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Driving the Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park

Travel Guide 5 Mins Read
views from the Skyline Drive at Shenandoah

#NatureWritingChallenge Topic: An underrated experience at a National Park, refuge or National Forest.  Check out the challenge here. (Note: Rules for this challenge include writing, unfiltered, on the topic for no more than one hour.  Please forgive typos and incomplete thoughts) After spending a couple of days in Charlottesville, VA (awesome!), we took a day to meander to visit my mom at her D.C. home.  We drew our route so that we could drive through Shenandoah National Park’s beautiful Skyline Drive.  To date, this has been one of the most underrated experiences in the parks that I have had. We drove the Skyline Drive as part of a week-long trip where Jason and I planned a route that took us through numerous National Park Units through the Virginias, D.C., Maryland and Pennsylvania.  My mom had recently started working for the federal government after returning from a couple of years of service…

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National Parks in the Carolinas and Tennessee: A Fast Travel Case Study

Itinerary 13 Mins Read
Kings Mountain had some gorgeous forested areas. During the Revolutionary War, Continental Soldiers used the cover of trees to defeat British troops. #FindYourPark #KingsMountain #ParkTripsAndMore

Want to visit more parks, but short on time? You likely have some strategic road trip planning in store! But how much is too much activity to pack into a short trip? In this post, I share a case study of a recent trip in which Jason and I sandwiched 6 National Park Units into 2 days while traversing 5 States! We maximized our 2-days in the parks to collect as many National Park Passport stamps as possible, and share some of our tips to do this. But did we go too far? We will let you decide. A Quick Story (for Context) I’m embarrassed to admit this… I’m not even sure that I should… but I suppose that transparency is a good policy to have when trying to build online friendships, right? You’ll forgive me, won’t you…? Ok, here it goes …on our most recent road trip, I did…

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4 Awesome Day Trip Ideas from Hot Springs

Travel Guide 16 Mins Read
Love Arkansas Day Trips! Check out these 4 awesome ideas, all within a 2-hour drive from Hot Springs National Park! #FindYourPark #DayTrips #ParkTripsAndMore #Travel #NationalParks

Did you know that you can visit three other National Park units (and several AWESOME state parks) when you go to Hot Springs National Park?  Check out Little Rock Central High School, Bill Clinton’s Birthplace Home, the Arkansas Post and the lovely State Parks and Lakes in the area.  Each of these day trip ideas are within a two-hour drive from Hot Springs National Park, so don’t miss out!   President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site Learn more about the 42nd President of the United States when you visit the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site located in Hope, Arkansas. Hope, Arkansas is about an hour and a half drive from Hot Springs National Park.  This city was the home of young Bill Clinton from birth through the first six year of his life.  As a young child, former President Clinton lived in the…

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Love Leaf Peeping? Check Out Fall Colors in Ohio!

Around Ohio 7 Mins Read
Enjoy leaf peeping? These great places to experience the fall colors in Ohio will make you fall in love with autumn! #LeafPeeping #ParkTripsAndMore #Autumn #Ohio

Autumn is officially here!  That means football, cooler weather, holidays, and… leaf peeping?!?  Yes. Leaf peeping! …and the fall colors in Ohio are top notch! What is leaf peeping? Leaf peeping is when you travel for the purpose of taking in the beautiful fall colors!  The oranges, yellows, and deep reds create a mosaic of wonder when you look across the beautiful landscapes!  Taking time to go on a scenic hike or drive enables you to enjoy the wonder of the natural cycle that nature undergoes as the days grow shorter, and the temperatures cool. Where can I see fall colors in Ohio? Ohio has a variety of places to fully enjoy the beauty of autumn.  Below, we outline 6 of our favorite spots along with some of our recommendations for what to do when you visit. 1. Cuyahoga Valley National Park There are several places to welcome fall…

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Best Places to Eat in Hot Springs Just Steps From Hot Springs National Park

Travel Guide 6 Mins Read
rolondos-places-to-eat-hot-springs-arkansas

There’s nothing more satisfying than supporting local companies and getting a morsel of a new taste that you can’t find in your own hometown. That is why when we travel, we love to taste the local fare! (Check out our recommendation of 11 things to do in Hot Springs National Park). Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links which means that (at no additional cost to you) Park Trips and More will earn a commission off of a purchase made through such links. Our Favorite Breakfast / Brunch Places to Eat in Hot Springs The Avenue The Avenue restaurant is a part of the Waters Hotel which is where we stayed during our time in Hot Springs. It is not, however, your typical hotel restaurant. Brunch at the Avenue serves up locally roasted coffee, chef-designed entrees, and an atmosphere that is hip and welcoming. Brunch…

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The Waters Hot Springs: A Beautiful Place to Stay In Downtown Hot Springs – Review

Travel Guide 5 Mins Read
the-waters-hotel-hot-springs

If you’re looking for a great place to stay in the heart of downtown Hot Springs, then look no further than The Waters Hot Springs. One cool feature of Hot Springs, Arkansas is the historical architecture.  In the downtown area, right across from the famous Bathhouse Row, the landscape is free of big box stores. Instead, you will find both architectural and natural character that will spark your curiosity about the past.  The Waters Hot Springs gives you the opportunity to stay in a beautifully renovated historic building, with luxury amenities and a great location! Here’s our review. This post contains affiliate links through which we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks! The Waters Hot Springs Highlights The hotel supports local businesses. The artwork in the hotel is made by local artists. The soap that you get to use comes from a local vendor. The…

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11+ Fun Things to Do In Hot Springs National Park

Travel Guide 9 Mins Read

There are a lot of amazing things to do at Hot Springs National Park! Hot Springs National Park is the second-smallest of the 63 National Parks in the National Park System.  The Park is just over 5,500 acres and has about 1.56 million visitors per year (2017).  It is located right in the heart of downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas and showcases eight bathhouses that have been around since the late 1800s / early 1900s.  Hot Springs is known for the thermal waters that were once believed to have curative properties.  Today the park continues to attract visitors that want to enjoy the history and beauty of the area. So, what can you do at Hot Springs National Park? Below is our list of 11 amazing things to do.  Enjoy! Note: This post includes affiliate links.  Any purchases made through these links help to support this site – thank you! For some great…

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6 Reasons to Visit Hot Springs, Arkansas

Itinerary 5 Mins Read
visit-hot-springs-arkansas

If you’re looking for an awesome place to visit for relaxation and understated enjoyment, then you don’t have to look beyond Hot Springs, Arkansas.  When you visit Hot Springs, Arkansas you will find unique beauty and history against a backdrop of a chill and welcoming urban scene.Made famous for its thermal waters which naturally occur at an average temperature of over 140 degrees Fahrenheit and previously were thought to have medicinal powers, Hot Springs is no stranger to rolling out the red-carpet for visitors.  With a population of approximately 35 thousand, this small city has welcomed guests for generations that wanted to partake of the healing properties of the water in one of the area bathhouses. Even with the awesome attraction of the thermal waters (which are protected and regulated by Hot Springs National Park), Hot Springs, Arkansas offers so much more. So, what makes this city such a relaxing…

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Visiting the David Berger National Memorial: Remembering the Munich Games

Travel Guide 4 Mins Read
David Berger National Memorial

When you visit the David Berger National Memorial in Ohio, conjure up the pride and excitement that exists going into the season of the Olympics.  I personally love how elite athletes, ignited by the opportunity to compete on a global stage can inspire both pride and energy around the games! The Olympics are typically a time of national pride and friendly competition.  There are, sometimes, political realities that have put pressure on athletes to deliver at super-human levels. Also tragedies have historically surrounded the games when individuals disrupt an otherwise positive meeting place of people from the nations all around the world.  The Olympic games do, after all, take place against a back drop of our daily lives.  This means that the political and social hostilities that prevail at any given time can be a factor. David Berger When you visit the David Berger National Memorial, you get to take…

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