“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28 NRSV
In recent posts I have shared some of my travels. I’m going to do more of that today. My husband and I recently visited three national parks in the USA. The beauty of the places we visited showed me what a great God we have. He is truly the Creator as the scripture above says. The photos I’m sharing don’t begin to show the magnificence of God’s creation in these parks. The beauty is awesome like our God.
On our trip we first went to Bryce Canyon.
Our next stop was Zion National Park. The two park are very different but both magnificent.
Our third stop was the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We had been to the south rim several times, but I think I like the north rim even better. It was a partly cloudy day, and we did get a little rain. Some of the photos show the rain before it reached us. The colors of the canyon are somewhat muted because of the cloudy day.
We did a lot of hiking during this trip. I actually ruined a pair of hiking shoes. The soles came off, and I had to buy a new pair during the trip. I’m thankful for the photos I took, so they will remind me of the glorious nature that God has created.
Have you visited a national park in your country?
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Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos, Merrillee, they are indeed a reminder of our talented Creator. I’ve been to Estes Park, Colorado and Saguaro National Park in Tucson, both were magnificent.
Merrillee thanks for your inspiring and thought provoking post. As a life long learner and retired teacher, I am always thankful when the book, article or blog makes me think or research a topic. Having traveled coast to coast, I have explored 6 of the 58 National Parks: The Badlands, Grand Canyon, Great Smokey Mountains, Mammoth Cave, Petrified Forest, and Sequoia. I have driven through Death Valley and saw the Joshua Trees. I also have driven through the Shenandoah Valley.
Your blog this morning inspired me to explore the National Park Service website (nps.gov). I enjoyed exploring the interactive state map of National Parks and didn’t know that Michigan has 5 National Parks. While I appreciate the Nature Parks, my personal favorite are the National Historical Parks. Our most memorial family vacations are at the Historical National Parks, especially Yorktown, Gettysburg and all related with Abraham Lincoln.
As we approach Independence Day, as a naturalized citizen I am thankful for the many opportunities our nation The United States of America provides. Explore and enjoy the free access at your state’s National and Historical National Parks for the 100th Anniversary.
I visited Yellowstone as a child, and I’m sure one or two others during that trip, but I was only 8 or so and Yellowstone is the one I remember!
Great photos! I have been to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Lewis and Clark Caverns. All three are fairly close to my home. They are wonderful places to visit!
Jill, your are welcome. My plan is to visit as many National Parks as possible. My daughter gave me a National Parks passport book a few years ago. So I have a list of all the parks and monuments. There are a lot. I keep checking them off as I go. I should take it with me, so I can stamp it. Instead I’ve been collecting brochures that I put in the book. I only saw one ranger station that had passport stamps on this trip, and I stamped a brochure.
Renate, I’ve been to all the parks you mentioned except Death Valley. I also love the historical parks. One of my daughters lives in Baltimore, and we took trips to Yorktown and Gettysburg when we were there. We also saw Williamsburg and Jamestown.
Patty, Yellowstone is definitely memorable. I also went as a child, a newlywed and later took my girls there when they were in middle school.
Beth, thanks. Glacier National Park is at the top of my list.
Yellowstone is the one I remember the most from trips to the States. You will have to check out Banff and Jasper (Google some photos), and look at pictures of Lake Louise I Canada. A few years ago my husband and I hiked to a tea house at the top of a mountain at Lake Louise. God’s creation is amazing. ?
Beautiful photos of God’s creations! Thank you for sharing with us. Our family has visited the Great Smokey Mountains, and we lived in the Shenandoah Valley for 19 years. :-)
I have enjoyed the pictures of your adventures. I have hiked down the Grand Canyon twice, been to Zions and Yellowstone. Happy travels to you.
A Canadian, I’ve been to 12 of Canada’s 47 national parks and only 7 of 168 national historic sites. Many of the national historic sites are in the eastern provinces that I haven’t visited, but, looking at the list, I’ve missed some that are within easier reach!
In the US, I think the only one I’ve been to is Yellowstone. We’ve been to the gates of Glacier, but didn’t have time to go in. Glacier National Park and Canada’s Waterton National Park meet on the US/Canada border and are managed as one park, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. I’ve been to the Waterton Park side!
I love nature. I love mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and the ocean. :)
awesome pictures. I visit the Great Smokey Mountains National Park as often as possible.
I have not visited a national park but I do hope that one day I will have that opportunity.
You really got me to thinking Merrilee since I have been to quite a few National Historical Parks and National Parks. I also went to The National Parks website to check out which parks I have been blessed to visit. Since I grew up in the DC area I went to all of the historical sites and museums in and around DC. I have also visited Gettysburg, Fredricksburg, Antietam, Sharpsburg, and Appamatox Courthouse. I know I have left out some.
Here in WV I have been to Harpers Ferry and The New River Gorge National River area.
Last summer we went to The Outer Banks in NC. We visited some of the National Historical parks there such as The Wright Brothers in Kill Devil Hills NC.
We have traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway and go down to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few times each year.
Just a week ago I was in NYC and went to the 9-11 Memorial. Not sure if it is considered a National Historical site or not but it was a very humbling experience.
I have also been to Estes Park out in Colorado.
I have been so blessed to travel and see so much of our great country.
Hi Merrillee,
When our children were younger we took a trip to visit my mom in Arizona. We went down through each of those parks, then years later we took another trip through there again. I’ve always loved the different looks.
We remember them this way……Zion ……….you look up…… Bryce….. you look down…….. and Grand……you look WAY down.
Have you ever been to Arches? It’s part of the Canyonland area. It’s also pretty Amazing!
We live Oregon where you can be in the mountains one minute and then at the beach another. It’s pretty sweet!
We have beautiful waterfalls here. One is Multnomah Falls. The only problem is there usually isn’t any parking because there are SO many people wanting to see it. It is breath taking. If you like to hike there other ones along the gorge just as beautiful and less crowded.
Isn’t it wonderful that God has given us all these BEAUTIFUL creations to remember how awesome He is!
I have been to Yellowstone and Grand Teton Mountains and both were awesome.
Tammy, I’ve heard that Banff and Jasper are beautiful.
Melissa, I’ve heard that the Great Smokey Mountains is the most visited park in the US. I was there years ago when I went to college in Tennessee.
You are certainly ambitious to hike down into the Grand Canyon. I have only hiked around the rim.
Valerie, I didn’t know Canada had so many national parks. Do they have a border crossing there, or can you go from one to the other without the customs?
JoAnn, the Smokies are beautiful, especially in the fall when the trees are full of color.
Colleen, I hope you do get to visit one. They are worth the trip no matter which one you choose.
Nancy, it is a blessing to visit all these magnificent places. You’ve been to quite a few. I was in NYC a couple years ago, but unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit the 9-11 Memorial because I was at a writers’ conference. Next time I’ll go in a day early so I can do a little more.
Marilyn, it is wonderful how God has blessed us with such beauty. We have plans for another trip to Utah with friends, and I hope to take in the Arches and other parks there.
Ann, they are truly awesome.
Absolutely beautiful pics. I went to Grand Canyon years ago and have been wanting to go back. I cried when I first saw it as I was amazed about what God had created.
I’ve been to quite a few National Parks in the western states. Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion, Arches, all in Utah. Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Redwoods. I love the Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier–they are some of my favorite spots. I live in Utah, but in the northern part, which is a lot different from the southern part where most of the parks are. We live in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains. It’s amazing all the beautiful, but different, places there are just in the United States. Thanks for sharing your pictures and thoughts.
Coming in a bit late this time:) I am privilege to have visited lots of our national parks here in Australia, my favourite have to be the Central Plateau in Tasmania (home to the famous Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair), Uluru/Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory and the Bogong High Plains in Victoria. I am blessed to be married to a man who shares my love of the outdoors and exploring them- makes for great holidays:)
Merrillee, I have enjoyed your pictures on Facebook and here in this post! We visited Yellowstone for the first time this year. We just drove through a small portion of the park but it was still a memorable experience!
Teresa, it is definitely awesome. If you went to the south rim, you really should go to the north rim next time.
You’re welcome, Winne. We want to go back to Utah and take in the other parks there.
Wemble, we hope to make it to Australia sometime soon. I hope we can visit some of your wonderful parks.
Beth, I’m so glad you got to see Yellowstone. It is a wonderful park to visit.
Such beautiful photos. Thank you. I have never forgotten a camping trip I was fortunate to make with our neighbors family when I was in 5th grade. We traveled through the Badlands and viewed Mt. Rushmore. Then we traveled through Wyoming and as we got closer to Yellowstone National Park, I will never forget the breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Yellowstone National Park was gorgeous with all the wildlife and beautiful views. We visited Old Faithful and I can still smell the sulphor. We ate fresh caught trout cooked over a camp fire. I am now in my late 50’s, but I will never forget the beauty of our United States!
I’ve never visit any of these parks,you have some great photos ,so now I feel
Like I’ve been there…maybe one day.
Sounds like fun. Look forward to some travel in the years ahead
I loved your pictures. Definitely great examples of God’s creation. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance (yet?) to visit national parks, but we have beautiful state parks in NY in the finger lakes region that I feel blessed.
Thank you for all your beautiful pictures! I have always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon but never had an opportunity, and now health reasons prevents me. When I was growing up, my parents made sure we took a vacation every year, and usually had to stay at campsites so we could afford it. But this was the best way to see God’s beautiful world. I can remember going to Branson before it was so famous, so we explored the Ozarks, the Great Smoky Mountains, 1000 Lakes in NY, and so many other places.
Ann, what a wonderful memory for you. I, too, remember that smell from Old Faithful.
Elma, I hope you can visit one of the parks some day. As lovely as the photos are, there’s nothing like viewing it in person.
Sheryl, I hope your travels take you to one of the parks.
Priscila, so true that there are many wonderful state parks.
Sandra, the Ozarks and the NY lakes are on my list to visit.
Made it finally. Last time I was to a National park oldest was 2. That was 35 years ago. It was Grand Canyon
Jane, I’m glad you finally got through. I’m wondering what changes you would see if you visited the park again.
We’ve been to the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, and Mount Ranier. God’s work is awesome to behold in our land and our people. God bless America!
Sandy, I’ve never been to the Meteor Crater. I will have to put that one on my list.