Freedom Riders NM

The World Witnessed the Violence:

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed the bus. Images of the attack appeared in hundreds of newspapers, shocking the American public and spurring the Federal Government to issue regulations banning segregation in interstate travel.

Apr 2, 2025

This unit is fairly new to the NPS, being established in 2017 and is just starting to come together to tell the importance of what happened here in 1961 and how it played a role in the signing of the Civil Rights act in 1964. The bus station is being used as the intern Visitor Center and only open on Wednesday. We had good timing this trip and made it while it was open. We watched the movie that is PBS documentary of the Civil Rights Movement, only a small part deals with the events here, the movie is long taking in all of the events of the Civil Rights movement. We took in the informational banners, then had a nice talk with the Rangers on a wide range of topics. We headed outside to take in the informational plaques and wall mural. There are plans to bring the Bus Station back to the look of the time period and the building next door will become the Visitor center. We spent 2 hours here. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

 Our 182nd NPS Unit

Moores Creek National Battlefield

 

"King George and Broadswords!"

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. This battle marked the last broadsword charge by Scottish Highlanders and the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution.

4 Mar 2025

This Park protects the land of a Revolutionary Battlefield for a battle that lasted less than four minutes. This was the first major victory for the patriots and set in motion the road to victory in the Revolutionary war for the United States. We started this visit at the Visitor Center taking in the offered ten-minute movie that did a great job at explaining the battle here and what it meant to starting the march to independence for the United States. There is a great timeline of both the Carolina's and the United States along the walls and the Center also has great exhibits from the time of the battle. After the Visitors Center we picked up Daisy's BARK Program pamphlet and headed out to take in the one-mile Historic trail. This trail makes a loop around the Battlefield taking in the breast works, the reconstructed bridge and the monuments. We finished our walk, and Daisy got another collar tag to add to her collection. We spent around 3 hours exploring this site.

NPS Website

Click here for Photos of our visit on 4 Mar 2025

Our 181st NPS Unit

Cowpens NB

“…our success was complete…”  -- Daniel Morgan, January 19, 1781

A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic military tactic, known as a double envelopment, secured a patriot victory.

Feb 28, 2025

We made a return trip today to let Daisy get her BARK Ranger Certificate, no new collar tags this time. We picked up a booklet for Daisy and headed out to the trail. We enjoyed the booklet and Daisy enjoyed taking in the smells of all the critters that call this area home. After the Trail Walk, we stopped at the Visitor Center and Daisy got her Certificate. 

Sept 19, 2013

A decisive victory for the American forces. We took in the visitor Center taking in the exhibits and movie to get a better understanding of the events that took place here. After the Visitor Centers we took the girls out on the trail to get an understanding of the size of the battle. We were left in wonder on how close the two armies were in combat; you could almost throw a rock at each other.

Click here for photos of our visit on 28 Feb 2025

NPS Website

Our 89th NPS Unit

Kings Mountain NMP

                                                              

The turn of the tide of success:

Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success." The battle of Kings Mountain, fought October 7th, 1780, was an important American victory during the Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston, SC in May 1780. The park preserves the site of this important battle. A Battle that set in motion a new direction of the revolutionary war.  The British decided to change their tactics and move the war to the Southern states. After a series of victories, they would meet a group of Mountain men that feared there way of life would be threatened. This small army won a victory that would turn an unwinnable war to a winnable war for the Americans.

Feb 28, 2025

We made a return trip with Daisy Mae joining us for the walk around the trail. No BARK Program but we still had a great day for a trail walk with so many smells for Daisy to take in. 

Sept 20, 2013

We got to take in the unit today with the girls tagging along. After taking in the exhibits and movie at the visitor center and learning why this site was so important to the road to the end of the revolutionary war and our independence. We headed out to take the one-mile trail around the battlefield. The girls really enjoyed the day taking in all the sights and smells.  

Click here for photos of our visit on 28 Feb 2025

NPS Website

Our 91st NPS Unit






The girls resting at Centennial Monument - 2013

Gulf Islands NS

The Lure of the Islands in the Gulf of America:

Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with us today!

12 Jan 2025

We made a quick trip over to the park today so daisy could pick up her BARK ranger tag and also take a short walk out to the pier. 

3 Dec 2022

Today we finally got to a section of the Florida side of this unit. we took in Fort Barrancas, this fort is on the Pensacola Naval Air Station, so Access is limited. We took in the movie that tell the history of this fort and also the sister forts - Fort Pickens and Fort Mcree. These forts were part of the Third System of seacoast defense aimed at fortifying major harbors. We headed out to explore the fort after the movie. This fort is well preserved and offers a few hours of exploring the inner workings of it. We spent three hours here and got all there was to see. We still have to make a trip out to Fort Pickens but will save that for another visit. Fort Mcree no long exists. 

21 Dec 2021

The weather was perfect today, so we decided to head over to Gulf Islands National Seashore and do a trail walk with Daisy Mae. After getting the newest stamps at the Visitor Center we headed out and did the CCC spur Trail. This trail is about around a half mile round trip. It was a great day to take in the sights and sounds of the park. In total it we walked around 2 miles today. 

21 Nov 2014

We took in the Mississippi section of this park. We took in the Visitors Center first to get a better understanding of the unit. The Visitor Center offers a movie, and many displays. We then headed out on a great trail walk with Molly. Found an Alligator sunning itself and a few turtles also taking in a sunny day. For this visit we stayed at the National Park campground for a few days and really enjoyed doing that as it gave us more time to explore this section of the park. We missed the ferry season to get to Ft Massachusetts so we will be back here to take it in. We will also have to plan a trip to the Florida side to take in that section.

Click here for photos of our visit on 3 Dec 2022

NPS Website

Our 109th NPS Unit

                      

  

Molly taking a break on the trail. 2014 

       

       

Everglades NP

                                                                        

America's Everglades - The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States:

Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.
An international treasure as well - a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a specially protected area under the Cartagena Treaty.

Nov 25, 2024

We took in the northern portion of the park this trip. We first stopped at Oasis Visitor Center. This is a small Visitor Center with a few exhibits to take in. We then headed out on a short trail walk along Bobcat trail. This trail is less than a mile and offers a nice easy walk to take in the flora and wildlife. We did see a few alligators basking in the sun. We then headed over to Gator Park for the Highlight of the day, an Airboat ride in the Everglades. There are three company's licensed to offer rides. We had a great time, and our guild was outstanding pointing out the Gators and Turtles. We highly recommend doing an Airboat ride with one of these companies. 

Mar 31, 2019

Part two was a relaxing 38-mile drive down to the Flamingo Visitor Center. The Visitor Center was being rebuilt so only a temporary center serves the area. We took a trail hike to the campground to do some wildlife and bird spotting. We enjoyed the peace and quiet down here. The Visitor Center is only staffed in the winter every day and the other times it is intermittently. We still have much more to see in this park and will be making a return trip to finish it up.

Feb 28, 2019
This was part one of our adventure of exploring Everglades NP. We started this day at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. Took in the movie and what the Center had to offer in displays. It was then off to Royal Palm. We arrived and picked our time for a ranger lead hike. Meeting our group and the Ranger we set off on the Anhinga Trail. This trail is 8 tenths of a mile and a easy trail to walk. We saw many alligators and birds. Our ranger was really good at telling what each one was and pointing out ones we missed. I would say this is a must do to take in and understand the park. After the hike we grabbed a quick bite to eat from the small store there. It was then off to a very different part of the park, the Nike Missile Site HM-69. This is not what you would expect in the middle of a National Park. This was a site from the cold war era that was activated in 1964. We took in the site and one of the missile barns that serves as a Visitor Center. This site is chilling to see as it shows how close we were to war with Russia. As there was no time to request permission to defend the United States from missiles coming from Cuba it was up to the Base commander alone to fire the Missiles. This site was deactivated in 1979. We took in the sites but opted out of the Ranger lead tour. This concluded part one.

Click here for photos of our visit on 25 Nov 2024

Click here for photos of our visit 2019 

NPS Webpage

Our 137th NPS Unit and 19th National Park

Big Cypress National Perserve

 

Freshwater to the Sea - A National Preserve - One Land, Many Uses:

Big Cypress National Preserve is a diverse landscape, where one can see cypress and mangroves, alligators, and panther tracks all in one day! 

Just like the diversity of the land, the National Park Service manages for a diversity of activities within the national preserve that national parks typically do not allow. In the 1960s, plans for the world’s largest Jetport, to be constructed in the heart of the Greater Everglades of south Florida, were unveiled. This project, and the anticipated development that would follow, spurred the incentive to protect the wilds of the vast Big Cypress Swamp. To prevent development of the Jetport, local conservationists, sportsmen, environmentalists, Seminoles, Miccosukees, and many others set political and personal differences aside. The efforts of countless individuals and government officials prevailed when, on October 11, 1974, Big Cypress National Preserve was established as the nation’s first national preserve.

The concept of a national preserve was born from an exercise in compromise. Everyone saw the importance of protecting the swamp, but many did not want this region merely added to nearby Everglades National Park that was created in the 1940s. Many felt that national parks were managed in a restrictive manner and access to the swamp would be lost. The resulting compromise created a new land management concept – a national preserve. An area that would be protected but would also allow for specific activities that were described by Congress within the legislation that created the preserve.

25 Nov 2024

We made a stop into Big Cypress National Preserve stopping at the Oasis Visitor Center. This is a small Visitor Center that offers a movie that tells the background and reasons this was set aside as a National Preserve. The Center has a few displays and small store. We went for a walk along an elevated boardwalk and took in the many alligators sunning along the banks as well as the many fish you can see in the clear water. There is so much to see here, and we will have to plan a longer visit to see more of what is offered. 

NPS Website

Click here for photos of our visit

Our 180th NPS Unit

Biscayne NP

                                                                           

A Watery Wonderland:

Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife…or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay.

Nov 18, 2024

Made a short quick stop at the Visitor Center to get Daisy's Bark Ranger Tag, we then walked around the center and out along the boardwalks. There is not much for dogs at this site, but she enjoyed the walk and earned her new tag.

Feb 27, 2019
As most of this park is under water it presented a challenge to us to fully take in and understand. We decided that a boat trip out to Boca Chita Key would do for us. After taking in the Visitors Center and movie it was off to the Boca Chita Key. The trip out was a 45 minute ride out. Once out there we got a hour to explore the Key. We took in the light house and walked the loop around the key. The guild was great at explaining the difference between Keys and Islands ( Keys sit on top of coral reefs and are made from debris and sand covering the reef, Islands are outcroppings of land that are above the sea floor ) and pointing out the different wide life and sea birds we were seeing. He also gave us the history of Boca Chita Key, it was a private resort for Mark Honeywell who was a electronic industrialist from the early 1900s that founded Honeywell. He built the light house on the Key. We had a great visit and there is much to do at this Park.

Click here for photos of our 18 Nov 2024 visit

Click here for photos of our 27 Feb 2019 visit

NPS Webpage

Our 136th NPS Unit and 18th National Park

Castillo de San Marcos NM

 

America Begins Here:

Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and interprets more than 450 years of cultural intersections.

1 Nov 2024

Made a revisit here to do some more exploring of this NM. We spent half a day exploring.

21 Nov 2013

This is a great place to get an understanding of our earliest history. Having changes hands many times, it highlights the struggles of who was going to have control of the new land. We spent the morning exploring the Fort and the surrounding area. The movie was well done and explained the timeline and reason this fort was so important to Spain in keeping control of this new land. We spent a half a day here and we combined this with an afternoon trip to Fort Matanzas NM.

26 Apr 1994

Solo trip to explore this NM. 

NPS Website

Our 13th NPS Site