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Loop #1 October 2022 - April 2023 15,500 miles, 25 states, 1 Canadian Province
Natural Bridges State Park, Virginia - This was one of my first stops on my journey. Although I only lived about 3 hours from here for 25 years I had never visited this cool place. The hikes around and under the natural bridge are fairly easy and the views are incredible. Walking under the 200’ tall bridge is pretty amazing, all created by the waters from Cedar Creek and the winds in the gorge. Great way to start my journey around North America.
Congaree National Park, Richland County SC - Congaree is one of the least visited National Parks in the country but it absolutely beautiful. Congaree is the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. To get around large areas of the park you walk along a boardwalk that is just inches above the swamps and bogs. One of the neat features of the park is all the ‘tree knees’. These are part of the root systems of the tree that grow almost straight up and out of the water. It is thought that the roots do this to get oxygen since the water in the bogs lacks oxygen. The variety of trees and all the wildlife make this a great place to spend a day. This NP should be much higher on the list in my opinion.
Tallulah Gorge State Park, Tallulah Falls, GA - I love waterfalls and Tallulah Gorge SP certainly has them! There are 5 scenic falls in the park. To really appreciate the falls and the gorge you need to hike to the bottom of the gorge. There are series of trails and stairs to get you to the bottom, 1099 stairs to be exact, a real calf burner hike. You also cross a wooden suspension bridge along the way which adds to the adventure. The views of the falls and river are incredible. I will definitely visit again!
Dismals Canyon, NW Alabama - This is a very peaceful place to take a hike through the canyon and experience the wonders of this sunken forest. The trees, the boulders, the rock formations, it is another beautiful place to visit. This is the place I met a nice family and spent some time sitting/hiking with them and talking about life and God…what a memorable experience.
The City of Austin TX - I had previously visited Austin for work a few times but is completely changed now. What I remember as a smaller town on the highway is now a booming city with a beautiful skyline and lots to do. The downtown area is full of tech companies and trendy restaurants and bars. I was also surprised how much green space they have all around the city. Plenty of places to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Meeting up with my old coworker Mitch added to the visit.
Cistern History Tour, Houston TX - A very unique place to visit in the city of Houston. This underground reservoir was built in 1926 and it’s over 87,500 square feet. It was decommissioned in 2007 and turned into public space for tours, performances and art installations. Because of the thick concrete walls all around, there is a 17 second echo in the cistern. Our tour guide gave us an impromptu performance to appreciate the echo by singing a few songs and doing some harmonizing.
The Cross, Ballinger TX - I was just wondering down the highway and saw this huge Cross in the distance. I decided to turn around and head off the highway to see what it was all about, and I am glad I did. The Ballinger Cross was commissioned by Jim and Doris Studer, owners of Buddy's Plant Plus in 1993 and is a welcoming place to stop and spend some time in prayer. What a special find on my journey.
White Sands, NM - This is still one of my favorite places I’ve visited. The pure white sand dunes are beautiful. Awesome, well-marked trails are located throughout the park and many people sled down the dunes on saucer sleds. I did a few hikes and then found a quiet place to sit and soak in the tranquil setting. A very spiritual place I plan on revisiting in the future.
Biosphere 2, Oracle AZ - Originally built as a conference center in the 1960’s, it was redeveloped in 1986 to research and develop self-sustaining space-colonization technology. Teams of researchers were sealed in the Biosphere, first in 1991 and again in 1994 to measure human survivability in a closed environment. While not as successful a planned, there was a great deal of data collected that helped us understand the environment and climate change. Today the facility is run by the University of Arizona and a lot research continues. Touring the facility was fascinating and the surrounding landscape is amazing.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs CA - This is the largest state park in California which surprised me. There are over 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails in this 600,000 acre desert wonderland. There are many areas where you can pull over and camp free for a night or two. The wildflower bloom is probably the biggest attraction for many people but I enjoyed it even without seeing the bloom. The bloom typically starts in late February/early April. I am actually heading that way later this week.
Slab City CA - While not necessarily one of my favorite places, but it’s definitely one of the most unique places I’ve visited. Located on the site of an old US Marine Corps training base the only thing that remains of the base are the concrete slabs for the buildings. Slab City is an off-grid community of people that like the fact that this area is basically self-governed and self-policed. It’s been called one of the country’s last free places and a squatter’s paradise. In 2020 it was estimated that 4,000 people call this home. You will see everything here from pallet homes, burned out RVs, a makeshift library, a stage for impromptu performances and many other unique structures.
Muir Woods, Marin County CA - I first visited Muir Woods as a 9 year old when my family did a cross country trip. I don’t recall many things from that trip but Muir Woods was one that stood out. It’s a wonderfully beautiful park with majestic coastal redwoods towering over you. I felt like a kid again walking through and exploring the hiking trails around the park. The trees, the moss, the ferns were so green after the morning rain showers and that made my visit even better.
Columbia River/Columbia Gorge/Waterfalls - The canyon/gorge runs 80 miles and separates Washington and Oregon. There are really an unlimited number of activities in and around the river/gorge. The hiking is great and the waterfalls are stunning. There are over 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the river. Multnomah is the highest of them all at 620 feet but they all have their individual beauty. Waterfalls are one of favorite places to visit and take a hike…and there are plenty in the area. Another great place to find a place to sit and reflect on all the great things I have in my life today.
Goosenecks State Park, San Juan County UT - This place was definitely a great find. You can see for miles from the rim of the canyon in all directions. The San Juan river is about 1000 feet below and flows around the rocks and looks like a gooseneck, hence the name. I spent Easter Weekend 2022 here and it was wonderful. Waking up to the sunrise in the east and turning my chair 180 degrees to watch the sunset in the west was amazing. I camped a few yards from the rim of the canyon so you need to be careful if you take a midnight walk. An absolutely stunning place. My buddy Greg and I camped here in 2024 and stayed 5 nights because of the views and uniqueness.
Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County CO - Mesa Verde is another place I visited as a 9 year old with my family. This is a very sacred place for Pueblo Indians. For over 700 the tribe built homes and communities on the mesas and in the cliffs. Over 600 dwellings remain and are protected by the National Park Service. You can feel the rich history here as you walk/hike around the park and look at the dwellings, it’s really hard to describe. I am so glad I decided to revisit this wonderful place, and think back to the time we spent here as a family!
Amache National Historical Site, Granada CO - I saw this on Google Maps and it was not far off my route so I decided to make a detour and check it out. Also known as the Granada War Relocation Center where Japanese Americans were forced relocated/imprisoned during WWII. Not much remains of the camp, just some concrete foundations and fencing. There are story boards around the area that tells the story of the camp and some of the families that were held here. Many of the men here joined to US Military and fought for our country and 31 paid the ultimate price. Several were honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor, our highest honor for members of the military. Walking around the area its hard not to think about the people that were forced to relocate here, about the impact it had on future generations of their families. Hopefully our country will not forget and never repeat this tragic time in our history.
Made it back to Virginia on April 24, 2023 and started planning Loop #2 after spending time with family and friends!
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