Parks Parks and Parks

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Day 29 - Casa Grande, Saguaro, Chiricahau, and Fort Bowie

Lots of National Park Sites on today's agenda. We started our morning at Casa Grande National Monument. I took 6 years of Spanish, so I can translate Casa Grande for us with ease. It means "big house". This is one of the largest prehistoric structures built in North America, and its purpose remains a mystery. Next, we explored Saguaro National Park. One of our favorite features of National Park Visitor Centers is the park video. The Saguaro park video might be the best one yet! Such a beautiful ending. You must see if for yourself! Saguaro NP is home to the nation's largest cacti. These unique cacti can only be found in this area of the United States. Chiricahau National Monument is another site that we wouldn't have visited if not for the contest. We fell in love with this park immediately, and we will definitely be back! We had the entire park to ourselves too, and that certainly didn't hurt. We enjoyed exploring the rock formations while the sun began to set. We capped off our busy day with a quick stop at Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

The shade was a welcomed sight

Up close and personal

It is important to stay hydrated!

Gotta have proof

Brave park ranger

End of the park video

Saguaro and flowering cacti

Feels like I am in a western

One of a kind cacti

Admiring the view

Having the time of our lives!

Entering Chiricahau

King of the world

What a view

Going explorin'

"Wonderland of Rocks"

Neat hiking trail

Sun setting in the distance

That golden hour

New desktop wallpaper, anybody?

This doesn't get old

Mooo-ve out of the way! We've got exploring to do.

Day 29 Rating: Found another gem in these ole' United States.10/10

Friday, July 20, 2018

Day 28 - Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle, and Montezuma Well

Tuzigoot is fun to say. Try it! It means "crooked water". We are learning lots on this trip. Another interesting tidbit is that the inhabitants of Tuzigoot accessed rooms not by door but by ladder, entering rooms trapdoor style. Superfans of this blog may reconize some of the photos below. We visited Montezuma's castle on our 2016 roadtrip. Looks like the park rangers are taking good care of it. Keep up the good work, NPS! While at Montezuma's castle, a park ranger recommended that we take a short drive over to Montezuma Well, a site we didn't visit in 2016. We were grateful for the recommendation, and we enjoyed our time at Montezuma Well. The well is a natural limestone sinkhole that fills from an underground spring. If you look closely you can see the cliff dwelings of the Sinagua people.

Doorless rooms

Three story ruin

A view from the top of Tuzigoot

What is this? A center for ants?

The well

Cliff dwelings

Cheese balls

Wide shot

Day 28 Rating: Another gorgeous day! 10/10

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Day 27 - Lake Mead and Sunset Volcano National Monument

Today's goal was to rack up as many points as possible for the Pic Your Park contest. I mean... to see our great United States! Before we could embark on our journey, we made a pit stop to place a $10 bet that the Phillies will win the 2018 World Series. Here's hoping! First, we explored Lake Mead National Recreation Area and attempted to visit the Hoover Dam. I refused to pay for parking, so we continued on our way. Next stop was Walnut Canyon, which unfortunately was closed when we arrived, but that didn't stop us from taking a picture and collecting those sweet, sweet points. We jumped back in the car and headed to Sunset Crater National Monument. This was one park that we would not have visited if it weren't for the contest, but I am so glad that we did. We had a great time exploring this desserted park and enjoyed a thunderstorm off in the distance. We ended the day at Wupatki National Monument. As dusk was setting in, so was that thunderstorm that we were admiring at a distance. We had to make this visit short, but we definitely enjoyed the views!