded expectations and was worth the wait.  The early explorers were right. Continue Reading . . .

Arizona, National Parks, North America, Own Country, Photo Thursday, Road Trip, United States

Spotlight Thursday – On the Edge of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Every Thursday, I will be posting a photo from my travels and a spotlight on the location. Today’s Spotlight Thursday is from my visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.  The North Rim was the last stop on my 2012 National Park Road Trip. Grand Canyon National Park was my 27th National Park on my quest to visit all 59 US National Parks. Continue Reading . . .

National Parks, North America, Travel, United States

Traveler’s Favorite Activities in the US National Parks – Part 1

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It is no secret that I am a US National Park junkie.  I expend a lot of effort plotting ways to visit my next park.  I have currently been to 31 of the 59 US National Parks. I have featured several of my favorite national parks adventures and as time passes plan to share many more.  Recently, I asked some of my fellow travel bloggers to share their favorite activities in the US National Parks. Continue Reading . . .