Vistas are the joy of back roads travel. Every corner, every crest of a hill, every mile offers a new vista. And this country has some spectacular and splendid vistas.
Over the years I have seen some amazing vistas. Whether they be in the deserts of the southwest, the high plains of Montana or on the oceans in the east or the west, the views are endless and inspiring. Following are some of the vistas I have enjoyed and their locations. Enjoy the ride and the views.
Sunset at the Badlands in South DakotaSt. Anthony Sand Dunes in IdahoA view of the Portland Head Light in MaineHills of Shenandoah Valley in presunrise hours on Easter 2017Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean as seen from Old Orchard Beach, MEGolden Gate Bridge in 2016Pacific Ocean near Reedsport, OregonCaddo Lake near Uncertain, TXHighway to Cody, WyomingA lonely highway in south central Nebraska, near OverlandHorse Country – Lexington, KentuckyCincinnati SkylineCoal Mine Canyon in Arizona, ca. 1983Delaware Seashore Bridge at sunsetSpacious skies over the Grand Canyon in ArizonaThe river into Juneau, Alaska as seen from a mountain top near JuneauThe mountains and the Yellowstone River as seen from US 89The long straight highway near Cohagen, MTBeautiful Highway heading into Virginia from KentuckyLouisville, KY as seen from across the Ohio River in IndianaThe Oyate Trail highway in southern South DakotaFall colors from the Virginia Creeper Trail in VirginiaBeach at Clallam Bay, WA adorned with seagullsNew York City at night as seen from Hoboken, NJSawtooths as seen from Lower Stanley, IdahoArkansas Hwy 8 near Amity, ARScenic cinder Hills and Shadows as seen on Idaho Hwy 33Bison relax along Lava Creek in Yellowstone while pronghorned antelope look on from the backgroundPanoramic View of Pittsburgh from atop Mt. WashingtonNiagara Falls, OntarioThe Tetons as seen from near Drummond, IDSunset in the Sweetgrass, north of Dunkirk, MTWhite Sands, NMA view of the New River Gorge in West VirginiaSunflowers forever near Lexington, KYWind Turbines seem to blossom like flowers out of the corn fields of IowaPennsylvania sunrise as seen from Boyce Mayview Park near Upper St. Clair, PAFall Colors from the Eagle’s Nest above Bancroft, Ontario near AlgonquinTexas Hwy 30 between Huntsville and ShiroHells Canyon in northeast Oregon is actually wider and deeper than the Grand CanyonThree Sisters – nicknamed Faith/Hope/Charity near Sisters, OregonSomewhere in KansasView of the Beartooths near Red Lodge, Montana from the highway was awesomeAmerica the Beautiful – A scene near Glacier National Park
The US National Park System has 417 official units throughout the country including 59 National Parks, 87 National Monuments, 19 National Preserves, 51 National Historic Parks, 78 National Historic Sites, 4 National Battlefield Parks, 9 National Military Parks, 9 National Battlefields, 30 National Memorials and a number of other National sites including National Rivers, National Seashores, National Lakeshores, National Parkways and National Trails.
Bison relax along Lava Creek in Yellowstone while pronghorned antelope look on from the backgroundSumoflam and Cannons at Vicksburg National Military ParkTowpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio
Officially, the National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Some of the scenic and colorful hills of Theodore Roosevelt National ParkA couple of my children at the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln in Kentucky in 1997Badlands National Park in SD
The NPS is a great blessing to the citizens of this country and all others that may visit. They have some amazing offerings and a road trip that passes by these is not a worthy roadtrip. These sites are the gems of our country!
Though I have visited all 50 states in the US, I have not been able to get to many of the sites. Of the 59 National Parks, for instance, I have only visited 28 of them and some of those were way before my travel blogging and photography days. Of all of the others, I have been to 77 of the nearly 350 sites. So, I still have a long way to go.
Grand Tetons along US 89 in March 2013Visiting Shenandoah National Park on Easter Sunday 2017Gettysburg Address Commemorative Sign, July 1998
That said, I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits to many of the National Parks, Monuments and other NPS sites. My personal favorites are Glacier National Park (Montana), Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming) and Yellowstone National Park (WY) — OK…I love the mountains!!
Following are some photos of some of the other NPS Sites that I have visited over the years. More are sure to come soon!! (In fact, just this past weekend — Easter weekend 2017 — I drove the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and got photos of the Easter Sunrise!!)
Easter Morning Sunrise 2017 in Shenandoah National ParkGrave markers of the US Calvary Soldiers that died at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Little Big Horn National Monument in MontanaSumoflam at Montezuma Castle National Monument in Arizona in 1983Visiting the Grand Canyon in 1983Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal, UTFamily at Sunset Crater National Monument north of Flagstaff in July 1993The Washington Monument and the US Capitol in Washington DC in 2016Visiting White Sands, NM in 2013Visiting Craters of the Moon in Idaho in 2013Entering Mt. Rainier National Park on WA 410 south of Greenwater, WAAgate Fossil Bed National Monument in NebraskaWith some family members and a friend at Glacier National Park (May 2005)Purple Mountain Majesties – Glacier Bay National Park, AlaskaMount Olympus and Olympic National Park in Washington as seen from Hwy 104One of the wild horses on the sand dunes at Assateague National Seashore in MarylandVisiting the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona with some tourists from the Isle of Man in 1983Sumoflam at the White House – July 1990Mt. Rushmore in 2013Family at the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois, Summer 2001Visiting Yellowstone National Park in 2014Family at the George Rogers Clark National Historic Park in Vincennes, Indiana Summer 2001Capulin Volcano – part of the Capulin National Monument in New MexicoSome of the kids viewing the massive New River Gorge Bridge in New River Gorge National River, WV in August 1995Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, NY 1990Visiting Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1979. I have always enjoyed visiting old Indian ruins.Sumoflam at the Everglades in Florida in July 1990At the St. Louis Arch in MissouriAt Golden Gate Bridge in May 2015My son Seth at Wupatki National Monument in April 1992
I am rich…very rich. Not in money, but rather rich in experiences and rich in grandchildren. As the Proverb says “Children are like arrows. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”
At age 60 I have been blessed to have 10 grandchildren (so far). These are my joy and I am so grateful. And, besides loving them to death, I have also passed on the fascination of wanderlust. Most of my grandchildren are already well traveled thanks to my daughters and sons that have continued the tradition of getting on the road and seeing the world.
With some family and geandkidz in Port Orchard, WAHeading east with the grandkidz!
I have had numerous opportunities to join my grandchildren on roadtrips. It is absolutely amazing to see their reactions to the world around them, to watch them scamper on a beach, to play with butterflies or to hold a baby gator.
Following are a few photos of my travels with the “grandkidz” as I refer to them. They represent travel all over the country from the past few years.
Grandkidz Rawk! Enjoy the Ride!
Grandkidz enjoy their first look at the Atlantic Ocean on Old Orchard Beach in MaineOn the road with da grandkidz in New EnglandThe Grandkidz all made the Good List in Santa Claus, IN (photo by Marissa Noe)The grandkidz get a view of Manhattan from Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJ. (Photo by Marissa Noe)Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park in WashingtonRunning on the Pacific Ocean Beach in Neah Bay, WAHanging out in St. Louis, MOWelcome to West VirginiaBecoming a Packers Fan in Green Bay, WIBiking the Little Miami Rail Trail near Xenia, OHPlaying in White Sands National Monument, NMWatching animals in Tacoma Zoo in WashingtonGoing Gothic at American Gothic house in Eldon, IARock Climbing at Jerusalem Rocks in MontanaGetting a Hershey Kiss grandkid style in Hershey, PAHaving fun at the beach house in Old Orchard, MERiding the ferry in Puget Sound, WAClimbing up to the top of Memorial Falls in Montana, Aaron (son in law), Kade and SolomonGrandson Benson enjoys handling a budgie at Tacoma ZooHolding butterflies in MissouriVisiting Cumberland Falls in KentuckyRiding the luggage cart in PennsylvaniaWalking the Yellow Brick Road in Champaigne, ILHeading out on road trip to PittsburghGetting goodies at the Fish Market in SeattleLooking at PittsburghGoing alien in Roswell, NM