by For one unforgettable month, we traded the comforts of home for a tent, hiking boots, and the incredible landscapes of America’s National Parks. We visited the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, and Great Basin. Each place was completely different, yet everyone left me in awe of the beauty and power of nature.
The Grand Canyon was overwhelming in its vastness, with layers of red and orange rock stretching farther than I could imagine. Mesa Verde offered something completely different, where ancient cliff dwellings gave us a glimpse into the lives of people who lived there centuries ago. At Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the steep, dark canyon walls were dramatic and almost mysterious. Bryce Canyon amazed us with its thousands of delicate hoodoos, while Zion surrounded us with towering red cliffs. Yosemite was grand and majestic, with waterfalls, granite cliffs, and breathtaking trails. Giant Sequoias made us feel incredibly small, offering us plenty of scenery to marvel at, making it my favorite park. King’s Canyon reminds you of how it got the name by descending into a canyon that gives you a sense of just how massive the landscape is. Great Basin had a quieter beauty, with mountain landscapes, caves, and ancient bristlecone pines. Finally, Cedar Breaks, with its colorful amphitheater high in the mountains, was another unexpected treasure allowing us to have an astronomy night and view our skies through telescopes with NO night pollution.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was participating in ranger walks. Listening to the rangers share stories about geology, wildlife, history, and people who shaped these places made each park come alive. We also spent plenty of time hiking, exploring trails, and watching wildlife. And then came one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip: I saw my first bear! Seeing such an incredible animal in the wild was both thrilling, humbling, and slightly scary.
Camping for nearly a month was an adventure in itself. We had a few occasional hotel stays, but most nights we slept in a tent. And, being in our 50s, I must admit I am pretty impressed that we managed it, and actually enjoyed it! I found ways to keep myself comfortable, including doing yoga to stay limber after many nights in a tent. But honestly? I wouldn’t have traded comfort for falling asleep to the sounds of frogs, rumbling creeks, and stargazing in middle of the night. Waking up to crisp mornings and watching the sunrise with coffee made all my achy bones feel so irrelevant. There were also moments of pure freedom and spontaneity. For the first time in my life, I skinny-dipped in a river, which is something I never expected to say I experienced in my 50’s!
Looking back, this trip was about much more than seeing beautiful places. It was about challenging ourselves, slowing down, being curious, laughing, getting a little dirty, and experiencing nature up close. I came home tired, happy, and deeply grateful. This trip reminded me that we still have plenty of adventure ahead of us.
