World's Largest Elkhorn Arch. Afton, Wyoming

One of the great benefits of taking a scenic road trip is that you pass through small towns that you otherwise would probably never visit.

Pilot Peak. Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone

Just outside the Park’s Northeast Entrance are a prominent pair of peaks in the northern Absaroka Range known as Pilot and Index.  The peak is visible from US Route 212, the Beartooth Highway just east of the Northeast Entrance Station to Yellowstone National Park.

 I will remember this drive for the rest of my life. 😁 These winding roads make you nervous..

Goblin Valley State Park in the Emery County, Utah

When traveling across Utah, don't miss Goblin Valley, State Park. It consists of hundreds of alien looking rock formations known as goblins that are both mystical and beautiful. 

I can only assume that this is what the Planet of Mars looks like. Goblin Valley is of another world. It’s also the best place imaginable for a game of hide-n-seek! It was such fun to wander around and explore. Lots of fun pictures to take.
In one word, I would say Goblin Valley is fun.

The Goblins are amazing and the fact that you can hike in and around them makes it even more spectacular. At different times of the day the light gives different expressions to the rocks.

 Gobblins are Everywhere!

An amazing place! This is a child's dream place to run around a play in this fantastic world of rock formations that appear like mushrooms or mazes of little gobblin creatures. 

 An amazing place! 

Very special and worth visiting.

Would love to come back here.

Grand Teton National Park, WY 09.2017

It's a great road to drive on between Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway is a scenic road that connects Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
 It is named in remembrance of John D. Rockefeller Jr., a conservationist, and philanthropist.

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

One of my favorite places in Yellowstone National Park. 

You will once again feel like you are on another planet as you take in the scenery. 

Very quiet, serene, and romantic. I found the colors amazing.

Such a special moment....one we will never forget.

West Thumb Geyser Basin. Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smallest geyser basins in Yellowstone yet its location along the shore of Yellowstone Lake ranks it as the most scenic.

This is one of our favorite places in Yellowstone. Boiling water at the very edge of the cool lake.
The scenic views are breathtaking. Wonderfully colorful and peaceful pools. At sunset the sky here is magic and the ponds reflect the colors so you can see something very special.
Such a mixture of beauty.

Fountain Paint Pot. Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.

The Fountain Paint Pot is a mud pot located in Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park.
The Fountain Paint Pot is named for the reds, yellows, and browns of the mud in this area.
 As with all hot springs, the heat in the caldera forces pressurized water up through the ground, which is expelled here. Also, rising gasses cause the bubbling action. The bubble action in the mud varies with the seasons. In the early summer, the mud is watery from the high water table due to rain and snowmelt. By the end of summer, the mud is much thicker as the water table drops.

View from Artist Point.Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls

When I first saw the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, I felt that God must have been bored one day and said to himself that he would paint the most amazing canyon, run a waterfall through it and then give life to it, and finally call it the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.

You have to come here to feel the enormity of what nature has created here. 

What I love most about Artist Paint Pots are the colors.....beautiful pinks, greens, turquoise.

Now I know why it's named Yellowstone - the yellow rocks visible here in the canyon are really impressive. This spot is worth the drive plus a short hike out to the viewpoint. We were there near sunset, but sunrise would probably be better.

Artists Paint Pots, Yellowstone National Park.

Be sure to stop here before leaving the park, you won't be disappointed.This place has all of the four types of hydrothermal features. You can see small geysers, fumaroles (loud steam vents), mud pots, and boiling springs. The bubbling mud was fun to see (and hear).
The colors are truly splendid.  It is almost like a moonscape with beautiful colors. Nature surely is amazing.

If you haven't been to Yellowstone, you're missing out on one of the greatest experiences of your life!

YELLOWSTONE’S WATERFALLS

I can't help it, I love waterfalls, high, low, wide, narrow, gushing or just a trickle.They are very picturesque and descend into a deep canyon. You can just sit here and watch and listen to nature at it's best.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls. 9.6.2017

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the most beautiful park in our country. Not only do you see great mountains, lovely trees, beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous rivers, but stunning animals of all types. You see Buffalo, Elk, Moose, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Antilope, Deer, wolves, eagles, and many other species of birds & animals. In addition to all this, the true beauty lies in the thousands of geysers and boiling mud pots.

Yeah, Old Faithful is a must see but the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a beautiful, hidden treasure and is also a must see. It was my favorite during my days in Yellowstone.The view of the canyon and water fall is breathtaking. It looked like it was a painting with its vivid yellows, oranges, and reds with the crystal blue Yellowstone River cutting through. It's also home to the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls which are amazing. There are plenty of observation points all along the Canyon worthy of photo stops.

Petrified Tree (Yellowstone National Park, WY)

We drove the short road out to see the Petrified Tree. One can see it from the parking lot. If one wants a closer look at it, one can walk up an uphill trail to get a close up view. It doe not take much time to see it. This now solid rock was once a giant redwood tree surrounded by a forest of trees just like it. During violent volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, mudflows and volcanic deposits rapidly filled the open pores of the tree , solidifying it into the rocky trunk that you see today. Where there was once two there is now only one petrified tree left standing. In the earlier days of the park, visitors and explorers took pieces of the second tree until there was nothing left to take. A fence surrounds the remaining tree so that it will be left alone and still standing for generations to come.

Undine Falls.Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Stopped here on our way from Mammoth to Roosevelt. These falls may not be as large as others that you encounter in Yellowstone, but they are definitely unique and portray beauty in which no others come close to. Not the biggest waterfall, but definitely worth the stop.There were lovely wildflowers in this area also.

Tower Fall.Waterfall in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Another awesome place to stop. Short hike to the viewpoint for the falls. Very scenic and great views.
It is only a short walk from the car park to the viewing platform for Tower Falls.

Kepler Cascades. Yellowstone National Park .

This was a good, quick, ten-minute pause on our drive, just long enough to snap a few photos, check it off the list of things to see and continue on.
The Cascades are located right on the road so they are very convenient for a stop that doesn't require hiking.

Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.It's a must see!

The walk from the bridge across the Firehole River into the steam and mist covered pathways truly transports you to some other world. Words are insufficient to describe what it's like to walk along boardwalks through churning clouds of sulfur-smelling steam over the vast expanse of turquoise boiling water in Excelsior Geyser. Unbelievable to see that much clear blue water! It’s a photographer’s dream.The intense steam will make you feel as though you are walking to the edge of hell.
..and knows how to remind how small you are.

Upper Geyser Basin.Yellowstone National Park. 09.05.2017

If you have the time and inclination to see the Upper Geyser Basin you won’t be disappointed.The Basin has the highest concentration of geothermal features in the world, not to mention the famous Old Faithful Geyser, which faithfully erupts in a shower of steam and water every 45-90 minutes. Explore the basin leisurely.Take your time and wait for some of the geysers to erupt.

Malaquite Campground - Corpus Christi, TX

No, this is not California or the Caribbean or Hawaii or Florida. It's Texas! This is just a quiet, peaceful, family friendly beach. I love that it is further away from the city, so there are fewer people visiting. This is a part of the national seashore park system. It's amazing miles of the unspoiled beach!!! No rowdy party goers with loud music and alcohol. We enjoyed this beach. Can't wait to go back!

The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World
Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of a few hypersaline lagoons in the world.  The park protects 70 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats teeming with life.  It is a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and a haven for over 380 bird species.  It also has a rich history, including the Spanish shipwrecks of 1554. 

Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area 2017 One of our favorite places to stay!!

We were very pleased with the scenery and the surroundings.
Well maintained,  clean,  quiet,  friendly. You get a lot of space to yourself, so we definitely felt like we had a lot of privacy. One of our favorite places to stay!! Spending some time at this park will differently re-charge your batteries.
Will definitely go back.