Tag: national parks

Taking A Big Island National Parks Road Trip-Hawaii

Hawaii’s Big Island is a dream for National Park Passport Stampers. One National Park, two National Historical Parks, one National Historic Site, and a National Historic Trail. Five places to explore nature and learn about history. The best way to visit them all is by taking a Big Island National Parks Road Trip.
Visiting Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park-Hawaii

If you enjoy a combination of history, culture, and nature, a visit to Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park should be on your Hawaii National Parks List.
Spending a Full Day at Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii

Cue the Jaws theme. It’s playing in my head as we approach the Nahuku Lava Tube. The group ahead of us exits the tube, but a family of 12 barrels down the path behind us. As their boisterous cries get closer, we realize we have about ten minutes with the lava tube to ourselves. We…
Spending a Half Day at Volcanoes National Park-Hawaii

Hawaii is vast. With six islands to explore and boundless activities, it’s impossible to see it all in one trip. For ambitious National Park stampers, getting a stamp at Hawaii’s Largest National Park is an important goal. But what do you do if you want to see the park but are short on time? Spend…
Staying at The Volcano House Hotel-Volcanoes National Park-Hawaii

Rolling out of bed is a luxury. It’s the best part about staying at the Volcano House hotel in Volcanoes National Park. After donning a t-shirt and hiking pants, I meander down the staircase. It’s early morning, and although the lobby is packed with day visitors from 9 am to 5 pm, at this hour,…
Visiting The John Muir National Historic Site-California

There is a 7-Eleven directly across the street. This is the first thing I notice, as our rental car pulls into the parking lot, at the John Muir National Historic Site. The street also includes a fast food restaurant, a tire store, and several places to grab a cup of coffee. Progress. I’m always grateful…
Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park-Florida

Sleepy bodies shuffle into the Dry Tortugas National Park ferry terminal. The Yankee Freedom Boat Tour agency repeats the comment over the loudspeaker. “The waters can be rough. We highly recommend taking medicine for seasickness prior to departure. We sell Dramamine pills for $1.00 if you need them.” I brought my own Dramamine. Getting horribly…
Visiting Valley Forge National Historical Park-Pennsylvania

I breathe in the scent of the freshly printed page. Ink, just off of the copier, used to have a smell. Our teacher’s footsteps tap on the cheap linoleum, as she walks up and down the aisles of desks. Eagar hands grab for the coveted blank permission slips. Our class is taking a field-trip, to…
Visiting Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site-Hawaii

The story unfolds before us, as we watch the movie at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. A High Priest declares he received a prophecy. Kamehameha I will become King of The Island of Hawaii (aka The Big Island). All Kamehameha has to do is build a temple to the god of war, and offer a…