Exploring the Parks

Musings From Fort Vancouver National Historic Site: A Hodgepodge Of History

I’m really not sure what to write about Fort Vancouver. It’s a concoction of miscellany that is very hard to define, much less describe. It didn’t take me very long to begin wondering just where this place should fit in the big scheme of national parks – or even if it should.

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August 5th, 2015

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On The Road In The Parks: Muir Woods, Muir Beach, And Point Bonita Light

Nightmarish parking conditions might dissuade all but the most resolute from visiting Muir Woods National Monument, but it’s absolutely worth the hassle. Once you leave your rig behind you will disappear into the coolness of the tall trees. Meld with the moss; it’s a great way to spend a fall day. As for parking, help is on the way.

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August 3rd, 2015

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Musings From Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Hagerman, Idaho, is a very small town. I think the sign said something like 470 people live there. About halfway down Main Street, right across from the high school and next door to a storefront church you will find the visitor center for Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Be careful. You might miss it and have to go around the block.

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August 2nd, 2015

Musings From Minidoka National Historic Site

It’s a winding drive through Idaho fields of corn, grain, sugar beets and potatoes. Out into the middle of a vast plain of irrigated fertility. But just 74 years ago, it was a spreading plain of sagebrush squatting beside a large irrigation canal carrying Snake River water to farms further west. It was a desolate, nearly empty place. A perfect place for a prison camp.

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By Lee Dalton - July 31st, 2015

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Visiting Oak Tree House At Mesa Verde National Park

While there are a handful of cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park that you can tour, there are more than 600 dwellings in all in the park. Here's a tip on how to visit some of those off the beaten path.

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July 23rd, 2015

Exploring The Parks: When Fall Comes To Denali National Park

Autumn is a spectacular time to visit Denali National Park. The alpine and subalpine tundra at higher elevations gleam with fall color by mid- to late-August. The taiga at lower elevations is aglow in reds by early September, a time when the aspen and balsam poplar near the park entrance turn brilliant yellow and gold.

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By Jean Bjerke - July 23rd, 2015

Musings From John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

First, some warnings. If you plan to visit John Day Fossil Beds, be prepared. Road maps might make it look as if the national monument is plunk in the middle of pretty well-inhabited country with towns frequent along the roads.

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July 19th, 2015

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Exploring The Parks: Cedar Breaks National Monument In Summer

At Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah you can stand at 10,000 feet elevation on the rim of a spectacular 2,000-foot deep amphitheater of eroded rock stretching a width of about three miles. You will marvel at the dramatic shapes of the columns and spires, and at the reds, yellows and oranges of the stone formations.

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July 10th, 2015

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Five Days On The Yampa Through Dinosaur National Monument

With the Green and Colorado rivers in the neighborhood, it's not surprising that the Yampa River that flows through Dinosaur National Monument is overlooked. And that's not a bad thing.

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By Kurt Repanshek - June 28th, 2015

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Classic National Park Hikes: The Teton Crest Trail

Though not a long long-distance trail (only about 40 miles), this route through the high country of Grand Teton National Park draws top ratings for its natural beauty.

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June 26th, 2015

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INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

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Exploring the Parks

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