Volcanoes National Park Hāpu’u pulu plants with their massive fronds that can grow to heights of twenty-five feet! As we hike along the north rim of the Kīlauea Iki trail in Volcanoes National Park in Hawai’i, there was an abundance of forest all around us. This was in stark contrast to the Kīlauea Iki Crater […]
Permit – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Permit are extremely efficient swimmers due to their body design The three large fish on the left are called, “permit”. These large silvery fish are not a frequent sighting on the Florida Keys reefs. Some people think the bubbles from scuba divers attracts their attention. They rarely hang around for […]
Hot Springs National Park This is one of the more interestingly shaped national parks This photo is of two balanced rocks in Hot Springs National Park. I took this photo while on the Sunset Trail on the north side of the park. This is one of the more interestingly shaped national parks. It is doughnut […]
Acadia National Park Tides can be as much as 12 feet This photo was taken along the rocky coastline of Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is located roughly two-thirds of the way north along Maine’s coast. It is a unique place. It is the only area along the United States eastern seaboard that has shear cliffs. Jordan […]
Taggart Lake Earthquakes over millions of years help create the mountain range In the northwest corner of Wyoming, at the southern end of Grand Teton National Park is picturesque Taggart Lake. It is accessible via a short hike. There is a “Taggart Lake Loop Trail” that takes a couple hours to complete if you are taking your […]
Yellowstone National Park A giant volcano sits underneath Yellowstone National Park I was fortunate to have visited Yellowstone National Park this year. I went in April. It was such a unique experience. This “Upper Geyser Basin” area of Yellowstone is where the majority of the world’s active geysers are located. You would be most familiar with the legendary Old […]
Great Smoky Mountains National Park There are many different species of moss in the Smokies This photo was taken in Great Smoky Mountains National Park of a moss and fern covered forest floor. There are many different species of moss in the Smokies. Pictured here might be prairie peatmoss, stairstep moss, five-ranked bogmoss, Hartford fern, […]
Haleakalā National Park The park covers more than 33,000 acres Haleakalā National Park is a unique national park found on the island of Maui. It’s known for its stunning sunrises and sunsets that cast the rays of the sun across the Pacific Ocean. The park encompasses the now dormant Haleakalā volcano. It stretches from sea […]
Shenandoah National Park The shape of this park is unique. It is narrow and long Shenandoah National Park is located in north-central Virginia. The park was created in 1926 and is known for amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park was formed from a conglomerate of private land, farms, and orchards. This was a unique way to […]
Redwood National Park Coast redwoods are known to live more than 600 years Looking up the trunk of this tree, I could tell just how massively tall it was. I was in Redwood National Park in California just starting the Tall Tree Trail. All around me were tree trunks that were wider than cars and […]