WHY
Windswept Treks has grown out of a love for natural beauty, the Catholic Christian Faith, and the great importance of parents spending quality time with their children.
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Our daily lives are often so full, so busy. It can be hard to take a breath and remember the main point of it all:
That we are made out of love, for love.
For Love Himself, the God of the Universe,
the Author of Life and Architect of Beauty.
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And as parents, we are entrusted with loving, forming, and guiding our children to become their best selves, in relationship to God and others. In other words: to become saints.
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The shaping of saints tends to happen in community, in relationship with others -- and perhaps most powerfully in our families. Our homes are meant to be "a"domestic church". John Paul II described the family as the "school of love"...the place where we learn love, acceptance, forgiveness, and perseverance through difficulties. Let us as parents be all the more INTENTIONAL in how we lead our families, seeking to grow in love with Jesus Christ ourselves that we may model that loving acceptance with our spouse and children.​​
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"Parents are the principal and first educators of their children." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1653)​​​​
LOCATIONS BY
STATE
We all want to get outside. But​​
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Here is a list of destinations by state to help inspire you with ideas.
More locations and sample itineraries to come!
SAMPLE ITINERARY
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Drive into Custer State Park from the Sylvan Lake Entrance and park at the lake..
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Hike around lake, swim, paddle, or rock climb (on backside of dam, accessed by tunnel trail to the left of dam)
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Drive the Needles Highway through a series of rock tunnels and around winding switchbacks.
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Stop in visitor center and get ink stamp on your adventure journals.
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Drive wildlife loop to see herds of bison and prairie dog town.
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Look out for herds of burros, then get out and feed them! (bring baby carrots)
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SAMPLE ITINERARY: OUTER BANKS
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Reserve ferry tickets
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Board ferry for Shackleford Banks: explore island, look for wild horses
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Board ferry for Cape Lookout: climb stairs in lighthouse, beach time; ferry back to Harkers Island
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Seafood dinner in Beaufort, NC
MICROADVENTURE: Falling Waters State Park
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Driving between Pensacola and Tallahassee on I-10, take the Chipley exit south onto State Road 77, then east on State Park Road. Park is about 3 miles away.
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Get ink stamp for your journals at visitor center, drive to parking area, and take short hike down to sinkholes and a 73-foot waterfall. Easy for all ages.
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Restrooms, water fountain (bottle filling station), and picnic areas
MICROADVENTURE: Paint Mines Interpretive Park
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Take a few hours hiking and exploring a most unusual and colorful landscape east of Colorado Springs: 29950 Paint Mines Road | Calhan, CO 80808
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Unique formations of clay are very scenic, great for outdoor photography
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SAMPLE TRIP: MAROON BELLS | Aspen, Colorado
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Visit one of the most famous scenes in the United States
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Park at Aspen Highlands ski area, take shuttle to Maroon Lake
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Hike up trail through beautiful aspen groves or just around lake
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This is one of my favorite fall foliage spots (late-Sept. into early-Oct.)
SAMPLE TRIP: SAN DIEGO
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Drive to Everyday California: 2261 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla
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Rent surfboards, kayaks, or SUP's and walk several blocks to the ocean
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OR book a kayak and/or snorkel tour of La Jolla Cove, or surf camp, or whale watching kayak tour (Dec.-Mar. only)
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Eat lunch at The Taco Stand: 621 Pearl St, La Jolla, CA (the carne asada fries are amazing)
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If snorkeling on your own, you can drive to Ellen Browning Scripps Park, find parking, and walk down to La Jolla Cove. Small beach with easy water access to snorkel with sea lions.
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To see harbor seals, walk or drive south to Children's Beach.
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To snorkel with leopard sharks, head to the south end of La Jolla Shores Beach in shallow water.
ARIZONA visitarizona.com
ARIZONA NATIONAL PARKS
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Canyon de Chelly National Park | Chinle, AZ
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | Page, AZ
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Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon, AZ
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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument | Ajo, AZ
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Petrified Forest National Park | Petrified Forest, AZ
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Saguaro National Park | Tucson, AZ
ARIZONA STATE PARKS azstateparks.com
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CALIFORNIA visitcalifornia.com
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL PARKS
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Cabrillo National Monument | San Diego, CA
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Death Valley National Park | Death Valley, CA
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Joshua Tree National Park | Twentynine Palms, CA
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Lassen Volcanic National Monument | Mineral, CA
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Mojave National Preserve | Barstow, CA
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Muir Woods National Recreation Area | Mill Valley, CA
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Point Reyes National Seashore | Point Reyes Station, CA
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Redwood National & State Parks | Crescent City, CA
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Fresno and Tulare counties
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Yosemite National Park | Yosemite, CA
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS parks.ca.gov
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Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park | Big Sur, CA
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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Mount Shasta | Mt. Shasta, CA
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COLORADO colorado.com
COLORADO NATIONAL PARKS
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Montrose, CO
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Colorado National Monument | Fruita, CO
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Dinosaur National Monument | Dinosaur, CO
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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument | Florissant, CO
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Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve | Mosca, CO
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Mesa Verde National Park | Mesa Verde, CO
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Rocky Mountain National Park | Estes Park and Grand Lake, CO
COLORADO STATE PARKS cpw.state.co.us
--> Click here for the CO State Park finder Map
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Castlewood Canyon State Park | Franktown, CO
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Chatfield State Park | Littleton, CO
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Cherry Creek State Park | Aurora, CO
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Eldorado State Park | Eldorado Springs, CO
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Golden Gate Canyon State Park | Golden, CO
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Mueller State Park | Divide, CO
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Ridgway State Park | Ridgway, CO
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Rifle Falls State Park | Rifle, CO
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Roxborough State Park | Littleton, CO
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State Forest State Park | Walden, CO
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Staunton State Park | Pine, CO
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Sylvan Lake State Park | Eagle, CO
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​OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Garden of the Gods | Colorado Springs, CO
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Royal Gorge | Canon City, CO
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FLORIDA visitflorida.com
FLORIDA NATIONAL PARKS
Biscayne National Park | Homestead, FL
Dry Tortugas National Park | Key West, FL
Everglades National Park | Homestead, FL
Gulf Islands National Seashore | various locations from FL to MS
FLORIDA STATE PARKS floridastateparks.org
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Anastasia State Park | Saint Augustine, FL
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Bahia Honda State Park | Big Pine Key, FL
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Big Lagoon State Park | Pensacola, FL
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Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park | Key Biscayne, FL
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Blackwater River State Park | Milton, FL
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Blue Spring State Park | Orange City, FL
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Crystal River Preserve State Park | Crystal River, FL
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Falling Waters State Park | Chipley, FL
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Florida Caverns State Park | Marianna, FL
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Grayton Beach State Park | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
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Ichetucknee Springs State Park | Fort White, FL
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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park | Key Largo, FL
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Perdido Key State Park | Pensacola, FL
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Sebastian Inlet State Park | Melbourne Beach, FL
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Torreya State Park | Bristol, FL
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GEORGIA exploregeorgia.org
GEORGIA NATIONAL PARKS
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail | various locations
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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area | Sandy Springs, GA
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Cumberland Island National Seashore | St. Marys, GA
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Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park | Kennesaw, GA
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GEORGIA STATE PARKS gastateparks.org
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HAWAI'I ​gohawaii.com
HAWAI'I NATIONAL PARKS
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Haleakala National Park | Makawao, HI & Kipahulu, HI (Maui)
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park | Hilo, HI (Big Island)
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Kalaupapa National Historic Park | Kalaupapa, HI (Moloka'i)
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Pearl Harbor National Memorial Park | Honolulu, HI (Oahu)
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​HAWAI'I STATE PARKS dnlr.hawaii.com
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'Akaka Falls State Park | Pepeekeo, HI (Big Island)
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I'ao Valley State Monument | Kahului, HI (Maui)
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Wai'anapanapa State Park | Hana, HI (Maui)
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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Black Rock | Ka'anapali Beach (Maui) *Click here for parking hack*
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Maui Ocean Center | Aquarium of Hawai'i | Ma'alea, HI (Maui)
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Turtle Town | Maluaka Beach | Kihei, HI (Maui)
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​MAINE visitmaine.com
MAINE NATIONAL PARKS
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Acadia National Park | Bar Harbor, ME
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail | various locations
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Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument | Patten, ME
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Saint Croix International Historic Site | Calais, ME
MAINE STATE PARKS maine.gov
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MONTANA visitmt.com
MONTANA NATIONAL PARKS
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Glacier National Park | West Glacier, MT
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Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument | Crow Agency, MT
MONTANA STATE PARKS fwp.mt.gov/stateparks
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NEBRASKA visitnebraska.com
NEBRASKA NATIONAL PARKS
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | Harrison, NE
- Niobrara National Scenic River | Valentine, NE
- Scotts Bluff National Monument | Gering, NE
NEBRASKA STATE PARKS outdoornebraska.gov
- Indian Cave State Park | Shubert, NE
- Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area | Ogallala, NE
- Lake Ogallala State Park | Keystone, NE
- Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area | Crofton, NE
- Platte River State Park | Louisville, NE
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NEW MEXICO newmexico.org​
NEW MEXICO NATIONAL PARKS
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Aztec Ruins National Monument | Aztec, NM
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Bandelier National Monument | Los Alamos, NM
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Capulin Volcano National Monument | Capulin, NM
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Carlsbad Caverns National Monument | Carlsbad, NM
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Chaco Culture National Historical Park | Nageezi, NM
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Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument | Silver City, NM
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Petroglyph National Monument | Albuquerque, NM
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White Sands National Park | Alamogordo, NM
NEW MEXICO STATE PARKS nm.gov
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NORTH CAROLINA visitnc.com
NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL PARKS
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Blue Ridge Parkway | Asheville, NC
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore | Manteo, NC
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Cape Lookout National Seashore | Harkers Island, NC
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Cherokee, NC
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Wright Brothers National Memorial | Kill Devil Hills, NC
NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS ncparks.gov
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NORTH DAKOTA ndtourism.com
NORTH DAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS
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Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site | Stanton, ND
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park | Medora, ND
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NORTH DAKOTA STATE PARKS parkrec.nd.gov
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Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park | Mandan, ND
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OREGON visitoregon.com
OREGON NATIONAL PARKS
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Crater Lake National Park | Crater Lake, OR
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Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve | Cave Junction, OR
OREGON STATE PARKS stateparks.oregon.gov
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Bob Straub State Park | Tillamook, OR
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Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint | Portland, OR
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Cape Arago State Park | Coos Bay, OR
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Cape Lookout State Park | Tillamook, OR
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Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint | Tillamook, OR
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Cascadia State Park | Salem, OR
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Cottonwood Canyon State Park | The Dalles, OR
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Fort Rock State Natural Area | Bend, OR
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Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint | Florence, OR
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Silver Falls State Park | Salem, OR
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Whale Watching Center | Newport, OR
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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Multnomah Falls - Columbia River Gorge | Troutdale, OR​​​
SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS
- Badlands National Park | Interior, SD
- Jewel Cave National Monument | Custer, SD
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial | Keystone, SD
- Wind Cave National Monument | Hot Springs, SD
​SOUTH DAKOTA STATE PARKS gfp.sd.gov/parks
- Custer State Park | Custer, SD
​OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
- Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary | Hot Springs, SD
- Pine Ridge Reservation
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TENNESSEE tn.gov/tourism
TENNESSEE NATIONAL PARKS
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Appalachian National Scenic Trail | various locations
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Cumberland Gap National Historical Park​ | various locations
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Gatlinburg, TN
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TENNESSEE STATE PARKS tnstateparks.com
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UTAH
UTAH NATIONAL PARKS
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Arches National Park | Moab, UT
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Bryce Canyon National Park | Bryce, UT
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Canyonlands National Park | Moab, UT
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Capitol Reef National Park | Torrey, UT
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Cedar Breaks National Monument | Cedar City, UT
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Dinosaur National Monument | Vernal, UT
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Zion National Park | Springdale, UT
UTAH STATE PARKS stateparks.utah.gov
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Deadhorse Point State Park | Moab, UT
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Goblin Valley State Park | Green River, UT
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WASHINGTON stateofwatourism.com
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Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | Vancouver, WA
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Mount Rainier National Park | Ashford, WA
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North Cascades National Park | Sedro-Woolley, WA
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Olympic National Park | Port Angeles, WA
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San Juan Island National Historic Park | Friday Harbor, WA
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS parks.wa.gov
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Mount Saint Helens State Park | Tumwater, WA
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WEST VIRGINIA wvtourism.com
WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL PARKS
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Bluestone National Scenic River | Glen Jean, WV
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Harpers Ferry National Historic Park | Harpers Ferry, WV
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New River Gorge National Park & Preserve | Glen Jean, WV
WEST VIRGINIA STATE PARKS wvstateparks.com
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Blackwater Falls State Park | Davis, WV
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Cathedral State Park | Aurora, WV
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Valley Falls State Park | Fairmont, WV
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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Coopers Rock State Forest | Bruceton Mills, WV
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Seneca State Forest | Dunmore, WV
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WYOMING travelwyoming.com
WYOMING NATIONAL PARKS
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area | Lovell, WY
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Devils Tower National Monument | Devils Tower, WY
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Grand Teton National Park | Moose, WY
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Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone, WY
WYOMING STATE PARKS wyoparks.wyo.gov
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Buffalo Bill State Park | Cody, WY
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Curt Gowdy State Park | Cheyenne, WY
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Glendo State Park | Glendo, WY
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Sinks Canyon State Park | Lander, WY
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
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Vedauwoo Recreation Area | Laramie, WY
The "Almost Heaven" state came up with a really unique way to promote exploring the state's dozens of waterfalls by creating a mobile passport. Click here to access and for more info, and to see the prizes they offer.
LOCATIONS BY
PROVINCE
PARKS CANADA
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ALBERTA travelalberta.com
ALBERTA NATIONAL PARKS
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Banff National Park | Banff, AB
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Elk Island National Park | Fort Saskatchewan, AB
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Jasper National Park | Jasper, AB
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Waterton Lakes National Park | Waterton Park, AB
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Wood Buffalo National Park | Fort McMurray, AB
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ALBERTA PROVINCIAL PARKS albertaparks.ca
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Castle Provincial Park | Pincher Creek, AB
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Dinosaur Provincial Park | Iddesleigh, AB
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Kananaskis Country | Kananaskis, AB
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BRITISH COLUMBIA hellobc.com
BC NATIONAL PARKS
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Glacier National Park | Rogers Pass, BC
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Gulf Islands National Park Reserve | Sidney, BC
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Kootenay National Park | Radium Hot Springs, BC
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Mount Revelstoke National Park | Revelstoke, BC
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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | Ucluelet, BC
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Yoho National Park | Field, BC
BC PROVINICIAL PARKS bcparks.ca
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Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park | Bridal Falls, BC
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Golden Ears Park | Maple Ridge, BC
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Metro Vancouver | Vancouver, BC
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