#grand canyon national park tour

[yourtipsygrandma]

I saw the Northern Lights and I’m having an extreme emotional reaction excuse me

[williammarksommer]

Through the Canyon

Arizona

All The Time In The World

Hasselblad 500c/m

Kodak Ektar 100iso

[azcanyonrafting]

North Rim Route

Navigate the challenging North Rim Route with Advantage Grand Canyon, a perfect adventure for seasoned kayakers!

[tripsdirectory]

Embrace the Winter Magic - Visiting Yellowstone in February with Trips Directory

Introduction:

As winter blankets the iconic landscapes of Yellowstone National Park, adventurous souls seeking a unique and serene experience should consider visiting Yellowstone in February. Trips Directory invites you to embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of America's first national park, where snow-covered landscapes and thermal wonders create a magical winter wonderland.

The Winter Wonderland of Yellowstone:

February transforms Yellowstone into a winter wonderland, offering visitors a mesmerizing and less crowded experience compared to the peak summer months. With snow-covered trees, frozen waterfalls, and geothermal features creating a stark contrast against the pristine white backdrop, February provides a surreal and serene setting for nature enthusiasts.

Activities for Every Winter Explorer:

Trips Directory ensures that your February visit to Yellowstone is nothing short of magical, offering a curated list of activities to suit every winter explorer's taste. From guided snowshoeing excursions to wildlife spotting against the snow-laden canvas, Yellowstone in February promises a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Explore the Geothermal Marvels:

Visiting Yellowstone in February doesn't mean missing out on the park's iconic geothermal wonders. Trips Directory recommends exploring the geyser basins, including the world-famous Old Faithful. Witnessing these natural wonders surrounded by snow creates a surreal experience that is both tranquil and awe-inspiring.

Wildlife Encounters:

Yellowstone's diverse wildlife is not hibernating in February; it's thriving in its winter habitat. Trips Directory guides you to the best spots for wildlife viewing, where you might encounter bison, elk, wolves, and the elusive lynx against the backdrop of snow-covered meadows.

Practical Tips for a February Visit:

Trips Directory understands the importance of proper preparation for a winter trip to Yellowstone. Here are some essential tips to make the most of your February adventure:

Dress in layers: Yellowstone's winter temperatures can be chilly, so layering up is crucial for staying warm.

Use appropriate gear: Trips Directory recommends renting or bringing snowshoes and cross-country skis to explore the snowy trails comfortably.

Stay informed: Check the weather and road conditions before your trip and stay updated on park alerts for a seamless experience.

Embrace the Tranquility: While the summer crowds are absent, February in Yellowstone offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature. Trips Directory encourages you to take advantage of this quieter time, allowing for a more intimate connection with the park's natural wonders.

Conclusion:

Visiting Yellowstone in February with Trips Directory promises an enchanting and unique winter experience. Embrace the tranquility of the snow-covered landscapes, witness the geothermal marvels, and encounter wildlife in their winter habitat. Plan your winter escape with Trips Directory and discover the magic of Yellowstone in February like never before.

[inkskinned]

in the time loop the only way out is to leave her there but you don't ever leave her there, never in the roughly one thousand years you have been in the same day. it is probably like "50 first dates" but you haven't stooped so low as to watch "50 first dates" yet. (but who is to say what another thousand years of the same media will bring to you, maybe you will develop a new taste).

you spent about 200 of these years sulking in a bathtub or on the couch or staring at the seaside. 300 of them have been spent slowly mapping the geographical distance you can actually get before the time loop restarts. you have a list of favorite places: one library in Western Massachusetts called "The Bookmill", which has weird hours and has never raised an eyebrow to you arriving out-of-breath and panting, asking to see a specific book on a specific shelf. There is one beach without a name in North Carolina; it is an accident of geography and ownership title disputes - and it is pristine, untouched, warm and cozy. you've taken her on a lot of picnics there. Acadia National Park. One specific birdhouse in the mountains.

you were stuck in the time loop with the money you entered it with: not enough to rent a private jet. you've robbed a bank a few times, you don't like the way it ends. maybe next century you'll get the hang of it. you don't like the look on her face when you say hang on i have to stop at the bank.

you just have to leave her, and you can go back to being a person again. you took 5 years just catching a flight and sitting in the Grand Canyon. if there's one thing you regret more than anything, it's that you hadn't gotten your passport renewed before this fucking time loop. maybe you should spend some time learning forgery - but also, like, you look like an english teacher. nobody is going to be cool about you asking to see their paper printing machines.

the world is very big. that is one of the things groundhog day gets wrong. there are no consequences, so you have literally all the time (or none of the time?) in the world. in groundhog day, he does a lot of very cool things, but in reality - your muscle memory never gets better. you can't necessarily learn how to play piano or sculpt ice, because your hands never remember the practice. but hey - maybe you'll try violin next. drums. synth.

you can open any door and walk into any conversation. money isn't really an object. you can try every meal off every menu, forever. take her on helicopter tours and into every museum and on every event that is happening right-now at-this-moment. parades and funerals and calligraphy classes.

but you are somewhat trapped by the limitations of your body. if you were reading a book, you still need to get up and go back to the library and find that book again when the day resets. (thank god for the internet). it still takes like 2 hours to board a plane, and then takeoff and landing and traffic. you've gotten off to run around on the freeway. one of the little thankful things: since your brain isn't actually developing (it's a muscle too), the days thankfully don't feel shorter to you. that would be agony.

all you have to do to leave the timeloop is let that man get away with it. that's all. in every version of yourself - forever - you have stopped him.

the problem is that this experience has convinced you of the existence of the human soul. after all, how else are you forming memories? your very cells reset. information has to be transferred somehow. and if timeloops are real, you can convince yourself other magic exists. so you have two choices here: this hell, or the next. there might be a millennia where you have been worn down to the point you can accept fate's decision. this is just not one of them. ironically - she is the one thing you have left.

and besides! if you can't always find something new in your partner, aren't you failing them? there is something new about her, every day with the same morning. every brutal day with the same orange sunset.

after all, you wanted to live with her in heaven, in eternity, and, well - isn't this second-best.

[travelinformation9246]

GrandCanyon Helicopter Tour  with Champagne Toast.

 The Viator Trip advisory Company travel product Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour.  Which is located in Clark County, United States This is  very very Attractive and historical Places for turist EveryYear turist visiting this Places.

Some peoples decided  and plan to trip but they have not decided where we booking trip and GrandCanyon Helicopter Tour  with Champagne Toast.

Welcome to our aerial adventure over the Grand Canyon! We depart from either Las Vegas or Boulder City and will board our Round Trip Helicopter Ride of a Lifetime. As we soar 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) below the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grapevine Mesa, Joshua Tree, and the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness. Our knowledgeable pilots will provide a running commentary throughout the flight, so you don’t miss a thing! At the end of your trip, you’ll be rewarded with a champagne picnic on the canyon floor, a toast to your incredible journey! Please note: Starting March 21, 2022, there will be a $25 per

Now come to the What's Including in the Trip

Experience the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon from a whole new perspective with a helicopter tour departing from Las Vegas or Boulder City! Soar above Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, then touch down on the floor of the Grand Canyon for a picnic. Enjoy a light meal and Champagne amid the canyon walls, complete with expert narration from your pilot about the features that make this site one of the most stunning places on Earth.Choose from morning, afternoon, and sunset departure times for the perfect way to experience the Grand Canyon’s grandeur.Book your adventure today and take flight over the most magnificent sights in the Southwest!

It is a 35 minute flight and includes Champagne and a light picnic. There is an optional Vegas Upgrade Option that includes a 45 minute flight each way, luxury hotel transfers and flight over the Las Vegas Strip. Hotel pickup and drop-off is provided by shuttle bus.

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[emilybeemartin]

Inktober Days 13-15

Day 13: "Rise"

Rangers sometimes talk about their “heart parks”—the intimately special ones that make us go dreamy-eyed and nostalgic. Grand Teton is my heart park. During undergrad, I was going through a rough patch, missing my backcountry work in New Mexico and feeling out of place at Clemson. I told my friend that I “just wanted to go somewhere.” He asked if I wanted to go for a walk. I told him no, I’d like to go to the Grand Tetons. I don’t know why I decided on that particular place in that moment—I’d never been there and had only ever seen photos of the famous mountain group. But my friend said sure, we could go to the Grand Tetons. He proceeded to lead me outside student housing, checked the cardinal directions in the sky, and struck off northwest. I followed him. We walked around campus for hours that night, talking about a hundred different things. It was the first time after returning from New Mexico that I’d felt really heard, really understood, really happy.

A few months later, that friend became my boyfriend, and a few years later, that boyfriend became my husband. There was no question about where we would honeymoon. We went to Grand Teton.

Day 14: "Castle"

I’ve been struggling with what to say about Mesa Verde, because this site was so incredible to visit that I almost can’t put it to words. I experienced it while conducting my master’s research between stops in Navajo National Monument and Chaco Canyon. Visiting these cultural sites, tied together by sociopolitical events and natural disasters over the span of centuries, drove home how vast the network of humanity was in the Ancestral Puebloan era. These places were huge hubs of activity and massive feats of architecture—not castles, but communities humming with life, love, loss, struggle, wealth, and beauty.

Mesa Verde was also the only place I saw a ranger bring an audience to tears with the emotion in his program. I audited over two hundred interpretive programs that summer, but I remember lowering my clipboard during this particular tour of Cliff Palace, in awe of how powerfully the ranger was able to connect visitors with his own familial ties to the Ancestral Puebloans who had lived there so long ago. The goal of interpretation is to facilitate a meaningful connection between the visitor and the resource, but never have I ever seen anyone do it so profoundly as that ranger in Mesa Verde, 2011.

Day 15: "Dagger"

White Sands preserves practically the entire span of human history, from fragments of ancient blades up to the space shuttle and missile launches. But it's the beginning of that timeline that draws me toward this gleaming gypsum dunefield.

I remember where I was when the news dropped—in the Apgar ranger office with a handful of other Glacier rangers. I was working on my hunting and gathering program, where I discussed old facts about projectile points and atlatls, but I stopped when another ranger swore in shock. An email had come through to our NPS accounts with new research out of White Sands. Human footprints preserved in the ancient sediment had been dated--- not to the 13-16 thousand years old we typically associated with the earliest humans in the Americas, but to 23 THOUSAND YEARS OLD. In one short email, our whole office's reckoning of human history almost doubled. Our minds were blown. We celebrated like a bunch of lads after a World Cup win. This world that we walk! Footsteps over footsteps over footsteps! What a privilege.

[westadventure24]

Day 6 - Old Geysers and the Canyon

Never a dull day here in Yellowstone! Once our breakfast was done, we started our tour for the day. I don’t think I will ever get used to the bison! At times, they are so funny! Take this gal….just walking down the middle of the road, holding up traffic without a care in the world. We thought she wanted to cross so we gave her some space…she just looked tight at us as she went by. And Todd decided upon eye contact it was time to move on. Traffic was backed up behind her for at least a mile, if not two.

Just down the road, we stopped at one of Mom’s favorites so far…the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The roaring, clear water of the falls streaming down into the deep canyon was absolutely breathtaking. Dad wasn’t too interested in looking down into the Canyon as we couldn’t convince him that the rocks creating the barrier weren’t going to move. Who knew he wasn’t a fan of heights???

Have you ever driven the big loop in Yellowstone National Park? Much to marvel at here! You see, the entirety of Yellowstone National Park is considered to be a geothermal caldera, an underground volcano. There are beautiful blue pools that are so hot any living creature daring to enter would be boiled alive. We could feel the heat and mist on our faces as we looked in awe at the pristine color. Then, there are mud pots. I am not even sure how to describe the mud pots, other than the boiling mud seems like it would be sent to a spa you would see on an 80’s tv show with young ladies’ hair wrapped in towel as an attendant spread a mud mask on their face. Really interesting. Mom and Dad neither were too found of these natural wonders thanks to the media coverage of the recent explosion in Biscuit Basin.

We had a late lunch at the Old Faithful Inn. It was constructed in 1903-1904, made out lodge pole pine for the price of $140,000. Old Faithful is called that for a reason…the time of eruption can easily be predicted within a few minutes time. So, at 3:17 pm on the dot, we eagerly awaited for the geyser to erupt as we watched from the 2nd floor terrace of the dear old inn. It was glorious!

On the way back to camp as we drove through Hayden Valley, we saw the biggest herd of bison yet! I personally enjoyed these two lying side-by side close to the road just watching the traffic go by. Somehow I envision their conversation to be that of a Far Side cartoon….”Well, Troy, should we just keep lying here letting them think we are tame or charge and scare the heck out of them-for fun? I don’t know Carl, I find this people zoo very entertaining. Why is the guy in the red hat mooing?!” Anyway, I digress and there is a clear reason I don’t write cartoons for a living.

Later that night, we enjoyed a leftover dinner buffet by the campfire. Todd, Lily and I stayed out to enjoy the forest of pines overlooked by the beautiful starry night before heading off to bed. The last thing we learned yesterday is that Lily is definitely afraid of the outdoor dark…she is likely smarter than all of us!

Also, one correction to yesterday’s post…I had incorrectly identified one of the animals as a mule deer, when upon further inspection by the expert (Ryan), I learned that was actually a female elk! Unusual to see one alone!

[sergeantsporks]

Grimmobile + Entire Gilded Family = Road Trip?!

In The Human Realm, I guess???

Lol, I suppose they could try driving a car in The Demon Realm, but what would they power it with? Magic? I suppose they could bring gallons upon gallons of gas with them... XD But I doubt they'd get far even with preparations, as I don't recall The Boiling Isles having much in the way of proper roads. Just dirt paths mostly.

So, Human Realm it is then! We'll just handwave none of them having drivers licenses by Evelyn using magic to make everyone whose old enough to have one fakes. I'm sure Camila wouldn't mind allowing Evelyn a look at her own license, to give her a template to copy and all.

Uh... They can bring food with them along with clothes, personal items and camping equipment! That eliminates the need to spend much in the way of human money and makes it easy to avoid all the awkward questions staying in hotels would cause.

They're all set! Just Caleb, Evelyn and their... Thirty children?!? Lol, I lost count of how many people are in this family a while ago. But the more the merrier right?!?

Even Hunter can come! Gives him a chance to get to know his extended biological family. Ghost can entertain everyone with cute antics while on the road, Petro can hopefully keep his murderous hands to himself, Phoenix can relax and Cherry can enjoy the many sights their sure to see. Lol.

All that's left is to decide where they go... So, dear author of this AU - What marvels of Earth (Or just the United States, lol) should they go see?

I have one suggestion: They should hit up Yellowstone National Park to see wolves! For Hunter, of course.

DRIVING ON A ROAD TRIP WITH A TODDLER WILL NOT BE FUN; I DON'T CARE HOW CUTE AND FUNNY THAT TODDLER USUALLY IS, WHEN THEY ARE STRAPPED IN THE CARSEAT FOR HOURS, THEY WILL QUICKLY BECOME A NIGHTMARE. ROAD TRIP WITH GHOST WILL NOT BE CUTE ANTICS. ROAD TRIP WITH GHOST WILL BE FIFTY PERCENT CRYING AND FIFTY PERCENT LISTENING TO THE SAME CHILDREN'S CD ON LOOP BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES THEM HAPPY.

Anyway, they're going on a national park tour. Caleb's not spending any more time on the East Coast than he has to, it's out to as many of the wide open spaces and forests as they can manage. Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Canyon, Redwood Forests... all of the BIG ones, and also as many of the small ones as they can manage along the way. By the end of this trip, everyone will be exhausted, dirty/smelly from not showering as often as they'd like, absolutely sick of camping/that one children's CD, but while in those parks doing the hikes and scenic views and whatnot, they will enjoy themselves VERY much

[celestialmazer]

VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

Background: A creative team of visual strategists at JPL, known as "The Studio," created the poster series, which is titled "Visions of the Future." Nine artists, designers, and illustrators were involved in designing the 14 posters, which are the result of many brainstorming sessions with JPL scientists, engineers, and expert communicators. Each poster went through a number of concepts and revisions, and each was made better with feedback from the JPL experts.

David Delgado, creative strategy: The posters began as a series about exoplanets -- planets orbiting other stars -- to celebrate NASA's study of them. (The NASA program that focuses on finding and studying exoplanets is managed by JPL.) Later, the director of JPL was on vacation at the Grand Canyon with his wife, and they saw a similarly styled poster that reminded them of the exoplanet posters. They suggested it might be wonderful to give a similar treatment to the amazing destinations in our solar system that JPL is currently exploring as part of NASA. And they were right! The point was to share a sense of things on the edge of possibility that are closely tied to the work our people are doing today. The JPL director has called our people "architects of the future." As for the style, we gravitated to the style of the old posters the WPA created for the national parks. There's a nostalgia for that era that just feels good.

Joby Harris, illustrator: The old WPA posters did a really great job delivering a feeling about a far-off destination. They were created at a time when color photography was not very advanced, in order to capture the beauty of the national parks from a human perspective. These posters show places in our solar system (and beyond) that likewise haven't been photographed on a human scale yet -- or in the case of the exoplanets might never be, at least not for a long time. It seemed a perfect way to help people imagine these strange, new worlds.

Delgado: The WPA poster style is beloved, and other artists have embraced it before us. Our unique take was to take one specific thing about the place and focus on the science of it. We chose exoplanets that had really interesting, strange qualities, and everything about the poster was designed to amplify the concept. The same model guided us for the posters that focus on destinations in the solar system.

Lois Kim, typography: We worked hard to get the typography right, since that was a very distinctive element in creating the character of those old posters. We wanted to create a retro-future feel, so we didn't adhere exactly to the period styles, but they definitely informed the design. The Venus poster has a very curvy, flowy font, for example, to evoke a sense of the clouds.

Creative Strategy: Dan Goods, David Delgado

Illustrators: Liz Barrios De La Torre (Ceres, Europa); Stefan Bucher (Jupiter Design); Invisible Creature (Grand Tour, Mars, Enceladus) ;Joby Harris (Kepler 16b, Earth, Kepler 186f, PSO J318.5-22, Titan); Jessie Kawata (Venus); Lois Kim (Typography for Venus and Europa); Ron Miller (Jupiter Illustration)

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Free hi-res download poster designs of these and more from Nasa, credits and source text at the links:

VISIONS OF THE FUTURE: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galleries/visions-of-the-future

VOYAGER: https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/downloads

Bonus freebies - GALAXY OF HORRORS : https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/galaxy-of-horrors/

:read more:

1. NASA's Voyager mission took advantage of a once-every-175-year alignment of the outer planets for a grand tour of the solar system. The twin spacecraft revealed details about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – using each planet's gravity to send them on to the next destination. Voyager set the stage for such ambitious orbiter missions as Galileo to Jupiter and Cassini to Saturn. Today both Voyager spacecraft continue to return valuable science from the far reaches of our solar system.

Delgado: The Grand Tour is the route the Voyager 2 spacecraft took to visit all four outer planets. We imagined this would be something people might want to repeat, since it's a flight plan that's possible every 175 years or so, when the outer planets are arranged just right. In the future, it might be considered "quaint" to experience a gravity assist. Harris: Style-wise, the design came from some references we looked at from transparency overlays from the 1960s. It initially had a black background, but we inverted it and the design just clicked.

2. NASA's Mars Exploration Program seeks to understand whether Mars was, is, or can be a habitable world. Missions like Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Science Laboratory and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, among many others, have provided important information in understanding of the habitability of Mars. This poster imagines a future day when we have achieved our vision of human exploration of Mars and takes a nostalgic look back at the great imagined milestones of Mars exploration that will someday be celebrated as “historic sites.”

Delgado: This was the very last poster we produced for the series. We wanted to imagine a future time where humans are on Mars, and their history would revere the robotic pioneers that came first. There are a few fun things to point out here. You can see the silhouette of Olympus Mons in the background, there's a hint of underground water, and the rover's wheel is spelling out JPL on the ground in Morse code, just like the Curiosity rover does (for what the rover drivers call "visual odometry.")

3. There's no place like home. Warm, wet and with an atmosphere that's just right, Earth is the only place we know of with life – and lots of it. JPL's Earth science missions monitor our home planet and how it's changing so it can continue to provide a safe haven as we reach deeper into the cosmos.

4. The rare science opportunity of planetary transits has long inspired bold voyages to exotic vantage points – journeys such as James Cook's trek to the South Pacific to watch Venus and Mercury cross the face of the Sun in 1769. Spacecraft now allow us the luxury to study these cosmic crossings at times of our choosing from unique locales across our solar system.

Harris: We tried a few different designs for Venus, starting with the surface, but the intent was to show things people might find pleasant, and Venus' surface is anything but. Kim: The scene is of a city in the clouds during a transit of Mercury across the sun. The Morse code for the number 9 is written on the side (signifying the inhabitants are "on cloud 9").

5. The discovery of Enceladus' icy jets and their role in creating Saturn's E-ring is one of the top findings of the Cassini mission to Saturn. Further Cassini mission discoveries revealed strong evidence of a global ocean and the first signs of potential hydrothermal activity beyond Earth – making this tiny Saturnian moon one of the leading locations in the search for possible life beyond Earth.

Delgado: Saturn's moon Enceladus is all about the plumes erupting from its south pole. At our first brainstorming session, someone called the plumes "Cold Faithful," and that helped crystallize this idea quite quickly. There's no right way up in space, so for fun, we turned the surface upside down from the point of view of the visitors in the picture.

6. The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, complements NASA’s other astrophysics missions studying the universe in various spectra by observing the cosmos in high energy X-rays. The observatory’s unique design includes a lightweight mast, which deployed to its full length of 10 meters (33 feet) after the observatory reached Earth orbit following its launch on June 13, 2012. Typically, researchers point one of NuSTAR’s bulky ends – which contains the optics, or the hardware that collects X-rays – at the object they want to study. The light travels along the boom to the detectors, located at the other end of the spacecraft. The distance between the two is necessary to focus the light. As the first space telescope capable of taking focused high energy X-ray observations, NuSTAR has provided an unprecedented view of high energy objects, such as remnants of supernova explosions, like black holes and neutron stars, as well as the monster black holes that live in the centers of galaxies. After a decade of operation, NuSTAR continues to open new horizons, discover fascinating objects, and expand our knowledge of the Universe.​

7. The Jovian cloudscape boasts the most spectacular light show in the solar system, with northern and southern lights to dazzle even the most jaded space traveler. Jupiter's auroras are hundreds of times more powerful than Earth's, and they form a glowing ring around each pole that's bigger than our home planet. Revolving outside this auroral oval are the glowing, electric “footprints” of Jupiter's three largest moons. NASA's Juno mission will observe Jupiter's auroras from above the polar regions, studying them in a way never before possible.

Delgado: The basis for this poster was a Jupiter cloudscape by artist Ron Miller, who was very gracious in allowing us to modify his painting. In talking with a lead scientist on NASA's Juno mission (which is getting to Jupiter in July), we locked onto his description of the brilliant auroras Jupiter has. It would truly be a sight to see.

8. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is a true technological marvel. The largest and most complex space telescope ever built, Webb is able to gather light that has been traveling for 13.5 billion years, almost since the beginning of the universe. In effect, Webb is a time machine, allowing us to peer at the first galaxies to form after the Big Bang. Because it gathers infrared light, sees right through the giant clouds of dust that block the view of most other telescopes. Webb is 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope. Most notably, with its 21-foot-wide (6.5-meter-wide) set of segmented mirrors, Webb is powerful enough to search for water vapor in the atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars. It will open a new window on these exoplanets, observing them in wavelengths of light at which they have never been seen before and helping us gain new insights about their nature. Webb will help us understand how galaxies evolve over billions of years into grand spirals, like our own Milky Way, search for signs of habitability on distant planets, and penetrate into the hearts of dust-shrouded stellar nurseries. The observatory launched from South America on Christmas Day 2021.

9. The Voyagers Rock On

Thanks to the twin Voyager spacecraft, music is truly universal: Each carries a Golden Record with sights, sounds and songs from Earth as it sails on through the yaget Milky Way. Recalling the classic rock era of the late 1970s when the Voyagers launched this poster is an homage to the mission's greatest hits. Some of the most extraordinary discoveries of the probes' first 40 years include the volcanoes on Jupiter's moon lo, the hazy nitrogen atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan and the cold geysers on Neptune's moon Triton. Voyager 1 is also the first spacecraft to deliver a portrait of our planets from beyond Neptune, depicting Earth as a 'pale blue dot,' and, as of Aug. 25, 2012, to enter interstellar space. Voyager 2 is expected to enter interstellar space in the coming years. Even after 40 years, the Voyagers' hits just keep on coming.

10. The Voyagers: Reaching for the Stars

The twin Voyager spacecraft, which launched in 1977, are our ambassadors to the rest of the Milky Way, destined to continue orbiting the center of our galaxy for billions of years after they stop communicating with Earth. On Aug. 25, 2012, Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space, and Voyager 2 is expected to cross over in the next few years. At age 40, the Voyagers are the farthest and longest-operating spacecraft and still have plenty more to discover. This poster captures the spirit of exploration, the vastness of space and the wonder that has fueled this ambitious journey to the outer planets and beyond.

[the-mindful-traveler]

Discovering the Beauty of Deserts: Exploring the Wonders of Arid Landscapes

Deserts are often associated with barren and lifeless landscapes, but in reality, they are some of the most diverse and beautiful regions on Earth. From sand dunes to canyons, deserts offer a unique and breathtaking experience for those who venture into them. In this post, we'll explore the beauty of deserts and provide tips for exploring these amazing regions.

Start with the classics: The deserts of the American Southwest, such as the Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park, offer a great introduction to the beauty and diversity of desert landscapes.

Explore lesser-known areas: Deserts cover about one-third of the Earth's surface, and there are many lesser-known regions that offer a unique and breathtaking experience. Examples include the Namib Desert in Africa, the Atacama Desert in South America, and the Gobi Desert in Asia.

Plan for extreme temperatures: Deserts can be extremely hot during the day and very cold at night. Plan accordingly and bring plenty of water and sunscreen to avoid dehydration and sunburn.

Take a guided tour: Guided tours offer a chance to learn about the history and ecology of the desert, as well as explore hard-to-reach areas. Many guided tours also provide off-road vehicles or camels to help navigate the terrain.

Enjoy the stars: The desert offers some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. Bring a telescope or simply lie on a blanket to marvel at the vast expanse of the night sky.

Respect the environment: The desert environment is fragile, and it's important to respect it. Avoid disturbing wildlife and follow responsible camping and hiking practices to minimize your impact on the environment.

Deserts offer a unique and unforgettable experience for travelers who seek adventure, natural beauty, and cultural immersion. By following these tips, you can discover the wonders of this amazing region.

[azcanyonrafting]

Whitewater Kayak Adventure

Choosing Your Adventure: Grand Canyon Rafting Or Kayaking

Some people think kayaking is only for elite river runners. There are things to consider when choosing between a kayak or a rafting trip. Some river trips require kayakers to be at a minimum age of eight for doubles and a minimum age of 12 for singles.

Guests must know how to swim if they plan a kayak river trip. Three questions should be asked to determine whether the adventurer meets these requirements.

How big do I want the splashes?

How adventurous do I want to be?

How active do I want to be?

Splashes and Getting Wet

The smaller the craft, the bigger the splash it will make. Those who choose an inflatable kayak must be prepared to be splashed as every wave and ripple rocks the boat. A kayak instructor instructs kayakers to break through the swell.

Class II rapids that splash the front of a craft soak the kayakers from head to toe. Kayaks sit almost even with the water table, while a raft sits about two feet above the surface. The kayaker is always in the water in the boat.

Rafters stay mostly dry when not bounding through whitewater rapids. Only the feet remain wet during the entire river rafting trip. Those who find it refreshing to get wet may choose a kayak. Others who do not should opt for a rafting trip.

Adventure and Activity Levels

Another consideration is how much freedom you want. A rafting trip leans on the mild side during the low-water season. Guides navigate downstream while rafters have time to relax as they are sprinkled with a few friendly splashes.

A raft moves slower because it is bigger and heavier than a kayak. It requires strategic navigation between emerging rocks from the riverbed, while inflatable kayaks glide more easily between obstacles. Kayakers are in charge of getting downstream as the guide doles out instructions.

It is up to the paddler to pick a line through what is ahead, skirt around rocks, and tackle rapids. It adds zest to the experience. Those who want the tour operator to navigate will choose a raft. The kayak calls those who want to be the navigator.

Rafting is as active or inactive as the guests prefer. Guests usually do not paddle the entire trip like the guide, which provides time to relax. Kayaking is an all-around active experience. Kayakers paddle most of the time.

They will likely be splashed in the kayak at least once as they move and steer downstream. Kayaking involves some physicality and swimming to get back into the craft. It is part of the fun. If you like to paddle and swim, choose the kayak. Others will find rafting more enjoyable.

Is It Better Rafting the Upper or Lower Grand Canyon?

Grand Canyon rafting trips are divided between Lower Canyon and Upper Canyon trips. When a rafting trip starts at Lee's Ferry, near Horseshoe Bend, the first take-out location is 225 miles down the Colorado River.

If you want to raft only the river's lower canyon or upper section, you must hike in or out of the canyon. Companies offer to fly guests in and out by helicopter for a fee.

Upper Canyon Trips

On the Upper Canyon trips, there are layers of the canyon to see. For the first 100 miles, they unfold and grow approximately 40 feet each day. Different layers of rock are exposed as they push toward the sky.

Guides tell about the history of the ragtag adventurers and early explorers who made the first river trip through the canyon. You learn how dams built or prevented from being constructed impacted the environment and how the region suffered from a years-long drought.

You see the area where Native American tribes lived, visit remnants of their societies and archeological sites, and learn about the conditions they sought—access to the rim, good soil, and clear water. Guests hear how the National Park Service pushed the tribes out of the canyon to make way for Grand Canyon National Park.

The Upper Canyon trip is a six to seven-day trip. It is an introduction to the Grand Canyon and its history.

Lower Canyon Trips

The Lower Canyon rafting lasts nine to ten days and starts in the middle of the canyon. Guests hike down Bright Angel Trail with a guide. The hike is less strenuous than hiking up the canyon like upper canyon rafters do. Either walking in or out is incredibly challenging in the sweltering summer.

Most rafting guides believe the lower canyon trip is more beautiful than the upper. That being said, guides believe that people who cannot do the full canyon rafting adventure should choose the upper section to see the development and change of the rock layers and learn more about the canyon's history.

How Do I Choose a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip?

Things to consider when choosing the best Grand Canyon adventure include:

The type of raft

Physical exertion required

Ages and interests of the group

The time you want to spend

Classic Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure on the Colorado River

There are three rafting options: Full Canyon, Lower Canyon, and Upper Canyon. These options offer flexibility based on the time you want to spend on a trip. Boat types include paddle rafts and oar boats. An oar boat or raft can be substituted, if available, with a hard-sided dory.

Each day, guests choose the raft type and level of adventure, making the trip suitable for all experience levels.

The Upper Canyon trip involves rafting 89 miles and hiking up the Bright Angel Trail at the journey's end. For a Lower Canyon trip, guests hike down the trail on the first day and raft the last 137 miles.

Motorized Trip

Motor trips allow you to experience the entire 226 miles of the Colorado River. They are the best option for those with a short timeframe who want to see the entire canyon. The motor trip also requires the least effort in the shortest amount of time.

No paddling is required. Guests take in the beauty and enjoy a fun, wild ride. It is perfect for all fitness levels and multigenerational groups.

All Paddle Raft Trips

These trips are the most active. You do not paddle nonstop all day, but guests participate in paddling every day. They are the most physically demanding. Full Canyon, Lower Canyon, and Upper Canyon trips are available.

There are paddle rafts and support oar boats for carrying gear downstream. This trip best suits those who enjoy sharing time with others, teamwork, and a physical challenge. The choice of Lower Canyon and Upper Canyon trips requires the same hike in and out of the canyon.

The Bright Angel Trail Hike

The hike up and down Bright Angel Trail is beautiful and an excellent opportunity to see the canyon up close. However, it is only for some. The trail is 7.5 miles long and stretches from Pipe Creek to the South Rim of Grand Canyon Village.

The hike is a 4600-foot climb or loss of elevation. Guests pack 15 to 25 pounds, including three quarts of water and a sleeping bag. The hike takes between six and eight hours.

Can a Beginner Kayak the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon is among the world's iconic natural wonders. People are drawn to kayaking its waters, which is possible, but the Colorado River is vast and challenging.

The canyon is more than 276 river miles long. It has a vertical relief of more than a mile. The Colorado River is home to challenging whitewater. Four things you need to know

You must be a strong swimmer.

You must have experience kayaking whitewater.

You must be prepared for the weather.

You must have a permit.

There are many places to get pinned against a rock or swept over a waterfall. Because the Colorado River has big whitewater that is among the most challenging in the world, you must be able to maneuver it safely.

The weather in the Grand Canyon changes quickly. The best times to go are spring and fall when the weather is slightly cooler, and river levels are low. Monsoon season is from mid-July to early September. You must be prepared for anything. All private and commercial Grand Canyon rafting adventure trips require permits.

The Routes

There are two main routes when kayaking the Colorado River: the North Rim Route and the South Rim Route. The North Rim Route is the more challenging, longer trip. It starts at Lees Ferry and ends at Phantom Ranch. It is approximately 276 river miles and takes approximately 14 days to complete.

The easier, shorter route of the South Rim starts at Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center and ends at Diamond Creek. It is approximately 180 river miles long and takes approximately ten days.

Risks

There are risks associated with kayaking. They include

Canyoneering

Dehydration

Flash Floods

Heatstroke

Hypothermia

Rapids

Snakebites

Sunburn

Waterfalls

Conclusion

If you are uncertain if you are ready to kayak, choose a shorter, one to two-hour river trip that provides excitement and refreshment without getting too tired. During the low water season, rafting can be a hands-on experience, mainly if you help the guide maneuver rocky river sections.

Rafters will have a mild experience, while kayakers will have a more intermediate experience. Most paddle trips are hybrid trips. Kayaking and rafting trips travel together. If you are with a group with both those who prefer a kayak and those who prefer a raft, you can do both.

Kayaking is a challenging and rewarding experience that lets you see an unforgettable natural wonder up close. However, being aware of the risks and prepared before you go is essential. Motorized boats are recommended for people who are short on time.

River raft trips also allow visitors to see memorable sites such as slot canyons, towering waterfalls, fascinating petroglyphs, and mesmerizing turquoise water.

Contact Advantage Grand Canyon today to search for rafting trips from all the top 15 outfitters in one place and book your next Grand Canyon rafting trip!

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Unforgettable Adventures: Visiting Grand Canyon in March with Trips Directory

Plan your dream getaway by visiting Grand Canyon in March with Trips Directory! Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of this natural wonder during the perfect season for exploration. Our comprehensive directory ensures you find the best guided tours, accommodations, and activities tailored to the unique charm of the Grand Canyon in March.

Immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes and create lasting memories with our curated selection of travel options. Trust Trips Directory to make your journey seamless, offering valuable insights and top-notch recommendations for an unforgettable experience when visiting Grand Canyon in March. Don't miss out on the wonders of this iconic destination—let Trips Directory be your guide to an extraordinary adventure!

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10 National Parks To Avoid The Summer Crowds

From rugged hiking trails to pristine beaches, upgrade your summer at these under-the-radar wilderness areas.

— By Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan | June 2, 2023

Two spelunkers explore Lechuguilla Cave—currently reserved for scientific research—in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, home to some of the deepest, largest, and most ornate caverns in the U.S. Photograph By Robbie Shone, National Geographic Image Collection

The most popular national parks in the U.S. such as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon attracted record crowds last summer. For some, it might be worth fighting traffic or walking packed trails to see the towering granite monoliths in Yosemite or fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains. But, there are 63 national parks across the country, many with far fewer visitors—and just as many hikes with epic views, wildlife-spotting opportunities, and kid-friendly excursions.

Here are 10 of the country’s least trafficked parks, plus what to see and do in them.

Best Water Excursions: Channel Islands National Park, California

Hikers and kayakers find ample ways to explore this constellation of five wild islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. Beginner-friendly paddling trips, like the one from Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island, let visitors take in abundant sea caves, kelp forests, and wildlife such as gray whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Strong currents and shifting weather make going with a guide a smart move.

Remote islands like Santa Rosa have hiking trails through rugged mountains with glimpses of wildlife, including tiny, endemic island foxes, at dawn and dusk. Spend the night at Santa Cruz Island’s only lodging option, Scorpion Canyon Campground, a half-mile hike from the beach.

Composed of five tectonically formed islands and surrounded by an extensive marine sanctuary, Channel Islands National Park offers ​dramatic sea views, epic wildlife watching, and scenic hikes. Photograph By Robert Schwemmer/Alamy Stock Photo

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

More than a third of this Northwoods network of boreal forests and rocky islands is covered by water—four huge lakes plus 26 smaller ones. New environmental protections make now an ideal time to experience these waterways via a tour boat, canoe, or kayak. Easy-access shoreline campsites line the park’s major lakes, but the wildest, quietest destinations sit deep in the interior of the Kabetogama Peninsula. Reserve a backcountry campsite along the Chain of Lakes or on the central peninsula’s waters, where your only companions for a spectacular aurora borealis show will be the loons and moose.

Best Wildlife Viewing: Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

This coast-meets-mountains reserve takes wildlife watching to the next level. Use the park’s only maintained long trail to the outlook over Harding Icefield for breathtaking panoramic views of this expansive, icy landscape. Along the way, keep an eye out for grizzlies, black bears, wolverines, lynx, wolves, and mountain goats. From a kayak or tour boat, look out for orcas, humpback whales, and dolphins among the waves and Steller sea lions and harbor seals on the beaches

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico

Brazilian free-tailed bats are a star attraction at this Chihuahuan Desert park. Each year, these flying critters make their way back from their winter grounds in Mexico to roost in the park’s intricate network of limestone caves. August and September bring the best bat watching when the year’s babies take to the skies with their parents. Around sunset, the bats spiral out of the cavern’s Natural Entrance by the hundreds of thousands to eat insects.

Top: The glacial landscapes and coastal waters of Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park provide ideal conditions for viewing wildlife, like these Steller sea lions pictured. Photograph By Cagan Sekercioglu. Bottom: Thousands of bats spew out of a cave in Carlsbad Caverns in search of food. Photograph By Michael Nichols — National Geographic Image Collection

Best Hiking Trails: North Cascades National Park, Washington

Known as the “American Alps,” this park holds more than 400 miles of trails that take hikers and horseback riders to wildflower meadows, old-growth forests, glacier viewpoints, and remote lakes. One standout is the Desolation Peak Trail, which leads to a mountaintop lookout cabin where Jack Kerouac spent a summer. North Cascades remains well off the radar: Just over 30,000 people visited last year, a mere 2 percent of the traffic of its southern neighbor, Mount Rainier. The terrain is so remote and wild, the park is considering restoring grizzly bear populations here.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Explore the sunset-colored canyons that ancestral Pueblo people called home in Mesa Verde. Here, skillfully designed cliff dwellings, some with up to 150 rooms and large enough to house one hundred people, remain tucked into protected stone alcoves, just as they’ve been for 800 years. In summer, rangers lead hiking tours inside some of them, including Cliff Palace, the largest such village in North America, and Balcony House, which involves climbing up cliffside ladders and crawling through rock tunnels. After dark, look up. Mesa Verde’s skies are well-protected from light pollution, earning it International Dark Sky Park status in 2021.

Tourists visit the ruins of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park., Colorado.Photograph By Phil Schermeister, National Geographic Image Collection

Best Cultural Experiences: Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this park offers pristine beaches, exceptional snorkeling, and the chance to explore the historic Fort Jefferson. Located on Garden Key, the second largest of the park’s seven islands (70 miles from Key West), the military stronghold was the largest masonry fort in the Western Hemisphere during the mid-1800s. During the Civil War, it became one of the nation’s largest prisons.

Visitors who brave the two-plus-hour trip by boat or 40-minute ride by plane to get here can tour the grounds where Union prisoners (like the doctor who set John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg) were imprisoned during the Civil War. After strolling the grounds, explore Dry Tortugas’s other major attraction: superb snorkeling among coral reefs where you might see octopi, nurse sharks, reef squid, and barracudas.

Haleakalā National Park, Maui, Hawaii

More than 30 miles of trails wind over ancient lava flows and through endemic silversword patches before plunging into the summit crater of Haleakalā. Native Hawaiians consider the summit a sacred site, where they held religious ceremonies, studied the stars, and quarried basalt for centuries. On the other side of the park, visitors can still see their village ruins and fishing shrines at tropical Kipahula, an 800-year-old coastal settlement that’s now better known for its crashing waterfalls and the idyllic Seven Sacred Pools of ‘Ohe’o Gulch.

The famed Haleakalā Crater is a vast depression—but it's actually not a volcanic crater. It was formed as erosion ate away a ridgeline, joining two valleys in Haleakalā National Park. Photograph By Pete Ryan, National Geographic Image Collection

Top: To avoid crowds, visit Haleakalā summit after 3 p.m.; its sunsets can be as spectacular as its famous sunrises. Bottom: Erected in 1958, the Haleakalā Observatory is Hawaii’s first astronomical research planetarium. — Photographs By Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic Image Collection

Best For Family: Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Kids will find more than just a day at the beach in this welcome pocket of nature amidst the nearby bustle of Chicago, a 45-minute drive away. An impressively diverse number of ecosystems in this compact park let families explore wetlands, oak savannas, pine forests, prairies, and 15 miles of sandy shoreline in a day.

There are also opportunities for kayaking the coast of Lake Michigan or canoeing the Little Calumet River (the park was upgraded from national lakeshore status in 2019). The in-progress Indigenous Cultural Trail features murals and interpretive signs that teach about the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, two of the area’s original peoples.

Top: Mammoth Cave—Kentucky’s only national park—contains more than 400 miles of caves, making it the longest cave system in the world. Photograph By Phil Schermeister, National Geographic Image Collection Bottom: Park visitors stand up paddle board along the Grand Calumet River on the outskirts of Lake Michigan in Indiana Dunes National Park. Photograph By Keith Ladzinski, National Geographic Image Collection

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Escape the summer heat by exploring a labyrinth of underground caverns that maintain a refreshing temperature of 54°F year-round. To see the caves, you’ll have to take a ranger-guided tour. These vary in difficulty, with options for families with young kids to enjoy the stunning stalagmites, stalactites, and tunnels. Or for the older kids, try the longer, more challenging tours by lantern light.

During the guided tours, park rangers point out remnants of early inhabitants’ mining activity dating back to 1200 B.C. and tell the stories of enslaved Black cave guides from the 1830s and the “Cave Wars” between rival tourism developers in the early 1900s.

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Best 5 Places to Visit in United States for Nature Lovers

The United States boasts incredible natural wonders that are perfect for nature lovers. Here are five of the best places to visit in the United States for nature enthusiasts:

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho: Experience the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, home to stunning geysers, hot springs, and wildlife such as grizzly bears and wolves. Explore the iconic Old Faithful, hike the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and witness the vibrant colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Yosemite National Park, California: Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Yosemite, with its towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and ancient sequoia trees. Hike to Yosemite Falls, marvel at Half Dome, and explore the serene Tuolumne Meadows.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: Witness the breathtaking vastness of the Grand Canyon, one of the world's most iconic natural wonders. Take in panoramic views from the South Rim, hike down into the canyon, or embark on a thrilling helicopter tour for a unique perspective.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, North Carolina: Immerse yourself in the lush forests and misty mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains. Enjoy scenic drives, hike along picturesque trails, and experience the vibrant fall foliage.

Acadia National Park, Maine: Explore the rugged coastal beauty of Acadia National Park, characterized by granite cliffs, rocky beaches, and picturesque islands. Drive the scenic Park Loop Road, hike to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, and take in breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.

These destinations in the United States offer remarkable natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems, providing endless opportunities for exploration and appreciation of the great outdoors.

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Colorado National Monument (No. 2)

The area was first explored by John Otto, who settled in Grand Junction in the early 20th century. Prior to Otto's arrival, many area residents believed the canyons to be inaccessible to humans. Otto began building trails on the plateau and into the canyons. As word spread about his work, the Chamber of Commerce of Grand Junction sent a delegation to investigate. The delegation returned praising both Otto's work and the scenic beauty of the wilderness area, and the local newspaper began lobbying to make it a National Park. A bill was introduced and carried by the local Representatives to the U.S. Congress and Senate but a Congressional slowdown in the final months threatened the process. To ensure protection of the canyons President William Howard Taft (who had visited the area) stepped in and used the highest powers available to him via the Antiquities Act and presidential proclamation to declare the canyons as a national monument.

Cyclists riding through one of the tunnels during the Tour of the Moon bicycle race on September 30, 2017

The area was established as Colorado National Monument on May 24, 1911. Otto was hired as the first park ranger, drawing a salary of $1 per month. For the next 16 years, he continued building and maintaining trails while living in a tent in the park.

Source: Wikipedia