Annihilation in the Badlands, Actual and Potential

In addition to being completely blown away by the scenery in the Badlands, we also visited several sites that reminded us of the grim history of this wild and unpredictable place. One preserves the history of a massacre that actually occurred, while the other tells the story of the destruction of the human race that … Read more

Seeking Authenticity in the Bluegrass Region

We finished up our time in Kentucky with a stay in northern-central Kentucky, which put us within easy reach of Louisville and Lexington, AKA horse and bourbon country. We visited a number of very different destinations, but the theme that emerged from our visit is: what’s the importance of authenticity? Lincoln Birthplace Memorial Our trip … Read more

Entering the Atomic Age at Manhattan Project NHP

Camping near Oak Ridge, Tennessee gave us the opportunity to visit one of the newest parks on the NPS menu: the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. This park is somewhat unique because it consists of three separate and far-flung sections in three different states, and also because all the locations are active sites owned by … Read more

Exploring Rocket City

Given our credentials as certified space junkies, our trip through northern Alabama naturally needed to include a stop in Huntsville, home of the Redstone Arsenal and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. U.S. Space & Rocket Center Huntsville earned its place in U.S. space history by serving as the site of the rocket development program. … Read more