Cumberland Island NS

                                                               

Where Nature and History Meet

St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man and nature. Natives, missionaries, enslaved African Americans and Wealthy Industrialists all walked here.  Cumberland Island is also home to over 9,800 acres of Congressionally designated Wilderness.

12 Aug 2017
We made the return trip to Cumberland Island NS today. After a nice 45-minute ferry trip to the Island we boarded our van for a day of exploring the island. To call this a functioning van would be a stretch, Mirrors broken, check engine light on, cracked windshield, AC that was less then performing at its best, but hey it was going to be our steed for the day. We had a great tour guide that made the trip exciting. We headed out down a dirt road on a 36-mile round trip adventure to the north end of the Island. We stopped at a few stops before our lunch stop at Plum Orchard Mansion. After taking in a very well-done tour of the Mansion we got to enjoy our packed in lunch among wild horses and other wildlife. After our Lunch it was time to continual on to the North side of the Island. The road from here only proved why our trusted steed was in the condition it was in. Once to the North end we got to take in the first African Baptist Church. The church was where John Kennedy Jr was married. We then headed back to the South side of the Island and the Dungeness Mansion Ruins. This Mansion was huge, and we can only imagine the grander of the mansion before fire destroyed it. If you are headed to Cumberland, we highly recommend taking the Island tour. You will need to take a lunch, and we recommend checking out the Riverview Hotel. It's right across the street and they packed us a great lunch for our day at the Island. We would not recommend a visit in the summer months.

2 Dec 2014
Will sometimes timing is important. We visited on a day the ferry out to the Island was not running. We did take in the VC to get an understanding of the park, but this will only count as a half visit, and we will return to finish it up next time we are down this way.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 110th NPS Unit

Harry S Truman NHS

"I hope to be remembered as the people's President."

President Harry S Truman took America from its traditional isolationism into the age of international involvement. Despite his power, he never forgot where he came from. Today, visitors can experience the surroundings Truman knew as a young man of modest ambition through his political career and final years as a former president. 

14 July 2017

Had a great day of learning today. We were at the Visitors Center early to get a ticket for a tour of the Truman Home. We then took in the movie at the visitors Center, the movie gives a good outline about Truman's life in Interdependence. Then it was off to his home a few blocks from the Visitors Center. We had a great tour guide and really enjoyed our tour of the home. You can only tour the ground floor and the tour last's around 30 Min. Sorry, no photography is allowed inside.  After our tour of the Truman home, we headed across the street to the Nolan Home. This home belonged to Harry's cousins. The home serves as an extension of the Visitors Center and tells the story of Harry and Bess's meeting and their life together. Then we headed over to the Harry S Truman Presidential Library. This was our first Presidential Library, and we had a great time exploring the life of Harry S Truman. Some interesting facts, Truman was the last President to not have a college degree. He did not receive a pension or receive Secret Service protection like the current Presidents receive till 1958. He lived on his military pension of 112.00 dollars a month till 1958. Congress passed a Bill in 1958 allowing for Presidential Pension's. His Presidential pension in 1958 was 25,000 a year. This was a great site to take in and we enjoyed learning about the life and times of Harry S Truman. Give yourself 4 or 5 hours for this unit including the Presidential Library.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Webpage

Our 120th NPS Unit

Scotts Bluff NM

A Landmark for Many Peoples

Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument. 

2 July 2017

We started this visit with a stop at the Visitors Center for Chimney Rock, taking in the views. Then we headed out for Scotts Bluff. 

This was a return trip for us, that was in the making from 24 years ago. We stopped at the Visitors Center to take in what they had to offer. As this was a path for 3 trails and the Pony Express the VC gives a great overview of their section of the trails. We walked along the path outside the VC and talked to a few of the volunteers dressed in authentic period garb and took in the wagons and other exhibits along the walk. We then Drove up to the top of Scotts Bluff to take in the views. There is a walking trail up, but we had no intentions of taking that on this trip and as we found out today the trail is impassable due to a rock side. The views at the top were amazing but somewhat hazy. This is a great site to take in and can be done in 3 or 4 hours with the drive up to the top of the bluff.

8 May 1993
Taking in this site ties in with Ft Laramie. Lots of history of the great migration West. We enjoyed our visit.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 8th NPS Unit

Molly exploring the wagons in 2017.



Agate NM

Fossils and Much, Much More

During the 1890s, scientists rediscovered what the Lakota Sioux already knew—bones preserved in one of the world's most significant Miocene Epoch mammal sites.

Yet, this place called "Agate" is a landscape that reflects many influences—from early animals roaming the valleys and hills, to tribal nations calling the High Plains home, to explorers passing through or settling in the American West.

July 2 2017
Took in some of this park today. We took in the Visitor Center to get an understanding of the site. We passed on the movie but did spend sometime exploring at the VC. There are 2 great trails to take but by the time we arrived in the afternoon it was to hot to take on the trails. These trails are dog friendly so we will make a plan to visit during the cooler part of the year. There are two aspects of this site, Paleontology and Native American and the Visitor Center cover's both of these. This site can be seen in a few hours taking in a trail. This site is well off the beaten path, but well worth the time to get there. We have put this on our return list.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 119th NPS Unit



Klondike Gold Rush NHP

Headlines screamed "Gold!" 

The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them and changed the people they encountered and the north forever. Today, the park remembers the trails, boomtowns, and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush.

The Seattle unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's crucial role in this event. The headlines of a Seattle newspaper on July 17, 1897, Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! ignited dreams of easy riches in the minds of thousands as word of a rich gold strike in northwestern Canada. A dream that would prove all but dream.

NPS Website Seattle Washington unit

Retrace the Steps of the Last Grand Adventure- The Klondike Gold Rush

Headlines screamed "Gold!" The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them, and changed the people they encountered and the north forever. Today, the park remembers the trails, boomtowns, and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush.

NPS Website Skagway Alaska Unit

25 Aug 2009

We took in the Skagway unit on our Alaskan Cruise. This gave us a great understanding what those headed to the Yukon had to face and endure. We got to take a guided tour over White Pass. This was a great way to understand the hardships these prospectors faced. Each hauling a years worth of supplies over the pass.

28 Dec 2016

Karen got to take in the Seattle unit with the kids and grandkids. They had a great time exploring the Museum and taking in the activity's offered there. While nothing more then a Museum it had a lot to offer and it gave a great understanding on what hardships were faced by those brave enough to make the trip North to the Yukon in search of Gold. This Unit can be seen in a few hours.

Our 48th NPS Unit

Chattahoochee River NRA

An Ancient River In A Modern City

Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up, or have a picnic on a Sunday afternoon. Get Outdoors and experience your Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area as you have never done before.

Oct 28, 2016
After a great morning hiking at Kennesaw NP with the dogs we decided to cool them off with a refreshing swim at Chattahoochee NRA. Took in the Visitors center that did not offer much as they were in the middle of a remodel then headed to the river. The girls enjoyed their swim, and we got to spot more wildlife and birds. We really enjoyed the relaxing peace and quiet of this area.

Jan 19, 2013
Solo trip to check it out. Lots to see and do. We will be back to take some more of this park in with the wife and girls. 

NPS Website

Our 82nd NPS Unit

Kennesaw NBP

One Last Mountain: A Battlefield That's Much More

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,965-acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Opposing forces maneuvered and fought here from June 19, 1864, until July 2, 1864. Although most famous as a Civil War battlefield, Kennesaw Mountain has a much richer story.

Oct 28, 2016
Today us and the dogs made a trip to Kennesaw Mountain. We took in the Visitors Center and a movie. We then got brave and made the hike up to the top with the dogs in tow. They loved the hike up till we told them now we get to go back down, and no dogs are not allowed on the shuttle bus. We had a great day for the hike, but we were worn out by time we got back to the Visitors Center. We really enjoy hiking with Lizzy, but we know there not going to be many more with her.

Jan 19, 2013
Spent a brisk morning at the Kennesaw Mountain NBP. Took a shuttle bus up to the top of Kennesaw Mountain and got to take in some views of Atlanta and the surrounding area. After my time at the top of the mountain I was feeling brave and walked the trail back down to the VC. Lots of people out hiking the trails and most had their dogs with them.

NPS webpage

Our 81st NPS Unit

Cannon at Visitor Center

View looking East from the top of Kennesaw Mountain 

Northeast view

Mountain top cannons

          

Devils Tower NM

Devils Tower, An Evocative Setting For Many Types Of Experiences And Forms Of Expression

An astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the rolling prairie surrounding the Black Hills. This site is considered Sacred to the Lakota and many other tribes that have a connection to the area. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to explore and define our place in the natural and cultural world.

7 July 2016

We did the hike around the Tower last visit so this time it was a short visit to just take in the grander and mystic of the Monument. We spent some time watching the Prairie Dogs enjoying a sunny day. We then headed up to the Visitor Center, for us this is a must visit NP Service site. You can easily spend a day here and more if you want to hike the many trails here.

18 Sept 2011

For today's visit we decided that a hike around the tower would be our day after taking in the Visitor Center. The hike is 1.8 Miles out and back and offers a spectacle view from all angels of the tower. It was amazing to see the climbers and how small they look; it gives a true prospective on the size of the monument. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 45th NPS Unit

Fort Laramie NHS

Crossroads of a Nation Moving West

Originally established as a private fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment in 1890. This “grand old post” witnessed the entire sweeping saga of America’s western expansion and Indian resistance to encroachment on their territories.

27 June 2016
Always a great visit. There is so much history with this site. We took in the VC and grounds in a few hours. Be sure to take in the Cavalry Barracks to get a good feel of life in this remote Fort. This site is also a great site to take in the 4 trials that had a huge part in shaping this country. This Site can be seen in 3 or 4 hours.

8 May 1993 
Great site to take in. Lots of history and education on the major trails passing through here and what life was like during those times.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 7th NPS Unit

Fort Sumter NM

Guardians of Charleston Harbor

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.

 28 May 2016

We took the ferry out to Fort Sumter from Patriots Point. We did not have good timing as the rains from TS Bonnie showed up on our way out to the Fort. We took in the Fort or should we say what's left of it. There is a Visitors Center to see, then we did a walk around the grounds. They give you an hour between arriving and leaving and we felt that was more than enough time to see everything.

6-7 Sept 2015 

It took two visits to see everything. Our first visit was spent at the Visitor's Center in Charleston and a trip over to Fort Moultrie. The Visitor center in Charleston offers a great overview of the History of Fort Sumter and the events that led up to the Civil War. We decided to wait on a trip out to Fort Sumter and instead took in Fort Moultrie. The Fort is a subunit of the park and will worth the time to check out. This Fort played an important part in the Fort Sumter story. Took in the Visitor's center and then had a great walk around the grounds with the dogs. Dogs are not allowed in the Fort but somehow, we missed that fact, so the girls got to take in the Fort also. We planned on being back in Charleston later, so we saved the Fort Sumter visit till later.

Click here for photos of our visit ( Fort Sumter )

Click here for photos of our visit ( Fort Moultrie )

NPS Website

Our 117th NPS Unit

Ocmulgee NHP

17,000 Years of Continuous Human Habitation

Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site.  American Indians first came here during the Paleo-Indian period hunting Ice Age mammals. Many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years.  Around 900 CE, the Mississippian Period began. They constructed mounds for their elite, which remain today.

4 Mar 2016

A return visit. We did more exploring of the grounds. 

8 Nov 2013
Made a return trip here with the wife and dogs and got to take in the whole park this time. A great small park that has allot to take in. There are several other NP's that have the mounds, and we are looking forward to visiting them someday.

26 Jan 2013
On the ride down from North Georgia I made a stop to check out the mounds. You cannot tour the park while towing a trailer - there's a really small tunnel to drive though right after the VC - so parked at the VC and took in the sites at the VC and then took a walk down to the Earth lodge and Cornfield mound. There is more to see so this will be another return to park.

NPS webpage

Our 83rd NPS Unit

 

Looking out towards the Great temple Mound