Archive for the ‘National park’ Tag
We visited the Petrified Forest National Park on May 3, 2022. We entered through the South entrance, after spending the previous night in Winslow, AZ (on Historic Route 66) and enjoying the downtown homage to that signature tune by The Eagles.
After driving through the closest town, Holbrook, AZ, and driving right by the largest private seller of petrified wood and buying nothing … we arrived at the turn off to the park entrance, and went to the apparently smaller retailer of petrified wood that has a very impressive store right by the entrance. After buying nothing, again, we proceeded on to the main event.
The southern entrance of the park is close to the park museum and gift shop … worth a stop. Then we took a hike to the adjacent Long Logs area of the park to see one of the greatest collections of petrified wood you can walk to in the park: we walked about a mile and a half on a largely paved path. Most of the pix below are from that hike.
After getting blown by 20 MPH winds, gusting to 30 MPH, we proceeded on the drive through the park which took about 4 hours. We stopped at most of the recommended places, though we became discouraged by the 30 MPH winds that were gusting to 40 MPH at this point and did not do a significant hike again. In spite of the wind, we had a great visit and transitioned into the northern section of the park, AKA the Painted Desert. Our timing in May was good with some of the vegetation in it’s growth/flowering cycle.
Please note that our drive through the park was guided by the app “Just Ahead” which is highly recommended. This GPS-triggered app guided us through the park with both driving directions and interesting trivia just as you approached the relevant sections of the park. Highly recommended as the way to visit our national parks … though you may need to download maps while on the hotel’s wifi the night before!
Here is what we saw.
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National Park Service: Petrified Forest National Park
MowryJournal.com 2014: Petrified Forest National Park
The Eagles 1977: Take It Easy
Nat King Cole: Route 66
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There are few views more dramatic than the sudden elevation of the Grand Teton range beyond the Snake River. Towering 7,000 feet over the valley, the rugged mountains dominate the landscape at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Snow, storms, seasonal color or the soft glow of sunrise transform the scene, making it one of the most photogenic places in the world. Photo by Kyle Miller. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior on 7/16/17.
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Grand Teton National Park
A Stunning Sunset
Cottonwood Creek
Sunrise On The Tetons
The Oxbow Bend
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May your path be as beautiful as this one! Shenandoah National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/9/17.
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Shenandoah National Park
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2 orcas visit the Glacier Bay National Park. Photo by Nick Harrison. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 6/25/17.
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Glacier Bay National Park
Fairweather Mountains
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Streaming sunlight & summer serenity at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Photo by Jerry Jelinek. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/7/17.
With massive granite towers stretching skyward and building-sized boulders scattered in valleys, there’s no need to ask how City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho got its name. Dramatic geological features make for excellent nature study and even better climbing. You can also learn about unique plants, wildlife, and the history of Native Americans and early settlers at this fascinating park. Photo by National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/27/17.
On June 30,1864, President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant, protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley – an area that would later become Yosemite National Park. It was the first time the government protected land because of its natural beauty so that people could enjoy it. Thanks to John Muir’s passionate writing to further protect the delicate ecosystem of the High Sierra, Yosemite became our nation’s 3rd national park 26 years later. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Basiago. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/30/17.
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To explore Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. you’ll need to use a boat, a plane or your feet. Pictured here is one of the small islands in Aialik Bay. Photo by David Breslauer. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 7/6/17.
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Kenai Fjords National Park
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A double rainbow over the Grand Canyon. Photo by Tony Prince. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/17/17.
Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Manish Mamtan, Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/21/17.
Within sight of New York City skyscrapers, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is an 18,000-acre wetland estuary surrounded by the Rockaway Peninsula to the south, Brooklyn to the west, and Queens to the east. An area almost equal to the size of Manhattan, the bay consists of numerous islands, a labyrinth of waterways, meadowlands and two freshwater ponds. The refuge provides an accessible and unique environment for both wildlife and urban recreation. Photo by Micael Fano. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/22/17.
Located on the outer portion of Massachusetts’s Cape, Cape Cod National Seashore’s 44,600 acres encompass a rich mosaic of marine, estuarine, fresh water and terrestrial ecosystems. Here you can explore pristine sandy beach, lighthouses, cultural landscapes and wild cranberry bogs. Photo of the Milky Way rising over a salt pond by Jatin Thakkar. Posted on Tumblr by the Us Department of the Interior, 6/25/17.
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The sound of water babbling in a stream. Sunlight streaming through tall trees. The rich smell of the misty forest drifting on the air. Find your perfect nature moment at Olympic National Park in Washington. Photo by Adam Jewell. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/23/17.
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Amazing view from the rain forest above Kīlauea crater at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Rick Vega. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 6/19/17.
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Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Earth Should Not Steam, Right?
Hawaii Is Growing
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