List of National Parks that We’ve visited

Our family has had the joy of visiting a number of US National Parks.  Jordan and I visited several parks on a road trip as newlyweds.  We’ve been able to take our children back to some of those parks as well as continue to add new parks together as a family… and sometimes just the 2 of us.

Our children are now older elementary-teenagers, but we have been traveling and camping together as a family since they were small.  Some of these parks we have visited multiple times, others only once.  I look forward to sharing our experience and hope that it helps you as you plan to enjoy the great treasure of America’s National Parks!

Here is the current list of parks we’ve visited with and without our children.  As I add more posts on the parks that we have visited and new parks that we explore, those posts will be linked as well.  

Is there a park that we’ve been to that we’ve been to that you would like to know more about?  Please comment below - I can prioritize that location. 

Parks we have visited with kids:

• Arches
• Badlands 
• Big Bend
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison
• Bryce Canyon
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef
• Carlsbad Caverns
• Channel Islands
• Crater Lake
• Death Valley
• Gateway Arch
• Guadeloupe Mountains
• Grand Teton
• Great Basin
• Great Sand Dunes
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Hot Springs
• Joshua Tree
• Kings Canyon
• Lassen Volcanic
• Mesa Verde
• Pinnacles 
• Redwoods
• Rocky Mountain - When to go, Camping, Hiking
• Sequoia 
• White Sands
• Wind Cave
• Yosemite
• Yellowstone
• Zion

Parks we’ve visited without our kids (tips for visiting with kids still included in any linked posts):

• Acadia
• Biscayne
• Dry Tortugas
• Everglades 
• Glacier
• Grand Canyon
• Petrified Forest
• Saguaro
• Shenandoah
• Virgin Islands National Park

Other National Park Service Properties that we’ve Explored (with or without kids):

• Colorado National Monument
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
• Manzanar National Historic Site

Great Sand Dunes National Park with kids

We visited Great Sand Dunes National Park in June several years back.  The weather was warm during the day and chilly at night.  Camping was also a windy experience.  

The sand dunes are quite large and climbing up the dunes is challenging.  Our children only made it a little way up the dunes, but I was able to walk to the top of one of the large dunes.  Hiking to the top of a dune would be a unique experience for older children and teens.

You can also rent wooden sleds for use on the dunes.  This is not something that we did as a family, but if I were to go back, now that the kids are older, it is something we would probably do - we did take sled to White Sands National Park and it was fun to try sledding on the dunes there.

 

The highlight of our trip was playing in the water.  The Medano Creek follows at the base the of the dune field in late spring and early summer.  The water is cold, especially in the morning, but quite fun.  The water is shallow across the sand - perfect for sand and water play.  The children also used tubes in the creek.

Tip/Things to keep in mind:

• Prepare for the weather
• Be prepared to get a little dirty
• Bring plenty of water and plan to wear shoes - the dunes get really hot, even when the air is chilly
• Do your research and have a plan
• Camping was more windy than I expected, but it was amazing to wake up with a view of the dunes
• Make reservations!  Camping and hotels fill up, especially in late spring/early summer when the creek is flowing.
• This park is fairly remote - be sure to bring all that you’ll need. 

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with kids

Our family loves National Parks!  Camping, hiking, time together outside - these are all elements we enjoy.  

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado is one of the parks we explored in 2016. The canyon is beautiful, deep, and steep

This park is a gem, hidden right in Colorado.  Compared to many of the parks we have visited, Black Canyon was far less crowded.  The campground was simple and lovely.

Our family hiked the Rim Rock Trail from the South Rim Campground to the Visitor Center - beware, there are some steep drop-offs along this trail.  We brought our ergo carrier along and  I used it to carry our youngest on my back.

Overall, this is a beautiful and unique park.  Be sure to carry plenty of water while hiking here (or anywhere else).  Bring your hats and sunscreen.  Summer days will likely be warm, and evenings cool - and stars amazing!

*All information is based on our experience at this park and is provided for information and entertainment only, not as professional advice. Reading and using information from More Than Scenery as well as any travel/hiking/camping is at your own risk.  Accuracy is important to me, but park rules and conditions change constantly.  If you find an error, please let me know so that I can correct it.

Unless stated otherwise, all images are my (Jessica Branch) own and I hold the copywrite.  Please get permission before using any images or text from More Than Scenery.

Scenery Saturday - Mount Falcon

It was a beautiful day for a hike with a wonderful friend. Mount Falcon is one of my favorite places to take people when they visit. There are beautiful views and ruins of a grand house. 

If you're if you're willing to hike a little further, you can also see where the people of Colorado wanted to build the Summer White House for the US Presidents. Unfortunately for the Presidants, and fortunately for those of us able to hike here, they only got as far as starting the foundation and lena cornerstone. 

Scenery Saturday

Journey to our new home

At little waiting, 

A lot of this,

And we're in our new city!

Life is More than Scenery

A long time ago, when I was fantasizing about living in an amazingly gorgeous but impractical location, my wise husband graciously reminded me that "there is more to life than scenery."  Of course, he was absolutely right!

This little blog is about documenting that "more than scenery" part of life - the relationships, activities, life-lessons, and such that really matter.  This is also a place where I plan to share ideas and projects, because I like to make stuff!

We are preparing to relocate to a beautiful area, so there will be some scenery thrown in as well.  It's not that the "scenery" is unimportant, it just isn't most important.  In fact, I love being able to share images of God's beautiful creation along with what He is teaching me.

So, welcome and thanks for joining me on this journey!  We are excited to see where God leads our little family and how He works in our lives.  Life IS more than scenery.

*Some projects from my former blog will be re-posted here so that they will still be available.