Virgin Islands National Park – St. Thomas The island of St. Thomas lies within the Virgin Islands archipelago in the northeastern Caribbean, where volcanic terrain rises above warm tropical waters shaped by coral reef development and maritime climate. The island’s deep natural harbors contributed to its historical importance as a commercial and naval center linking […]
I don’t know whether this should be called Joshua Tree National Park or Crazy Beautiful Rock Formations National Park. No matter what, this place is unlike any other. Joshua Trees are finicky and grow only in certain climates. But these rock formations are quite a backdrop for such rare trees.
I had no idea that sea caves could be anything as extensive as what we kayaked in Channel Islands National Park. This was a great park, with scenic vistas, lots of sea life, and the land untouched the way the rest of the continent once looked. So beautiful. Randy, great pick!
Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, bordering the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Soon after the establishment of the park on May 11, 1910, a number of hotels and chalets were constructed by the Great Northern Railway. These historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks, and a total of 350 locations are […]
Imagine watching a black bear teach its cub to climb a tree. Or a long horned sheep scaling what appears to be a rock wall. Glacier National Park and Waterton National Park have so much to offer. I was amazed at how beautiful they are. 🦌 Wildlife Encountered Wildlife viewing was a major highlight of […]
Guadalupe Mountains National Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park preserves uplifted limestone formations that originated as part of an ancient marine reef system. Tectonic forces elevated the reef deposits, exposing fossil-bearing rock layers that provide evidence of marine environments existing millions of years ago. Erosion shaped the exposed rock into mountain landscapes that contrast with surrounding […]
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Carlsbad Caverns National Park preserves limestone cave systems formed through dissolution of carbonate rock by acidic groundwater. Over time, underground chambers developed as water gradually dissolved rock layers. Mineral-rich water later deposited calcite formations including stalactites and stalagmites. Chemical reactions between groundwater and limestone influenced cave formation across extended geological periods. […]
Saguaro National Park Saguaro National Park preserves Sonoran Desert ecosystems dominated by the saguaro cactus, a species adapted to arid conditions through water storage and slow growth cycles. The saguaro grows in regions where seasonal rainfall supports plant development despite extended dry periods. Elevation changes influence vegetation patterns, producing variation between desert floor plant communities […]
Death Valley is in Eastern California, in the Mojave Desert. It is the lowest, driest, and hottest location in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below sea level. This point is only 84.6 miles (136.2 km) ESE of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet […]
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park — Kennecott Mines Wrangell–St. Elias National Park protects one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the United States, characterized by extensive mountain ranges, glaciers, and remote valleys. The Kennecott mining district illustrates how mineral resources influenced settlement patterns in otherwise isolated environments. Historic copper mining structures remain visible near the […]