Category Archives: Parks, Monuments, Memorials

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

by
coyote peeking

A coyote keeps an eye on my approach in Theodore Roosevelt NP

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota requires the visitor to search for beauty within the 36 mile vehicle loop, unlike some of the more spectacular national parks such as Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon or Zion.  On any random visit, a lucky visitor might possibly be blessed with stormy rain clouds, clearing storms or special light. More typically, on a hot clear blue sky day, you must really search for the attractiveness of the park.
Continue reading →

Yellowstone National Park

by

Buffalo Trio

Our previous attempt to visit Yellowstone National Park was thwarted by the sixteen-day government shutdown in the fall of 2013.  It was to be a fall color tour with reservations at the beautiful Yellowstone Lodge and four other national parks.  For this 2015 trip we felt happy to snag a couple of open nights at Grant Village due to a cancellation.  Continue reading →

Elvis Lives, Memphis Tennessee

by

Elvis Grave Site“In Graceland, in Graceland
I’m going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There’s some part of me wants to see
Graceland…..

But I’ve reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland…”  Paul Simon (1986)

Click Continue to see a slide show.

Continue reading →

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

by

There are a couple of good stops we have had simply because we took the time to talk to someone along the way.  A lady at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge suggested we visit this military park.  In addition to the main attraction of the battleship, the submarine called the ‘Drum’ is also on display for one to walk through.  Numerous large planes are in the parking lot area for one to stroll around and try to grasp the enormity of a B-52D Stratofortress.  After this tour, we realize we still know nothing of what it would be like to be on the USS Alabama in actual combat conditions in a rolling sea…

All three of these photos were taken with the IPhone.  See the slide show below.  Some devices may require you to swipe the photo from right to left.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado

by
Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

We are exploring in the Pikes Peak area, Manitou, Colorado, as the National Parks are shut down.  Basically inside the town limits is the Garden of the Gods city park.  The land was donated by a family in the early 1900 with the stipulation that it always be kept free to the public.

 

 

 

The park is a wonderful maze of walking paths and sidewalks.  I should have come here for sunrise, but not knowing the area very well, I missed a great opportunity for some photographs.

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

Welcome to our National Parks…… Day One

by

20131003-_ALL8154So today was day one of our tour of 7 National Parks on our circuitous route to San Francisco.  The unnecessary government shut down has closed all of the National Parks.  We are meeting lots of foreigners as well as other retired travelers who are being turned away at the entrance.  It is a major inconvenience to those of us traveling, but much more serious for the towns and businesses located near the entrance to the 59 National Parks of the USA.  Moab and Springdale, UT, Carlsbad, NM, Estes Park, CO and Crescent City, CA are but a few of the towns full of businesses that totally depend upon tourists visiting the National Parks.  Last night we had reserved two nights in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado, but left after only one.  We are now on our way to Estes Park, Colorado to visit the closed Rocky Mountain National Park.  If the recent major floods did not do enough damage to the towns, maybe the government shut down will do them in.  They certainly played no role in the childish squabbles of Congress, but they are among those paying the price. Those working in the private sector will not receive any “back pay.”

These two photos were taken about 50 yards from the back of the Dunes Motel at the entrance to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Sunset Dunes

Sunset Dunes

Sunrise Dunes

Sunrise Dunes