— To look at our ancestors’ lives often provides us with a rewarding experience that teaches us valuable facts about our present lives. Places such as the Alcove House at Bandelier NM are fascinating pieces of history. The Alcove House … Read More

— Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a sleeping giant. The park encompasses 1,880,461 acres (7,610 km2). According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which now administers the park since September 18, 2021, “the Monument is a diverse geologic treasure … Read More

— Our first visit to Canyon de Chelly (pronounced d-SHAY) National Monument was back in 2006, when we were returning from our Grand Canyon South Rim visit. We had not planned on going by Canyon de Chelly until someone told us … Read More

— Part of our southwest vacation in 2010 included Aztec Ruins NM and Chaco Culture NHP. The first and foremost thing to learn about this national monument is that its name, Aztec, is a misnomer. A nineteenth century erroneous belief, according to … Read More

— Going back some 67,000 years ago, there were mammoths roaming around in central Texas. The Waco Mammoth National Monument offers a glimpse in the past of these gigantic animals. An adult mammoth could easily stand 14 feet (4.25 m) … Read More

— One of the more recent additions to the National Park Service, the Waco Mammoth National Monument was established on July 10, 2015, by President Barack Obama. As stated in the park’s website, “this paleontological site represents the nation’s only … Read More

— Eight years ago we were visiting Canyon de Chelly National Monument for the second time. The first time all we did was the scenic drive. We were able to see Spider Rock and other features from above. The second … Read More

— A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal‘s Seven Wonders, the Pena Palace is majestic in its location and striking inside and outside. On our recent trip to Portugal, the palace was high on our list of must-see … Read More

— Kachina Bridge is located in Natural Bridges National Monument, in southeastern Utah. The National Park Service (NPS) website describes this bridge as “the middle bridge.” The other two bridges are Owachomo and Sipapu. The middle bridge denomination comes from … Read More

— Happy 102nd anniversary to Bandelier National Monument! On February 11, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation to establish Bandelier National Monument. That piece of legislation protected 33,000 acres of rugged land with a beautiful canyon and mesa country. Bandelier NM … Read More