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47 Parks

House of Baths

  • August 15, 2016March 10, 2019

Hot Springs, Arkansas was the perfect blend of interesting history, relaxing baths, and gorgeous hiking trails. Although it is the smallest national park, Hot Springs had so much to offer. One of my favorite activities was touring the historical Fordyce bathhouse. It was three stories of fancy spa equipment, including some weird stuff going on … Read more

47 Parks

Strolling in Nashville, Walking in Memphis

  • August 13, 2016March 10, 2019

Nashville and Memphis were 2 cities that I proudly checked off my bucket list this week. While not as spectacular as a national park, they both brought some intriguing things to the table.

Nashville had so much live music. In some venues, you could hear 3 different bands depending on which floor you were on. … Read more

47 Parks

Mammoth Cave Recap

  • August 11, 2016March 10, 2019

sign

Length of Stay:

  • 3 days, 4 nights

Highs:

  • Wild Cave tour
  • Kayaking down the Green River

Lows:

  • Not be able to waltz through a cave entrance and explore on my own (something to do with safety, I guess…)

Favorite Hike:

  • Echo Springs – you get to see where the water flows out of the cave
… Read more
47 Parks

Cave Exploration

  • August 9, 2016March 10, 2019

The Wild Cave tour in Mammoth Caves was extraordinary! To start off, I had to gear up in a full-body coverall suit, bandanna, helmet, headlamp, gloves, and knee pads. I knew from the get-go that I would be embarking on an epic mission. For the next 6 hours, I crawled, squeezed, and hiked my way … Read more

47 Parks

Great Smoky Mountains Recap

  • August 7, 2016March 10, 2019

sign

Length of Stay:

  • 5 days, 5 nights on the North Carolina side
  • 2 days, 2 nights on the Tennessee side

Highs:

  • Walking in the woods (yep – the hiking was superb)
  • Learning the history of the Appalachian people

Lows:

  • Graffiti – some people think it’s “cool” to carve their name into a building that is
… Read more
47 Parks

Old Timey = Good Timey

  • August 3, 2016March 10, 2019

Cades Cove is a pretty neat little place. Long before the Smokies were established as a national park, settlers moved into the valley and created homesteads. Life was difficult, but these folks sure knew how to work hard, build community, and enjoy life in the mountains. Their daily routines revolved around feeding their families, heeding … Read more

47 Parks

Chattanooga Choo Choo

  • July 28, 2016March 10, 2019
Note: this post has absolutely nothing to do with trains – I simply wasn’t able to get the song out of my head whilst traipsing about the city.

I couldn’t resist a 2-hour drive from Knoxville to check out this hip little city. Chattanooga boasts some of the most gorgeous city parks, trendy boutiques, quaint … Read more

47 Parks

Outdoor Withdrawal

  • July 26, 2016March 10, 2019

For 5 days in a row, I spent most of my waking moments in the great outdoors. After averaging about 6 miles of hiking a day, it’s incredible how accustomed I became to being in nature. I appreciated the solitude that comes from hours of meandering and exploring through the woods.

And so it felt … Read more

47 Parks

High Places

  • July 24, 2016March 10, 2019

The Smokies are perfect for those seeking deliciously satisfying views. There are numerous drives, hikes, and strolls that take you to fabulous summits.

A popular destination within the Smokies is Clingman’s Dome. It’s a simple half-mile walk up a paved inclined trail that lands you at the base of an observation tower. On Monday, I … Read more

47 Parks

Running Water

  • July 22, 2016March 10, 2019

No, I’m not talking about that convenient spigot full of fluoride-infused water that most Americans take for granted – I’m talking about rivers, streams, runs, brooks, creaks, and “cricks”. Great Smoky National Park is full of running water, flowing rapidly (yet sometimes leisurely) from the mountain crests.

I’ve been pretty spoiled to be able to … Read more

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About Me

About Me

National park expert. Nature enthusiast. Outdoor educator. These are the chronicles of my travels and discoveries around the country and throughout the world.

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