Capitol Reef National Park
This trip we wanted to finish the Utah Mighty 5. The Mighty 5 refers to the 5 National Parks in Utah. We had visited Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks but wanted to see the remaining 3. Capitol Reef is somewhat rural so we had most of the park to ourselves.
Capitol Gorge, a stunning slot canyon in Capitol Reef National Park. It’s known for its towering sandstone walls, narrow passageways, and historic features like the Pioneer Register—where early travelers carved their names into the rock.
While we were in the area we found some spots that were just as amazing as Capitol Reef. The locals drew us a map of some additional sights and we are so glad they did. Sites that are just out of this world.
Zion National Park – The Narrows
We returned to Zion National Park to go through The Narrows. This is an iconic hike that we missed due to heavy rains and high water. You can see our previous post for Zion here.
We are currently in Cedar City, Utah for the Shakespeare Festival. Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are fairly close and we are taking the opportunity to return to both parks.
Chiracahua National Monument
Back in January of 2020, we arrived at this park but were unable to hike or drive to the higher elevations due to the icy weather. See that post here. We were finally able to make it back and did the scenic drives and a few easy hikes. Not that many pictures unfortunately, as we were just getting back into hiking and RV’ing.
Next stop is Vegas to gamble with my dad and off to Cedar City, UT.
Fort Sumter & Charleston
Fort Sumter is a historical sea fort located near Charleston, South Carolina. Constructed on an artificial island at the entrance of Charleston Harbor in 1829, the fort was built in response to the War of 1812, which had exposed the inadequacy of existing American coastal fortifications to defend against naval attacks. Fort Sumter was still incomplete in 1861 when it was attacked by Confederate Forces during the Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, sparking the American Civil War; the fort was severely damaged during the battle and left in ruins.
New River Gorge National Park
The newest National Park is in West Virginia and is a beautiful venue for outdoor activities.
Horses, Horses, Horses, Horses…
This post is dedicated to both Assateague and Chincoteague Islands and horses!
Assateague Island National Seashore, MD
Assateague’s wild horses are well known, even to many people who have never been to the island. The “wild” horses on Assateague are actually feral animals, meaning that they are descendants of domestic animals that have reverted to a wild state. Horses tough enough to survive the scorching heat, abundant mosquitoes, stormy weather and poor quality food found on this remote, windswept barrier island have formed a unique wild horse society.
Local folklore describes the Assateague horses as survivors of a shipwreck off the Virginia coast. While this dramatic tale of struggle and survival is popular, there are no records yet that confirm it. The most plausible explanation is that they are the descendants of horses that were brought to barrier islands like Assateague in the late 17th century by mainland owners to avoid fencing laws and taxation of livestock.
Chincoteague Island, VA
The horses are split into two main herds, one on the Virginia side and one on the Maryland side of Assateague. They are separated by a fence at the Virginia/Maryland State line. The National Park Service manages the Maryland herd. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company owns and manages the Virginia herd.
