— Eight years ago we were visiting Canyon de Chelly National Monument for the second time. The first time all we did was the scenic drive. We were able to see Spider Rock and other features from above. The second … Read More

— A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal‘s Seven Wonders, the Pena Palace is majestic in its location and striking inside and outside. On our recent trip to Portugal, the palace was high on our list of must-see … Read More

Happy 102nd anniversary to Bandelier National Monument! On February 11, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to establish Bandelier National Monument. That piece of legislation protected 33,000 acres of rugged land with a beautiful canyon and mesa country. Bandelier NM also … Read More

— Located in southwest New Mexico, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument encompasses 533 acres (2.16 sq. km.) of protected land near the Gila River. There are two prominent ruin sites and several other smaller ones with examples of the Mimbres … Read More

— January 9, 2018, marked the 110th anniversary of Muir Woods National Monument, established by President Theodore Roosevelt. The land was donated by William Kent, who requested the park be named after the famous conservationist John Muir. As I noted … Read More

— In 2013, our summer vacation took us to the west coast. More specifically, we visited San Francisco, Alcatraz Island National Recreation Area, Yosemite National Park, Mono Lake and Muir Woods National Monument. We had read some about Muir Woods … Read More

— Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a scenic wonder. In addition to the breathtaking views, though, this National Park Service (NPS) unit has other singular distinctions. For example, the NPS works together with the Navajo Nation in the administration of … Read More

Bandelier National Monument is a protected area near Los Alamos, New Mexico. It covers 33,677 acres and was designated a national monument on February 11, 1916. A visitor can walk around the various trails to get a glimpse of Puebloan people’s lives … Read More

Located in the Gila National Forest, southwest New Mexico, the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument was established on November 16, 1907, by President Theodore Roosevelt through executive proclamation. In the 1200’s, the Mogollon culture settled in the area and built … Read More