After climbing to the highest point in South Dakota - Black Elk Peak - Diana and I continued further into Custer State Park. We moved out of hiker mode and into tourist mode, ready for an afternoon of scenic drives, overlooks, wildlife spotting, and Visitor Centers. A foggy Sylvan Lake Our journey started at the …
Continue reading Custer State Park Scenic Loop | South Dakota | 05/22/21
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | Harrison, NE | 05/20/21 After a short drive from Scotts Bluff, Diana and I reached our next stop: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Our history tour was moving from ~150-200 years ago on the Oregon Trail to ~19-20 million years ago when large prehistoric mammals roamed this land. Back …
Continue reading Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | Nebraska | 05/20/21
Scotts Bluff National Monument | Gering, NE | 05/20/21 It had never crossed my mind to visit Nebraska. Nebraska was just the state I drove through to get to other places, a flyover state full of flat cornfields and open prairie. This trip didn't start out much different. Diana and I were heading to the …
Continue reading Scotts Bluff National Monument | Nebraska | 05/20/21
After a big day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Allie and I continued on to Whites City, NM, our hotel, and a much-needed hot meal. We were excited to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the morning. It was only upon our arrival to our hotel that we learned that we should have pre-purchased tickets …
Continue reading Carlsbad Caverns National Park | New Mexico | 04/03/21
After our trek to the Top of Texas, we had very little time left to explore what else Guadalupe National Park has to offer. We decided to visit two accessible historic sites on the way to our hotel, neither of which require much walking, perfect for our tired feet. Our first stop was "The Pinery" …
Continue reading Historic Sites of Guadalupe National Park | Texas | 04/02/21
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument | Coolidge, AZ | 02/16/20 After a lovely few days at Joshua Tree National Park, we drove back to Phoenix for the night. We were visiting friends and attending a 30th birthday party. Fun times! During the night, I was very sick (probably from drinking Phoenix tap water...just don't do …
Continue reading Casa Grande Ruins National Monument | Arizona | 02/16/20
Fort Vasquez Museum | Platteville, CO | 07/25/19 After a morning at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, we needed an afternoon activity. The Fort Vasquez Museum was on the way home so we decided to stop and check it out! Fort Vasquez is an old trading post built in 1837. The existing walls …
Colorado Chelsea 