North Country NST

Adventures Await in Eight States

Come to the North Country. Trek the hills and valleys. Stand on the shores of lakes & streams from glaciers 10,000 years before. Clear-flowing water, red/gold of autumn, a fairyland of snow, open prairies, and distant horizons paint the land. Historic sites along the way tell how America settled and grew as a nation. From North Dakota to Vermont, adventure is never far away.

8 Dec 2023

With the addition of this Trail into the National Park Service system as an official trail, we looked back and found two times we were on this trail. We were on it at Fort Stanwix NM in New York and Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP in Ohio. As with any trail site we will take in a little at a time. 

Our 174th NPS Unit

NPS Website

Ozark NSR

 More Than Just the Rivers....

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you'll find anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites such as Alley Mill.

5 Oct 2023

We got to take in a very small portion of this unit with a stop at Big Spring. First stopping at the small contact station. We talked to the Ranger on duty about future visits. We got Daisy's Bark ranger program that involved a small 15 question quiz and with help from Mom, she got it done and received her new Bark Ranger tag. We then headed down to Big Spring. This is an amazing spring and one of biggest springs in the United States. After taking in Big Spring, we called it a day due to a persistent rainstorm. We spent an hour here but with so much more to see and do, this can be a two-day Unit. We will add this to the return list. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 173rd NPS Unit

Enjoying Big Spring

Pipestone NM

"When you pray with this pipe, you pray for and with everything."  -Black Elk

For over 3,000 years, Indigenous people have quarried the red stone at this site to make pipes used in prayer and ceremony - a tradition that continues to this day and makes this site sacred to many people.

30 Sept 2023

Taking in this unit offered us a chance to take in a night sky's program for the first time. We started at the Visitors Center taking in the exhibits and watching three artisans work the pipestone into pipes and other items. No movie is offered but any questions we had were answered by the artisans or Rangers. We got Daisy's Bark Ranger program and headed out for a walk around the trail loop. This trail is a 3/4-mile round trip that takes in Winnewissa Falls, the working quarries. After a trail walk, we went and turned in Daisy's program and she added a new badge to her collection. We returned later that night to take in the Night sky's program. Karen went off on a working night photography class and learned allot about taking night picture's and me and Daisy hung out with the telescopes taking in the planets and stars. We enjoyed doing the night sky's program and hope we will get a few more in at other Units. You can see this unit in a couple of hours but with night sky's program we were here a total of 4 hours. 

 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 172nd NPS Unit

Knife River Indian Villages NHS

Explore the lives of the Northern Plains Indians on the Upper Missouri

Earth Lodge people hunted bison and other game but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries. The site was a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years prior to becoming an important marketplace for fur traders after 1750.

27 Sept 2023

This is a small unit to take in but so much history is here, so even being an off the beaten path unit it's a don't miss unit. We took in the movie at the Visitors Center that explained the history and importance of the site and then taking in the exhibits after the movie tied it all together. We picked up Daisy's Bark ranger program and headed out to walk down to the recreated Earth lodge and this time Molly tagged along to take in the sites. Daisy got her new tag after the walk. We spent around an hour here but did not go take the trail to the village sites. You can add another hour for the trail walk. This site is very dog friendly so bring your fur baby along. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 171st NPS Unit

Hanging with my Sis 

Theodore Roosevelt NP

 

In Honor of a President

When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.

26 Sept 2023

To celebrate our visit to our 50th State we included a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We stopped at the South Units Visitors Center to pick up our passport stamps, Daisy's Bark Ranger tag, and to take in the site movie. The movie was well done and provide a good overview of the history of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We headed out to the South loop road to take in the beautiful vistas and look for the wild horses, buffalo, and prairie dogs. It did not take long to find a band of wild horses right along the road. Headed on we saw a few buffalo heading in. We went as far as we could on the loop road that is not a loop road right now due to damage done to the road a few years ago and the ongoing construction to fix it. This adds time to the day, but it also allows you time to stop at any turnoffs you may have missed going in. We did find a very large heard of buffalo going out, along with the band of wild horses we saw headed in. We spent around four hours in the south unit including time spent at the Visitor Center. We then headed over to the Painted Cayon Unit. This is a small unit East of the South Unit that offers an overlook of the painted Cayon and a small contact station. This stop added less than an hour to our visit. We will have to make a return to this National Park to take in the North unit. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 170th NPS Unit and 25th National Park

I'm Ready to find those wild horses and big buffalo. 

Lake Mead NRA

 

America's First National Recreation Area

Swim, boat, hike, cycle, camp and fish at America’s first and largest national recreation area. With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes. See the Hoover Dam from the waters of Lake Mead or Lake Mohave or find solitude in one of the park's nine wilderness areas.

2 Sept 2023

We started this visit with a visit and tour of Hoover Dam. We opted for the short power plant tour taking in the Nevada side of the powerhouse and a few other stops. We also walked a small section of the crest of the dam. We then headed out to the Alan Bible Visitor Center. This is a small center that has a small collection of exhibits. After getting our stamps and a few other things we then headed out for a drive along the Lakeshore back to Las Vegas making a few stops along the drive to take in the sites of Lake Mead. We were amazed how low the lake is now but according to the Rangers it has been going up this Summer. With Hoover Dam and stops we spent 5 hours here but only saw a small part of this large unit. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 169th NPS Unit

Cabrillo NM

A Voyage of Exploration at Cabrillo National Monument

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.

31 Aug 2023

We made a return trip here, this time with our grand kids in tow. We made the stop at the Visitors Center to pick up the kids Junior Ranger books. We headed out to the diffident areas to allow the kids a chance to find the answers they needed to finish their books. They finished their books and received another Junior Ranger Badge. We spent 3 hours here this visit. 

1989 or 90 Date is unknown.
Made a visit here but we are not sure of the exact date. We will have to make a return visit.

NPS Website

Our 2nd NPS Unit

Cedar Breaks NM

 

Geology, Wildflowers and Night Skies at 10,000 Feet

Crowning the grand staircase, Cedar Breaks sits at over 10,000 feet and looks down into a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater. Come wander among timeless bristlecone pines, stand in lush meadows of wildflower, ponder crystal-clear night skies and experience the richness of our subalpine forest.

23 Aug 2023

Steering away from the crowds of the Utah's big five National Parks, we decided that Cedar Breaks NM would be a great unit to take in. This Unit did not disappointed in this decision. We started at the Temporary Visitor Center and Store. A new Visitor Center is being built and will not be open until 2024. We did our shopping for the required new park bling including a Bark Ranger tag for Daisy. This unit does not have a Bark Ranger program, but they do have tags. 

There is nothing more than a small office for the acting Visitor Center right with no exhibits or movie to see. We then headed out to take in this unit. We stopped at each of the three overlooks taking in the spender that this unit offers. Each overlook offers amazing views of the Amphitheater that is three miles across. We spent around two hours here but with the new Visitors Center coming soon we can add an hour more for taking that in. There are also a few longer trails to take in if you want a hiking adventure. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 168th NPS Unit

Ready for a new park. 

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau NHP

 

A Furious Journey of Life or Death was Determined by the Gods

Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua

28 June 2023

We got to take in this Unit while on our cruise. We learned allot about the Hawaiian culture from this Unit. We only had an hour to take in the site but that was enough to get an understanding and meaning of site to the Hawaiian culture. There is not a Visitors Center but the Rangers do give a talk each hour. We did not take in the talk and with our limited time we headed out to take in the site. We enjoyed this site and will have to plan a trip back that will give us more time to explore the unit. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 167th NPS Unit

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

 

Born of Fire, Born of the Sea

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa - and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site

27 June 2023

They say timing is everything and this Park was no exception. After being active the last 5 years, it all stopped a couple of months before our visit. We were on a cruise ship tour, so our time was limited but we got to take in the major sites of Kilauea, but there is much more to see. A return trip will have to be planned. We were at the Park 3 hours and took in the crater or Kilauea and the Visitors Center. 

Click here for photos of our visit.

NPS Website

Our 166th NPS Unit and 24th National Park

Haleakala NP

 

A Rare and Sacred Landscape

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the backcountry.

26 June 2023

The visit to this National Park is a must visit and truly an unforgettable experience. We took this Park in via a tour set up by the cruise ship. Tickets are limited for the Sunrise's at the Park so you must plan ahead to be able to see this amazing site, but Sunsets are not limited. We started this morning with a very early wakeup to catch our bus up to the summit. Starting at sea level and ending up at over 10,000 foot was amazing and going from a balmy 75 degrees then going to mid 40's and a wind chill in the 30's it was hard to believe we were still in Hawaii, so be prepared for this when you head to the summit. The sunrises are an out of this world experience that can't be described with these simple words. After the sunrise we had time to explore the Summit Visitor Center. We headed back down and made a quick stop at the main Visitors Center but was there before they opened so did not get to take this in. With the ride up and back we spent around five hours on this visit. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 165th NPS Unit and 23rd National Park

Great Sand Dunes NP

 

Dunes Among Diversity

Open 24/7 year-round! There are no limitations, timed entries, or reservations to visit.

The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Stay on a moonless night to experience countless stars in this International Dark Sky Park! 

20 May 2023

While not exactly a Chamber of Commerce Day we did made the best of it by first stopping at the temporary Visitors Center. We missed the reopening of the remodeled Visitor Center by a couple weeks, so this will put this Park on the revisit list. After we took care of what we could at the Visitor Center we headed out to the dunes. Your first challenge to get to the Dunes is to cross Medano creek. In late Summer this is a dry creek bed but in late Spring it is a wide flowing creek 6 to 8 inch's deep so be prepared for wet feet. Daisy had no issues and made the creek her personnel playground. After crossing the creek, we headed up to the first small dune. We would have gone further but the 50-degree day with lite rain and wind changed our minds. We headed back to the creek to face the return trip across. This was an amazing park to take in and we spent 3 hours here. You can spend all day here if the weather is nice and you want to hike up to the tops of the dunes. Daisy completed another Bark Ranger badge. This Park is very dog friendly but be mindful that during the Summer the sand temps may be too hot for the dogs unless you have hiking botties for your dog. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 164th NPS Unit and 22nd National Park

I'm ready to go and play in the Creek and Dunes!!!!!