NPS on Kate and Steve RV

Exploring Dover Delaware

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:52:00 +0000

We spent this Friday with Kate’s aunt and uncle, exploring Dover. We had a few people ask us about all of us being in RED, so we got to share the story with them.

We had a great time seeing the Dover Green , the Old State House, and the John Dickinson Plantation and learning about what makes Delaware special in the founding of our great nation!

We spent part of the afternoon at the Dickinson plantation learning about life in the colonial period. John Dickinson is known as “the Penman of the American Revolution”, having penned or contributed to several notable documents written during the American Revolution.

Day 2 in Washington DC

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 17:27:00 +0000

Day 2 in Washington DC: we attempted to see a few things that one or both of us had on our bucket list. First, Kate collects Hard Rock Café pins, so we stopped to have lunch at HRC in DC on our way to Ford’s Theater.

A bit disappointing, but Ford’s Theater was closed and there was nothing on the NPS app about the closure. While we did not get to see inside the theater (Kate has been there several times), one of the docents was outside telling people the story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. She was even great enough to bring out the cancellation stamp for Steve’s passport book!

Day 1 in Washington DC

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:12:00 +0000

Day 1 in Washington DC we decided to walk the National Mall . The view of DC from the hill where the Washington Monument stands is one of Kate’s favorites! Today we walked a circuit of the National Mall and Tidal Basin.

We spent some time at each of the following:\

Washington Monument\
WWII Memorial\
Lincoln Memorial\
West Potomac Park (this encompasses the path/park around the tidal basin - from Lincoln to Jefferson Memorials)\
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial\
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

We walked over 15,000 steps today, so we’re pretty exhausted!

Relaxing at Appomattox Court House

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Appomattox Court House National Historic Park is located on such a beautiful piece of land - light breeze, rolling hills, and a major roadway within earshot… Even with the noise from vehicles passing, Kate found a rocking chair and took a few minutes to enjoy the peace and quiet of the grounds! Do you ever just take time to enjoy the little things like the breeze and the sunshine?

Visiting Appomattox Court House National Historical Park

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

We drove southeast from Natural Bridge through the mountains to Appomattox Court House . This once bustling little village is now maintained by the federal government as a National Historical Park.

This is the place where in 1865, Robert E. Lee formally surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant bringing an end to the American Civil War . The surrender happened at the McLean House, the home of a Virginia Grocer who made a small fortune selling sugar to the Confederate Army during the war. Wimer McLean moved to Appomattox Court House in 1863 after fighting broke out at the first battle of Bull Run (which was practically in his back yard at his farm in Northern Virginia). He moved to Appomattox Court House to keep his wife and children safe and away from the war. Little did he know that in two years’ time the parlor in his home would be at the center point of the battle which led to surrender.

The New River Gorge National Park Part 2

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

The New River Gorge National Park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land. That’s the equivalent of ~109 square miles or more than 53,000 football fields. It’s HUGE.

It was a bit rainy the day we visited, so we elected to drive down to Grandview, the Sandstone Visitors center, and the Sandstone Falls overlook after our stop at Canyon Rim.

Grandview definitely lives up to its name! After winding through residential and farmland, seeing all the amazing Catawba rhododendrons in bloom, we arrived at a large park, complete with an amphitheater, picnic areas, and open fields to play. Just a short walk to an overlook, and we were rewarded with incredible views of the gorge, forest, and river, which was more than 1400 feet below us.

The New River Gorge National Park Part 1

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

We visited New River Gorge National Park during our stay in West Virginia. The main visitors center at Canyon Rim offers sweeping views of the gorge and river below. It’s located just southeast of the famous New River Gorge Bridge, so the overlooks here give you a sense of scale when comparing the bridge and the gorge.

The bridge is the longest steel single-span arch bridge in the western hemisphere and the 3rd highest bridge in the US. It was completed in 1977, bringing a much needed connection between the eastern and western sides of the New River. Every year during October, more than 80,000 people gather to commemorate the opening of the bridge on Bridge Day. During this celebration, you can watch hundreds of base jumpers dive off the bridge, one of the few exceptions to the ban on base jumping in National Parks. I bet that is a sight to see!

Visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Continuing the story of the Sinagua people in the Verde Valley, we visited Montezuma Castle National Monument . This place is incredible. Montezuma Castle is not a castle at all. It’s a five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling built into a limestone cliff 800 years ago. It looks like something out of a fantasy novel, but it was once home to real families who farmed, hunted, and lived in harmony with the land.

Visiting Tuzigoot National Monument

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:00:00 +0000

We visited one of the lesser known parks while we were in Sedona - Tuzigoot National Monument . Wow- what a window into the past! This site preserves a 110-room pueblo built by the Sinagua people , who lived here between 1000 and 1400 AD.

Exploring petroglyphs in Tuscon

Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000

On the drive around the park in the West/Tucson Mountain district, we stopped at Signal Hill Picnic area and took a short trail up to the largest petroglyph site in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.

The Saguaro Cactus

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:30:00 +0000

The Saguaro Cactus (pronounced saw-war-oh) only grows in the Sonoran Desert . This desert is located in Mexico, Arizona, and just a small portion of the Baja peninsula in California. These cacti can grow up to 50 feet tall and live over 200 years!

Visiting Tumacácori National Historical Park

Sun, 25 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Located about an hour south of Tucson is a gem of a national park that many people have not heard about. Tumacácori National Historical Park takes you back in time to the late 1600s when Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries were traveling north from Mexico to bring European values and farming techniques to indigenous people of the area (O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache).

Visiting White Sands National Park

Mon, 12 May 2025 07:01:00 +0000

While in Alamogordo, we ventured to White Sands National Park a couple times. We had so much fun with our friends that we didn’t take many photos!

Exploring Sitting Bull Falls

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

If you’re exploring Carlsbad, NM, one place you might find interesting is Sitting Bull Falls . It’s about 40 minutes SW of town, but a nice drive. It is part of the Lincoln National Forest , which is actually a HUGE area of land encompassing what used to be multiple separate forest reserves (Lincoln, Gallinas, Sacramento, Alamo and Guadalupe).

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The main event for us while staying in Carlsbad was Carlsbad Caverns National Park .
Did you know that the Big Room in Carlsbad Caverns is the largest single cave chamber by volume. But this doesn’t make it the biggest cave system! That record goes to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (longest cave system in the world!)

Big Bend National Park Part V

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Our fourth trip to Big Bend during our stay in Terlingua, TX led us up the Chisos Mountains to a second visitor center. As you head up the mountain, you see the landscape change from desert to forest. It’s a slow change, but once you realize the change, you’re awestruck!

Big Bend National Park Part IV

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Back at Big Bend National Park again! Today we decided to take Maverick Road (unpaved and not maintained year round) down to Santa Elena Canyon for a hike. We stopped at several locations along the way to the canyon, including Luna’s Jacal . It’s amazing that this mud and ocotillo built structure is still standing, as its resident, Gilbert Jacal, passed away in 1947 at 108 years old!

Big Bend National Park Part II

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

While visiting Big Bend National Park , we took Grapevine Hills Road to Grapevine Hills Trail . The road out is about 7 or 8 miles and is not maintained all season. Once you get on the trail, it’s about 2.2 miles. The first 0.8 mile is pretty easy! A bit of up and down and uneven path, but very well traveled. After the easy part, there is a sign that the next 0.25 miles is very steep. It was CORRECT!

Big Bend National Park Part I

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:01:00 +0000

One of the highlights of our stay in Terlingua was being able to visit Big Bend National Park . On our first trip into the park, we waited in line for about 45 minutes to enter the park! There were a LOT of people at the Panther Junction visitor center , too. But once you got out into the park, it wasn’t crowded at all!

We're staying two weeks in Lajitas, TX

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000

We’re staying two weeks in Lajitas, TX at Maverick Ranch RV Park . The park we’re at is nice, although a little far from Big Bend National Park . It is part of a much larger golf resort, and I can absolutely see coming here to golf. The scenery is incredible! We walked over to the main resort shopping and pro shop and caught a glimpse of the course. It was surprisingly green!

Visiting the Lyndon B Johnson NHP

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

We spent a long afternoon visiting the Lyndon B Johnson State and National parks in Johnson City, TX. Much of the Ranch was shut down for renovations, but we were able to learn the history of President Johnson’s family farm and take in some of the sights. I’m sure this place is just gorgeous in spring!

Visiting Palo Alto Battlefield NHP

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Visiting the Palo Alto Battlefield was a very interesting stop on our tour of National Parks this year. The battle at Palo Alto took place in May 1846, early on in the two year war between the US and Mexico over land in the territory of Texas (western portion of Texas today and parts of OK and NM).

Visiting our Public Lands

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

One of the most amazing things we get to see as full-time RVers is the public lands in our great nation . While in Rockport, we drove almost an hour to visit Padre Island National Seashore . It did NOT disappoint. The day we went was very windy, but the beach was clear and sunny.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was absolutely incredible

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was absolutely incredible! The rock formations in this park are the work of centuries of weather, wind and water.

❓Did you know that the colors come from different minerals in the groundwater that are deposited on the rock as the groundwater seeps out and travels on the surface of the rock?

Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 05:31:00 +0000

Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is truly a site to see! There are multiple vantage points and some with handicap accessibility. The bay in this part has an average depth of 10 feet, making it very easy to view the bottom. We were really surprised at just how clear the waters were!

Exploring Munising Falls

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

If you’re in Munising a quick and easy place to get to for an afternoon outing is Munising Falls . It is about a 50 foot waterfall that is close to town and a short walk from the parking lot. The brown water is caused by tannins in the water from various trees (namely pine, hemlock, and cedar).

The lighthouse keeper's house

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

The last portion of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum that we want to share is not something you get to see at a lot of museums. As it’s no longer needed to manage the lighthouse, the Keeper’s house is maintained as a museum. It captures how the keeper and family would have decorated and used the house in the late 1800’s. They have bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and office. It was really neat to see. This site is on the National Register of Historic Places

Let's talk about National Parks

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Do you have a National Parks Pass ? We bought one this year since we plan to see several over the next 12 months. While in Buffalo, we visited the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site . It was pretty neat!

Exploring the Historic Zoar Village

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:44:00 +0000

The other day we went to the Historic Zoar Village (pron. like soar/oar/boar with a z at the front). Zoar, OH was founded in 1817 by a group of religious refugees from Germany. Biblically, Zoar was one of 5 cities of the plain slated for destruction in the book of Genesis. The other 4 cities were Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboim, and Admah. Lot plead to God to keep Zoar as a place of refuge for Lot and his two daughters. It’s easy to see why Zoar, OH received this name.