Out of the Basement and Into the Wild is a collection of blogs that follow my grand adventure to visit all the National Parks with my trusty dog, Ella. We are traveling in my Subaru Crosstrek with a rooftop tent. Please join us!
If you are interested, you can read my FAQ here.
Recent blog posts:
21. Yosemite: Navigational adjustments on the fly can turn a trip into an expedition!
20. Death Valley: Getting lost in Death Valley is not on anyone’s agenda. Fortunately I don’t have an agenda, so it’s all part of the adventure!
19. The Right Way to do Vegas: I let my personal freak flag fly in Vegas.
18. Sedona, Page, and In-Between: From Sedona, to Page, to Marble Canyon, to the Vermilion Cliffs, and to Lake Mead, the natural beauty of the landscapes between the National Parks have as much transcendence as the parks themselves.
17. Grand Canyon: It’s hard not to be contemplative and meditative in the presence of one of the most immense and magnificent natural wonders of the world.
16. Petrified Forest: The Petrified Forest was a three-in-one discovery of transformation. The park shifts from painted mesas to a forestland showcase of petrified wood. The trees themselves embody the ultimate transformation from mortal lifeform to inanimate quartz. And along the way, I found I am undergoing a personal evolution of my own.
15. Saguaro: Saguaro cactus can only be found here in the Sonoran Desert. Bugs Bunny had me think differently. Also, they really do look like cigars.
14. White Sands: White Sands National Park at sunset was tranquil and soothing. Ella and I both found respite in the soft, rolling dunes.
13. Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and Lincoln National Forest: This trip was a mixed bag. Camping on BLM land and driving through an unexpected ski town made up for not being able to hike or visit the famous cavern.
12. Big Bend: The Chisos Mountains at Big Bend are spectacular! The desert wildlife and the night sky seemed otherworldly to this Alabama girl.
11. Texas Hill Country: The hill country of Texas was beautiful and full of lessons. We visited six different parks and came away wiser and way cooler.
10. Hot Springs and the Ozarks: Hot Springs was quite civilized, but driving in the Ozarks took all the bravery I could muster.
9. Congaree: Congaree is a floodplain, wetland park, and walking through the sinking boardwalk gives you the feeling you are walking right through the swamp!
8. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Smokies were majestic in their snowy splendor!
7. Mammoth Cave: Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the largest dry cave in the US. It’s also where an overground and underground river converge amidst the mossiest of rocks and roots.
6. Gulf Coast and the Panhandle: Traveling the Florida west coast to the panhandle, Ella and I went from a mediocre farm camp to the most beautiful beach in the world.
5. Biscayne and the Keys: The Keys were unremarkable except for an unwanted intruder, deer that kissed my hand, and a beautiful sunset at the Southernmost tip of the US.
4. The Everglades: Ella and I experienced the Everglades from the campground, from an airboat, and from a tiny, isolated island. It was magnificent!
3. Amelia Island to Miami: Traveling the eastern coast of Florida brought close encounters with storms, alligators, hardwood hammocks, and an opportunity to define my purpose for the trip.
2. Second Practice Trip – Camping Cornucopia: My second practice solo trip came complete with sparkly spiders, a hip outdoorsy commune, and a variety of ways to enjoy camping.
1. First Practice Trip – AL to CA and Back: Before setting out for our National Parks trip, Ella and I made a few practice trips. A few flat tires, a monsoon, and almost running out of gas gave us a lot of practice!
