Category: National Park

Yorktown Battlefield-Virginia

It’s Yorktown Battlefield day. I play the song Yorktown, from the Hamilton soundtrack, as I get ready fortoday’s adventure. The creative arts fascinate me. How writing, music, acting, and visuals, can makeinformation, that dully washed over you in history class, come alive. I know the musical backwards andforwards, so today, instead of just names and…
Wall Drug Store and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site-South Dakota

The feeling bubbles up as Wall Drug Store comes into view. Swirling glitter in my stomach, that’s getting more sparkly as it swirls. The glitter rises up into my face, pulling the corners of my mouth into a smile. I’m ready for some “touristy” hijinks. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Some travel days are filled…
Badlands National Park and Prairie Homestead-South Dakota

Rays of light beam down on the sign, as we make our way to Badlands National Park. The sign reads, Prairie Homestead. “Can we go, can we go, can we go,” I beg. Prairie Homestead As a kid I was obsessed with all things prairie. Thanks to a Dad with construction skills, I had a prairie style…
Mount Rushmore-We Didn’t Hate It

As we twist around the roads on the way to Mount Rushmore, I’m flooded with a memory. My family is on a New England road trip. I am a middle school history buff, and am most looking forward to gazing upon Plymouth Rock. I imagine Plymouth Rock to be a massive, inspiring, boulder, that shines…
Connecting with Elsa- Ellis Island-New York

Elsa watches as her home disappears in the distance. Elsa’s parents are concerned about Germany’s political direction. They decide to send sixteen- year- old Elsa to America, to live with cousins, until things in Germany calm down. A few days into the journey, Elsa is struck with a fever and chills. Although she is on…
Staying at Denali Dome Home-Bed and Breakfast

It’s breakfast time at Denali Dome Home and we are bummed. Not at the breakfast, it has everything we could want. Not at our stay, as this unique bed and breakfast has been everything we hoped for. We’re bummed because we brought our shiny new National Parks Passport and we want All The Stamps. Unfortunately, during our…
Dining in Denali-Alaska

Being a major tourist spot, I didn’t have high expectations for eating in Denali. I figured that they have a large, captive, audience, which often leads to menu complacency, but we ended up being pleasantly surprised dining in Denali. Moose-aka’s Give a restaurant a fun name and I’m there. How could you not eat at…
Denali National Park-Eielson Visitors’ Center and Hike

“I’m so tired of roughing it,” huffs the women. Her attire appears more suited for strolling around a Caribbean resort than exploring the Alaskan Wilderness in Denali National Park. She rushes away from the tan tour bus, hoping to beat her fellow passengers to the restrooms. Though the restrooms are holes in the ground, topped…
Denali National Park-Wonder Lake and Reflection Pond

It seemed like a good idea at the time. If you are a part-time traveler, you can probably relate. While trudging through your 9-5, your trip planning grows more ambitious. While enjoying the comfort of my home sofa, catching the first shuttle bus of the day in Denali National Park, made so much sense. When…