We pulled over when we saw this and it was a pretty cool sight to see. The water is very clear and pretty and the geology of the natural dam itself was interesting. Definitely worth the stop.
A great hike through the desert to a really neat geological feature. The road to the trailhead was dicier than the trail itself. The last part of the hike is a lot of fun as you scramble up rocks to get get to Balanced Rock. Balanced Rock also provides a great source of shade on a hot day!
I actually haven't seen "Footloose" and I even work with a guy who was in it. I'll tell you what, though: this place is worth it for the brownie mix.
A pretty fun and unique activity to do while in Seattle. The tour isn't too much walking and gives you a good idea of the evolution of Seattle and how the landscape has changed over the years.
A very quiet, somber memorial. There isn't a visitor center located here, so don't expect flushing toilets or a Ranger to point you in a certain direction. I came here on a day trip with my son (in a backpack) and spent a few hours walking around reading all the signage I could. The monument is set aside to remember the injustice of the Japanese-Americans locked up during WWII hysteria, but it also tells the story of the land after the war.
This struck me as a relatively "young" NPS site, so there will be more to come, hopefully. The three things that struck me the most were: the replica guard tower, the Victory Garden that had all the names of the men who volunteered from the camp to go fight for a government that wouldn't give them the liberties they deserved, and the faint outline of the baseball diamond: something that is so ingrained in Americans that even when the prisoners were accused of being unpatriotic or a threat, they were still American to the core.
I saw this in April when snow melt created a high flow. It was fantastic. Very pretty and worth the small fee.
This old factory has been thoughtfully converted into a hotel conveniently located in downtown Beloit. There is attention to detail in all of the decor and furniture that they have a rustic, metallic look that pays homage to the building's origins and the town's history. Great service, wonderful location, and an industrial elegance that would be hard for most to pull off.
Great museum of airplanes and weapons tested on the base. If you're on base, check it out.
A short hike with a great view. Look a mile down from Dante's View down to the Badwater Basin of Death Valley. The drive up has a lot of turns, so hopefully you don't get carsick--but it is a motorcyclist's dream.
One of the least visited National Parks in the 48, this is one of my favorites. This is a park that has a lot of neat, natural attractions without the crowds. "Half the Park is after dark" is a poster I have above my son's crib and it's true. My first visit to the park included a guided tour of Lehman Caves and then a Ranger-led night sky program in the VC parking lot with volunteers and their telescopes. I couldn't believe the amount of natural light just from the stars. With fewer people also comes better personal connections with the park resources, including animals (view from a safe distance). The Bristlecone Pines are a national treasure and always worth seeing when the roads are clear. Don't pass up on this park.