nationalpark – Emmalee Mauldin

Giant cacti + beautiful views while hiking the Loma Alta Trailhead in Saguaro National Park East, in Tucson, Arizona

I technically call Tucson, Arizona, my hometown because that’s where I went to high school and college, and where most of my family currently resides. To me, it’s one of the most uniquely beautiful places in America – perhaps the world. The desert landscape in Arizona, especially Saguaro National Park East + West, are breathtaking.…

Climbing Over Dunes & Relaxing at the Beach in Indiana Dunes State & National Park, Indiana

Looking for a fun place to both hike and swim? Get a workout in and then relax on the beach? (Or one over the other – I won’t judge!) Indiana Dunes National and State Park is the perfect place for that! Indiana Dunes State and National Park is located along the northwestern edge of Indiana,…

My Top 6 Favorite National Parks in the United States

Visiting National Parks are my favorite things to do when I travel around the United States, and I definitely favor some, for all various reasons. In no particular order, here are my top 6 favorite National Parks that I’ve visited, and a few honorable mentions. 1) Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, California I’ve combined Yosemite…

Going Back in Time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Last year I took a roadtrip from Washington D.C. to Tucson, AZ, and made a spontaneous stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was on my bucket list and I am so glad that I made the stop. I only had a couple of hours to stop, so I was only able to see the Liberty Bell…

A Day in Historical Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia

Harper’s Ferry, WV, is best known as a historical site for a quite horrible and bloody abolitionist raid in 1859, but has since turned into a beautiful historic town with beautiful views. It sits right on the border between West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. I went to Harper’s…

A Couple Hours at the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Missouri

Visiting the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, was one of my favorite experiences from last summer! At the time, I had been roadtripping from Washington D.C. to Tucson, Arizona, and I specifically made St. Louis a stop on my drive because I wanted to see the giant arch. The Gateway Arch is a 630-foot…

Sledding at White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

On my roadtrip from Washington D.C. to my hometown of Tucson, Arizona, my uncle and I made a pit stop at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico! White Sands National Monument is 52 miles northeast of Las Cruces and a part of the northern Chihuahua Desert. It features giant dunes of pure white sand,…