Today Ken and I are beginning Week 5 of a six-week loop through ten states, eight national parks, and many state parks. We have seen so many beautiful sights and have been reminded daily, hourly, that God’s glorious creation is very, very good! Do you see both of the moose in the photo above?
I captured that amazing photo (if I do say so myself) while hiding behind a BIG tree. We had just come down a trail where photographers were gathering to capture the sunset behind the Grand Tetons. When we rounded a corner, we heard a huge commotion and saw that photographers were rushing toward us in a panic clutching their camera equipment. Turns out a bull moose was chasing a cow moose through the water and didn’t care that the photographers were in his way! Ken and I were lucky enough to capture some great photos almost by accident!
We have seen so many different animals and birds (but only one lizard and ZERO snakes, so I’m a happy camper!) Here are just a few of them:
I don’t even know where to begin sharing photos, but here are just a few of my favorites from the national parks.
We have almost two more weeks to go but we’re in Colorado, working our way toward Kansas and will spend some time with my family and two of Ken’s brothers there, so that will make the time fly. Then we’re meeting friends in Missouri for a bike ride on a trail we’ve been wanting to try, so I have a feeling the rest of the trip is going to FLY by! (And that’s okay with me. I’m getting a tiny bit homesick after a month on the road!)
Have you been to any of our country’s national parks? Which is your favorite? Which is at the top of your list to see next?
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Deb I have looked forward to seeing your latest travels every day. Thanks for taking me along with you through your gorgeous pictures.
It’s been a joy to share our photos. I always feel the same about your travel pics.
I’ve loved following along on your adventure on Instagram. Beautiful photos! They make me want to pack a bag and hit the road to see those amazing sights in person! One of my favorites has been The Grand Canyon. But after seeing your photos, quite a few have been added to my list!
The Grand Canyon is definitely way up there on the list!
Deb, seeing the photos daily (or almost daily) during your travels has made it feel like I was on vacation.
I’m so glad, Robin. And hey, you didn’t even have to pay $4/gal. for gas to go on this vacation! 😉
I have loved living this incredible trip vicariously through your pictures! Oh, the things you’ve seen and experienced. I’m someone who loves to travel and I’m finding this adventure inspiring!
I’ve felt the same about your trips, and I’ve especially loved watching your travels abroad! That’s on my bucket list.
What a wonderful experience. And your pictures attest to it., they’re fantastic. I too see how awesome is our Creator reflected in his creation. Many blessings to you and your family and all you meet.
Thank you, Diana! Among God’s creation are his people and the Lord has brought so many wonderful people across our path as we’ve traveled!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us, Deb – – WOW!! Such breathtaking scenery you and Ken are seeing (Ken is smiling a lot in these photos, so he must be very happy visiting these parks!).
I have to say that the very first photo you posted on here (the 2 moose with mountains in the background) is GORGEOUS!! I honestly thought it was a painting that you’d purchased along the way–then I read that YOU had captured that photo!! What an AMAZING picture!
Safe travels as you continue this journey. 🙂
This was Ken’s dream trip…all the favorite places he’s wanted to go forever, so yep, he’s smiling a lot and it’s wonderful to see!
I loved being part of your adventure!! Both in pics and in person!!!
I just told Ken yesterday, when we were talking about highlights of our trip, that staying with you and Lorren was definitely WAY up there at the top of my list. I especially loved the laughter!
I’ve enjoyed your pics so much I feel like I was there. Not many can hit the road as you and Ken have which allows for a closer look. My hub would have us rush from one location to the next and in a week we couldn’t see near what you have shown us.
Thanks for sharing and I’m sure you have some story ideas in your head after all of that!
Traveling is definitely a great source of ideas! So glad you’ve enjoyed the photos, Daphne!
Thanks for sharing your trip!! I have a new email address and the old will go away. I have tried to re-create an account with Word Press but unsuccessful. Any help would be appreciated. I love to follow this blog!
I’m pretty sure if you just sign up on the home page to receive the emails with your NEW address, that will do the trick.
Deb, it has been so much fun to vicariously travel with you on your breathtaking trips. I am so thrilled y’all are getting to take these adventures. God’s beauty is awesome, and you have captured it in such a fantastic way. Thank you for sharing your journey! (And how in the world do y’all find time and energy to add “work” to your travels?) You are both amazing.
Ha! Well, I’m not getting nearly as much work done on this trip as I’d hoped, but we are managing to keep up with email, social media, and other parts of our work. I’ll be playing major catch-up with my writing when we get home, but that’s okay. It’s been worth it!
I love the pictures and your travelogue! Thank you so much for sharing. The two-moose picture is so beautiful I thought it was a photo of a painting or poster from a National Park. Fantastic!
It really did turn out better than I could have hoped for. But since we went looking for a sunset and found a moose drama instead, I didn’t even know what to hope for! 🙂
What a fabulous trip, Deb! And such GORGEOUS photos! I adore mountains, forests, and lakes, and you’ve seen some lovely ones. 🙂 I’m a little jealous. OK, a LOT jealous. 🙂
Several years ago when the kids were younger we took a big driving vacation from Texas to California up through Oregon and out through Utah and Colorado. We didn’t spend all of our time in national parks, but we did take the kids to see the giant redwoods in the Sequoia National Forest, took a horse/mule ride into Bryce Canyon, and stopped for a few hours to hike in the Arches National Park. That trip created some of my favorite family memories.
Ah, you saw some of our favorites ones, Karen! We loved Bryce and Zion a few years ago. But we haven’t done the Sequoia National Forest yet. That’s on our list!
Following up on Karen’s comments, some years ago we combined a visit to Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. Absolutely beautiful, and we managed to book in advance and stay in the national park lodges. Another time we visited the much lesser known Lassen National Park in northern CA (which I believe has been affected by the fires) and Crater Lake in southern OR. Such good memories! I grew up hearing my parents saying that travel was so educational and enjoyable, plus it was something that can never be taken away from you, those memories. Have enjoyed following your travels vicariously on FB and reading this blog post!
You’ve given me some parks to add to our bucket list, Cathy! I don’t think we’ve been to any of those you mentioned! They sound wonderful!
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!You are having some amazing adventures.
I have been to the following national parks: Grand Canyon National Park- we were able to stay in one of the Bright Angel cabins along the rim, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Muir Woods National Park, Painted Desert National Park,
Petrified Forest National Park, Cherokee National Park, Shenandoah National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and many battlefield national parks.
Have a safe and enjoyable rest of your trip!
Wow! There are several of those we’ve never been to, and I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of Muir Woods, but I love the woods and forests, so it’s going on my list! Thanks, Betty!
Muir Woods is in Marin County, CA. When visiting our daughter in CA in 2016, we all went up went to the San Francisco area to meet historical fiction author Tracy Grant and her daughter, who arranged a wonderful day in Muir Woods and dinner at the Pelican Inn where she likes to write. Muir Woods, named after John Muir, is beautiful.
Thanks so much for this info! We need to visit!
I’ve loved your pictures! Such incredibly beauty. Thanks for taking us all along with you!
God did the beauty. I just snapped the pics. 🙂
Lucky enough to live in Utah, surrounded by National Parks. I do love Yellowstone so much but Canyonlands are simply breathtaking and Arches are so amazing. It’s pretty difficult to choose. You photos turned out so beautiful. Hope you enjoyed my neck of the woods!
We LOVED Utah! My husband declared that the entire state should be named a National Park! 🙂 It really is so beautiful and so unique and varied.
Deb, it looks like you’re having a wonderful time. I’ve been to several of the parks, but was just inspired by Arches National Park. The formations created by wind were amazing. Who knew Utah could be so beautiful! My husband and I are getting ready to travel some of the same areas you’ve been–through Montana––as we head to Seattle in 3 weeks. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Ah, we did a similar trip a couple of years ago at this same time of year. It was a beautiful time to make that drive! Have a wonderful time! And if you get a chance, don’t MISS the Seattle Japanese Garden. Absolutely STUNNING in fall!
Thank you! We will try to see that. My husband loves flowers and gardens.
Thank you so much for taking us with you via these fabulous photos. It’s been a beautiful journey.
What an amazing trip, Deb. I’ve traveled all 48 contiguous states and many of the National Parks — Yellowstone is my favorite because we had to stop while the cattle were moved down the road we were driving on, headed to lower pastures, and because that’s where I saw that baby buffalo are orange — but my husband has spent his whole life in VA. I introduced him to my native MI and we spend a lot of time in the mountains of WV, VA and MD but our dream is to do a trip like yours. Two years and three months to his retirement then National Parks here we come. He’s already trying to sort out the logistics of how to pull his motorcycle and a camper at the same time!