We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park twice—first in July 2021 during the Independence Day weekend and again in April 2022, this time accompanied by family members from all three generations. Across these visits, we explored scenic drives, waterfalls, peaceful forest trails, and historic areas within the park. The park’s easy accessibility and variety of… Continue reading
We visited Yosemite National Park over a 2-day Memorial Day weekend trip in May 2022, staying at Yosemite Gatekeeper’s Lodge in El Portal, a convenient place just a few miles from the park. Day 1 We started early from San Francisco and drove to Yosemite. Our first stop was Bridalveil Fall near Tunnel View. The… Continue reading
We visited Rocky Mountain National Park twice—first in June 2023 as part of our Colorado national parks trip, and again in May 2025. Visit 1 – June 2023 (2½ Days in the Park) Bear Lake Trail (0.7 mile) This easy walk around Bear Lake offered peaceful views of the surrounding mountains reflected in the water…. Continue reading
Zion National Park was the first major stop on our memorable road trip covering the five Utah national parks, Death Valley National Park, and Antelope Canyon. After flying into Las Vegas, we drove to Springdale, the little town just outside Zion, where we stayed overnight before beginning our exploration. Day 1 Zion Visitor Center &… Continue reading
We had visited Grand Teton National Park twice so far. Our first visit was in August 2021. Our second visit was in June 2025. Both trips offered different experiences. August 2021 Visit (1½ Days) Day 1 We stopped at several scenic lookouts inside the park. Each viewpoint offered clear views of the Teton Range. We… Continue reading
A Combined 1½-Day Itinerary from Our 2021 and 2022 Visits Visit 1 – September 10, 2021 Drive from Seattle A scenic drive from Seattle brought us to Mount Rainier National Park, with the mountain dominating the skyline as we approached. Henry Jackson Visitor Center / Paradise Our first stop was Paradise, known for its meadows… Continue reading
Travel guide to hiking trails, Aunu’u Island, Flying Fox bats, and cultural highlights of American Samoa. In November 2024, we visited the National Park of American Samoa, the only U.S. national park south of the equator. Remote and rarely visited, this tropical place in the South Pacific offers rainforest hikes, volcanic landscapes, and deep-rooted Samoan… Continue reading
Itinerary – Approx. 5 hours | June 2024 Our journey to Kobuk Valley & Gates of the Arctic National Parks began with a flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue, a small Alaskan town about 30 miles above the Arctic Circle and the starting point for visiting two of America’s most remote national parks. Upon arrival, we… Continue reading
We spent about a week in total during our two visits to Yellowstone National Park—first in August 2021 and again in June 2025. During these trips, we covered both the Upper and Lower loops, visiting many of the park’s iconic sights. We stayed in both Gardiner and West Yellowstone during our first trip, with West… Continue reading
My wife and I embarked on an unforgettable 2,500-mile road trip from Phoenix to Seattle, during which we visited seven National Parks, along with Lake Tahoe and Portland. Each day, we typically drove between 200 and 300 miles, beginning in the early hours and ensuring we concluded our travel before sunset. This schedule allowed us… Continue reading