Big Bend National Park

In remote southwestern Texas lies Big Bend National Park, named after the horseshoe bend of the Rio Grande river that borders the park.  There are three primary sections to this park.  The first is the Chinos Mountains, the southernmost range in the continental US.  We began our visit there, driving up to higher elevations, twisting our way through a rare lush valley, until reaching the road’s apex that offers views of the park’s iconic castle-like mesa called “Casa Grande”.  We skipped a couple hikes along the way, due to temperatures higher than our northern blood is accustomed to.
 

We then descended to the Rio Grande Village, where the temperature increased further with each mile we drove.  We stopped to view the Sierra del Carmen, the mountain range behind Lisa below, which mark the beginning of Mexico’s border.  We soon reached the Rio Grande, where we stood just a stone throw away from Mexico.  There was actually a group of Mexicans sitting with their boat and horses, just across from us, waiting to rescue their friend, if need be, who had crossed the river to sell handcrafted items to park visitors.

 

The following day, we drove to the southwestern corner of the park, where the Rio Grande runs through Santa Elena Canyon.  The river was so shallow at parts, one could easily wade across if they desired.  A few short walks in this area allowed us some closer encounters with the many insects that call this desert home.  On our drive out of the park, we finally captured a photo of one of the park’s elusively swift road-runners.

We enjoyed our time at Big Bend National Park, but only the dedicated like us reach it, given its remoteness.  If you plan on visiting, know that lodging within 60 miles of the park is hard to find.  So, keep your car gassed up and bring plenty of water!

Hot Springs National Park

The hot springs in Arkansas were actually one of the first national park systems protected by law.  Today, Hot Springs National Park is a small wooded area adjacent to Hot Springs, AR, which protects the unique hydrological system that feeds the springs.  Lisa was expecting large pools of hot water in the ground that we would be able to bathe in.  Instead we found the springs are capped-off and piped into bath houses in the town of Hot Springs. Picture traditional spa offerings and hot tubs in an outdated setting.  Although disappointed by this, we did enjoy walking by the old bath houses in town and taking a tour of a bath house that has been preserved by the national park system.

Mammoth Cave National Park

There’s nothing quite like two hours in a big cave full of screaming infants.

Kentucky

Since we were in Kentucky, we decided to visit the city of Louisville, where Wm lived for four years.  We first stopped in Lexington to watch the ponies run!  What fun we had checking out the horses in the paddock, placing bets, and rooting for our selected winners.  In the end we lost about $25 after Wm narrowly missed his exacta picks, thanks to that darn #2 horse.

We then drove to Louisville where we met with a couple of Wm’s friends for dinner.  It was a very enjoyable evening, but too short.  I guess that just means we need to come back and visit again. 

Aside from the horse races, two things synonymous with Kentucky are KFC and Bourbon, so we checked both off in style.  We went to lunch at Claudia Sanders Dinner House, the restaurant that the Colonel and his wife opened after they sold the KFC franchise.  (Think KFC with higher quality ingredients – Yum!!)  We then toured the Buffalo Trace Distillery where “Blanton’s”, one of Wm’s favorite bourbons, is made.

It was a short stay, but an enjoyable one!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Situated on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee stand some of the oldest mountains in the world and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Named after the haze created by humid southern air cooling in the Park’s high altitudes, “The Great Smokies” are home to 187,000 acres of old-growth hardwoods and hundreds of species of animals and plants.

Our visit was extremely well-timed, with cool weather, sunny skies, and the fall foliage on full display.

We hiked up to Clingman’s Dome, a lookout tower that offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains.  On our way, we passed part of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,179 mile long path that runs through most of the eastern states.

Driving on “Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail”,  a lovely shady forested-area, we made several stops to walk to the creek and explore the remains of an old farm.  During our drive we spotted a rafter of eight wild turkeys and most importantly, had our closest bear encounter yet!  We parked our car when we saw a group of people claiming to have spotted a small bear.  When we got out of the car, they said he was heading straight for us.  Amazingly, he walked across a small clearing less than 20 feet in front of us.  After stopping to look for brief moment, he was off to scavenge for more berries and acorns in the gorge.  For Lisa, it was love at first sight, and she is pretty sure the bear was lovingly eyeing her too!

This is a beautiful park to visit during autumn!