National Park – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

Washington D.C. 5 Sep 2025

Summer Evening Tour of the Monuments in Washington, D.C.

Planning the Tour While planning our summer road trip for the East Coast in 2023, we opted to end the trip with Washington, D.C., before pointing the car west and heading back to Missouri. We booked two nights at an Airbnb on Capitol Hill, knowing we were only going to get a small taste of the city. We were determined to make the most of it, as we always try to do. We can sleep when we get home, right? I had been to D.C. twice before, but this would be Jeff and Kristin’s first visit. I knew I wanted them to experience the many monuments scattered about the Mall and nearby areas, but I also knew it was July and hot. And it was the end of a three-week road trip, so I knew energy could be down. An evening monument tour sounded like just the thing. Not only…

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California 21 May 2025

Driving Through Death Valley National Park in July

At first glance, the title of this post probably seems a little crazy. Why would you go to Death Valley National Park in July? If you’re a teacher and you have a school-age kid, this stop along a massive road trip makes perfect sense. In 2022, we set out from Joplin, Missouri, to undertake one of our longest road trips to date. A couple of days before, we’d stopped overnight along the highway, and we’d also spent a night at Grand Canyon National Park at Kachina Lodge. Our next overnight stop was scheduled for Lone Pine, California. Along the way, we hoped to spend some time in Death Valley National Park, even though it was so hot we didn’t want to leave our car for very long. Visiting in July is possible, but I wouldn’t plan on any major hiking during the day. Be sure to have plenty of water…

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Arkansas 2 Mar 2025

Experiencing the Healing Waters of Quapaw Bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park

One spring break, we decided to spend a few days at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. That visit would include spending time on Bathhouse Row and trying one of the available bathhouse experiences; we chose Quapaw Bathhouse. Hot Springs National Park is Unique I love visiting national parks, and I’d had my eye on this one since Arkansas borders Missouri. Spring break seemed like the perfect time for us to go. It’s important to realize the Hot Springs National Park differs greatly from most parks. This park focuses on the history of medical tourism to Hot Springs, Arkansas, during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Due to the natural hot springs in the area, Hot Springs became a mecca for those looking to relieve their ailments in the mineral-rich water from the hot springs. Though there are some ways to get some hiking in, if you come to Hot…

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Pennsylvannia 22 Feb 2025

Touring Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell

If you’re heading to Philadephia, be sure to add a visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell to your list of stops. On our East Coast road trip one June, we made it a priority as we made our way from Maine to Washington, D.C. Our arrival time was planned for the evening, so we’d have to save official touring for the next morning. For the night, we stayed across the street at the beautiful and fascinating Kimpton Hotel Monaco. This beautifully quirky hotel put us right where we needed to be for our tour of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell the next morning. Even better, the location allowed us to take an evening stroll around the very buildings where our country was born. This was the perfect hotel for staying in Old City. In fact, it’s one of my favorites of anywhere we’ve stayed.on our adventures. Touring…

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California 13 Jan 2025

Visiting Manzanar National Historic Site

Everyone should visit Manzanar. The lessons within its borders are necessary. I didn’t know Japanese Internment during World War II was something that happened until well after high school graduation. I’d never heard the slightest murmur of such things all through high school, and I took advanced history classes. At 22, I’d moved to Front Royal, Virginia, a small town about an hour from Washington, D.C. One December day in 1997, I had the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History. Fortunately, I’d visited twice before as a child and a teenager. It was a favorite of mine, and I looked forward to seeing the First Ladies’ exhibit and the pop culture section. Imagine my confusion when I stumbled into a portion of the museum that looked like a neighborhood in California. Shops and restaurants in this replica San Francisco street were closed and boarded up,…

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Maine 4 Sep 2024

Two Nights in Bar Harbor, Maine

.Bar Harbor is one of those delightful seaside villages that looks and feels just like you think it would., from fishing boats in the harbor to walkable streets selling local wares. We made our first trek into Maine during our East Coast road trip in July of 2023, and the state quickly became one of the most memorable and enjoyable stops on our 23-day journey. Would I return to Bar Harbor, or anywhere in Maine? Absolutely! Read on to see how we spent about 48 hours in this enchanting seaside town. Staying at Bar Harbor Manor When planning these epic road trips, we often start with lodging, often about a year out. At first, the KOA campground in Bar Harbor had our attention. Though we don’t currently have an RV, we often stay in the cabins in these campgrounds across the country. We were excited that it was waterfront, and…

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Maine 18 Jun 2024

A Summer Day in Acadia National Park

As part of our East Coast road trip, we made a two-night stop at Bar Harbor, Maine, to check out this seaside town and Acadia National Park. We divided our short time pretty equally between the town and the park. As always, I wish we had more time, and on this particular adventure, I wish he’d had less morning fog. Still, we always make things work and I’m grateful for the experience. I hope to return to the area someday to experience more of this fabulous park! Acadia National Park is primarily located on the largest island off the coast of Maine–Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is also located on this island, and Acadia National Park is right outside of town. Our Acadia National Park Adventure Begins We arrived in Bar Harbor in the late afternoon. That left us enough time to settle into our lodging, have dinner, and browse…

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Utah 9 Mar 2024

Hiking The Narrows at Zion National Park

The Narrows is one of those popular hikes that lives up to the hype. When I first heard of the hike in Zion National Park a few years ago and realized that it included walking in water, I knew we should give it a try. The scenery is gorgeous, and the cooling water would be welcome in the summer heat of July. Since Zion National Park is popular in the summer, you want to be well-informed about the park. You also have a choice to make when you decide to hike The Narrows–do you rent gear or not? I hope our experience will help you navigate the park and make the best choices for you and your family. Arriving at Springdale and Zion National Park We arrived in Springdale, Utah, in the evening after driving from Tonopah, Nevada, where we stayed a night in te Clown Motel. To read about…

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California 1 Feb 2024

Two Days in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park were stops on one of our epic Missouri to California road trips. As we planned the trip, we couldn’t wait to experience the majesty of the enormous sequoia trees. Like many people, we’d seen the pictures and videos of these amazing trees. Now it was time to experience them for ourselves. Though we only spent two nights in the park, it’s an experience I won’t ever forget. We stayed at the only lodge within Sequoia National Park–Wuksachi Lodge. This one is a little different from some of the classic lodges we’ve stayed in because the check-in building is in a completely separate location from the actual lodges. While the lobby is often in a different building from the actual rooms, this was the first one we’d encounter in which our building was a short drive away from the lobby, gift shop, and…

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