national park

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Texas Rodeo

10 Awesome Things to Do in Southwest Texas

Southwest Texas has a lot of fun things to do and see – probably more than you suspect. Here are 10 ideas for classic Texas fun. 1. Wildseed Farms Flower Fields The most well-known Southwest Texas Flower Fields are at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas. They have over 200 acres of flower fields that they happily open to visitors and Instagram aficionados. When I visited, it was primarily poppies and daisies, but as the seasons change, so do the plants,...

woman painting at an easel in a field

Explore Weir Farm: A National Park for Art

Most people are familiar with the popular National parks, but have you heard of Weir Farm? It’s a national park just for art. The National Park Service manages more than 400 sites dedicated to history, people, and events and this one isn’t to be missed. Weir National Park in Connecticut is the only national park for art dedicated to American Impressionism. It was once the home of American Impressionist J. Alden Weir. I visited the park during my two-year road...

a large silver arch with the full moon in the dark blue sky

Unveiling the Hidden Features of Gateway Arch National Park

Imagine standing at the foot of a monument so colossal it could swallow the Statue of Liberty whole. It’s so big it’s considered the gateway to the west. Envision its sleek, stainless-steel skin reflecting the sun like a mirror, its legs striding confidently across the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. This is Gateway Arch National Park, a place where engineering marvels whisper tales of westward expansion and American dreams. But there’s more to this park than meets the eye....

low rock wall surrounded by trees with grave markets in the background

Discovering the Secret Cemeteries in Shenandoah National Park

After three weeks of searching for cemeteries in Shenandoah National Park, I was still stunned by how much the trails could change in mere days. When I first arrived, most of the trees and bushes were nearly bare, and it was easy to find old ruins and gravestones. Now, the foliage is denser, and the forest is overtaking everything. As I hiked alongside the babbling brook in the dying light of day, parts of the path were thick with tall...

blue and multicolored stained glass ceiling in a marble room with a circle fountain and statues in the middle

Experience a Traditional Romanesque Bathhouse

The bathhouses at Hot Springs National Park are the perfect, maybe only, place in North America where you can still experience a Romanesque Bathhouse. Hot Springs, Arkansas, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and therapeutic geothermal waters you won’t find many places. It’s a great destination for a relaxing weekend getaway or a girl’s trip. There are 47 natural hot springs in Hot Springs National Park that filter into historic 19th and 20th-century bathhouses. Today, two bathhouses on...

A natural hot spring

Recharge in the Healing Waters of Hot Springs National Park

If you’re looking for a rare and restorative national park experience, Hot Springs National Park should be on your shortlist. Nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, Hot Springs National Park offers a unique blend of natural beauty, history, and therapeutic geothermal waters you won’t find anywhere else in North America. It’s the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend getaway. I traveled solo to the park because I needed a long, hot soak and lacked an excellent bathtub or natural...