We visited Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Map:
An interactive map:
An impressive architectural feature is Anthony Chapel, which we had to quickly visit as it was about to be closed for a wedding:
A waterfall:
Model trains:
This was in early November, so they were in the process of adding holiday decorations:
An impressive treehouse:
A very nice garden, highly recommended.
Perhaps our all-time favorite state park (so far) is Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
A map:
Tunnel:
We had lunch at Sylvan Lake, then did an impromptu hike around the lake:
Sylvan Lake:
GIF of a hidden waterfall behind the lake:
Another tunnel:
Bison Center:
Wildlife Station Visitor Center:
Bison:
Pronghorn:
Prairie dog:
Visitor Center:
“Bison Poo” snack:
The Needles Eye:
Cathedral Spires Trail hike:
Legion Lake Trail hike:
A most excellent park.
We visited Wind Cave National Park a few times. Unfortunately the caves themselves were closed because the elevator was out of order, so we weren’t able see them, but the surface was still enjoyable, with bison, hikes, and more.
Map:
Entrance sign:
Bison:
Visitor center:
Cave map:
Bison:
Loop road:
We went for a hike on Rankin Ridge Trail:
Lookout tower:
A bison strolling along next to the road:
One-lane bridge:
We’ll have to visit again to see the caves!
We also visited the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
The South Unit is easier to get to, and thus more popular, but in our opinion not quite as interesting. Still scenic, though. This post is about the South Unit; see yesterday’s post for the North Unit.
Here’s a map:
An interactive map:
Entrance:
Info signs:
Info signs:
Display:
Gift store:
Exhibits:
Jenn and David:
Prairie dog town:
Wild horses:
Bison:
Wild horses:
Hike:
We visited Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. It was America’s first National Monument, but made famous by the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Passport stamp outside the visitor center:
Model:
Visitor center:
Trail info:
View from West Road:
There’s a prairie dog town on the way to the tower; these burrowing ground squirrels create massive underground colonies. We stopped on the way back:
A video of prairie dogs:
Devils Tower is unusual in that you pay on the way out, probably to avoid a line blocking the KOA campground and shops immediately outside:
On the next day, we went back to do a hike around the tower:
A peek of our coach in the KOA from the tower trail:
A timelapse video of hiking around Devils Tower:
Alpenglow view from West Road:
Such an iconic monument.
We continue our tour of Yellowstone National Park with the popular Old Faithful area:
Old Faithful Visitor Education Center:
Old Faithful General Store:
Old Faithful Inn:
We had dinner at the Old Faithful Inn dining room, another reservation-only restaurant:
Beverage menu:
Dinner menu:
Appetizers:
Mains:
Dessert menu:
Dessert:
Old Faithful Post Office, where we mailed a Grand Prismatic Spring postcard to Mom:
Old Faithful geyser:
On another day:
A bison wandering through near the geyser:
Looking back at the inn from Old Faithful geyser basin:
Hiking around the geyser basin; there’s more to the Old Faithful area than that popular geyser:
The Black Sand Basin is also nearby:
See also a video from this area.
We hiked in Muir Woods National Monument in California.
A map; we did the Bridge 4 two-mile loop, returning via Hillside Trail:
Gift shop:
Pressed penny machine:
Woodpecker:
Sign:
We visited Joshua Tree National Park several times while staying in Palm Desert.
On the first day, we visited all five of the visitor centers, drove though the park, and did a shortish hike.
First up, Black Rock Nature Center in Black Rock Canyon Campground:
Do Not Die Today:
Welcome to Joshua Tree (the city, not the park):
The main Visitor Center outside the park:
Passport stamp:
The Joshua Tree Cultural Center:
The Oasis Visitor Center, which is permanently closed, but still has the Oasis of Mara trail available:
Kinetic artwork:
Picnic:
Oasis of Mara trail:
Entrance sign:
Joshua trees:
We did a hike to a mine, past some ruins:
A nice pic of me:
Jenn:
Mines (look for the metal covers):
Old winch:
Old bucket:
Flowers:
Me:
Selfie:
A fun dirt road, with Joshua trees and mountains in the distance:
Ocotillo:
At the southern entrance, Cottonwood Visitor Center:
Recent rains brought out a profusion of wildflowers:
We took a short hike in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley.
On the road:
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, another Star Wars filming location, where R2-D2 and C-3PO were lost in the Tatooine desert in A New Hope:
Heading to the Father Crowley overlook:
Stovepipe Wells:
Interesting lighting:
Badwater Basin is a salt flat in the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.
A sign high on the cliff indicating sea level:
An info sign listing the lowest places on Earth:
But it’s a dry heat…:
Boardwalk and path:
282 feet below sea level:
Path to the salt flat:
Selfie:
Beard attack:
