The intense white contrasted starkly against the serene blue, clear sky. Yet, it wasn’t a result of recent snowfall; we found ourselves in the expansive deserts of New Mexico. It was gypsum—rolling waves of gypsum sand dunes, stretching out limitlessly towards the horizon. Our destination: the renowned White Sands National Park.
In the distance, the sun bathed a solitary peak in a golden glow. It could have been a gilded Buddhist temple in Thailand, but it was, in fact, a far-off mountain radiating at sunset. We had reached Death Valley National Park.
Drops from the trees echoed softly. The ocean below surged with silent power. Yet, beneath the towering redwoods, there was an eerie calm, their immense trunks making our truck and trailer seem minuscule. Our journey led us to the majestic Redwood National Park in the northern reaches of California, a truly memorable road trip.
From White Sands to Death Valley, andRedwood, we explored an astonishing 20 U.S. national parks and monuments over a 11,000-mile, two-month odyssey across the south and west of America. We have Travel + Leisure to thank for making this dream a reality.
Participation in T+L’s World’s Best Awards survey, where I reviewed hotels in Singapore and Thailand, was the catalyst. Months later, an email notified me of a potential prize win. Initially, I thought it was a hoax. To my surprise, I had actually won $15,000. The question loomed: what to do with such a sum? A trip was in order. Over our 48 years of marriage, we had roamed across Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, and China. However, the national parks of our own nation had remained unvisited, except for the Grand Canyon. A road trip it was, and a recreational vehicle would be our mobile “home.”
The prize money from T+L enabled us to purchase Rosie, a compact camping trailer named for her similarity to the robotic maid from The Jetsons. She was equipped with all the essentials: a comfortable queen-sized bed, a cozy kitchenette with a dining area, and a compact bathroom perfect for a quick change, even for Superman.
On Nov. 25, 2024, we embarked from our home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our first national park stop was the smallest: Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. We ascended the rickety elevator to the top of the world’s tallest arch, towering 630 feet high. The view from above was breathtaking, but the perspective from below, gazing up at the towering stainless-steel landmark designed by Eero Saarinen, was equally impressive.
We celebrated Thanksgiving near Oklahoma City, opting for a juicy steak instead of the traditional turkey.
After a long drive along historic Route 66 through Texas and New Mexico, we arrived at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Gigantic trees, once towering 200 feet tall, lay preserved where they fell millions of years ago in the vibrant Painted Desert, now turned to sparkling crystals.
As we entered Death Valley National Park, we paused at the breathtaking Zabriskie Point. The landscape was dramatic, stretching for miles with its mudstone badlands. In the distance, tiny figures could be seen navigating these vast mounds.
Approaching Christmas, The Inn at Death Valley, an elegantly restored adobe complex nestled in a desert oasis, was adorned with festive pinyon pine. The air was filled with the crooning of Frank Sinatra’s Christmas tunes.
Yosemite National Park was grand from the moment we caught our first glimpse of El Capitan and Half Dome. The valley is surrounded by towering granite walls, made famous by the lens of photographer Ansel Adams. On our second evening, we dined at The Ahwahnee hotel, where the towering windows and timbered ceiling beams left us in awe. By the time we left Yosemite, snowflakes had begun to descend.
Our final national park visit before the holidays was the Redwood. The persistent rain couldn’t dampen our spirits as we walked in silence beneath the colossal trees, the only sounds being the squishing of our footsteps and the pitter-patter of raindrops overhead.
January found us exploring Sequoia National Park, California’s wine country, and Palm Springs, before moving on to Joshua Tree and Saguaro national parks. In Carlsbad Caverns, we descended 750 feet underground, encountering calcite formations at every turn.
We ventured to Big Bend National Park, located in the remote southwestern corner of Texas, bordering the Rio Grande. With 1,250 square miles encompassing the Chihuahuan Desert, the Chisos Mountains, and impressive river canyons, we hiked through Santa Elena Canyon, its vertical walls towering just across the border in Mexico.
Our last stop was the Natchez Trace Parkway, following an ancient Native American and explorer route used by the likes of Daniel Boone, stretching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee. We trekked along the Sunken Trace, where the trail had been worn down so deeply that the walls loomed 15 feet above us.
Returning to Michigan on Feb. 1, 2025, Rosie now sits in wait for our next adventure. The call of the open road and the national parks’ childlike wonder beckon me once more. Each day on the journey brought something new and exciting.
Consider embarking on your own adventure. And when you spot the next T+L contest, be sure to enter. Who knows what unexpected joys may await you?
