National Public Lands Day – September 27, 2014

I do not need any encouragement to visit the national parks – what I need is more paid time off so that I can travel more.  My national park bucket list is so long and I am constantly adding to it.  I love the Passport To Your National Parks app on my iPhone.  Whenever I learn of a new park I want to visit I add it to my Parks to Visit list.  It’s not uncommon for me to pull out my phone while The Husband and I are watching TV so that I can add a park we just learned about to my list.  OK, it usually only happens when we’re watching Aerial America but close enough.  (I love Aerial America!  It’s a great way to learn about the history of each state and what there is to do in each state.)

September 27th is National Public Lands Day and is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for national lands.  Sites across the country have events planned to improve our public lands.  From pulling buffelgrass to installing signs to repairing fences, you name it and I am sure you can find it.  To find out what is going on in your area click here.

In honor of National Public Lands Day I wanted to share some of our favorite national park photos.  (I really just needed an excuse to look through old photos and day dream about our upcoming fall road trip.)

Morning Glory Pool

Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone is one of my favorites and this is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my kids.

Upper Yosemite Fall from the Merced River

Rafting on the Merced River in Yosemite is still one of my highlights from that trip.  The water was so calm, the views were incredible, and at times it felt like we were the only ones on the river.

Grand Canyon National Park

I have not yet written about our travels to the Grand Canyon and I will try to get to that soon.  This particular picture is from a school field trip I attended with Little Mister’s class.  This field trip will always hold a special place in my heart.  Many of the kids had never visited the Grand Canyon, let alone a national park, and watching them look into the canyon for the first time was so special.

Riverside Walk Trail in Zion National Park

Zion is such a beautiful place.  The Husband and I visited several years ago and were lucky enough to experience snow, rain, and sun all within a short period of time.  We are taking a family trip in a couple weeks and I am hoping that we are able to see some beautiful fall foliage.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia is another one of my favorite national parks.  The trees are just incredible.  As with many of our national park, pictures do not do the park justice.  Sequoia is one of the parks I hope to get back to in the near future.

In addition to being a volunteer day, the Bureau of Land  Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service are offering a fee free day.  If you are not able to volunteer in your community on September 27th you can always spend the day visiting a park – someplace new to you or someplace that you love.