Welcome to Sitka, Alaska—a charming and historic port that’s a must-see stop on any Southeast Alaska cruise. I’m Valerie Perry, a Cruise Director and travel book author, and I’m thrilled to share my insider tips and favorite spots in Sitka to help you make the most of your visit. This […]
National Park System
8 posts
Located just 30 miles from Jewel Cave National Monument is the completely different underground world of Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave became the United States’ seventh National Park in 1903. It was discovered only a few decades earlier in 1881 by Jesse and Tom Bingham. The brothers were on […]
Did you know that many of the world’s largest caves are found in the United States? The third largest is in South Dakota – Jewel Cave National Monument. Jewel Cave got its blinging name because of the calcite crystals that cover the walls and ceilings of the cave and shimmered […]
When I think of mountainous states I think of Colorado. Or even the Sierra Nevada of California. Or the Appalachian of the east. But I don’t think South Dakota. I always found the term “Black Hills of South Dakota” puzzling because I didn’t think there were hills there and Mt. […]
Visiting the Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit from the North Unit also involves a bit of time travel. The Units are an hour apart. The North Unit operates on Mountain Time. The South Unit operates on Central Time. I arrived the same time I left. Whoa. Mind blown! Theodore […]
On February 12, 1884 a 25 year old Theodore Roosevelt became a father. Two days later, his wife died. Hours later, his mother died. Devastated, Teddy soon set off for North Dakota. One of his main goals was to hunt bison, but he became intrigued with the cattle industry and […]
I was hiking in Monocacy National Battlefield earlier this year when I thought to myself, “I don’t like battlefields as much as other National Park sites.” When I think National Parks, I think Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Denali. When I think National Park Service, I think the monuments in Washington, DC. […]
I’d heard of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. I knew it was somewhere near Altoona. I knew there had been a flood there. I knew some of my childhood television stations were broadcast from there. The End. I honestly didn’t know anything about the flood. When was it? Why did it happen? How […]