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How to Road Trip to the National Parks in Kansas: A 5-Day Itinerary

Itinerary 14 Mins Read
Want to visit all of the National Parks in Kansas? This 5-Day National Park road trip itinerary will take you on a journey that you will not soon forget. Visit Fort Scott, Fort Larned, Tallgrass Prairie, Nicodemus, and Brown v Board of Education in one week!

I thought that Kansas would be a drab state to visit. I admittedly didn’t know much about the state, and only really associated it with bad weather and the Wizard of Oz. So when we talked about planning a road trip to all of the National Parks in Kansas, I was only moderately excited. I’m happy to report that I was COMPLETELY wrong about my assumption! Kansas is a great, road-trip worthy state! This post shows how you can complete a loop through Kansas to visit all of the National Park Units in the state. This was a (5 day / 4 night) portion of our route on our recent Midwest National Park road trip. We will share a bit about each park, as well as provide some insights on places to stay and other things to do along the way. We hope this post is useful for your planning!…

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Hampton National Historic Site in Towson, Maryland: A Great Experience

NPS Site 6 Mins Read
Hampton NHS

Hampton National Historic Site is a small, but neat park located in the town of Towson, Maryland. This site is well worth a stop when in the area or when visiting nearby Baltimore. Here, you can admire the Georgian architecture, learn about the people that once lived on and worked the land, and enjoy the gorgeous trees and gardens that adorn the site. Hampton NHS is also one of the 420+ sites managed by the National Park Service. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our affiliate links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. About Hampton National Historic Site Hampton NHS features an historic mansion that was once one of the largest private homes in the US. It also was home to enslaved African Americans, indentured servants, and paid laborers. You can visit the enslaved quarters, barns, and gardens when you visit.…

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7 Fun Things To Do at White Sands National Park in One Day

NPS Site 11 Mins Read
sunset-at-white-sands-national-park

White Sands National Park is a snow-white oasis in the middle of the New Mexico dessert. It’s truly one of the most unique places that we’ve ever visited… and with that comes opportunities to see and do some singular activities. Here is our recommended itinerary for what to do in White Sands National Park in one day! 1. Explore the Map of White Sands National Park Before you visit the park, it’s a good idea to understand the geographic layout of White Sands. The National Park Service has some beautiful maps of the park that help visitors understand what they will see and experience. A subset of the Dunes Drive map is seen below. This is the main driving route through the park that is available for visitors. You enter the park at the bottom of the map (the red road marked Highway 70). The yellow road is the Dunes…

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National Parks in the Midwest: Complete List, Map, and Favorite Experiences

NPS Site 10 Mins Read
A view of the ledges at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. This is one of five National Parks in the Midwest.

I was surprised when I counted that there are only 45 National Parks in the Midwest. After all, the midwestern states comprise roughly 20% of the land area of the 48 contiguous US States, but make up only roughly 11% of the 420+ parks managed by the US National Park Service. But don’t discount the beauty and significance of the Midwestern National Parks! That would be a mistake. In our quest to visit the 420+ National Park Units in the United States, we have learned that the Midwest boasts many diverse experiences from scenic waterways and landscapes, to telling the story of westward expansion and civil rights, to honoring the many contributions of indigenous people in the making of America. So whether you are planning a solo road trip, a Midwest couples vacation, or a vacation spot for your entire family, check out these great national parks! Where is…

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National Parks in Nevada: Best Experiences and Things To Do

NPS Site 4 Mins Read
National Parks in Nevada - Tule Springs

There are four National Parks in Nevada, each with fun things to do. This post introduces each one as well as some great experiences that you can have in each. Four National Parks in Nevada The four Nevada National Parks are listed below: Death Valley National Park (portions in Nevada and California)Great Basin National ParkLake Mead National Recreation Area (portions in Nevada and Arizona)Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument There are also a number of affiliated park units that are managed by the National Park Service. These additional sites include the California National Historic Trail, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, and the Pony Express National Historic Trail. We visited each of the four Nevada National Parks in Nevada on our National Park road trip from Las Vegas. We can attest that there are great experiences to be had in each location. Make sure to grab your National Park passport…

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9 Amazing Things To Do at Zion National Park in One Day

NPS Site 11 Mins Read
Zion National Park

Even when your time is short, you can still have an amazing experience in one day at Zion National Park in Utah. Check out these awesome things to do at Zion National Park in one day, and get inspired for your own Utah trip! When we visited Zion National Park, we did so as part of an action-packed road trip from Las Vegas. We sorely underestimated how much we would fall in love with this park! That being said, the time that we allocated (less than 24 hours) was simply not enough. We arrived in the late afternoon after an awesome Bryce Canyon tour, and spent the following day through the early afternoon in the park. Nevertheless, there was a lot that we were able to fit into our Zion National Park experience in just one day. Here are our takeaways! Zion National Park Canyon Views 1. Drive the Zion-Mount…

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A Great Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Experience

NPS Site 5 Mins Read
A view of Youngsholm from the front

One of my favorite park experiences was witnessing the swearing in of our nephew as a Junior Ranger at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. You too can create an awesome experience at this intimate National Monument. Here, you will learn about the life and service of Colonel Charles Young, one of the first African-American Westpoint graduates. You will also get to explore the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, African-American army units composed of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry. Visiting the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument Not far from our Central Ohio home is one of the newer National Park Units, the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. This park is located in Xenia, Ohio near Wilberforce University, an Historically Black University. This is where the famous Coloner, Charles Young, lived and taught. During our summer visit, the weather was nice…

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The Best Southwest National Parks Road Trip from El Paso!

Itinerary 13 Mins Read
Southwest National Park Road Trip from El Paso, Texas

This week-long road trip to seven southwest National Parks near El Paso, Texas made me a southwesterner at heart. I bet you will be too! This post lays out our easy to replicate trip to give you a chance to envision “what could be” on your own southwestern adventure! You’ll explore several National Park Units in New Mexico and West Texas, all within a few hours drive of El Paso. You could also treat this as an idea for day trips from El Paso if you’re looking for things to do within 2 hours of El Paso, TX. What Are the National Parks Near El Paso? Over the course of one week, we were able to visit the following National Park Units on our southwest road trip: Chamizal National Memorial White Sands National Park Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park Fort Davis National Historic Site Big Bend National…

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National Parks in Alabama: Best Experiences and Getting Stamped

National Park Interest 12 Mins Read
National Parks in Alabama - Freedom Riders

There are nine National Parks in Alabama, each with unique experiences to be had. We have had the good fortune of visiting each Alabama National Park, and want to share them with you so you can make the most of your own visit! I grew up visiting Alabama frequently. My mom was born and raised in Birmingham, and attended college at Talladega College, located only miles from the famous Talladega Speedway. Much of my family still lives in Alabama, so packing up a car and heading down from Ohio to Alabama for holidays and vacations was commonplace in my youth. Alabama: Welcome to the South Alabama is a state with a lot of history formed of natural and human history that dates back to 10,000 years BC. The state also was at the center of many momentous events of the Civil Rights movement. Alabama National Parks preserve a lot of…

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7 Things to Do At Death Valley in One Day

NPS Site 8 Mins Read
Zabriske Point at Death Valley National Park.

Visiting Death Valley National Park is a bucket list item for many travelers.  After all, it is the lowest, hottest and driest place on the North American Continent.  Any place with that many superlatives is worth some thought!  Here are 7 things to do in Death Valley in one day – all within a 30 minute drive of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center! #1 Take a Picture at the Death Valley National Park Sign Taking a picture at the entrance signs of National Parks is one way that we commemorate our park experiences.  When we arrived (via I-190 from Las Vegas), there was ample space to pull off on the side of the road.  This sign is unique – it has a different look and feel than many of the wooden signs that we have encountered at the National Park entrances.  It’s cooler colors were reminiscent of a sunset landscape…

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