We stayed a night in Ohio before heading back to Michigan for a quick trip to pick a few things up we were waiting on. 

Before leaving Michigan on May 6th we took a trip to the Mackinac Bridge. I worked there for the day and got out to have some fun with Bryce during some breaks.

History: The Mackinac Bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957, and remains the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The idea had been discussed since the 1880s, but construction didn't begin until 1954, taking 42 months to complete.

On our way to see my sister we stopped somewhere in Pennsylvania for a few nights. While the van was far from finished (still moving wood off the bed to sleep) we had a good time and did not see anyone while staying here. 

Arrived at my sister's on May 13th and we took a short drive to Valley Forge on the 14th. Was a nice day to walk around the park and got back to her car right when it started to rain.

History: Approximately 12,000 Continental Army troops under George Washington's command were encamped at Valley Forge from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778 — the shared hardship here, along with training from Baron von Steuben, is considered a turning point that helped secure American independence.

Stopped by the morning of May 31st right when the park opened. Stayed a few hours, and walked around while Bryce ate. No dogs allowed past a certain point unfortunately so he hung out at home during my walk.

History: Before Europeans reached the Great Plains, the granite formation that would become Mount Rushmore was known to the Sioux as Six Grandfathers Mountain, a sacred place for prayer. Construction of the 60-foot presidential faces took place between 1927 and 1941.

No one else was here when we stopped by. Walked through a bit, got some video, and made a call. Going to stop by again next year as I did not stay long since I wanted to make it to Utah and have a couple days before being joined by some friends.

History: Fort Laramie began as a fur-trade post in 1834, later shifting to buffalo robe trading and supplying westbound emigrants, before the U.S. Army purchased it in 1849 to serve as a key logistics hub.

Slept in Moab on June 3rd and luckily looked up Arches that night and was able to make a reservation to enter on the 4th. Bryce was not allowed to walk around most places here, but did get a pic of him while we were out. I did run a couple short trails here which was nice. Van temp stayed at a good temp the whole time we were here, which was around 4 hours.

History: Arches was proclaimed a National Monument on April 12, 1929, and became a full national park on November 12, 1971. The park now contains more than 2,000 cataloged natural arches, including Landscape Arch, one of the longest natural freestanding rock spans in the world.

After Arches we headed to Canyonlands since they are not far apart. The ranger at the booth entrance was great, she gave me a couple places where Bryce and I could hike/run the trails just outside the park and stay the night. While we did not stay that night, opted to head to Bryce Canyon which was a mistake driving there that late, but learned from that.

History: The park was established on September 12, 1964, with Bates Wilson — then superintendent of nearby Arches National Monument — as its first superintendent.

This has long been my favorite place, what inspired me to find a way to travel full-time, and where I got the name for Bryce. Bryce and I stopped by here for a few days before heading to St. George where he was to be boarded. I had some friends coming in and we were going to do a lot of hiking where he could not go. My friends and I came here for the sunset and a hike on June 9th.

History: Bryce Canyon isn't technically a canyon but a collection of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, filled with thousands of the distinctive spire-shaped rock formations called hoodoos. The area takes its name from Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded near the park in the 1870s and reportedly called it "a hell of a place to lose a cow." It was established as a national park on February 25, 1928. 

We hit Zion on June 10th for some hiking. Had a great time and got a lot of miles in. After we left the park we stopped in town for dinner before heading back to the Airbnb. We did end up hiking up to the start of Angels Landing which was quite a hike, and I'm sticking to it — I did not know that was the trail we were on!

History: Zion Canyon was carved by the Virgin River cutting through Navajo sandstone over millions of years. The area was originally home to Ancestral Puebloan and later Southern Paiute peoples before Mormon settlers arrived in the 1860s and gave many of the park's features their biblical names. It was designated a national monument in 1909 and became Utah's first national park on November 19, 1919. 

The group split up on June 11th as two members had family in the area that they were going to see. So Kristin and I headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Had a great time, walked around part of the rim, got some good pics, and stopped for dinner on the way back that night.

History: The North Rim sits at over 8,000 feet elevation, about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, which keeps it cooler and open to visitors for a much shorter season each year.

Headed back to Zion the afternoon after my friends left to hike the Narrows before picking Bryce up. Ended up having a limited time and flew through as much as I could (two hours in and another two back). Bryce was excited to see me and we ended up spending two weeks close to Bryce Canyon as shown in the pics below. Will definitely be coming back to both parks yearly! 

After we left Bryce Canyon we headed to Capitol Reef to hit the last of the National Parks in Utah. We drove around a bit, but could not go through the whole park as there was an issue with flooding so some of the roads were closed.

History: Capitol Reef was established as a national monument in 1937 and designated a national park in 1971. It was named for a line of white domes and cliffs resembling the U.S. Capitol building, running along a 100-mile geologic wrinkle called the Waterpocket Fold.

Arrived the night of June 29th and we stayed until July 3rd. Had a great time and a fantastic view. No problem with internet connection for work using Verizon, AT&T was a bit slow, and T-Mobile could not connect.

History: The Teton Range is geologically young by mountain standards, having begun forming less than 10 million years ago along a fault line, which is part of why the peaks rise so dramatically and abruptly from the valley floor with no foothills in between. The park was established on February 26, 1929, and later expanded in 1950 to include the valley of Jackson Hole, thanks in large part to land donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. 

Took the drive here on July 3rd, great scenery and plenty of gas stations in the park coming from the Grand Tetons. Went to see Old Faithful and the area was built up a lot more than I was expecting it to be.

History: Yellowstone was established as the world's first national park on March 1, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed it into law. The historic Old Faithful Inn, overlooking the geyser, was built in 1904 and remains one of the largest log structures in the world.

Walked around it on July 4th, then had lunch in the van. After lunch I headed to a nearby state park for a quick shower before heading toward Jewel Cave knowing I would not make it that day. That night I saw fireworks during my drive and ended stopping at a Walmart for the night. The next morning was a bit tricky with the town I was in having a 4th of July parade, but once past it driving was a breeze.

History: Devils Tower holds deep significance for several Northern Plains tribes, who have their own names and origin stories for the formation, many involving a bear clawing at the rock (explaining the distinctive vertical striations). It became the first National Monument in the United States when President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed it under the newly passed Antiquities Act on September 24, 1906. 

Stayed here the night of July 8th, and did a quick drive of the park on the 9th. Cave tours were going to be a bit tricky as Covid risk was high in the area so I may have to come back for a cave tour sometime.

History: Established on January 9, 1903, Wind Cave was the sixth national park in the U.S. and the first cave in the world to be designated a national park.

I did not take any pictures here, but stopped by for a short walk and lunch at a picnic area nearby. Same as Wind Cave, I did not take the cave tour since they are both not that far away from each other and the Covid risk was the same.

History: Jewel Cave was discovered in 1900 by prospectors Frank and Albert Michaud, who felt cold air blowing from a small hole in a canyon. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed it a national monument in 1908.

Took some time off work to head to the Badlands. Had a nice drive here and saw a lot of Wall Drug signs! We ended up spending two nights here (July 10-11), went for a run and hiked the first night. The second night some buffalo walked through camp, and later that night we got some hail and 50 mph winds. That night Bryce was a bit scared and jumped in bed with me and was shaking for a bit, but got him calmed down. The next morning had a talk with a ranger that was out putting the door back up on the outhouse since the buffalo tore it off some time the night before. Definitely a place we are going to come back to!

History: The Badlands' dramatic layered rock formations have been eroding for roughly 500,000 years, exposing fossil beds that date back 75 million years and preserve some of the richest deposits of Oligocene-era mammal fossils in the world. The area was designated a national monument in 1939 and redesignated a national park on November 10, 1978. 

I had no clue where I was headed on July 12th and ended up at Yellowtail Dam. After I arrived we stopped by a campground close by and entertained the idea of staying here for a few nights until I found my next stop.

History: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area was created around the Bighorn Lake reservoir, formed when Yellowtail Dam was completed on the Bighorn River in 1966 — the canyon itself cuts nearly 2,500 feet deep in places.

We were here the afternoon of July 12th and took a lot of pictures. Did not know there was a National Cemetery here, but glad I came. Not much for Bryce and I to do here, but we did take the drive through the park.

History: This site preserves the location of the June 25-26, 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn between the U.S. 7th Cavalry under Lt. Col. George Custer and allied Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. It was originally named Custer Battlefield National Monument and was renamed in 1991 to better represent everyone who fought there.

Stopped by in the early afternoon of July 13th. There were not many people here and it is on the smaller side, but had a good conversation learning about the place with a member of the staff.

History: Between 1828 and 1867, Fort Union was the most important fur trade post on the Upper Missouri River, where the Assiniboine and six other Northern Plains tribes exchanged buffalo robes for goods from around the world — annually trading over 25,000 robes and $100,000 in merchandise.

Arrived here on the evening of July 13th and took a drive partway into the park and watched the buffalo for a bit before filling up on water and stopping for the night. The next day we drove through the whole park and were held up for a bit with a buffalo walking the road in front of us for a while. Pulled off to the side at one point and took a short run on a trail that led to the original park entrance, not many people on this trail but did see quite a few prairie dogs.

History: Fort Union Trading Post nearby had been an important upper Missouri River trading hub since the 1820s, but this park's own story centers on Theodore Roosevelt himself — he first came to the Dakota Badlands in 1883 to hunt bison and ended up investing in two ranches here. The rugged landscape and hard years he spent ranching after the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day in 1884 shaped his lifelong conservation ethic. The park was established in his honor on November 10, 1978. 

Didn't really know what to expect when heading here, but glad I came. Had a nice walk on the short side and probably spent about an hour here. Not too far away was a state park where we spent the night of July 14th.

History: Earthlodge people here hunted bison but were essentially farmers living in villages along the Missouri, making the site a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years before it became a fur trading marketplace after 1750 — Lewis and Clark also visited and traded here.

Driving through Iowa the morning of July 15th we stopped here for a walk, didn't do much else here as I wanted to head to the next couple stops.

History: Effigy Mounds National Monument, established by presidential proclamation in 1949, preserves over 200 prehistoric mounds built by Native American cultures, many shaped like bears and birds.

We arrived here mid-day on the 16th of July and just took a short walk around the park. There were some good spots to sit outside and eat too.

History: Herbert Hoover was born in a small two-room cottage here in 1874 and spent the first eleven years of his life in West Branch before being orphaned and moving to Oregon. The site was established in 1965.

Arrived here the night of July 16th and talked to a ranger that told us parking overnight behind the visitors center was allowed. We had a good night here, others were in the lot with us, and it was quiet. The next day we headed to the beach, where dogs were not allowed on it, but did have a nice walk on some trails.

History: Originally authorized as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966, the site was redesignated the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019 — the first in Indiana.

Made a quick stop here the morning of July 29th, walked around the building and watched the video they were showing in the lower level. They had a good display of outfits Nancy Reagan wore while she was First Lady, and some other First Ladies including a number of dresses. The building had some nice rooms and was an interesting stop.

History: First Ladies National Historic Site, established in 2000, is centered on the former home of First Lady Ida Saxton-McKinley in downtown Canton, Ohio.

Bryce and I stopped by here the afternoon of July 30th and had a good time! We took about a 5 mile walk from what I remember to a waterfall. While the waterfall was underwhelming, the walk was great. It was a nice clear warm day and can see us stopping by again next year since it is close to some family.

History: The park protects land along the winding Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, including stretches of the historic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

We stopped by here the evening after our hike at Cuyahoga Valley. While Bryce ate I took a walk around the grounds, sat in a rocking chair on the front porch of the house, and talked with a couple other visitors. The visitor center here is inside a building that was on the grounds and just repurposed for the visitor center. Interesting place to visit, but most likely won't spend more than a couple hours here depending on if you take the guided tour. I was here for about an hour, which included eating dinner and mapping our trip back to Michigan for a visit.

History: This site preserves the Lawnfield estate of President James A. Garfield in Mentor, Ohio, and was declared a National Historic Site by Congress in 1980.

Not much to say about this other than it is a 23 mile scenic drive that we took on August 14th.

History: The Colonial Parkway connects Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown — the three points of Virginia's "Historic Triangle" — tracing roughly 400 years of American history along a single 23-mile route.

This is the reason I decided to head to Virginia, and on the afternoon of August 14th we spent a few hours walking around here. It was nice to see where the old fort was, and the excavations and rebuilding they have done. Walking around the island we also saw where some later buildings were. While dogs are allowed on the island they are not allowed in the museum on the island, which is very interesting. It is built over an old foundation with glass flooring in spots allowing you to see the original foundation that was built. Now to get a dog on the island you first need to go into the visitors center and pay for your access, then if you go through the doors to the bridge to walk to the island take a left and you will see an exit you can take to the parking lot. You can then walk back through with your dog and walk the island. If you have a vehicle that keeps a regulated temp so it won't get too hot for your dog, like I do, I would cross over to the island and take a right to first go to the museum on the island, then go back for your dog to walk the island with you. If you don't, just come back for the museum on your own a different day.

History: On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America — European, Virginia Indian, and African cultures came together here to form a new society.

After Jamestowne we had time to drive to Yorktown for another walk down a couple blocks on the street. Some nice old homes that are privately owned, and then there is a driving tour of some other spots that are nice to see.

History: Yorktown was the site of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781, when British forces under Cornwallis surrendered — later serving again as a Union garrison during the Civil War.

Arrived here the morning of August 17th, went to the visitors center and scheduled a time to tour the fort. Parked by the sea for the day and worked from there. At lunch I took my self-guided tour of the Fort. After work Bryce and I took a walk along the paved trail by the sea. Overall it was a nice place to spend the day and would definitely do it again.

History: Known as "Freedom's Fortress," Fort Monroe became a powerful symbol during the Civil War after three enslaved men rowed to the fort seeking freedom in May 1861; more than 10,000 formerly enslaved people found refuge here over the course of the war.

Stopped by the morning of August 18th not knowing what to expect and did not stay long at all.

History: This site preserves the home of Maggie L. Walker, the first woman to serve as president of a bank in the United States, in Richmond's Jackson Ward neighborhood.

We were here on August 18th and it was a place that we drove from stop to stop, got out and had a walk around. Spent an hour or two of our morning here before work. It was a nice place to visit and learn some more history about the Civil War that I did not know.

History: Petersburg endured a nine-and-a-half month Union siege from June 1864 to April 1865 — the longest siege in U.S. Army history — before the city fell, leading directly to Lee's retreat toward Appomattox.

Arrived here right before my work day on the 18th was to start. There was a nice big field next to the parking lot that I worked from all day. We had a nice walk during lunch and after work before heading out. On our way out of town I did see an old church and bank that were for sale that had me thinking to look into for a possible future home base.

History: Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy throughout the Civil War and was the target of multiple Union campaigns before finally falling on April 3, 1865.

Pulled in on the morning of August 19th and took a quick walk around the grounds. Then I worked from the parking lot, taking a break at lunch to take another walk and tour the buildings before finishing my work day off. We then headed to our next location, stopping halfway there for a night's rest.

History: On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant in the parlor of the McLean House here — effectively ending the Civil War.

We arrived early on August 20th not knowing what to expect. There is a sort of driving tour where you can drive from spot to spot, get out and see locations of the battle and read about them. There are also some nice trails that we walked. The picture to the left is a monument built after the war and is not legally accessible, being on the other side of the train tracks. Not saying you could not get to it if you wished, as I saw a few people walking that way.

History: This park preserves parts of four major Civil War battlefields — Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Courthouse — fought between 1862 and 1864, with a combined total of more than 85,000 wounded and 15,000 killed.

After looking at where we should go next, decided this would be something worth seeing and it wasn't too far away or off the track we would be going. Arrived in the afternoon of August 20th and took a walk around the grounds. After that made lunch and took a walk with Bryce before heading out.

History: George Washington Birthplace National Monument sits on 551 acres in Virginia's Northern Neck, where seven generations of the Washington family lived and where George Washington was born in 1732.

We arrived later in the day on August 20th and hit the trails. Found a nice deck built on one trail and stopped to take in some of the scenery and get some pics. After that we took a dinner break and started to look for where we were going to stay for the night.

History: This park began in 1936 as Chopawamsic Recreation Area, built to house children's relief camps during the Great Depression, and was renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948.

We arrived here planning on spending a few days, but it was raining hard the morning of August 21st and was not going to let up for the next couple days. This is a place we need to come back to! Did not end up getting any pics either.

History: Shenandoah National Park was established in 1926 and largely built up through the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, protecting a stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the famous Skyline Drive.

Headed here after Shenandoah and it was raining here too, but did get a short quick walk in — didn't take any pictures though.

History: The Federal victory at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864 ended Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley — coming just three weeks before the presidential election, it boosted Northern morale and helped Lincoln win reelection.

Third park we hit on August 21st, and when we got here it was not raining. We were able to get a walk in and take a few pics. After dinner we left the park to head toward our next location that we wanted to see tomorrow.

History: Great Falls Park preserves a dramatic stretch of the Potomac River where the water drops roughly 76 feet over a series of rapids and waterfalls, just upstream from Washington, D.C.

We arrived here on August 22nd and had a good time. Went on some walks and did take one pic.

History: Known as the "Battle That Saved Washington," the Battle of Monocacy was fought here on July 9, 1864, when a much smaller Union force delayed Confederate General Jubal Early's advance on Washington, D.C. long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Stopped by the morning of August 23rd before work. I have been here before as a kid, but it has been built up from what I remembered. Came back after work and drove through the park, but did not end up taking any pictures.

History: Fought July 1-3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest single battle of the Civil War, with more than 50,000 estimated casualties — widely considered the turning point that ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North.

I have been here many times growing up, and spent a couple hours here on September 5th. Dogs are not allowed on the dune climb so Bryce waited at home while I took the climb up. After we walked around for a bit before heading to another location to spend a few days.

History: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was officially established on October 21, 1970. Its name comes from an Anishinaabek legend of a mother bear who swam Lake Michigan fleeing a fire and climbed the bluff to wait for her cubs, who didn't survive the crossing.

We spent October 1 - 4 at this campground, hit the beach a few times and had some good walks. This is a place I know well and had been to many times as a kid and did not realize how many memories of my mom would come flooding back. I think it was a good decision to spend some time here as I was able to work thru those memories and feelings. As for Bryce he did not really like the waves coming in as he jumped back when they came in and walked back to the water as the water cleared. Stayed for a sunset one night, and hiked some familiar trails that have changed quite a bit since I was younger. They are built up a lot more than they were but still found some of the older ones I remembered.

Found out this place existed and decided to take a drive here. I was in Michigan at the time and arrived on October 10th and left the same day.

History: In 1985, a Riverside city councilman and self-declared Trekkie proposed that the town be declared the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, since Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had only ever specified he was born in "a small town in Iowa." The town now hosts an annual "Trek Fest" celebrating the connection.

On our way to the Great Smoky Mountains I saw a sign for the Cumberland Gap so changed our plans for the day up a bit. We arrived the afternoon of November 6th and made our way up to the parking lot before walking to see the overlooks. On our way out decided to take the route through the tunnel to our original destination.

History: Dr. Thomas Walker is often credited with the Gap's discovery in 1750, and Daniel Boone began exploring the area in 1769 — the natural passage through the mountains opened the way for westward migration into Kentucky along the Wilderness Road.

It was around 4pm on the 6th when we arrived at the visitors center. Took Bryce for a short walk before dinner and looking at where we were going to stay that night.

History: Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established on June 15, 1934, to protect the last significant stand of southern Appalachian forest, much of which had already been logged. It's now the most-visited national park in the country.

We spent a week around Columbia, moving from spot to spot each night and day. Different place to work during the day and sleep during the night. Had some nice walks with Bryce and both of us enjoyed the weather. Had to head back to Michigan which did not turn out the best but can't wait to get back to this weather.

History: Columbia became South Carolina's capital in 1786, chosen partly for its central location in the state. During the Civil War, much of the city burned in February 1865 after Union troops under General Sherman occupied it — a fire whose cause is still debated by historians. 

We were about a half hour away from here in early November, but headed back to Michigan and ended up stuck there for 3 weeks for some van repairs. After those were done we headed back and arrived here on December 6th. Ended up taking a walk along the boardwalk here, dogs are welcome, and then headed back home for lunch. After lunch, started looking at where to go next and was thinking about hitting the beach then thought let's go to Florida's panhandle.

History: Congaree protects the largest remaining tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States — a 1950s campaign to save it from logging eventually led to it becoming Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976, then a national park in 2003.

We first hit the panhandle and drove around there for a bit before learning of a SpaceX launch on December 6th so we headed to Cocoa Beach.  Arrived there on the 4th and started looking for a dog friendly beach and found one. We spent our days here hitting the beach before work, during lunch and after work. The launch was moved to the 8th, and talked with a couple that told us early mornings there are a group of people that come to watch the sunrise and let their dogs run the beach. So the morning of the 7th we joined them and Bryce had a blast! Did not really like the waves any of the days we were there as you can see  by clicking on the video below.

History: Cocoa Beach's modern identity is closely tied to the nearby Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, just a few miles north — the area became a hub for the astronaut community starting in the Mercury program of the early 1960s, and it's remained a popular spot for locals and visitors to watch rocket launches ever since. 

We headed back to Michigan so Bryce could go the the vet on the 12th. We hit the store to stock up before the vet and heading south for another week before the holidays. The vet went fine, but got back in the van and had another issue the the ESC light which took us back to the dealer for the same issue we just got fixed. Been a week now and still waiting on a part so looking like we will be here till at least Christmas and hoping we can still head out on the 26th as planned.

Van was fixed the morning of the 28th and we headed south the night of the 29th! 

To end the year we visited Mammoth Cave on December 31st. We took a short walk on a trail by the visitors center before I took the Cleveland tour. This tour entered through a man-made entrance to the cave, letting us bypass the 7 hour walk to this part of the cave. This is a dry cave and the tour took about 2 hours. At one point the tour guide had us close our eyes to just listen to the sounds of the cave, and when he told us to open our eyes he had all the lights off in the cave. This made it so dark I could not see my hand in front of my face, and after just finishing Tom Sawyer, reminded me of when their candles went out in the cave and just how dark it would have been for them.

After the tour was over Bryce and I took another walk on the same trail while considering if we should head to Florida or somewhere else. Check 2023 for where we decided to go.

History: Mammoth Cave was established as a national park on July 1, 1941, and became a World Heritage Site in 1981. It remains the longest known cave system in the world, with over 400 miles of surveyed passageways — nearly twice as long as the second-longest.