Category: National Parks

Visiting DC is for everyone with so many free spots

Posted in DC-Maryland-Virginia, Free Kids Fun, National Parks, Read Them All, United StatesTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
US Capitol Building

When I was growing up, I had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. Then when I was in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad one summer in Europe between London and Paris/Tours, France. One thing I realized during this time was that I loved the convenience of public transportation and I wanted to live in a city that offered this. Flash forward to 2011 and I moved to D.C. for grad school.

When I lived in D.C. I would walk, metro and bus everywhere! I wanted to experience it all. Since moving to Silver Spring, Maryland, I try to remember that my goal is to be a tourist in my own town! I don’t want to lose sight of the fact I’m only a mile from the Silver Spring metro station and can be back in the heart of the city in no time! Most links will take you to pictures on my IG and I focused on free offerings unless otherwise noted. Always check the official site for hours, closures, ticketing, special events, etc. And if you’re taking metro, add your card to your phone ahead of time (it even works when the phone is dead)! Kids 4 and under are free.

The Best Free Views of D.C.

For all of these places, be prepared that you may have to go through security.

  • Washington Monument – Since I moved to D.C. and then there was an earthquake that shut this for many years, I did not want to miss a chance to visit when it reopened. It is iconic and I’m happy I finally got a ticket (I clicked on Group instead of Individual) for my daughter and I to go up (thanks to FamilyTripGuides for this tip). You can’t bring strollers up and be prepared for security. It’s $1 per ticket and you reserve through Recreation.gov either 30 days in advance or a day in advance (or take the chance of standing in line for a walk up ticket). Stand in the middle of the door on either side on the way down so you can see out the window that lights up.
  • Old Post Office – I still feel like this is a bit of a hidden gem because it was closed to the public for many years. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge (free) here. It’s also conveniently located by the National Children’s Museum so it could easily be combined. Enter behind the building and be prepared for security.
  • View of D.C. – This is in Arlington and metro accessible. This is also a venue space and it was super fun to take the glass elevator up spot all the sites. This closed sometime in 2024 (sad face), but I left it here in case it reopens in the future under a different name or owner.
  • Other great views include the back of the Lincoln Memorial to see the eternal flame at Arlington Cemetery, going to the top of the Kennedy Center and rooftop of the MLK Library.

Unique Non-Smithsonian Places for Kids

  • Planet Word – This is an interactive place that can be enjoyed by every age! Sing karaoke, take a picture in the photo booth, make a book come to life, find the hidden bookcase door, tell jokes, etc. If you have visitors, this is the spot to go! Reserve a free (donation based) ticket ahead of time and before or after visiting, check out Franklin Park across the street for a small playground. Take the metro here.
  • The People’s House: A White House Experience – This is free (donation based) and it’s recommended to reserve tickets in advance. This is super close to the White House and the Renwick Gallery. Sit in the 1:1 ratio Oval Office that changes with each President, take pictures like you’re presenting the Easter Egg Roll and touch various objects to make them come to life. This opened in September 2024.
  • Rock Creek Park Nature Center – This is free and since the Planetarium reopened, it sometimes has a free kids show! It’s also a place to see taxidermy, a couple real animals, color and hike! There is free parking.
  • MLK Library – We are the people who go to libraries on vacation because there are so many unique ones! This one has a slide in the stairwell of the kids section. Visit the rooftop too and if you have a little, the story time is excellent here. We metro here and combine with a walk through City Center DC since the decorations regularly change in Palmer Alley and Chinatown’s Friendship Bridge.
  • Anacostia Park – The first time I came here, I thought it was just the “pirate ship park”, but there is more! Bring socks and an ID to swap it out for free roller skates. We haven’t made it yet, but there is a nature type center here too called Aquatic Resources Education Center. There is free parking.
  • Merry Pin – This is a business that offers free Saturday morning story time and craft/art. We have found free street parking in this area.
  • National Children’s Museum – This is a paid museum right by the Ronald Reagan Building and the climbing dream machine (bring socks) is always my child’s favorite. Here’s my biggest tip – if you live in the DMV, go get an Alexandria library card (via reciprocity) then reserve a free ticket to visit online (follow all the steps)! We went in August 2024 with a 2:30 pm slot and they let us in 30 minutes early so we got 2.5 hours of free play here.
  • I wouldn’t go to the White House Visitor Center with a little unless I needed a bathroom or to escape the weather elements since there’s minimal interactivity.
  • Eastern Market – This is a fun area to explore for the outdoor market on the weekends and the indoor fish market. It’s changed so much in the time I’ve lived here. There’s also a great playground and splash pad (seasonal) nearby. Get a poptart from Ted’s Bulletin. If time allows, venture to Shakespeare’s Library. You can reserve a free ticket and there’s a kids scavenger hunt inside.

Free Smithsonians Can’t Be Missed

  • Natural History – This is our family favorite as we love the taxidermy animals, dinosaurs, the big entrance hall (from the National Mall side) and special exhibits like photography of the year. On Tuesdays, the butterfly garden inside on the 2nd level, closer to the National Mall side is free, just wait in line to get a timed ticket. On the Tuesday before Montgomery County schools went back, DC was empty – no school buses, no long lines to get inside.
  • American Indian – The Native American museum has a great kids section. We usually pair this with popping into the U.S. Botanical Gardens. We love the Botanical Gardens during the holidays to see the the outdoor train and the atrium. You can also see the Capitol from here.
  • Postal Museum – This is a top museum for littles and it’s right next to Union Station. I love making a digital stamp, picking a few old stamps to keep and exploring the interactive displays downstairs.
  • American History – This is a huge museum with so many exhibits. If you have a little, check the hours for Wegman’s Wonderplace and if your child is older, check out Spark!Lab. We have enjoyed both spaces. Be prepared for security and arrive early to beat the buses.
  • Asian Art – This is usually a museum we skip over, but we recently attended an Art & Me family event that was fantastic (reserve free ticket in advance). We also loved seeing and learning about the Peacock Room. The last Thursday of the month in the afternoon, you can see the shutters opened to reveal the window. Don’t miss the ceiling or the coins in the peacock mural. Pop into the Smithsonian Castle if it’s open or see the Eisenhower Memorial nearby.
  • African American History – This is an incredible multi-story museum. If you start at the bottom, you weave through history. If you start at the top, you learn about music, sports, etc. Don’t miss the reflection room that is beautiful and peaceful. Reserve a timed ticket in advance.
  • Zoo – One of the free zoos in the U.S. and pandas returned in early 2025! Reserve a free ticket online. Be prepared for the hilly walking! In the summer there are misters and a water feature by the seals/sea lions. There’s also a couple of play structures at the bottom of the hill near the prairie dogs and also by the farm. The play space inside the newly renovated bird area is great for kids with crafts, storytime and outdoor play. This is only open certain days/times per week. We usually come on a Sunday when street parking is free or metro to Cleveland Park (downhill trek to zoo) and return from Woodley Park (downhill trek from zoo).
  • National Mall – This is the big green space that has many of the free museums and I had the good fortune to have my grad school graduation here when Kerri Washington from Scandal was the speaker. If you’re exploring Smithsonians, it’s hard to miss. Venture to all of the monuments along the Mall like WWII, Lincoln, Washington Monument, Vietnam and beyond to all of the ones along the Tidal Basin (body of water). Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. They are all free to visit and shouldn’t be missed. Many people like enjoying the sunrise or sunset by the Tidal Basin. Fun fact, my husband proposed at the Lincoln Memorial.

Paid Museums to Consider:

  • National Law Enforcement – We were gifted this opportunity and loved it. The museum is underground and metro accessible from Judiciary Square. It is very interactive. You can sit in a police car and touch all the buttons, learn about dogs that work with law enforcement, listen to 911 calls, watch a short movie on the wall, etc. I would definitely return here in the future and their t-shirt is one of my favorites because it is so soft. Check for discounted tickets on Groupon.
  • Museum of the Bible – Check for tickets on Groupon. We found one for $18 and my daughter was free based on her age. It was beautiful during the holidays and we loved hearing the people play chimes and bells. There’s a kids play area inside and a section to play games.
  • International Spy Museum – This was a super memorable museum when I was younger and visited DC. It has moved locations since then and I look forward to taking my daughter at some point.

Specific Time of Year

  • January or February. Discovery Days happens in Baltimore and Maryland residents can reserve free timed tickets to the National Aquarium. This is an amazing deal! The Maryland Science Center nearby is covered by the ASTC Passport, so if you’re visiting the area from out of town, definitely check out this museum and you may be able to visit for free via reciprocity. Read my article, Your Family Needs the ASTC Passport, for all the convincing you need.
  • March or April. The cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin at or around peak season are to be enjoyed. Yes, it’s crowded because people come from all around the globe to see this phenomenon because it’s incredible. It’s also a chance to see gorgeous magnolias. I haven’t tested this yet, but we were told by a park ranger that they have seasonal Junior Ranger badges for kids to earn during this time! Sundays will be busier than a weekday, but you may be able to find free parking.
  • March or April. The White House Easter Egg Roll is such a fun event to participate in, particularly if it doesn’t rain and it’s not too hot. In 2023 we “won the lotto” and got to participate! Every February there’s a lottery period to submit your interest. There were lawn games with athletes, free treats, crafts and characters! We skipped the iconic events.
  • Summer. Visit Yards Park Canal Basin for the most unique “splash pad” type experience. Bring bathing suits and go under the waterfall or splash around in the shallow water. The views are beautiful. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
  • July. The peak bloom of the lotuses at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are beautiful! It is definitely hot and humid, but also unique! This is a fun place to earn a Junior Ranger badge (free program for kids). Make sure to walk back to the boardwalk to look for various birds. Parking is free in the lot, but it gets crowded and then you have to use street parking.
  • Holidays. Check out the adorable trains at the Botanical Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. My daughter loved the various scavenger hunts. This is free to visit and there’s also a nature center and children’s garden. It’s also gorgeous in the spring. The Washington, D.C. Temple, which is actually just outside of DC is a beautiful, free place to see lights and nativity sets from around the world.

Right Over the D.C. Border are These Gems

  • Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm – We timed it so we arrived in time to feed the chickens! There are other animals to see too, a nature building with coloring, games and books and a chance to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
  • National Harbor – The downside is parking (try to book ahead of time with SpotHero). Otherwise, play in the sand, catch a movie or sport on the big screen, find the famous statues, play in the little kid area or fenced in park and walk through the Gaylord. This is also close to the Tanger Outlets which has a small kids play area and free parking.
  • National Cryptologic Museum – This is a small museum with a decoding activity (and prize) for kids. We also got to use invisible ink. It has dedicated parking.

Thanks for checking out this article. This is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather give you some ideas in one place from a local mom who enjoys adventuring and keeping the costs low. I could write full articles about the playgrounds in the area, cities like Alexandria, Annapolis, Frederick, etc., so make sure to check back if you’re interested in those. I would love for you to check out some of my other articles such as Airport Play Areas in the DMV, How To Save Money In Order to Travel, Keep Your Green at Great Wolf Lodge.

About the Author

Lydia Garry and her family, TeamTravelsBaby, live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and are working to achieve “vagabond status”. Much of their affordable family travel experiences include U.S. travel, national parks and Europe. Adventure with them here, subscribe to their newsletter and follow along on Instagram!

Gotta Catch Them All!

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U.S. National Parks

We love our national parks and have made it our decade goal to finish seeing all of them before 2030. We have twelve U.S. national parks to visit as of July 2024 and you can read about many of the ones we have visited below.

Canadian National Parks

Mount Rainier | TeamTravelsBaby
Moraine Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Memorial Day Mountains (Great Smoky Mountains)

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Great Smoky Mountains

The Smokies | TeamTravelsBaby

Thinking about the upcoming Memorial Day weekend during quarantine, I figured I would reminisce on our road trip from last year. We made our way through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the Asheville side (NC) by Cherokee to the Gatlinburg side (TN). It was a perfect long weekend getaway from the DC area. We were able to do some hiking, see some beautiful scenery and explore downtown Asheville.

Sunset in the Smokies | TeamTravelsBaby

Asheville, NC

Love seeing well done street art | TeamTravelsBaby

Asheville is known for being an artsy city. There’s a cute walkable downtown with the mountains in the background. If you’re looking for a unique coffee experience, I recommend checking out Double D’s Coffee & Desserts. It’s situated inside a double decker bus. There is also street art to walk around and find. From a previous trip, I can also recommend Tupelo Honey for breakfast or brunch – just be prepared to wait if you don’t get there early.

Exploring a city with street art is one of my favorite things to do | TeamTravelsBaby

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

This visitor center has a huge parking lot and a nice trail around a large field. We found tons of elk grazing in this area and turkies! There were quite a few onlookers who brought pop-up chairs and their long lenses to relax, enjoy the sunset and take pictures here. Plus, we had to get our national park passport stamp for Addy’s book!

Chimney Tops

Chimney Tops trail | TeamTravelsBaby

This was a fun and challenging trail in the Smokies. Distance wise it’s only about 2 miles, but there is quite a stair climb and general incline to the trail to make it to the overlook. Carrying Addy (our 7 month old), made it a bit more exhausting, especially with the warm and humid weather. The view from the overlook was beautiful and we saw many people eating their picnic lunch. On the way down, we were lucky someone pointed out the sleeping black bear to us! We didn’t get the best shot, but we could definitely see him as he tried to camouflage in.

Our “big” hike of the trip | TeamTravelsBaby

Mingo Falls

Mingo Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

We found a parking spot in the very small lot. We loaded up with sunscreen and started our walk up the stairs. This is a beautiful waterfall to hike to and we find it’s always most rewarding to hike to a point of interest.

Clingman’s Dome

Clingman’s Dome | TeamTravelsBaby

Clingman’s Dome was a nice paved path, albeit a little steep. We took in lovely rolling hills from the top and popped into the cute bookstore at the bottom.

The view from the top | TeamTravelsBaby

Newfound Gap Road

Great place for a quick pop out to get a picture with the state line sign! There are a lot of different areas in this park to explore! You could definitely return again and again for a good time here!

Sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains | TeamTravelsBaby
Until next time, night night | TeamTravelsBaby

While you’re here, feel free to check out some other recaps like AZ Much As We Could (Arizona National Parks) and Cascading through Washington National Parks.

Cascading through Washington National Parks

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Every year for Mike’s birthday (when there isn’t a worldwide pandemic) we go on some type of getaway and it usually involves a baseball game. In June 2019, we found a deal to Seattle, so we got on a plane for a 5 day trip filled with Washington’s three national parks, its state capitol in Olympia, a baseball game in Seattle and a few other adventures tucked in. At 8 months old, Addy was already a super traveler having recently returned from her first cruise and European adventure in April. (Check out our trip recaps: Breathe in Barcelona, Sète on a Nice Yacht, Crank It Out While Cruisin’ Italy and Loopin’ London.) Our trip throughout Washington state was so photogenic, it inspired me to write one of my first children’s books called Where Are You, Mount Rainier? which you can find on Amazon.

Olympia

State Capitol in Washington | TeamTravelsBaby

After arriving to Seattle airport and getting our rental car, we headed to Olympia, which hosts the gorgeous state capitol building and campus. We started with a view of it from Port Plaza Park and walked the Olympic Farmer’s Market. I got my first vacation coffee treat nearby at Dancing Goats Espresso. Once at the Capitol building we joined a tour so we could get an insider’s look into the chambers. There’s also a gorgeous Tiffany lamp that hangs from the dome. Of course we couldn’t leave without getting Addy’s picture on Mike’s shoulders as this has become a tradition for us. ­We also made a pit stop to nearby Tumwater Falls for a pretty waterfall.

Addy and Daddy at the Capitol | TeamTravelsBaby
Tumwater Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

Mount Rainier National Park

View of Mount Rainier at Reflection Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Initially worried about rain, we lucked up and enjoyed beautiful weather where we could get out of the car and see Mount Rainier. We stopped at many of the different view points to take in the scenery, including an unbelievable reflection of snow-covered Mount Rainier. We managed to find one great hike to a waterfall too. This park has multiple entrances (of course check if they’re open before you go) so we didn’t have to backtrack. We entered from the west and exited near the southeast.

Views from Mount Rainier National Park| TeamTravelsBaby

Mount St. Helen’s National Monument

Mount St. Helen’s after the fog lifted | TeamTravelsBaby

Nearly to the border of Washington and Oregon, we made the trek beyond gas stations to visit Mount St. Helen’s. Pro Tip: Get gas when they warn you it’s the last station! While we had a foggy drive up the mountain (plus the fear of running out of gas), we got a fabulous view at the top where the visitor center is located. Don’t miss the reflection on the visitor center or the hike nearby.

Mount St. Helen’s National Monument | TeamTravelsBaby

Olympic National Park

Marymere Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

This park is huge and boasts many different environments. We started in the south through Lake Quinault and visited the Hoh Rainforest. We found lots of weird looking caterpillars. From here we saw the seastacks for sunset at Rialto Beach before a night in Forks. We drove past the gorgeous Lake Crescent and then hiked to Marymere Falls, which I would definitely recommend. We ended at Hurricane Ridge which still had snow. While we didn’t see any bears, we had fun hiking near the visitor’s center here as well as the drive. We popped down to Port Angeles which had some cool street art and a really cool coffee bar called Bada NW where I indulged. On our drive to Seattle we spotted Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to a variety of birds. Since we have the America the Beautiful pass, we didn’t have to pay the nominal fee here either.

The different landscapes in Olympic | TeamTravelsBaby
On our way into Dungeness NWR | TeamTravelsBaby
Street art in Port Angeles | TeamTravelsBaby

Seattle

Downtown Seattle behind us| TeamTravelsBaby

Mike and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in April 2016 with an Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver and then a few days in Seattle. So on this trip, our sole purpose was to see a baseball game where the Seattle Mariners play. Luckily it was an evening game, so we walked the park while it was still light out and we could see downtown and the Space Needle, Mount Rainier and then eventually a beautiful sunset.

Views at the game | TeamTravelsBaby

Snoqualmie Falls and Leavenworth

Snoqualmie Falls plus a beautiful rainbow | TeamTravelsBaby

After leaving Seattle we made a pit stop at Snoqualmie Falls. It’s a beautiful 268 foot cascading waterfall. We continued our journey to an adorable mountain Bavarian town called Leavenworth. It reminded me of another cute Danish town called Slovang that we visited with friends on our Santa Barbara trip that you can read about here. Leavenworth is home to a huge nutcracker museum if that’s your thing. Nearby, I got a yummy treat from the Gingerbread Factory before we walked along Waterfront Park.

North Cascades National Park

Diablo Lake view | TeamTravelsBaby

As part of our journey to get to North Cascades National Park we took a 52 mile scenic road that runs between Darrington and Granite Falls. This road apparently closes often since there’s a 14 mile section over Barlow Pass that is unpaved. Fortunately it was open and a nice drive with places to stop along the way. Before entering the national park we spotted the Cascadian Farms roadside stand. MAKE THIS STOP! There are delicious milkshakes sold here – I tried the raspberry and loved it! On the way into the park, the official NPS sign is really cool! The snow on top looks legit! Since we arrived close to sunset the first night, we went to the Diablo Lake viewpoint. We stayed one night relatively close to the west entrance of the park in a place called Mount Baker Hotel for under $100. It was a really nice hotel – we had a separate living space from the bedroom. One word of caution is there is no cell phone service in this area, so I didn’t know the front desk person called to check that we were still coming since there is not 24/7 concierge service. Fortunately she waited for us and we got the key without issue. We found a cute drive-thru coffee shop the next morning and then explored the park with a hike up to Pyramid Lake. Similar to Glacier, there is a scenic road that runs through the park. It’s about an hour drive from the west entrance to the Washington Pass Overlook which is definitely worth it on a clear day. I only wish we had more time to hike in this park.

Washington Pass | TeamTravelsBaby
Hike to Pyramid Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Sum It Up

We arrived to Seattle on Saturday, June 1st in the morning and knocked out Washington’s three national parks, a national monument, the capital city and a few other spots before flying home on Wednesday, June 5th in the evening. The secret to a great national park trip is to get up early to enjoy the sunrise whenever possible and to stay out until at least sunset and dusk. The other secret is, showering can be totally overrated and a time waster…so unless you really have to, it’s worth skipping to pack more into your day! Spritz yourself with some Febreeze and you’ll be golden! If we find another good deal to Seattle, I would definitely want to make it to the Columbia Gorge and Portland, Oregon and/or use it to explore places like Victoria and Vancouver Island.

We’re so glad you checked this post out! See you next time! | TeamTravelsBaby

While you’re on my site, I hope you’ll check out some of your other trips and leave your thoughts/share your experiences.

By Way of Lakes and Falls (Icefields Parkway)

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The Icefields Parkway is impossible to miss if you plan on seeing Banff and/or Jasper National Parks. It’s nearly 170 miles between these two parks, but the time clicks by as you’re engorged in the beauty of the mountains, lakes and animals surrounding you. Even if you’re short on time, you will not be disappointed by this drive or a few pit stops! We had a blast as part of our 12 day trip with our 11 month old.

Banff National Park

Lake Louise at sunrise | TeamTravelsBaby

This park is worth a trip unto itself. If you want to read all about it, check out my article, Banff, There It Is. From here you can take one of the most scenic roads, the Icefields Parkway to another gorgeous park called Jasper National Park. This article focuses on some of our favorite stops between the two parks in order from east to west.

The symmetry of Moraine Lake’s reflections | TeamTravelsBaby

Bow Lake

Our teething girl at Bow Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Leaving Banff, Bow Lake was the first lake where we stopped and got out. It’s about 30 minutes from Lake Louise and there is limited parking by the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. It was pretty cold when we got out, so we didn’t linger too long but enjoyed taking a few pictures before warming back up in the car.

I have a thing for reflections | TeamTravelsBaby

Peyto Lake

The iconic Peyto Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Only a stone’s throw away, this lake should not be missed! It boasts the beautiful glacial deep teal color and has a unique shape with the mountains in the background. It was quite a steep hike from the parking lot, but also rewarding because of it. The path is a bit narrow for two way traffic, but everyone seemed to manage and pass when they could.

Obligatory family shot at Peyto Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Icefields Parkway Itself

Big horned sheep along the Icefields Parkway | TeamTravelsBaby

In early September, the leaves weren’t all quite changing to fall foliage, but we did have fun pointing out the few that were red, orange and yellow! Good thing we were keeping our eyes on the road so we didn’t miss the huge group of big horned sheep ready to cross the road. There are places to pull off on the parkway, so we pulled over to watch the group together. It’s an extremely enjoyable drive between Banff and Jasper.

A little perspective | TeamTravelsBaby

Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier | TeamTravelsBaby

It was extremely cold and windy, but we managed to bundle Addy up and start walking toward this glacier in the Canadian Rockier. There are signs that show where the glacier was at different points in time and it’s hard to believe how much it has receded (the picture below shows where the glacier was in 2006). The hike is worth getting out of the car for, but if you’re short on time, you can at least catch a glimpse from across the Icefields Parkway. We didn’t pay to walk on the Columbia Icefield, but if that interests you, make sure to do your research.

Sunwapta Falls

Sunwapta Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

Technically we entered Jasper National Park to see this beautiful waterfall. The river is split around an island and then it that joins at the waterfall. There’s a quick walk down to it or a view from the bridge. I would imagine once the fall colors are in full effect it would be ridiculously beautiful here. We got a tiny taste as you can see from our pictures.

Sunwapta Falls with a taste of fall colors | TeamTravelsBaby
Family selfie | TeamTravelsBaby

Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

Also in Jasper National Park, this waterfall is a gusher. It’s a quick walk to the waterfall and then it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to walk through the canyon. We headed back to the Icefields Parkway and saw a huge elk before making it to the town of Jasper.

Sunset view near the canyon | TeamTravelsBaby
Addy and her daddy | TeamTravelsBaby

Jasper National Park

Male elk along the Icefields Parkway | TeamTravelsBaby

The Icefields Parkway connects two incredible parks. I would love for you to check out my article, Bear Jammed in Jasper to get a taste of Jasper National Park and some of the incredible hikes and wildlife it has to offer. Here’s a taste!

Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park | TeamTravelsBaby
I didn’t want this trip to end | TeamTravelsBaby
Catch you on our next adventure recap | TeamTravelsBaby

And in case you missed it, check out Yoohoo! Yoho is Where It’s At! to read about our adventures through the neighboring British Columbia National Parks and On the Border of Glacier and Waterton Lakes to see how our trip started off. In total five posts summarize our 12 day trip! Be sure to subscribe for email notifications or follow us on Instagram.

Yoohoo! Yoho is Where It’s At! (B.C. National Parks)

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As part of our epic road trip to see Banff and Jasper, we also managed to see other nearby parks in British Columbia to include Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Yoho and Kootenay. We also squeezed in the Montana State Capitol on our way back to Jackson Hole airport by way of animal-centric Yellowstone. Leave a comment at the end and let me know what you thought!

Mount Revelstoke National Park (British Columbia)

Giant Cedars | TeamTravelsBaby

We left Golden early in the morning and drove to Mount Revelstoke National Park. We started with a short easy boardwalk hike called Skunk Cabbage followed by the Cedar boardwalk trail. The real highlight for us was the Meadows in the Sky Parkway up to a parking lot near the summit. From here we had an option to take a shuttle, but opted to walk instead. We find that hiking to a destination makes it more rewarding than taking the easy way. Before heading to Glacier National Park of Canada, we stopped in the little town of Revelstoke so I could get a coffee treat at Conversations Coffee House.

Glacier National Park of Canada (British Columbia)

Great Glacier hike on a foggy day | TeamTravelsBaby

Easily combined to make for a full day with Mount Revelstoke, we opted for the Great Glacier hike. Round-trip this hike took us about 3.5 hours to hike (approx. 5 miles round-trip). There is quite an ascent going up and once the skies started to clear, gorgeous views of the mountains, a waterfall, and running water in the valley below. We also passed the remains of Glacier House on our way out. I was so tired from carrying Addy a good portion of the way up that once we switched, I had to stay out of eyesight of Addy so we could make it back down without switching again. It was fun listening to Mike entertain her with descriptions of everything he saw from rocks to trees to mushrooms.  

We stayed in a Ramada Limited Hotel in Golden, which was a nice hotel and ideally located between Glacier and Yoho. As a bonus, I got 10% off with my key card at Bear & Bone Burger, which was walking distance from the hotel. The gunsmoke burger and yam fries were absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend it!

Yoho (British Columbia)

Emerald Lake in Yoho | TeamTravelsBaby
If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved photographing the reflections here | TeamTravelsBaby

If you take out Banff and Jasper (which both live up to the hype), Yoho was my favorite Canadian national park that we visited this trip. We ate our free hotel breakfast and then headed to Wapta Falls. This waterfall is a gusher! It was a relatively flat hike out, with some mud and rocks to the view point. Then we continued down in order to get a better view. Next up was one of the most stunning lakes of the trip (not quite Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, but definitely up there) called Emerald Lake. It was a stunning greenish turquoise color. We walked part of the lakeshore path, took in the reflection views and had a memorable photo shoot with Addy. On our way back to the main road, we stopped at the Natural Bridge. This was a nice spot to pop out and take some pictures. The park’s visitor center is in Field – we made a pit stop for our stamp before going to see our last waterfall. From the parking lot, it’s a very short walk to Takkakaw Falls. This narrow and tall fall (the second tallest in Canada) is really cool because you can go down to the rocks along the water for pictures without people. There’s also a spot with one of the “red chairs” that are scattered throughout the Canadian national park system.

Wapta Falls | TeamTravelsBaby
Natural Bridge near Emerald Lake | TeamTravelsBaby
Takkakaw Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

Kootenay (British Columbia)

Olive Lake | TeamTravelsBaby
Wider view of Olive Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

The Paint Pots hike toward Marble Canyon was the only hike we did in this park. From the pot holed parking lot, there’s a bridge with stunning views of the mountains and a river below. Hiking boots are definitely necessary as there are small boards you walk on to stay off the electrified looking water. The ink pot here is unique and we found this hike virtually to ourselves.

As we made our way toward the exit of the park we stopped at Olive Lake. It was a pretty lake with reflections and fish. It was a short drive from here to the exit by Radium Hot Springs. If we had more time, we would have stopped to check these out. The drive is definitely worth taking this route.

Paint Pots hike in Kootenay | TeamTravelsBaby

Crossing the Border

This time we checked the hours to ensure we wouldn’t have any issues. We found the border crossing virtually empty, but we were the random selectees to pull over and have our car inspected. We hung out in the station while they checked everything out. For sunset, we made it the small town of Whitefish, Montana. This town is adorable and I only wish we had made it before the small independent shops had closed.

We found a Wal-Mart in Kalispell to load up on more snacks and then found a hotel here for the night. Check out my article called, On the Border of Glacier and Waterton Lakes to read about Glacier National Park which we primarily explored on the front end of our trip.

Addy taking us over the border | TeamTravelsBaby

Helena, Montana

Montana’s State Capitol | TeamTravelsBaby

As we made our way back toward Jackson Hole, we stopped in Helena, the capital of Montana. The inside was stunning and multi-floored. We joined a free guided tour so we could see inside the chambers. One of my favorite parts about taking Addy to a state capitol building is we’ve started a tradition of taking Addy’s picture on Mike’s shoulders in front of it. We explored the little downtown and found an adorable coffee shop, General Mercantile next to an independent bookstore called Montana Book Company. We don’t really collect any souvenirs on our trips, but one thing I do like to buy is a unique and locally written or illustrated book. On this trip I bought The Chumiss and the Micken, which is an incredibly adorable and beautiful book about the age old question about which came first – the chicken or the egg. It is a children’s book that I enjoy reading to Addy and would recommend to others.

Addy and her Daddy doing their thang in MT | TeamTravelsBaby

Yellowstone National Park (USA)

Big horned sheep | TeamTravelsBaby
Pronghorn, the fastest animal in North America | TeamTravelsBaby

When I was pregnant with Addy (June 2018), we crushed Yellowstone National Park. (I hope to write about that trip soon.) Since we were merely passing through for sunset and the following morning on this trip, we weren’t there to see it all, but rather to try and see animals. We took the scenic Beartooth Mountains drive. Then before even entering the park through the Gardiner, Montana entrance (to the north), we spotted a ton of big horned sheep, a herd of elk and pronghorns. Once we finally entered, we found a HUGE male flaunting his rack in anticipation for the fall rut.

Lamar Valley is a must drive if you want to see animals in Yellowstone. Of course, sunrise and sunset also happen to be the ideal times. The people who have scopes and follow the wolves were out in the morning and were generous enough to let us have a look. We could see wolves way out in the valley surrounding a bear trying to feed off the same dead bison carcass. My one non-animal pro tip is to stop in one of the stores and try the $1 huckleberry ice cream sandwich – you will be yearning for a second one!

Lamar Valley has a ridiculous number of bison | TeamTravelsBaby
Red-tailed hawk | TeamTravelsBaby

Grand Teton National Park (USA)

On the short list for our future retirement home | TeamTravelsBaby

The drive is so scenic from Yellowstone and throughout Grand Teton. We literally only had a few minutes to jump out for a few pictures of the mountains and another huge elk. There is one gas station close to the extremely small airport. It was very easy to return our rental car and get through security here before walking on the tarmac to our plane. It’s also really interesting that this airport offers bear spray rentals! This is definitely something to consider for a future trip as bear spray is more expensive that I thought and you have to properly dispose of it. And in case you’re wondering why we picked Jackson Hole, it’s because Frontier was offering tickets for $249 each! This was a steal for this airport!

Returned the car without issue | TeamTravelsBaby
JAC, the prettiest airport to fly in and out of | TeamTravelsBaby

Notes for Next Time

  • Revelstoke: A longer hike in the Summit Area
  • Glacier: Balu Pass
  • Yoho: Lake O’Hara alpine area which needs to be booked WAY in advance and looks absolutely unreal.
  • Kootenay: Radium hot springs (the actual hot springs) and Juniper-Sinclair Canyon

On the Border of Glacier and Waterton Lakes

Posted in Canada, National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Glacier National Park (Montana, USA) and Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada) are considered an international peace park as they share the border. As such, a passport is required if you want to see both. The Many Glaciers section of Glacier National Park was definitely a highlight and where we saw black bears. Waterton’s Prince of Wales Hotel is one of the windiest places in Canada and has a beautiful lake behind it. We also got out and walked around Calgary for about an hour or so and would definitely return to the city again in the future. Plus, as one of the few cities we visited, I actually got my treats here! While we were very non-traditional, starting and ending our trip in Jackson, Wyoming (home to the Grand Tetons), most people probably would have used Calgary as a jumping off point.

Ready for our adventure recap | TeamTravelsBaby

Going to the Sun Road (Glacier)

Lake McDonald | TeamTravelsBaby

We arrived through the west entrance by Lake McDonald on a very overcast and rainy day. Going to the Sun Road is supposed to be extremely scenic and a big part of the reason Glacier receives high rankings amongst all of the national parks. It’s approximately 50 miles long across the main section of the park and takes nearly 2 hours to drive without stops. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t have that top-ranking experience, but we did still really enjoy this park.  We did have the fortunate timing of finding a group of big horned sheep hanging out across the street from the Logan Pass Visitor Center and the street to ourselves to enjoy the drive-through tunnel.  At the end of our trip, we were able to dip back into the park and actually see Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park and the colorful IG worthy stones. There’s also a cute gift shop here.

Going to the Sun Road Tunnel | TeamTravelsBaby
Big horned sheep across from the visitor center | TeamTravelsBaby

Hidden Lake Trail (Glacier)

Our first hike of the day was by the Logan Pass Visitor Center. We geared up with our rain coats, rain boots, waterproof pants and poncho to cover Addy in her on-person carrier. There is a long stair climb and then a nice path, even with the rain. We found colorful stones, a waterfall and a good hike overall. The only bummer was because of the rain and fog, we couldn’t see the view intended for the end point of this 3 mile round-trip hike.

Colorful stones along the Hidden Lakes Trail | TeamTravelsBaby
Hidden Lakes Trail on an overcast day | TeamTravelsBaby

Virginia and St. Mary’s Waterfalls (Glacier)

Virginia Falls in Glacier | TeamTravelsBaby

This was the only other hike we did in the park. It was a relatively easy round-trip 3.6 mile hike that took us to two beautiful cascading waterfalls. There are also beautifully colored rocks here to see if you don’t have time to stop at Lake McDonald.  

Virginia and St. Mary’s Hike | TeamTravelsBaby
St. Mary’s Waterfall | TeamTravelsBaby

The Many Glaciers Section (Glacier)

Entering the Many Glaciers Section of Glacier NP | TeamTravelsBaby

This section of the park is totally separate from the Going to the Sun Road portion of the park. Once we exited the main road on the St. Mary’s (east) side, we headed north about 45 minutes. There were tons of potholes on the road, but the views were incredible. We could see glaciers on our drive in. We eventually spotted cars pulled over and got out to watch a mommy and baby black bear foraging. While watching these bears play, Addy made a noise and we turned to see a black bear cross the road behind us, probably less than 50 feet! Scary to think he was hiding in the bushes so close to us. I’m convinced Addy knew something was going on! From here we drove to the Glacier Park Lodge where we came across a female big horned sheep walking on the sidewalk. Something about how the Lodge looked and the setting on the reflective body of water with mountains in the background reminded me of Switzerland, which made sense considering it is a “swiss styled lodge”. There was a musician playing inside and the view from the back porch was the perfect way to end our time in Glacier.

Black bears in Glacier | TeamTravelsBaby
SO many good photos of Addy and her Daddy | TeamTravelsBaby
View from the parking lot of the Glacier Lodge | TeamTravelsBaby
Glacier Lodge and the View | TeamTravelsBaby

Border Crossing to Canada

My little munchkin | TeamTravelsBaby

We wrapped up our evening in Glacier, drove down a long road with free range cattle warnings, until we made it to the border crossing booths. Did you know that not all border crossings are 24 hours? Well, we learned the hard way as we arrived to find it closed. My advice for next time, check the border crossing hours. It’s also smart to keep your phone on airplane mode anywhere near a border to avoid potential international fees. We made a U-turn and found our way to another border crossing that was fortunately opened and uneventful to cross.

Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada)

Cameron Falls | TeamTravelsBaby

We started our morning super early on a mission to find a restroom. We found one by the beautiful Cameron Falls near Waterton (town). Even though it was really overcast and slightly rainy here too, we decided to try the Bertha hike to Bertha Falls. There were black bear warning signs everywhere, so we had that ounce of fear during our hike, but didn’t see any bears here. We did get great views of the Prince of Wales Hotel. We eventually made it to lower Bertha falls before returning along the same path (3.3 mile roundtrip hike).

The Prince of Wales Hotel is worth a stop. We thought the Lodge at Glacier was prettier, but it was fun to pop inside and also take in the views from behind the hotel. We got some great pictures here with Addy. At 11 months old, Addy brought her favorite animal at the time, baby panda (my old TY beanie baby) with her on the trip. She discovered her love for driving the car, turning on and off the radio and dancing to the music. We also realized that she loves pretzels! Lucky for her this is one of our favorite road trip snacks.

Calgary

Calgary was a quick pit stop for us. We figured we had to at least check it out and we took the scenic drive to it. We started with a drive through downtown and took some nice pictures from across the river of the city skyscrapers. We headed to Sidewalk Citizen where I got a delicious ginormous chocolate cookie with powdered sugar. We then found a metered spot downtown and took a nice walk along the Riverwalk and through Central Memorial Park. The flowers were blooming and if we had more time we would have walked to St. Patrick’s Island. We found a small mall and I was able to get a coffee treat at Good Earth Coffee House before we got back on the road and ready for our most anticipated park, Banff National Park. You can read all about this part of our trip in Banff, There It Is!

Bear Jammed in Jasper

Posted in Canada, National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Jasper National Park was our farthest destination for us (considering we started in Jackson Hole, Wyoming). From Banff (town) it is about 3.5 hours to Jasper (town) without stopping. Luckily, the Icefields Parkway, which connects the two towns is one of the most scenic drives. On our drive into the park, we spotted an elk with a HUGE rack…because it was close to the rut being September and all. We packed a ridiculous amount of hiking into less than 2 full days in the park. Similar to Banff, I totally get why people spend a whole week in this park.

Valley of Five Lakes

Our morning (which also happened to be my birthday) started off rainy, but we didn’t let that that stop us. We geared up with our rain clothes and headed out on the approximate 3 mile trail called Valley of Five Lakes. The early morning gave us beautiful reflection pictures and trails to ourselves. Something cool about Canadian national parks is they have red Adirondack chairs randomly located, which make for fun photo ops. Each of the lakes are labeled and there are signs between them so you won’t miss any on your hike. A good tip is to always take a photo at the trail head of the trail map (plus at this trail you can see where to find the red Adirondack chairs). This doubles for helping to keep track of what time you started the hike too.

Maligne Canyon and the Bridges

Roadside elk | TeamTravelsBaby
Maligne Canyon trail | TeamTravelsBaby

We parked near the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen for the Maligne Canyon hike after stopping to photograph some elk on the side of the road. The hike map is really helpful as there are a series of five bridges you have the option of seeing (remember to take a pic). The first two are relatively close and if you’re looking for a short hike, I would definitely recommend at least seeing the canyon and the first two bridges. Of course, if you want to see it all, it’s over a 4 mile hike. We really enjoyed the hike, but from experience and if you’re short on time, feel free to skip the last bridge. Instead of backtracking, we took the high path on our way back to the parking lot. We would highly recommend this (even though it was exhausting to climb) because the views at the top are incredible.

Small waterfall along the Maligne Canyon trail | TeamTravelsBaby

Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Island

Pyramid Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Pyramid Lake is located relatively close to downtown Jasper. Near the Pyramid Lake Resort, you can pull off and get some incredible pictures of the lake with mountains in the background. It was so serene and I think because we were there after Labor Day, the lake itself was quiet. Past the Resort, we found parking for Pyramid Island. It’s a really tiny and walkable island connected by a bridge. It’s also a popular wedding spot. Some of my favorite pictures of Addy, Mike and I are from our time here.

Medicine Lake, Moose Lake and Bears

Medicine Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Medicine Lake was not on my radar when I planned our trip. We arrived in the afternoon and the reflection view of this lake was one of my trip favorites and one I blew up on canvas for our condo. When we turned the corner, we found a black bear. We were in our first Canadian bear jam and amongst the leader cars! So I guess you could say, we actually started the bear jam with our sighting! The bear crossed right in front of us and then we continued to watch it as it went down into the valley. All national parks have at least a 100 foot distance rule with animals such as bears. After we finished watching this bear, we continued on our way and came across two more black bears! It was fun to watch one stopping to smell the flowers. From here we made it to the trail for Moose Lake (near Maligne Lake). It was a pretty muddy walk, so our hiking boots definitely came in handy! The view of moose lake was stunning. We made it to the car before dusk set in and on our drive back down the main road, we came across a moose! We were so excited!! Of course we couldn’t get the camera or the phone to take a good picture, but otherwise, we soaked in the moment. A few minutes later, we came across a black bear in the road (our 4th one)! I am so thankful we didn’t hit the bear!

Check out my first ever video | TeamTravelsBaby
Moose Lake | TeamTravelsBaby

Edith Cavell to the Summit

Cavell Pond and Glacier | TeamTravelsBaby

There is a recently completed parking structure here. Following the Path of Glacier trail, we quickly arrived at Cavell Pond less than 1 mile away. The glacial water is pretty and to this point, it is rather a busy hike. Continuing past here, through bits of rain, we followed a stiff incline, with Addy in tow well over 4 miles and up a 500 foot elevation gain to the summit. What was really funny is even though there were little yellow untitled signs, we weren’t 100% sure it was the end…so we kept going. We made it to another point where it started hailing out of nowhere, so we decided it was time to turn around. What’s amazing is how quickly the weather can change on a hike like this. The actual “end” where we should have stopped was a great vantage point with views of multiple glaciers, Mount Edith Cavell and the Cavell Pond from the bottom. People were amazed we did this with a baby and I’m so glad we did because it was super rewarding and physically exhausting. We also got to see hoary marmots, which are cute small mammals in the huge boulders. They blend in pretty well, so you have to pay attention for movement. This was the last hike we did in Jasper before making our way back along the Icefields Parkway back toward Banff.

The view when we went too far | TeamTravelsBaby
Our small mammal friends on the hike | TeamTravelsBaby

Other Jasper Sites We Enjoyed

The town of Jasper is so cute! The train runs right through town and it is extremely walkable. The flowers were beautifully planted around the visitor center (also has wifi) and public restroom across the street. Being my birthday and all, I got two coffee treats! First thing in the morning I got a delicious macadamia latte (with a real chocolate covered macadamia on top) from the Other Bear Paw Bakery. Later in the day a shopkeeper recommended the coffee shop in the laundromat (SnowDome Coffee Bar). I knew I had to try it and my drink here was also really good! After Maligne Canyon, we drove to Lake Annette. This lake has a play area and a beautiful recently completed walkway around the lake. We did have to dodge geese poop though.

Jasper is a fantastic national park and should be on your bucket list! September was a beautiful time to visit and I am so happy this is where we were for my birthday. I’ll write a separate post about our experience along the Icefields Parkway as there are quite a few points of interest worth stopping to gawk at. We found a reasonably priced hotel in Hinton (a bit of a drive north of Jasper) near a Wal-Mart. I mention this because I someone underestimated how many GBs of camera storage I needed for the trip and this place was our saving grace!

TeamTravelsBaby!

If we had more time, here are a few other things that were on my list: 1) Boat tour to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake; 2) Bald Hills Loop near Maligne Lake (6ish mile strenuous hike); 3) Sulfur Skyline hike to Miette Hot Springs (5 mile hike)

Don’t forget to buy the Parks Canada Discovery Pass if it makes sense for your trip! We definitely got our monies worth and are hoping to do a second big Canadian national parks adventure before ours expires. And if you missed it, check out our post, Banff, There It Is!

Follow us to our next adventure. Until next time. | TeamTravelsBaby

Banff, There It is!

Posted in Canada, National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

While our approximately 12 day trip started in Jackson Hole (Wyoming), Banff and Jasper National Parks were our MUST sees on this trip. This post is about Banff National Park which is ideally located 90 minutes from Calgary in the Canadian province of Alberta and is where most people fly into in order to explore the park. We probably ended up spending close to three days in the park, breaking it up with other nearby parks and the Icefields Parkway (the amazing road that connects Banff and Jasper). We cannot recommend this park enough. It’s an absolute bucket list must see for outdoor enthusiasts and photo takers alike! Check out my other posts from this trip including Bear Jammed in Jasper.

Lake Minnewaka

Lake Minnewaka | TeamTravelsBaby

Early September was the perfect time of year for this trip. We arrived at Banff National Park shortly before sunrise from Calgary. After purchasing the Parks Canada Discovery pass (highly recommended if you plan to see multiple parks and drive the Icefields Parkway), we drove to Lake Minnewaka. On our way to the lake, we got extremely lucky and saw two wolves! They were so close and were gone nearly as quickly as they came. The only other time we’ve seen wolves was through a scope at Yellowstone National Park, so this was an incredibly unexpected treat. We continued to the lake, which was beautiful.

Lake Louise/Fairmont Chateau

Fairmont Chateau on Lake Louise | TeamTravelsBaby

The water is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. While I absolutely love so many of the photos we got, it honestly doesn’t do it justice. Banff is breathtaking! Next to the lake is the stunning Fairmont Chateau luxury hotel. While there are signs posted not to enter unless you’re a guest…we walked in the front doors, in our sweats, like we belonged and looked around for a few minutes. We took in the Lake Louise views in the early morning hours, from above on a hike and in the evening for sunset. Parking can be extremely challenging, so there is a shuttle service option if you miss getting a spot. We were really fortunate to always find a spot.

Lake Louise | TeamTravelsBaby

Plain of Six Glaciers hike via the Tea House (Lake Louise/Mirror Lake)

We nearly slept in the parking lot by Lake Louise to ensure we found a spot for our early morning hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers. This hike is more than 3.4 miles each way and considering we took some detours on the way back down we ended up clocking nearly 10 miles with our 11 month old. The hike starts by the Fairmont, continues around the right side of Lake Louise and then the climb begins with ultimately 1,215 feet of elevation gain up to nearly 7,000 feet of overall elevation. We stopped at the cash only (Canadian or US dollars) Tea House. We climbed the stairs to enjoy a small breakfast of raspberry tea and tea biscuits in the tree house feeling tea house. This was definitely a highlight and a reward for the hike to this point. We continued on to the Plain of Six Glaciers. Once the clouds cleared, we got a beautiful glacial view. The hike was strenuous to the end and absolutely worth it. We kept hearing noises on our hike and realized we were hearing avalanches and actually spotted a few too. Right by the tea house on our way back we spotted a hoary marmot and its baby on the rocks before continuing to Mirror Lake. The lighting was perfect here in the afternoon for reflection pictures on the lake. The tea house here was packed and there were people eating picnic lunches on the large rocks. Of course, this attracted birds and squirrels too, which Addy found amusing. By the time we returned to Lake Louise, the morning fog was long gone and there were tons of other tourists enjoying the view too.

  • A hoary marmot and its baby | TeamTravelsBaby
Is it any surprise that this is called Mirror Lake? | TeamTravelsBaby

Moraine Lake

The color of this lake is teal – my absolute favorite color! There is a short hike called the Rock Pile trail which makes for a great photo op above the lake. As a bonus, small mammals called pika live in the rocks and we spotted one! A walk along the lake is a must. It was actually the walk back where the reflections on the water were perfect! I loved the symmetry of it. We came here during the morning hours and in the evening before dusk. The parking lot here is SMALL-way too small for its popularity. But they manage the road from the main road and only allow enough cars down that can fit which is good.

Pika on the Rock Pile trail | TeamTravelsBaby

Consolation Lakes hike (near Moraine Lake)

Consolation Lakes | TeamTravelsBaby

This 3.6 mile round-trip hike recommends a minimum of four people due to bear activity. While we planned to hike it anyways, our timing was incredible that another couple similar in age was ready to hike at the same time and didn’t mind hiking with the couple + baby. It was fun getting to know them along the hike. At the end, there are huge boulder-sized rocks. Another place with beautiful reflections pictures and the rocks were fun/scary to climb on since I was front-carrying Addy.

Johnston Canyon and Ink Pots Trail

This was the last hike we did during our time in Banff and we started it at sunrise. The canyon part is really cool with waterfalls, including one where you duck through a passageway for a better view. The boardwalk built right into the canyon is super well done. There’s a long section between the canyon and the actual ink pots which is merely hiking and changes in elevation. Then wham, you arrive at the ink pots and it is gorgeous! The ink pots themselves are really unique and the pictures won’t disappoint. It seemed that most people turned around after the canyon and waterfalls, so we didn’t have to share the ink pots with many.

The Ink Pots | TeamTravelsBaby

The Village of Lake Louise/Town of Banff

Morant’s Curve | TeamTravelsBaby

We were able to get our visitor center stamp at the Village of Lake Louise. The town of Banff is an adorable mountain town and very walkable. It’s definitely worth exploring, even if it’s late in the evening after a day of hiking. We also drove to see nearby Bow Falls. You’ll see an option to drive on Bow Valley Parkway and if you do, I definitely recommend a stop at Morant’s Curve.

There is no denying how incredible this trip was. I totally get why people spend a week or more just at Banff. It is breathtaking and the lakes are undeniably gorgeous. The tea house hike was my absolutely favorite. If this isn’t on your list, it definitely should be. My grandmother (90 years old at the time of this trip) told me that Banff was her mother’s favorite place and that she took the trans-Canadian train across Canada to see it. I knew I had to have this experience for her during her lifetime so I could share it with her.

If we had more time, here are a few other things that were on my list: 1) Lake Agnes and Devil’s Thumb via the Beehive to combine with Lake Louise; 2) Mount Norquay for a view of Banff at sunrise; 3) Valley of the Ten Peaks to Eiffel Lake near Moraine Lake; 4) Cascade Gardens near the town of Banff or cross the Bow Valley pedestrian bridge and 5) Try Wild Flour bakery in Banff which is supposed to have great bread and offers wifi.

Dusk at Lake Louise | TeamTravelsBaby
An extra hoary marmot picture – can you see the baby? | TeamTravelsBaby
Cover photo of Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau at Sunrise | TeamTravelsBaby

AZ Much As We Could (Arizona National Parks)

Posted in National Parks, Read Them All, State CapitolTagged , , , , , 2 Comments
Horseshoe Bend | November 2019 | TeamTravelsBaby

In 6 days, we crushed the state of Arizona (and some surrounding areas) on an epic road trip! We saw three national parks (Grand Canyon, Saguaro, Petrified Forest), two national monuments (Sunset Crater Volcano, Wupatki), two national recreation areas (Glen Canyon, Lake Mead), a state park (Coral Pink Sand Dunes), a national historic place (Hoover Dam) and many cities too! We take our daughter everywhere we go and this trip was no different! At only 13 months old, she has seen quite a few national parks as we continue our adventures to catch them all!

Saturday, November 9

In July we found less than $200 direct flights each on Spirit to Las Vegas over Veterans’ Day weekend in November. Of course we booked them. Las Vegas is one of those ideally located cities for so many awesome adventures. My sister-in-law flew from Detroit and we flew from Baltimore and were able to meet up without too much waiting. Vegas’ airport requires two shuttles to certain car rental places, but luckily it was easy, well-labeled and a short trip. We found a deal ($151 for pre-pay) with Fox Rent-a-Car.

  • Coral Pink Sand Dunes | TeamTravelsBaby
    Coral Pink Sand Dunes | TeamTravelsBaby
  • Coral Pink Sand Dunes | TeamTravelsBaby

Our first stop was Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park ($10/car). Since our evening destination was Page, Arizona, this was great because it was a place to stretch our legs after about 3 hours in the car. At the park, you can climb onto the sand dunes and walk the ridge. There were very few people there and we watched some cool recreational vehicles as they rode up the hills and flew to their landing. It was a great stop to spend an hour or two. We made our way to Page after the sunset, so we went to Wal-Mart for some water and snacks before checking into our hotel. There are so many good ways to find last minute hotel deals. This time we used Orbitz and booked America’s Best Value Inn for $45! It was an okay hotel with a nice coffee machine in the lobby.

Sunday, November 10

  • Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | TeamTravelsBaby
    Lake Powell at Glen Canyon NRA | TeamTravelsBaby
  • Hanging Garden at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | TeamTravelsBaby

We woke up early to enjoy sunrise at the Hanging Garden in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. We found the turnoff near the bridge and had the hike to ourselves. It’s only a mile round-trip and I would highly recommend it. The views from the top were gorgeous! You end up above Lake Powell, which is beautiful. From here we headed to our pre-booked tour of Lower Antelope Canyon at 8:45 am (about $40 each). Make sure you book ahead of time as there is free cancellation available and you do not want to miss this! Due to the nature of the hike, deep into a slot canyon and the possibility of flash floods, you have to sign a waiver before entering. Our tour guide was a Navajo Indian and extremely passionate, engaging and stopped at different points to use our camera and take pictures of us/pose us for memorable keepsakes. He also gave us the best photo tip to use the “vivid warm” filter to brighten the red in the canyon. Since there are many tour groups going through the slot canyon, it’s important to adjust your expectations and expect to keep it moving.

Lower Antelope Canyon

We headed to the Dam Overlook next. There is very limited parking here, but we were lucky enough to get a spot. It’s a very short walk and has great views of the bridge. From here we made the quick drive over the bridge to check out the Carl Hayden Visitor Center and view of the bridge. Plus, as a national (fill in the blank-park, monument, rec area, etc.) stamp collector, you can get your national recreation area stamp here.

Horseshoe Bend | November 2019 | TeamTravelsBaby
Horseshoe Bend | November 2019 | TeamTravelsBaby

The other place that can’t be missed is Horseshoe Bend. The national park pass does not work here, but it’s only $10 to park the car. There were quite a few people enjoying the 1.5 mile round-trip walk to this photogenic icon. A wide view lens is recommended if you want to get the entire horseshoe bend in the photo. We found lots of great places to take pictures, climb and get away from the crowds.

Since we started our day so early, we made it to the east entrance for the south rim of the Grand Canyon. There are actually two distinct sections of the Grand Canyon that are accessed separately – north rim and south rim. If you’re interested in the north rim, check out my article called The Grandest Canyon of Them All! The east entrance is a popular drive called Desert View Drive. Our first stop was Desert View Tower. It was cool to climb the tower and also super windy at this stop. Make sure to look out and take in the views of the Colorado River. Luckily since we entered here the park before sunset, we were able to enjoy the rim from multiple points of interest like Navajo, Lipan and Moran Points. After this great end to our day, we made a drive through the park to Williams, Arizona to stay at the Grand Canyon Inn and Motel. We had a large room and a great coffee machine in the room, but no free breakfast here.

Sunset at Moran Point, Grand Canyon | TeamTravelsBaby

Monday, November 11 (Veterans’ Day/federal holiday)

We crushed and woke up super early to make the half hour drive to the Grand Canyon visitor center parking lot before sunrise (at 7 am) via the south entrance. We were amazed to find lots of other people had the same idea. People spread out along the rim to take in the sunrise. From here, we packed our hiking bag and walked along the rim to the South Kaibab Trail. We hiked down into the canyon to Ooh Ahh Point. This was a beautiful and rewarding hike. People told us they were amazed we were hiking down and up with our 13-month-old in tow.

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon
Ooh Ahh Point, Grand Canyon | TeamTravelsBaby

Instead of retracing our steps to the visitor center, we took the free shuttle bus back to maximize our time at the national park. We got in our car and luckily found parking by Maswik Lodge. Most people travel using the shuttle system since parking fills up quickly throughout the park. From here, we walked the Bright Angel trail. We spotted big horn sheep, which was a great treat. They would have been super easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled if you hike this trail.

Bright Angel Trail | TeamTravelsBaby

We drove about two hours to Cathedral Rock in Sedona. This hike was largesse and stunning. There were definitely some challenging parts with front carrying Addy, but we made it to the top where we saw an engagement and wedding photo shoot taking place. We followed the cairns and handful of other hikers, barely making it down before it got pitch black. A tip from a fellow hiker was to check out the view from the Church of the Holy Cross on a future trip.

Shadow of Cathedral Rock | TeamTravelsBaby
View from the top of Cathedral Rock for sunrise | TeamTravelsBaby

Phoenix was our sleeping destination with an easy highway drive and cheap hotels. We actually stayed in our favorite hotel here called Red Lion Inn & Suites in Tempe. This hotel seemed like it had recently been renovated and had the most delicious coffee and hot breakfast in the lobby. They also had a cute fake grass open area and a pool.

Tuesday, November 12

Downtown Scottsdale | TeamTravelsBaby

We drove to downtown Scottsdale (suburb of Phoenix) first. We found free garage parking and then stumbled upon Berdana’s, which made the perfect honey lavender latte. Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden was our next step because it was FREE on community day (the second Tuesday of each month). This place is normally pretty expensive. The layout was lovely and we even spotted a hummingbird in the hummingbird garden. Before entering, they had a Chihuly display as well as Cracking Art’s Wild Rising colorful animals inside and outside the gardens. The different animals like meerkats and bears, made for fun photo ops.

Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (Do you see the hummingbird?) | TeamTravelsBaby

As someone who loves visiting State Capitol buildings, we would be remise if we didn’t stop at the one in Phoenix. Arizona’s State Capitol ended up being one of my least favorite, but I’m still glad we went. We have started a thing where Addy gets a picture on Mike’s shoulders in front of each capitol building. It was important that we planned ahead since this building is only open Monday through Friday from 9 am – 4 pm.

Arizona State Capitol | TeamTravelsBaby

Saguaro National Park was one of the national parks we planned to see on this trip. The saguaro is the type of cactus found here and they’re pretty iconic. This park is split into two distinct sections – Tucson Mountain District to the west and Rincon Mountain District to the east. We started in the west and made it to the Visitor Center for our stamp. Luckily, with the America the Beautiful National Park pass, we got in for free ($80 annual pass for all national parks and a variety of other places like national monuments) versus a $20 fee for this park alone. We got a recommendation from a ranger to hike the Kings Canyon trail, which we did before we drove to the east side for the sunset. Finding a saguaro to photograph for our sunset pics was a top priority for us.

Saguaros and other cacti | TeamTravelsBaby
Sunset in Saguaro National Park | TeamTravelsBaby

In an effort to do it all, we made the long drive (almost 4 hours) to Show Low. This town has a fun story behind its name and was in decent proximity to Petrified Forest National Park. We checked into the Quality Inn, which was nothing fancy at all, but again, offered good coffee and fresh eggs, so it worked for us.

Wednesday, November 13

We drove to Petrified Forest, which is not a 24-hour park like many of the others and costs $25 if you do not have an acceptable pass. During the last quarter of the year, they’re open from 8 am – 5pm. We entered from the south and stopped at the Rainbow Forest Visitor Center. There was a nice short path with examples of petrified logs. If you look closely you see the colors. We made a point to see all of the points of interest like Crystal Forest (gorgeous colored stone logs) and Newspaper Rock (petroglyphs), but the absolute highlight was Blue Mesa. This mile long loop has absolutely stunning mini rock mountains with blue stripped colorings. If you can only do one thing at this park, this is your spot! In some ways it made me feel like an outer space scene should be filmed here. Before heading to our next destination, we headed to the north side of the park and stopped at a few of the points which exhibited sweeping views of the painted desert. Overall, this park exceeded our expectations and we had it nearly to ourselves. As a note, the park road is approximately 28 miles, totally doable with only a few hours or half a day and only has short hikes.

Some petrified logs | TeamTravelsBaby
Blue Mesa | TeamTravelsBaby

From here we actually headed back to Sedona. We heard we couldn’t miss Devil’s Bridge. The first half of the hike was very straightforward with incredible views of the gorgeous red rock you picture when you think of Sedona. We did eventually have to climb up until we made it to the natural bridge. From across the way, the bridge looks SUPER narrow and intimidating. We didn’t let that stop us and we got the pictures we wanted and enjoyed the views. It was however, insane to see people attempting handstands and holding their friends on their backs while on Devil’s Bridge. We made it back to the car in the dark without incident and loved seeing so many stars in the sky.

Devil’s Bridge in Sedona | TeamTravelsBaby

We ended our night in Hotel Aspen InnSuites in Flagstaff, the first International Dark Sky City in the world at nearly 7,000 feet in elevation. Our hotel was good with a separate building to house the hot breakfast and before we settled in, I got a delicious latte at Wicked AZ Coffee (isn’t the name clever!). While we didn’t go, I read the Lowell Observatory is cool if you’re looking for something else to do in Flagstaff.

Thursday, November 14

After we stuffed our faces, we drove to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Flagstaff. The amazing thing about national monuments is they are covered by the America the Beautiful pass. This monument normally costs $25 to see this one and the one adjacent (Wupatki)! After talking with the park ranger, we hiked the mile long Lava Flow Trail and boardwalk near the picnic area. From here, we continue to Cinder Hills Overlook. We had this place to ourselves! If you like volcanos and you’re traveling the U.S., you may also want to check out Capulin National Monument in New Mexico or Mount St. Helen’s National Monument in Washington.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | TeamTravelsBaby
Wupatki National Monument | TeamTravelsBaby

By continuing along Loop Road, without backtracking, we arrived at Wupatki National Monument. We stopped in the visitor center, showed our pass and then got a little book that explains the Wupati Pueblo. The pueblo is in good condition and is fun to walk through and read about. From here we went to the Lomaki Pueblo and Box Canyon dwellings before starting our long drive back to Vegas.

The Hoover Dam | TeamTravelsBaby

We decided to stop at the Hoover Dam. If you pass the parking garage, there are free parking lots. The Hoover Dam was SO COOL! Way cooler and pretties than any of us expected. Plus as a bonus, we got ice cream to enjoy here. We also made the drive to a separate parking lot to walk across the bridge itself. Once we got our fix here, we pulled off to take in a view of Lake Mead National Recreation Area before continuing our drive to Las Vegas. We found free parking near the Las Vegas Strip at the mall. The casinos, lights, displays and music were fun to take in. The highlight for me was seeing the Fountains of Bellagio dance to All That Jazz from the Broadway hit, Chicago.

We had an easy car rental return and airport experience before taking our red eye planes back to Baltimore and Detroit. This is definitely a great hub to consider if you’re hoping to see national parks! We will definitely be back so we can explore more of Nevada like Great Basin National Park and nearby Death Valley National Park! If you’re considering a trip like ours, I can’t recommend the America the Beautiful annual national park pass enough. This trip along without the pass would have cost $100 compared with $80 for the pass that gives access to so many places. And honestly, having the pass turns into motivation to plan more trips and further maximizing the annual benefit! Thanks for reading! And while you’re on my blog, feel free to check out some of our other national park adventures like the Everglades (Florida), the Badlands (South Dakota) and Zion (Utah). You can also read about all of our national park adventures by click on the National Parks topic button.

Follow us to our next adventure | TeamTravelsBaby

Right Up a Birders “Alli” (gator)

Posted in National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

A whirlwind long weekend (3 day trip) exploring South Florida! Everglades National Park boasts tons of wildlife (like alligators and birds galore), biking through beautiful nature and air boat rides. Biscayne Bay National Park is nearby with a small land portion and views of the Bay. Tons of other great stops for viewing opportunities along Tamiami Trail and totally doable with a toddler.

Day 1 Highlights

  • Lee County Manatee Park (Fort Myers)
  • Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (Fort Myers)
  • Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (along Tamiami Trail)
  • Ochopee Post Office (smallest in the U.S.) (along Tamiami Trail)
  • Big Cypress National Preserve (along Tamiami Trail)
  • Animals – alligators, anhingas, great blue heron, stork, SO MANY BIRDS
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Lee County Manatee Park | TeamTravelsBaby

When you find roundtrip tickets for $65, you book IMMEDIATELY! I couldn’t believe the deal we found (albeit on Spirit) to Fort Myers, Florida. Fort Myers is on the west coast of Florida and the airport is beautiful and all the car rental companies are ON PREMISES – a huge bonus. Recently, I discovered a new car rental site called “Wisecars” and I was very happy with it because it truly found the cheapest price for us (plus they allow cancellation up to 48 hours in advance). We rented from Budget and when we arrived, the line was SUPER long, but I was impressed it only took us about 45 minutes to get our car and be on our way.

Within a 15-20 minute drive of the airport is Lee County Manatee Park. This place was something like $2 to park (for an hour) and free to enter. It is an extremely short walk to the water (past a cute playground if you have kids) and during the cold months (like February), you can see manatees. We saw SO MANY manatees! There are volunteers there sharing information – like one of the 1000 pounds manatees eats 1/10th of its weight in food everyday! From here, we got our Wal-Mart water/snacks and then went to Six Mile Cypress Slough [sloo] Preserve. This place has the tiniest parking lot and they recommend carpooling or biking because there are literally not nearly enough spots for the middle of the day. We lucked out, found parking (which is like $1/hour) and absolutely loved the boardwalk trail. We saw anhingas (a type of bird), an alligator sunning himself, ibis, turtles and a few other animals.  The boardwalk is extremely well-maintained, and this is worth a stop if you have at least 90 minutes.

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park along U.S. 41 | TeamTravelsBaby

We started our drive toward U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), which is the scenic drive across the Everglades (compared to I-75/Alligator Alley). This road is incredible, and you can literally see all types of gorgeous birds and alligators on your drive. Our first stop was Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. We parked right along the trail and headed for the walk in where we saw incredible birds, an eagle’s nest and a small alligator. We did not hike everything, but 45 minutes here was perfect for a taste of south Florida wildlife. As we continued along the road, it was super random, but we got to see the SMALLEST U.S. Post Office called “Ochopee”. Definitely a great photo op!

We nearly had the State Park to ourselves | TeamTravelsBaby

If your goal is to see alligators (like anyone who comes to the Everglades), then Big Cypress National Preserve is a must! Easy to park and free! They have a nice, short boardwalk where the opportunities to see alligators, birds, and alligators hunting birds are endless! Don’t forget to look down. It was crazy how many people walked right by an alligator without noticing it. There’s also a visitor center here if you’re a park stamp collector. We actually ended up stopping here twice because it was that good!

The smallest U.S. Post Office | TeamTravelsBaby

Day 2 Highlights

  • Shark Valley, 15 mile bike ride-alligators, all types of birds (Everglades National Park)
  • Flamingo Bay-osprey, crocodiles (Everglades National Park)
  • Royal Palm, Anhinga Trail-green heron, great blue heron, alligators (Everglades National Park)
We survived our first family bike ride…only 15 miles | TeamTravelsBaby

We started our morning early and headed to Shark Valley Visitor Center. We parked our car early as we waited for the rangers to open the gate (at 8:30 am for us). While we waited, we saw alligators next to our cars in the water. After showing our America the Beautiful pass ($80 annually), which I can’t recommend enough and as long as you visit a few parks is 100% worth it, we parked at the Visitor Center. As a side note, the Everglades alone are $35. Bike rentals are hard to come by, so get there when this place opens. It was easy to rent (by the hour for $9/hour/bike) and they have kid seats/helmets so our 16 month old daughter got to enjoy her first ride. Within our first two miles, we had already seen tons of alligators and a huge variety of birds. In hindsight, we totally could have turned around at this point and have been satisfied by what we had seen. BUT, we’re not those people, so we powered through and made it to the tower around the halfway point. The tower reminded us of the one we climbed at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We finished the 15-mile loop and will note that the first 7ish miles are definitely more scenic and have more wildlife.

We drove to the southern most visitor center in the Everglades called Flamingo Bay. Did you know Florida had crocodiles?! Honestly, even though I lived in Florida more than half of my life, I didn’t know that! We saw an almost 14-foot crocodile in the water (that people were kayaking in…because they’re crazy), a baby crocodile and the coolest osprey nest we had ever seen. This osprey nest was amazing because you could see the mama bird and then when the dada bird arrived with the food, you could see two out of her three babies! It was so much fun watching and our daughter loved it too! We heard manatees and dolphins can sometimes be seen in this area, but we did not see any.

Sunset on the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades | TeamTravelsBaby

On our drive out, we stopped at Royal Palm to walk the less than one-mile boardwalk through sawgrass marsh (Anhinga Trail). It was perfect timing because the sun was starting to set, and the lighting was great for taking pictures. PAY ATTENTION! I was so thankful someone pointed out the alligator under the open railing because it would have been super easy to walk by and not notice.  The coolest bird we saw here was a green heron! These birds are unique looking and can be hard to spot (we were lucky someone pointed it out to us). You will definitely see other birds and alligators here.

Day 3 Highlights

  • Biscayne Bay National Park (land portion)
  • Coopertown Airboat Ride plus alligator tail (Everglades National Park)
  • Fort Myers Beach

After a good night’s rest in Homestead, we made the 15 minute drive to Biscayne Bay National Park. We parked at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center and enjoyed the lovely Jetty Trail. You can see Miami and Miami Beach in the distance, spot birds and watch the boats leave for the Biscayne Bay National Park islands. This park is 95% water and if you want to see more than the trail and visitor center, you have some planning to do. If you’re a national park stamp collector, don’t forget to get one!

Biscayne Bay National Park | TeamTravelsBaby

In talking with another tourist at Big Cypress, we learned about Coopertown Airboat. All along Tamiami Trail you will see signs for airboat companies. Lucky for us, Coopertown (it’s been around for 75 years) had a great reputation and a GroupOn deal! Our daughter went for free and our America the Beautiful pass waived the additional fee for access to the park. Before the boat ride, there’s a short animal show. They have a handful of alligators on the premises and then someone presents a snapping turtle, a snake (which my 16 month old pet with excitement…not mommy) and talks about the Everglades. From here, we were placed on the airboat and having a toddler landed us in the front row! There are life jackets on-board, they offer you cotton balls for your ears and give the little ones headphones.

Riding on an airboat was not scary like I anticipated. It was a thrill! The boat moves really well, and you get up close and personal with birds (before they fly away) and alligators (yep, they may swim right next to your boat). The driver was informative and funny. It’s insane to imagine there used to be a canopy covering over the Everglades before Hurricane Andrew wiped it out in 1992. Seeing the Everglades via air boat is a MUST to complete any trip here. There’s a small restaurant next door and as part of our experience, I ordered alligator tail for us to try. Needless to say, it tastes like chicken? Well, it’s fried and breaded, so I couldn’t tell it was alligator and we both really liked it.

We made our way back down Tamiami Trail, stopping again at Big Cypress for up close alligators and birds and then at a random lake filled with white and brown pelicans, roseate spoonbills and tons of other birds before driving through Marco Island (absolutely stunning with cool canals) and Naples. Ultimately, we arrived at Fort Myers Beach. Fort Myers Beach took quite a while to get onto since it narrows to a one lane each direction road over a bridge. We found reasonably priced public street parking (on the right when you get over the bridge). We walked the historic pier, wandered between the shops and let Addy walk the beach for the first time. She loved collecting sticks, leaves and shells! We also took off her shoes and socks so she could walk into the ocean for the first time. The water was pretty chilly, but she tried! The sand between her toes didn’t bother it at all and at one point we thought she was going to lay down and make a sand angel. We caught a lovely sunset here before heading to Tampa to spend time with my parents and then fly home.

Fort Myers Historic Pier | TeamTravelsBaby
Thanks for following our trip to the end (aka sunset on Fort Myers Beach) | TeamTravelsBaby

2,019 for 2019! (National Parks-NM, CO, TX)

Posted in National Parks, Read Them All, State CapitolTagged , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
Great Sand Dunes

We couldn’t do it again if we tried! We drove exactly 2,019 miles on our first trip of 2019. We visited 5 National Monuments, 3 National Parks, a National Wildlife Refuge, a State Capitol and lots of other points of interest in between. Did I mention we did this with our 4 month old baby? #TeamTravelsBaby ! Check out our 5 day trip report (February 15-20).

@TeamTravelsBaby

Lucky for us, Spirit Airlines often flies for ~$100 round-trip to Denver from Baltimore. Even better is Denver is situated in the perfect place to take all kinds of amazing National Park trips. Check out our long October weekend to the Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks or our 7 day National Park trip that ended with Rocky Mountain National Park (an easy 90 minutes from Denver).

We are National Park junkies and have made it a goal to try and explore them all and we’re almost halfway there (Mike and I have visited 27 together)! My sister-in-law shares our love of hiking and adventuring and joined us on this ambitious trip out west (luckily Spirit offers a similarly priced trip from Detroit)! February is a COLD month to visit Colorado and New Mexico (think negative 12 degrees at one point) and we literally would not have been able to cover as much ground or have the five day trip we did without her help.

Favorite trip pic of Addy!

Day 1 (approximate miles driven: 550 miles)

  • Start Day – Colorado Springs (Day 0, arrived late in the evening to DIA and drove here to sleep)
  • Bishop Castle – Think crooked, unfinished castle with cool turrets, beautiful stain glass and a unique “found on the side of the road” Colorado vibe. Fun to explore at your own risk!
  • Capulin Volcano National Monument – Right over the border in New Mexico, you drive to the top of the volcano. It is SUPER windy and there are two hikes at the top – one around the rim and one into the crater. There’s also a nice short round-trip walk near the visitor center. While this park costs $20, if you buy the $80 America the Beautiful National Park pass, you can get your monies worth in no time by visiting a handful of parks in a year. The ergo baby was perfect here, but our Addy hated the wind.
  • Las Vegas – If you know geography, you’ll know we didn’t drive to the real Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a small town with a historic hotel, some graffiti and a town square with some statues. A good pit stop to stretch your legs on the way to something cooler.
  • End Day – Roswell
Bishop Castle
Addy Girl Travels
Capulin Volcano

Day 2 (approximate miles driven: 484 miles)

  • Carlsbad Caverns
  • Carlsbad Caverns
    Draperies
  • Hawk at Carlsbad Caverns
    Hawk at the Caverns
  • Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge – We woke up in Roswell (yep, the alien city with the alleged UFO citing). First thing in the morning, we drove the 8-mile wildlife loop. It was a very serene drive and a nice place to start the day.
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park – This was one of the highlights of the trip and also covered by the America the Beautiful Pass (instead of $15 per person, the pass covers up to 4 people). The drive up the mountain to get the visitor’s center is beautiful as well as the one-way loop on Walnut Canyon Desert Drive. The walk down to the Big Room in the cave as well as the loop around it is filled with decorations or stalactites and stalagmites. There’s also an elevator option, which we took at the end back to the visitor’s center instead of attempting a steep walk up with Addy. Our ergo baby came in handy and Addy slept almost the entire time we explored. If you’re interested in taking a guided tour, make sure to buy your tickets in advance as they only take small groups and they sell out quickly. Based on our positive experiences of taking guided tours at Wind Cave National Park (SD), Jewel Cave National Monument (SD), Cave of the Winds (CO), and Luray Caverns (VA), this is something we wish we could have done here.  We also enjoyed the short nature trail that looped back to the amphitheater (where you enter the cave).
  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park – This park is extremely close (like a 30 minute drive) from Carlsbad Caverns and right over the border into the northwest corner of Texas. We also went through a time zone change driving here. The scenery is beautiful and shouldn’t be missed. We weren’t here long, but we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset over this park on the way back to New Mexico.
  • End Day – Santa Fe
Sunset
Guadalupe Mountains
Bitter Lake NWR

Day 3 (approximate miles driven: 147 miles)

  • Santa Fe
  • Santa Fe
  • Cathedral in Santa Fe
  • Santa Fe – Waking up here was the best decision because this meant my SIL and I got to try the Christmas chili (red and green chili) breakfast burrito at The New Baking Company. It was DELISH! From here it was a short drive to old town Santa Fe. We parked a few blocks from the State Capitol at a meter (there’s a free week day parking garage, but it fills up quickly). Everywhere you walk there’s red chili hanging. It’s super pretty and unique. The whole city has a unique vibe. We checked out the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, sipped a matcha latte and chai plus indulged and tried gelato samples from Café Atalaya and toured the utilitarian State Capitol building (found the accessible entrance through the connected Annex). The artwork throughout the Capitol was made by artists who lived in New Mexico at the time of creation and the views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are incredible. This was a stroller friendly couple of hours.
  • Bandelier National Monument – This was another highlight of the trip! Starting at the visitor center, there’s a great hike up to the first set of houses. There are ladders to climb up and take a peek in the different houses. We continued past these to the Alcove House! This is a 140 foot ascent up multiple ladders (at your own risk) and we did this with our baby in tow! My husband was brave enough to wear her up and down and VERY lucky for us, she slept through it all. The experience is exhilarating and the view from the top is worth the climb. We also saw mule deer and an Abert’s squirrel (they have funny ears).
  • Albuquerque – We saw the most gorgeous sunset on our drive to ABQ. I would highly recommend finding a good spot to post up for pics! We found an evening coffee spot called Prismatic Coffee, drove around for a bit and then called it a night.
  • End Day – Albuquerque
  • Bandelier
    Bandelier National Monument
  • Alcove House
    Ascent up to Alcove House
  • Petroglyphs National Monument
  • Petroglyphs
    Petroglyphs
  • Petroglyphs

Day 4 (approximate miles driven: 330 miles)

  • Petroglyphs National Monument – We happened to be in ABQ when there was TONS of snow, so there wasn’t a sunrise like we had hoped to see in the Volcanoes Day section of this park. We ended up being able to hike at Piedras Marcadas Canyon. This was a really fun hike to do in the snow (with the place to ourselves) and we were still able to see petroglyphs and lots of black-tailed jackrabbits.
  • Tent Rocks National Monument – We were super bummed we drove all the way here and it was unexpectedly closed. If you’re in this general area between Santa Fe and ABQ, definitely try to add it to your list! The cone shaped rock formations are reminiscent of the hoodies we saw at Bryce Canyon National Park.
  • Rio Grande del Norte National Monument – This was a way better stop than we anticipated. The bridge itself and views are amazing. We got super lucky too and saw 5 big horned sheep grazing below, two of which were males with huge horns. There’s ample parking on both sides of the bridge and facilities. 
  • Taos – We didn’t quite make it to the “mountain village”, but we did enjoy a coffee shop here before the rest of our drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.
  • Colorful Colorado – Don’t miss the opportunity to jump out of the car and get a picture with the “Colorful Colorado” sign at the border!
  • End Day – Alamosa (near Great Sand Dunes)
Rio Grande
Big Horned Sheep at the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
Great Sand Dunes
Great Sand Dunes National Park | TeamTravelsBaby

Day 5 (approximate miles driven: 330 miles)

  • Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve – We drove the park road the night before and saw tons of elk grazing. On our sunrise drive into the park, we got to take in some amazing views and you realize the sand dunes are right before your eyes in front of humungous mountains. We went right past the visitor center and we were able to hike onto the snow covered sand dunes. Again, we had this place to ourselves! It was cool to see different animal prints in the snow covered sand. It’s unlike any place we had ever been before and also one of the highlights of the trip. We didn’t have the right kind of vehicle for the terrain and snow covered incline, but if you do, it looks like nearby Zapata Falls would be an amazing place to see.
  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument – This wasn’t in the original plan, but when we realized we had a little extra time on our hands, we headed here. There are fossilized redwood stumps and we enjoyed a snow-covered trail here. There were also tons of fossils to see in the visitor center. We didn’t see signs for it, but there’s a new National Monument called Browns Canyon in the general area between Great Sand Dunes and here that looks like it would be fun to see. You can see the Arkansas River when you’re driving.
  • Colorado Springs – At 4.9 stars when we checked, Story Coffee Company is a super cute, tiny coffee shop located right in the center of town. Our drinks were delicious and kept us warm as we looped around town checking out the street art and beautiful mountain views. With about an hour left before we needed to head to Denver, the Garden of the Gods (free) was a perfect way to spend the sunset. The red rocks make for the ideal photo backdrop. If you have more time, Cave of the Winds is located here.
  • End Day/Trip – Returned rental car to the Denver airport and took a red eye flight home; Car rentals can be really expensive out of Denver Airport, so make sure to shop around. We got the best deal using Car Rental 8, but in the past I’ve often found the best deal using CarRentals.com .
Great Sand Dunes
Florissant Fossil Beds
Florissant Fossil Beds

Would we do it again? Absolutely. Would we recommend waiting until it were slightly warmer out? Perhaps. However, the BEST benefit of traveling during the off season is you get places like National Parks and Monuments all to yourself. At many of the places we visited, we either had the place to ourselves or we saw less than a handful of people. The other BIG benefit is you can find CHEAP hotels in the off season, if you have a baby like us and can no longer carsleep your way around the country. Keep up with us on Instagram @TeamTravelsBaby as we head out on our next adventure!

Story Coffee Company
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods

Cruisin’ the Canaries

Posted in Cruise, Europe, National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment
La Palma, Canray Island | TeamTravelsBaby

Have you heard of the Canary Islands? They’re a group of Spanish islands near the coast of Morocco with temperate weather, lots of national parks, volcanoes and beaches! If you’ve ever wanted to island hop, doing so via a cruise is a great way! There are seven main Canary Islands and we got to explore five of them, plus a city in Morocco during our week long Pullmantur cruise (Horizon ship) and a stopover in Madrid. We traveled February 16 – 26, 2018, which was the perfect time to escape the cold Washington, D.C. winter.

Top Benefits of Cruisin’

  • Stress-free. You don’t have to pack and unpack every night.
  • Time-saver. You get to cover a lot of ground without exerting any effort.
  • Eat without thinking. You know where all of your meals are coming from.
  • Fun galore! There are lots of activities and shows for entertainment and pools to relax by.
  • Socialize without the clean-up. You can meet people who share your love for travel from all over the world.

Tenerife, Canary Island

  • We were here for the end of Carnival (a huge celebration where everyone dressed up in costumes like it was Halloween). Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the main city where Carnival was being celebrated and is also where the port is for the round-trip cruise.
  • Wandered through Strasse Park, which had very unique agriculture.
  • City of La Orotava is an old historic city with beautiful views.
  • Easy to rent a car from the airport and drive on the island.
  • Arrived one full day ahead of our cruise departing to explore the island (and found a safe place to carsleep).

La Palma, Canary Island

  • Curved around and up the mountain to see the Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves, a famous church with a beautiful view of the city.
  • Hiked in Caldera de Taburiente National Park where we saw a few Canarian ravens and a stunning rainbow!
  • Viewed the famous Spanish balconies and black sand beach while eating delicious ice cream!

Agadir, Morocco

  • The port is not extremely close to the town (probably 45 minute walk) and we came across a few stray dogs and cats. Be careful as we found the dogs will follow you.
  • Traveled to the Kasbah, which is the highest point. There are camels you can ride on or take a picture with. The inscription reads “God, Homeland, King” on the side of the mountain.
  • Shopped three Souks (markets) and learned about Moroccan oil. Negotiated a great deal for a painting with tree goats in the argan tree in a small souk by the beach.

Lanzarote, Canary Island

  • Los Hervideros is an incredible water hole. The water is so strong that you are not allowed to swim as people have died trying.
  • Drove through Timanfaya National Park to see the crater. We stopped at El Diablo Restaurant in the park to see a demonstration of the volcanic heat. This restaurant makes its food from the volcanic heat.
  • Some drank wine, while I ate ice cream at La Geria.

Fuerteventura, Canary Island

  • Walked along La Oliva, a beautiful sand beach.
  • Visited a cute, small town called Betancuria and the ruins.
  • Explored the port city of Arrecife and Puerto del Rosario.

Gran Canaria, Canary Island

  • Strolled through the quaint town of Vega de San Mateo and Tejega (one of the most beautiful cities in Spain).
  • Ate a fabulous lunch in the City of Teror, saw their famous balconies and stepped inside their historic church.
  • Saw the Roque Nublo or cloudy rock, which was beautiful.
  • Promenaded along the Playas de las Canteras which was the happening beach near the cruise port and took in a beautiful sunset here.
  • We had a fantastic tour guide and a small group of travelers from around the world. The funny thing is, we spent the first thirty minutes of our time on the island panicking that our excursion wasn’t going to happen because the excursion company (Shore Excursioneer) confirmed a different time with us then they did with the person picking us up for the tour.
Gran Canaria Sunset | TeamTravelsBaby

Madrid, Spain

  • Booked a flight with a stopover in Madrid (less than 24 hours; arrived 3 p.m. and departed 1 p.m. the next day) because it’s only 30 minutes via public transportation to get to the city center.
  • Bird-watching in the huge park, El Retiro Park.
  • Peaked into the train station, Atocha and also found the perfect, last minute hostel with a private room called Far Home Atocha for only 40 euros that I would highly recommend. Use my Booking.com link and we each get $20!
  • Awed at the Almudena Cathedral, and would definitely tour it the next time we visit this city.
  • Traipsed through town and saw places like Plaza Mayor, the San Miguel Market and the bear and strawberry tree in La Puerta del Sol.

Full Disclosure

  • I was about 8 weeks pregnant on this trip, so I couldn’t fully indulge on the Pullmantur cruise line which offers free alcoholic beverages (like house wines) in the price of the cruise.
  • I had all day sickness – morning sickness, motion sickness, you name it and still had an amazing trip and would recommend checking out www.vacationstogo.com (free with your email address) to find this cruise and other deals!

Cluster your day around Custer

Posted in National Parks, Read Them All, State CapitolTagged , , , , , 1 Comment
Sunrise at Custer State Park | Teamtravelsblog

South Dakota amazed us! Sylvan Lake and a drive along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park shouldn’t be missed! Jewel Cave National Monument is incredible and different from nearby Wind Cave. Our whirlwind three day trip wraps up here with a pit stop in Cheyenne and Denver too!

South Dakota Trip Highlights on Sunday, October 29, 2017

  • The animals – elk, bison, pronghorn, white-tailed deer
  • Jewel Cave National Monument
  • Crazy Horse Memorial
  • Custer State Park – Sylvan Lake and Needles Highway
  • Cheyenne, WY – Paramount Café, Big Boots
  • Denver, CO – 16th Street Mall

I woke up super early, so I decided to get our day started. We headed for 16A (road name) from Rapid City, South Dakota so we could get on Iron Mountain Road. I read online and I was told that Iron Mountain Road was a windy road into Custer State Park that offered cool one lane tunnels. There were a few benefits of going before the sunrise: 1) The night sky is visible and filled with stars; 2) Not a single other car on the road; 3) Tons of deer. The road has a few pull offs and eventually connects in with the Wildlife Loop of Custer State Park by the visitor center. This was great for us because we arrived to the Wildlife Loop right around sunrise (sunrise time: 7:25 am) and the perfect time for animal viewing.

Bison
Bison on the Wildlife Loop | Teamtravelsblog

As we began our drive from east to west, we saw two male elk in the distance. As we watched them, they ultimately approached the road and crossed the street in front of us. Talk about good timing! Throughout our drive, we saw many buffalo and some white-tailed deer too. The highlight though was when we saw four pronghorn on the side of the road. I’m really happy they weren’t scared off by our car because we were able to get some great photos and video!

Pronghorn in Custer State Park | Teamtravelsblog

From the Wildlife Loop we headed through Custer to get to Jewel Cave National Monument. The entire time drive is through the Black Hills National Forest, which in and of itself is beautiful. Jewel Cave is often compared with Wind Cave since they’re only about 45 minutes apart from each other. In my opinion, the two caves are quite different and both worth a look. We took the 10 a.m., 80 minute Natural Tour ($12/person). The size of the cave, which is ranked #3 in the world, feels enormous compared with Wind Cave. There are incredible stalactites (icicle-shaped and hang from the cave) and stalagmites (generally under the stalactite and formed from the water dripping). While Wind Cave is known for its boxwork, the stalactites and stalagmites are more abundant in Jewel Cave.

"Bacon" at Jewel Cave
“Bacon” at Jewel Cave | Teamtravelsblog

There’s also a really amazing formation known as “bacon”, which legitimately looks like the world’s biggest bacon strip found in Jewel Cave. We found the tour to be worthwhile and also enjoyed a peaceful “Walk on the Roof” above ground.

After leaving Jewel Cave, we headed back to Custer to check out the Crazy Horse Memorial. Crazy Horse is not an animal, but rather a Native American leader of the Lakota tribe. This Memorial is not a finished work, but rather a work in progress that was started in the 1940s.

Current Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial | Teamtravelsblog

If you pay the $12/person, you gain access to a very large museum of Native American history. We found the 23 minute video to be really informative and it talks about the history of the Memorial as well as the continued work. It turns out that a Native American, known as Standing Bear, approached Korczak Ziolkowski, a Polish man to take on the creation of the Crazy Horse Memorial. Mr. Ziolkowski also happened to be a Mount Rushmore sculptor. Since his passing, his family created a foundation that continues to work on the Memorial and the museum offers a large scale statue of what they expect the final Memorial to look like.

Crazy Horse Mini Version
Crazy Horse Mini Version | Teamtravelsblog

You can definitely get a view of the Memorial without entering the Crazy Horse Memorial area. This may interest you, especially since it’s another $4 if you want to take a school bus closer to the Memorial, which is an active construction site. Nevertheless, we both learned a lot in our short visit.

From here, we knew we wanted to try to see Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and drive along the Needles Highway. As we drove toward the Sylvan Lake Entrance, we saw some enormous longhorn cattle. Past the Custer State Park pay station, there is a parking lot for Sylvan Lake. This lake is an absolute hidden gem – it’s beautiful! While it was very cold out, we braced it to take a short walk by the lake which boasts enormous rocks.

We then followed the signs for the Needles Highway. It’s a very windy road, has an 8-foot wide tunnel that I was sure we wouldn’t fit through and views similar to what you’d experience at Zion National Park. This part of Custer State Park could definitely be a national park – it’s incredible! One curve after the tunnel, we saw a man with binoculars pulled over. We joined him and after our eyes adjusted, we realized he had spotted mountain goats blending into the side of the mountain. What a treat! If we come back, we will definitely spend more time exploring here.

Needles Highway | Teamtravelsblog
Sylvan Lake | Teamtravelsblog

We hit the road to start our ride back to Denver, Colorado. The drive is beautiful and you can enjoy fast speeds and see animals like horses, cows and bison on both sides of the road. It was a few hours before we made it to Cheyenne, Wyoming. This is the capitol, but unfortunately their state capitol building was under construction so we didn’t get a good picture of the building or a chance to tour the inside. A few minutes up the street we found free parking and walked to the Paramount Café located at 1607 Capitol Avenue so I could get a coffee treat.

Paramount Cafe in Cheyenne
Paramount Cafe in Cheyenne | Teamtravelsblog

This place was decorated for Halloween and I ordered a Casa Bonita (honey, cinnamon + vanilla latte) from their “super secret menu”. This is one of the most reasonably priced coffee shops I’ve been in to, which is probably a little insight into the cost of living here.

Up the street from the Paramount Café, you can discover a few of the “Big Boots of Cheyenne”. There are a few around the Depot Plaza and Museum. Even the clock on the old train station was decked out for Halloween with an orange color and cat-like eyes. This was a good pit stop on our journey back to Denver. Since we made surprisingly good time, and it was Sunday, we found a free parking spot on Champa Street only a few blocks from the 16th Street Mall. You’ll have to read about our previous and more complete Denver experience in another blog post.

"Big Boot" at Cheyenne Depot Plaza
“Big Boot” at Cheyenne Depot Plaza | Teamtravelsblog

We returned our rental car and made our red eye Frontier flight without issue. This concludes our incredible three day adventure in South Dakota with a side of Cheyenne and a sip of Denver. We hope you’ll follow us to our next adventure!

The Baddest Lands Around

Posted in National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , , 3 Comments

Wake up at Custer State Park and then enjoy all that the Badlands National Park has to offer! We loved seeing so many animals in their natural habitat. One of the biggest highlights was seeing two male big-horned sheep fight!

South Dakota Highlights on Saturday, October 28, 2017

  • The animals – elk, bison, swift fox, deer, badgers, prairie dogs, big-horned sheep
  • Sunrise along the Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park, drove west to east
  • Wall Drug for coffee and a donut
  • Badlands National Park – Door, Window, Notch and Cliff Shelf Trail
  • Badlands National Park – Big Badlands, Yellow Mounds and Pinnacles Overlook
  • Rapid City – Art Alley and president statues

We woke up excited to find more animals. If our day visiting Wind Cave National Park was any indication, we were going to be in for a good day. It was a very short drive from our lodge to the Blue Bell entrance onto the Wildlife Loop of Custer State Park. The first animal we came across was an entire herd of elk! To top it off, the elk were bugling (this is the sound they make)! We were completely mesmerized.

Elk in Custer State Park
Elk in Custer State Park | Teamtravelsblog

Once the herd moved along, we did too. We continue along the loop until we came across four bison grazing near the road. As we watched them, they began to walk toward our car. Was I scared? Uh yea, a little! The bison watched us to make sure it was safe to cross the road behind our car, which was a great opportunity for more pictures and video.

Driving through Custer State Park is a must on your visit to South Dakota! As we continued, we saw an endless gang of bison.

Bison at Custer State Park
Bison at Custer State Park | Teamtravelsblog

The sunrise was beautiful as the day began to break. We also found tons of deer by the visitor center at the I-36 intersection. This is the best map I found if you want to follow along: https://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/docs/custer-map.pdf We exited the park on I-36 east and continued to spot bison. We used this exit so we could easily get on to I-90 toward Wall Drug and the Badlands National Park. Wall Drug was about a 75 minute drive.

From the moment you get on I-90, where you can drive 80 miles per hour, you’ll start to see hokey advertising for Wall Drug. Mike was skeptical, but I was determined to stop here and try their 5 cent coffee and famous donuts! “Wall Drug” is the name of the store, which is located in Wall, South Dakota. The maple donut was delicious and the coffee was good – who can beat 5 cents? If you have a few minutes to spare, check out the backyard’s giant jackalope for a photo op. In less than 30 minutes, we had arrived at the Badlands National Park. We were thankful, yet again, to have our Annual National Park Pass for $80, since this park currently costs $20 by car.

Our first stop in the park was the Big Badlands Overlook. Make sure to take note of the details on the mounds and stay alert for rattlesnakes. Luckily, throughout our entire day in this park, we did not see a rattlesnake. Needless to say, I would have flipped out if we did!

Big Badlands Overlook | Teamtravelsblog
Big Badlands Overlook | Teamtravelsblog

As we continued, there was a large parking lot that had the trailhead for the Door Trail, Windows Trail and the Notch Trail. We started with the Door Trail, which begins with a nice boardwalk and then offers yellow numbered poles to follow to the “End of Trail” sign. It’s about 0.75 miles round-trip and a good hike to immerse yourself in the park. We learned here that it was named “the Badlands” by the French who called it “Les Mauvaises Terres” because the land was difficult to traverse. The Window Trail was super short and has a pretty view. One of the big highlights for us was the Notch Trail! The trail starts off easy as you’re following the poles to stay on the trail. Then you arrive at a wooden ladder and have a choice. We opted to climb the wooden ladder because it’s part of the adventure! Once at the top, you follow along some steep cliffs, may have some challenges finding a pole to follow and eventually make it to the end which overlooks the Cliff Shelf Trail. We met two really nice cross-country travelers here and swapped stories about our favorite national parks and must sees! The Cliff Shelf Trail was another short and beautiful boardwalk trail with stairs.

Notch Trail
Notch Trail | Teamtravelsblog

If you want to follow along or plan out your trip, click here for a good, free map of Badlands National Park.

Since we were at the Badlands during the off-season, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center was the only visitor center open. It has real facilities and a place to fill your water bottles. To date, we’ve found that all of the park rangers we’ve met offer great advice. He recommended that we drive the Wildlife Loop Road for our best chance at seeing wildlife and that we continue onto the unpaved road called Sage Creek Rim Road in order to see bison, prairie dogs and potentially other animals. He also advised that people were reporting big-horned sheep near the Conata points of interest on the map. We also learned that the Badlands is a free hike park, so you can hike anywhere, but they strongly recommend following an existing buffalo path since this animal always takes the path of least resistance. You’ll know a buffalo path when you see one.

While we stopped for some pictures of the scenery, our first major stop was the Yellow Mounds Overlook. I don’t know why, but the color yellow that twinkles in the light reminded me of the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz.

Yellow Mounds Overlook
Yellow Mounds Overlook | Teamtravelsblog

We met a bike rider who thought he spotted a big-horned sheep, so we got in our car and followed him. We turned onto Conata Road and sure enough, there were tons of big-horned sheep! It felt like we hit the jackpot when the two males started butting heads!

| Teamtravelsblog
| Teamtravelsblog
| Teamtravelsblog

We were completely mesmerized as we watched the female big-horned sheep graze and the males continue to fight off and on. As the next 30 or 45 minutes unfolded, there became a clear winner, the dominant male who rejoined the rest and left the inferior male to lick his wounds.

Before turning onto Sage Creek Rim Road, we found two young big-horned sheep in the Pinnacles Overlook parking lot. Have your camera ready on the Sage Creek Rim Road. As we were driving, we saw a swift fox cross the road with a prairie dog in its mouth! We opened our windows and the prairie dog town was going crazy! They were so upset that one of their own was kidnapped! Mike had a really good eye and spotted a badger! We’d never seen one of these before. The badger was on the hunt for a prairie dog itself. This badger interrupted another badger keeping quiet that appeared to have a better strategy than the first one. It was interesting as we scanned the land, there were no prairie dogs nearby, as they had all disappeared into their mounds and had clearly taken note of the badgers lurking. As we continued on the drive, we saw bison and a few loner big-horned sheep. If you’re looking for a specific place with prairie dog (even though they’re everywhere), check out Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

| Teamtravelsblog
Bison | Teamtravelsblog
| Teamtravelsblog

If it isn’t obvious, Badlands National Park is incredible!

We returned to the Pinnacles Overlook to watch the sunset. The light illuminates the landscape in a magnificent way. We also saw another big-horned sheep grazing. As dusk set-in, we drove back toward the Yellow Mounds Overlook and saw tons of deer on the side of the road. Make sure to be careful and drive with your high beams when you can. We exited the park at the Pinnacles Entrance which was about 9 miles to the interstate. We saw more deer along this drive then we saw people in Badlands National Park!

Sunset at the Pinnacles Overlook
Sunset at the Pinnacles Overlook | Teamtravelsblog

Mike drove us safely to the city called Rapid City in South Dakota, while I took a nice warm car nap. The parking on Main Street was free and made it right before 7 p.m. I wouldn’t go out of your way, but if you have 30 minutes or so to spare, it’s fun to check out the various president statues and Art Alley (by the Alex Johnson Hotel) all within walking distance. Art Alley has some cool graffiti. We found statues of FDR (note the cane behind the podium), Calvin Coolidge and Chester Arthur to name a few. Since it was in the 50s, we found a safe place to carsleep for the night.

Art Alley in Rapid City
Art Alley in Rapid City | Teamtravelsblog

I hope you’ll check back with us soon to hear about our Sunday travels. They include more Custer State Park highlights, Jewel Cave National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial and some incredible drives around and through the Black Hills National Forest. I would love to have you follow us on Instagram if you enjoy our photos and content!

Wind Cave is Rushmore than a Cave

Posted in National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , 3 Comments

Wind Cave National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial are must see places on any visit to the western part of South Dakota! If you’re an animal lover, we hope you get to see bison, coyotes, prairie dogs, pronghorn and mountain goats like we did!

South Dakota Highlights on Friday, October 27, 2017

  • The animals – bison, coyotes, prairie dogs, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain goats
  • Rankin Ridge trail (1 mile loop) at Wind Cave National Park
  • Wind Cave natural entrance tour
  • Boland Ridge trail at Wind Cave National Park
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial

We arrived to the Denver airport on Thursday night around 11 p.m. on a last minute, direct Frontier Flight for $97! For our three day trip, we found a car with Payless Car Rental for under $70. I love using CarRentals.com for great, last minute deals! Have I mentioned before that we’re carsleepers? Well, we are and we love it! We spent the night in the Walmart parking lot in Fort Collins, Colorado about an hour away and then headed to Wind Cave National Park (another 4 hours) in South Dakota very early in the morning. Through our travels, we’ve learned to be light packers and filled one of our two personal items with two blankets.

We entered the park from I-385 intending to find the visitor center, but turned onto I-87, which was not the right way. It was meant to be though because we got some great views of bison. We found a few bison almost instantly upon turning onto the road and then two more up the road at Lookout Point Trail. Here’s a map of the park if you want to follow along: https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/upload/WICAmapBrochure.pdf

As we continued along I-87, there are two narrow bridges. After the second narrow bridge, we drove about another mile or so before we pulled off to the side. Stay alert because it turned out we had parked by a prairie town! A prairie town is literally grasslands with adorable prairie dogs and their homes.

Prairie Dog at Wind Cave
Prairie Dog at Wind Cave | Teamtravelsblog

Since it was so quiet, we could hear them chirping to each other and enjoyed watching them eat and pop in and out of their mounds. From here, we turned around, made it back to I-385 and found the visitor center. On the drive up to the visitor center, again, there are TONS of prairie dogs to see. If you have an interest in touring the “Wind Cave”, it’s a good idea to buy your ticket early (we were told they’re refundable). We bought our tickets ($5 per person) for the Natural Tour for the 1 p.m. tour and got advice on places to see from the extremely helpful ranger. Since we had a little less than 3 hours before the tour (we barely missed the 10 a.m. tour), we drove back up I-87 to Rankin Ridge. It’s a relatively easy 1 mile loop that gets you to the highest point in the park. While on our hike we saw a mule deer (keeping our streak alive with this being our 7th national park in a row of spotting a deer) and some beautiful views of the park. Traveling on the off season has some huge advantages – we didn’t see a single other person!

Coyote on I-87
Coyote at Wind Cave | Teamtravelsblog

Rankin Ridge at Wind Cave National Park
Rankin Ridge | Teamtravelsblog

On our drive back down I-87, we looked up and saw a coyote slowly crossing the field! As we followed the coyote, we spotted a second coyote! How cool is this? I took this picture from a bit of distance with my Nikon Coolpix L340*. We also found the same bison from earlier in new positions by the Lookout Point Trail and near the intersection of I-87 and I-385. While on the main road (I-385), we drove past the visitor center and found tons of bison on the side of the road. We were in picture heaven! As we approached Gobbler Pass, we spotted a coyote (our third one)! We stopped and watched the coyote walk by two bison, completely uninterested in each other. What was interesting was listening to the prairie dogs going crazy and warning each other!

We turned around because we didn’t want to exit the park and used the map to find the tiny pull off (for about 3 cars) at the Cold Brook Canyon trailhead. It was a peaceful walk, with tons of bison remnants to watch for as we stepped.

Bison and Coyote
Bison and Coyote | Teamtravelsblog

We returned to the visitor center for the 1 p.m. tour. Wind Cave recently became the 5th longest cave in the world (up one spot from #6). The ranger who served as the guide was super passionate and started by showing us the natural entrance. It’s really small! The park measures the barometric pressure so you can see whether the wind is blowing into or out of the cave. The highlight was entering the room at the end dubbed “The Post Office” which has beautiful boxwork (the cave is famous for this). The cave was definitely worth the $5!

We found the park map to come in handy. From I-87 we turned onto NPS-5. This is an unpaved road, but easy to drive. Along the drive we saw lots of prairie dogs and some pronghorn. We got to the intersection of NPS-5 and NPS-6 where we turned and found the small lot for the Boland Ridge trail. Again, we had to watch our step for animal remnants, but we also wanted to enjoy our surroundings. We came across a band of pronghorn. They watched us like hawks and it was fun to watch them jog away considering they’re the fastest animal in North America. We also found many more bison in this area. Wind Cave National Park impressed us!

Pronghorn at Boland Ridge
Pronghorn at Boland Ridge | Teamtravelsblog

We drove almost an hour out of the park, through Custer (where there are gas stations) and onto Mount Rushmore National Memorial. As we were approaching the parking entrance, we spotted deer grazing and two mountain goats! As we looked up from the mountain goats, we realized they were perfectly in front of the presidents’ heads!

Mountain Goat at Mount Rushmore
Mountain Goat at Mount Rushmore | Teamtravelsblog

We took advantage of the photo opportunity and then continued to the parking lot. We fully expected to pay about $11 for the parking structure, but there were no attendants when we entered shortly after 5 p.m. We parked for free and began our walk up to the memorial. The walk is beautiful. As you walk the Avenue of State Flags, you can get a picture with your home state and notate the day it became a state.

Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore | Teamtravelsblog

There is a large viewing area as well as steps down to another viewing area to see Mount Rushmore. Since we arrived before sunset (sunset time: 5:51 p.m.), we enjoyed the memorial in the natural light and then stayed past 6 p.m. to see the illuminated memorial which was also cool. While this place may be crowded in the summer, there were minutes at a time where we had the entire place to ourselves!

We got a great tip from the gentleman in the Mount Rushmore store. After leaving the memorial, we followed the signs for the “Profile View” where you can park and get pictures of George Washington’s profile. Since the evening temperatures were set to fall into the 20s, we opted to find a last minute hotel deal. I am a huge fan of Booking.com*. We found a highly rated lodge called Calamity Peak Lodge for under $60 in Custer. If you’ve never used Booking.com* before, I would encourage you to use my link* so we can each get $20 when you book. The lodge was really unique inside with wooden walls, clean and had all of the normal amenities. The owner was extremely nice and met us as soon as we called to check us in. I would definitely recommend this place.

As we have in previous trips, we decided to call it a night at a reasonable time so we could wake up with the birds and go searching for animals by sunrise! Check back with us to read about the animals we found in Custer State Park and the Badlands National Park on Saturday!

Bison at Wind Cave
Bison at Wind Cave | Teamtravelsblog

Moose, Elk and a Black Bear, Oh My!

Posted in National Parks, Read Them AllTagged , , , , 2 Comments

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado can’t be missed. If you can travel from Grand Lake on the west side to Estes Park on the east side, you won’t regret it! On our journey from west to east we saw moose, elk and a black bear!

Rocky Mountain National Park Highlights on Monday, September 4 and Tuesday, September 5, 2017

  • The animals – moose, elk, black bear, Stellar’s Jay (bird)
  • Adams Falls (west side)
  • Continental Divide (middle)
  • Many Parks Curve Overlook (middle/east side)
  • Alberta Falls (east side)
  • Bear Lake (east side)

I had done all of the driving up to this point of the trip and as we were leaving Maroon Bells, it finally caught up to me. Mike’s foot was starting to feel better, so he offered to drive us to the Grand Lake entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). While I-70 east was easy, cruise control driving, the way the GPS took us to RMNP was insane! It was up and down a mountainside, narrow roads, and quite honestly, made my heart skip some beats. Luckily, it didn’t snow or rain, so we made it to the RMNP without incident. We started our trip with the traditional “National Park” sign and then drove by the lodge to get a picture and view of Grand Lake. If you have a few minutes to spare, it’s worth parking in the lot and seeing the beautiful lake.

View of Grand Lake from the Lodge
View of Grand Lake from the Lodge | Teamtravelsblog

You’ll start to contemplate your existing retirement plans and see yourself here. It is so peaceful! Again, make sure you have the Annual National Park Pass for $80 or risk spending $30 just for this park. If you want a map of the park, here it is: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/upload/ROMOmap1_small.pdf

From here, we stopped at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, where we made it in the door about a minute before closing. The park ranger was kind enough to give us a map and make a few recommendations. His best advice was to drive up and down the main street, especially at dawn or dusk for the best opportunity to see animals like elk or moose. He also heeded us that if we saw two cars pulled over, to go ahead and be the third, because this meant animals! We drove the main strip and pulled into a few of the points of interest, but we didn’t do any hiking until we got to the last pull off on the left, which was the Colorado River Trailhead. The first part of the walk is a bit steep, but then it’s quite level after that and has a main intersection that allows you to choose different trails. During one of the sections, we looked up and spotted an animal. We were so caught off guard that we ended up scaring the “elk-moose”, whatever it was, before we got a good look. We’re convinced it was a moose, but without our photographic evidence, we couldn’t say for sure.

As the sun started to set, we did as the ranger advised and drove the main strip. It didn’t take long before we saw groups of cars pulled over looking at herds of elk. We were lucky that people were willing to share their binoculars for better views and a park ranger was also present at one of the stops offering information about bugling (the noise that elk make). We didn’t get any elk close ups and didn’t see a moose, but we were exhausted and knew it would be a good idea to get some sleep so we could return to the main road before the sunrise. We filled the car with gas in Grand Lake and then we used Booking.com* to find a nearby, last minute hotel for the night. We stayed at America’s Best Value Inn-Bighorn Lodge. The receptionist office is not 24 hours, so make sure you check the closing time for any hotel you’re considering. We arrived at the receptionist office shortly before closing and got a nice, clean room. After two nights in the car and five out of the previous six nights, I was ready for a shower and a bed to rest my head.

Our plan worked! Early to bed and early to rise! We dropped our room key in the dropbox and were back on the main strip before the sunrise (sunrise was: 6:35 am). We couldn’t believe it – there were SO MANY UP CLOSE ELK! Male ElkWe had a blast stopping in the pull offs and on the side of the road to capture photos and video of the adult and young elk. We got some great ones of elk crossing the street and grazing on the side of the road.

Once we were satisfied with our elk experience, we drove back out of the park and to a separate section of the park where Adams Falls is located. You actually drive through part of downtown Grand Lake to get there. There’s a large parking lot, facilities and a short hike to a beautiful waterfall. We even got lucky and saw a deer here! As our seventh national park on this trip, Arches National Park was the only one where we didn’t come across a deer. I’m not sure if it was the time of day or if it was because it was the Tuesday after Labor Day, but we got the place to ourselves. We also got another wonderful view of Grand Lake.

Back in the car, we drove back into the rest of the park and past the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. We drove slowly, as we wanted to see animals. We saw a car pulled over and decided to go see what they were looking at. We were rewarded and saw a moose grazing. At one point, the moose even looked straight at us and I got some cool shots with my Nikon Coolpix L340*.

Momma Moose
Momma Moose | Teamtravelsblog

Just when we thought the show might be over, an adolescent moose appeared out of nowhere. Our car and the one in front of us, inched forward and then we got to see the momma moose cross the street and the adolescent one scurry across close behind. I was so happy that Mike was ready with the camera and got a video of the whole thing!

At this point, we were satisfied and started our drive to the tundra. On the way, we stopped to take a look at Lake Irene, which was pretty and the Continental Divide. By the Alpine Visitor Center, which was actually quite busy, we made the extremely windy and cold walk up the stairs on the Alpine Ridge Trail. There’s a sign at the top that says “elevation 12,005 feet above sea level” which makes for a good photo op. We continued our journey east through the park toward Estes Park. We made a few stops at places like the Lava Cliffs and Forest Canyon Overlook. While we were at Many Parks Curve Overlook and enjoying the panoramic viewing platform, we saw a group of people gathered and sure enough, they were looking at a black bear! It wasn’t super close, but luckily the zoom feature on my camera really helped us to get a better view.Black Bear

Continuing through the park, we followed the signs to Bear Lake. A huge sign said there were no parking spots and to take the shuttle, but we took our chances. We found a spot in the Bear Lake parking lot and hiked to Alberta Falls. This waterfall is incredible!

Alberta Falls in RMNP
Alberta Falls | Teamtravelsblog

There are huge rocks alongside it that you can climb on and find great places for selfies! From here, we went to Bear Lake and watched the birds. The blue and black bird known as Steller’s Jay was here and really beautiful to see. On our drive down from Bear Lake, we found another great opportunity to see male and female elk. We pulled the car over and took advantage of the photo opportunity.

We absolutely LOVED RMNP and will be back again! We made the easy 90 minute trip to Denver and I hope to tell you all about this wonderful city soon!

Steller's Jay by Bear Lake
Steller’s Jay by Bear Lake | Teamtravelsblog

My Aspen to Maroon Bells

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Maroon Bells and Crater Lake are located in the White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado. Both lakes are picturesque and shouldn’t be missed on your trip to Colorado.

White River National Forest Highlights on Monday, September 4, 2017

  • Maroon Bells
  • Crater Lake

We woke up early and on a mission! From my research, I knew we had to arrive at Maroon Bells before 8 am if we wanted a chance to park in the Maroon Bells parking lot. The drive through Aspen, Colorado on the way to Maroon Bells is beautiful. In the GPS, I used 76 Boomerang Rd, Aspen, CO 81611 to guide our drive, which I believe is a parking structure. Instead of stopping here, we continued along the road for a few more minutes until we came to a toll booth at the entrance of the White River National Forest. It was a definite bonus to learn that the Annual National Park Pass that I’ve written so much about works here too and saves you $10! Once we showed our pass and got a map, we followed the signs to the day parking where there were rangers who guided us to an open parking spot. We were parked by 7:30 am and thankful because the lot filled up quickly and if you can’t find day parking before 8 am, you have to park in the parking garage and pay for a shuttle. I found this site as well as this other site to be super informative as I was planning. From everything I had read, Maroon Bells is one of the most photographed sites in Colorado and after a visit, this is no surprise.

Maroon Bells
Maroon Bells | TeamTravelsBlog

The walk up to the lake, Maroon Bells, is incredible. In the morning, the reflections of the mountain on the water will fill up your iPhone memory space. I still can’t believe we were here. There were families posing by the lake, dogs being walked and kids laughing. There are a few different hikes you can take. We started off by walking around Maroon Lake on the Maroon Lake Trail and then continued to the Scenic Loop Trail. Take your time and remember to look up and behind you to really appreciate its beauty. Don’t miss the beaver dam either.

Start of the Scenic Loop Trail
Start of the Scenic Loop Trail | TeamTravelsBlog

We saw signs for Crater Lake Trail and decided to check it out. The map says it’s a 3.6 mile round-trip hike. The hike is a bit intense as it’s primarily uphill and there are different terrains, including sections that are rocky. There are different spots along the trail to “pull over” and let people pass you that are inclined to walk faster. We were tired, so we gladly let people pass as we made our way to the top. Once you clear the final trees at the top, there is a magnificent lake called Crater Lake.

Crater Lake
Crater Lake | TeamTravelsBlog

There are lots of logs you can sit on and enjoy your snack or lunch. Tons of ducks were relaxing on the logs in the water, while others were dipping their heads in the water for their own lunch.

The walk down was much easier than the hike up. As you make your way down, make sure to keep an eye out for the opening where you can get some good shots of Maroon Bells. There are also tons of lovely birch trees to photograph too.

Birch Trees in the White River National Forest
Birch Trees in the White River National Forest | TeamTravelsBlog

We probably could have stayed here all day, but we got to the car, where the parking lot had significantly emptied since the morning and made the approximately 3.5 hour drive to the Grand Lake entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was recommended to us by the ranger at Canyonlands and we are so thankful we took her advice! When we saw Grand Lake, we started to reminisce about our time walking and biking along Lake Zurich in Switzerland.

Check out our article tomorrow about our evening and following morning exploring Rocky Mountain National Park before we round out our trip in Denver.

Mes-a-round with Canyonlands

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Mesa Arch at Canyonlands National Park | TeamTravelsBlog

The Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands gives you views of the Colorado and Green Rivers, beautiful overlooks and unique points of interest like Whale Rock and Upheaval Dome. Of course, a stop here wouldn’t be complete without photographing Mesa Arch.

Canyonlands National Park Highlights on Sunday, September 3, 2017

  • Mesa Arch
  • Grand View Point Overlook
  • Buck Canyon Overlook
  • Upheaval Dome
  • Whale Rock
  • White Rim Overlook (sign reads “Hiking Trails”)

Sleeping in the car has its advantages! After the financial savings, the next biggest is once you’re awake, you can start moving right away without delay. We followed the GPS and took the most direct way from the Grand Canyon to Canyonlands. We retraced some steps by driving back through Kanab, passing Zion, Bryce and arrived across the street from Arches National Park after 5 hours. One thing to note is we lost one hour when we crossed back into Utah from Arizona. The other most important thing to note is the drive on I-70 is exhausting. There are signs reminding drivers to stay hydrated and to pull over if necessary. This road allows you to legally drive 80 mph! Make sure you have water and gas before making this long drive because there aren’t many options.

It is super important to know that Canyonlands has two completely different park sections and they are not close to one another. The section in the north that is relatively close to Arches National Park is called Island in the Sky (this is the section we went to) and the section in the south is called The Needles. Similar to the other national parks, it’s worth stopping at the Visitor Center to talk with a ranger, use the facilities and get a map. We experienced a cool small world connection here where the ranger’s son lives in Virginia and went to George Washington University for undergrad, which is the same school Mike and I attended for graduate school. If you want to check out a map ahead of your trip, here’s a good one: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/upload/canymap.pdf

We stopped at the most notable place, Mesa Arch first. Since we arrived in the early afternoon, it was extremely hot out so we loaded up with sunscreen and wore our hats.

Mesa Arch at Canyonlands
Mesa Arch at Canyonlands | TeamTravelsBlog

Mesa Rock is particularly popular for sunrise and sunset views, but it was nice even in the middle of the day. You can hike around the arch, pose for a picture in the archway or use the arch as a frame for what’s beyond. Once we were back in the car, we continued to the fork in the road and headed left. We popped out at the Orange Cliffs Overlook and then continued to the Grand View Point Overlook.

Grand View Point Overlook | TeamTravelsBlog
Grand View Point Overlook | TeamTravelsBlog

This is a great spot to catch a glimpse of the Colorado River and to try to find a car or two driving below you on White Rim Road. We found a white SUV that looked like a speck. On your drive back to the fork, Buck Canyon Overlook is another good point of interest if you want to hop out of the car and take a few pictures.

The main road wasn’t busy, so we drove back to the fork and headed left. We got out of the car at the Aztec Butte for a quick picture, but didn’t hike here. Instead, we drove to the end of the road and stopped at the Upheaval Dome. There are two theories about the upheaval dome – personally, I like the meteorite theory. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out the NPS site.

Upheaval Dome | TeamTravelsBlog
Upheaval Dome | TeamTravelsBlog

The trail here is relatively short and has a moderate incline to a good viewing point. We followed the signs to the “First Overlook”, since that’s what the ranger at the visitor center recommended.

Retracing our drive, we stopped at Whale Rock on the left. This hike is not only extremely fun with excellent views from the top, but there’s also legit cell phone service from the top! If you want to quickly send or receive text messages, this is the place. The hike to the top isn’t too difficult, but paying attention to the cairns is important (stacked rocks that serve as guide posts), especially when it’s hot and easy to get disoriented.

Whale Rock shade | TeamTravelsBlog
Whale Rock shade | TeamTravelsBlog

Once you’re at the top, the large rocks provide some shade as well. Before the fork in the road, we stopped at the Green River Overlook for a view of the other river.

Since the ranger told us her favorite spot was the White Rim Overlook, we knew we had to go check it out. This is back on the original road as if you’re heading toward the Grand View Point Overlook, but it’s on the left and the sign only reads “Hiking Trails”. In other words, it’s well hidden until you park and find the trailhead sign that indicates the white rim overlook mile level walk is only 0.8 miles away. This place is so cool! There are huge imprints in the rock that look like dinosaur prints. This is another trail that requires paying attention to the cairns. We headed out close to sunset and were rewarded with incredible views. We had the place to ourselves, which was perfect, until the sun went down and we found ourselves here, in the dark, with only our dying phone flashlight to help us find the cairns.

Sunset at White Rim Overlook
Sunset at White Rim Overlook | TeamTravelsBlog

We were thankful when we made it back to the car and came across a deer on our drive heading out of the park. We stopped at the closed visitor center to refill our water bottles and found there were tons of bats guarding the entrance. This was a bit scary. We took our time driving out of the park, cognizant that animals could appear anywhere and made our way back to I-70 east toward Colorado. We drove about two hours to Parachute, Colorado where we found a good rest station for the night with the best restrooms we had seen in days. In other words, these flushed!

Come with us to the White River National Forest near Aspen tomorrow to see one of the most photographed places in all of Colorado – Maroon Bells! From here we will take you to the 7th and final national park of our trip!

The Grandest Canyon of Them All!

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Sunset at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon | TeamTravelsBlog

Incredible viewpoints and hikes along the rim and into the Grand Canyon. Cape Royal and Bright Angel Point are among the points not to be missed on your day at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park Highlights on Saturday, September 2, 2017

  • Transept Trail, Bridle Path
  • North Kaibab Trail – hike into the Grand Canyon (Coconino Overlook, Supai Tunnel)
  • Bright Angel Point (near Visitor Center)
  • Cape Royal, Point Imperial

We woke up, ate our free breakfast at the Sun-n-Sand Motel* and then started our drive to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. On our drive from Kanab to the Grand Canyon, we gained 1 hour by going through a time change. This was great because we arrived to the large parking lot at the North Rim Visitor Center soon after it opened at 8 am local time. As I’ve mentioned previously, we bought the Annual National Park Pass because without it this park costs $25. You can grab your maps, get a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop in the Roughrider Saloon or watch the morning sky change in the seats behind the Grand Canyon Lodge. This is a great site to help you plan your visit and links to a map: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm

We started our day behind the Grand Canyon Lodge along the Transept Trail. If you’re bold, there’s an overlook you can walk out to for some great pictures. Grand Canyon 1This walk along the canyon rim is relaxing and takes you past birch trees, campgrounds and eventually crosses the street for Bridle Path. From here you will find the North Kaibab Trailhead. The downhill walk into the canyon is much easier than the steep return walk out of the canyon. It’s super important to bring lots of water, a hat and start early because it gets hotter the closer to the center of the earth you get. Our first stop in the canyon was Coconino Overlook. Binoculars or a good camera come in handy here. There’s also some shade if you bring a picnic lunch to eat here.

We continued our walk, being careful to watch every step so as not to step in large piles of mule manure. We also learned that mule riders have the right of way, so make sure to get to a good spot out of the way when they’re coming. Some of the mules take wide steps and you don’t want to get hit with a tail or stepped on! Grand Canyon 3We talked to nice volunteer who recommended that we stop at the tunnel instead of continuing to the Redwall Bridge because it was already 95 degrees at the Supai Tunnel. We heeded his advice and stopped at the tunnel. The walk through the tunnel is really cool and from the other side you can see the bridge, which is the next point of interest. Grand Canyon 2Dehydration here is a REAL thing, so bring water, Gatorade or electrolyte tablets* to have in your bag. Fortunately, there are restrooms and a water fountain (not very cold) at the tunnel as well as shady spots to sit and catch your breath. I really don’t know how the “rim-to-rim” runners do it!

We made it back to the top without incident and took the Bridle Path all the way back to the Visitor Center. By the parking lot, there were some amazing views into the canyon. Grand Canyon 4We continued by following the Bright Angel Point signs. This is not for the faint of heart as there are some very narrow parts, it can be windy and you’re high on the canyon rim. This was quite a popular spot.

Grand Canyon 5Next, we got into the car and drove to Cape Royal. This is an approximately 22 mile drive that’s one lane in each direction with minimal room for error. Soon after passing the Cape Royal sign, we were stopped mid-drive for deer and turkey playing in the street. We enjoyed this unexpected moment before continuing to the parking lot at the end. There is a lot to explore up here and if you time it close to sunset, you will not regret it. On one side we got to see the sun start to set, changing the colors on the rocks while on the other side, we saw a rainbow from the clouds over the canyon. Grand Canyon 6This was an absolute highlight of the trip, so be sure to enjoy Point Imperial! The only downside was driving back 22 miles on the road, in the dark, with deer and other animals lurking. It was shocking how fast some people wanted to drive the road.

Considering it was dark and there are deer that hang out on the sides of the road, we ended up sleeping in a turnout on the main road (67, Thompson Canyon) as if we were driving back to Kanab. Waking up in the middle of the night, pretty cold, I was rewarded by a completely clear sky and thousands of stars shining.

We had a long drive to Canyonlands, our sixth of seven national parks the next day. Catch up with us tomorrow to see how we did it!