Before a new adventure, my husband (like his father) will always say “We quest for adventure”. Our quest for adventure paved the way for Mariposa Travel, which has become our way to remember, document, and share our adventures. We hope this blog inspires you to quest for new adventures!

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

John Muir

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Big Bend National Park

When we drove into Big Bend National Park for the first time, it was like stepping into another world.  It is full to bursting with unique desert landscapes and stranger than fiction flora and fauna.  Which to us Tennesseans, who are used to being able to throw a stone and hit about five trees from just about anywhere, was one of the closest experiences to being on another planet that we’ve ever had!

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Nashville, TN Rock’n Road Trip

After leaving the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, we headed on over to the Country Music Capitol of the World…Nashville, Tennessee. We wanted to learn about the history of Country Music, so we headed down to Music Row.

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Memphis, TN Rock'n Road Trip

Gospel, Jazz, Blues, Soul and Rockabilly combined to produce the unique Memphis Music tradition. So we grabbed our “Blue Suede Shoes” and went “Walking in Memphis” to learn all about that legacy still enjoyed by music lovers today. We were “All Shook Up” over all that you could explore and learn in Memphis, Tennessee. From Stax Museum to Graceland…you just “Can’t Help Falling in Love”! Follow along as we spend three days in the Birthplace of Rock‘n Roll.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was such a feast for the eyes. Just like the Osborne Brothers said, “Don’t let Smoky Mountain smoke get in your eyes. If you do, I’m telling you, you’ll want to live there the rest of your life.” We visited the last week of September. The weather was just right for camping, and the leaves were starting to change.

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St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is home to so many unique attractions…and many are FREE!! Check out some of our favorite places to visit in St. Louis, Missouri. A trip to St. Louis would not be complete if we didn’t visit at least one of these fun places.

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Hot Springs National Park

Did you know that Hot Springs National Park is actually located in the middle of the city? I didn’t either, until I started to research for our trip. Crazy, right? With so much to do in one National Park, it is hard to know where to begin. So we put together some of our Hot Springs National Park favorites!

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St. George Island, Florida

And as you drive through each small coastal town in Florida’s Forgotten Coast, you really do get the sense that it has been forgotten. But the charm puts a spell on you, and draws you back. Check out our favorite things to do on St. George Island.

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Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM

Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is a crazy-fun and creative interactive experience for all ages. Have questions? We had questions too before our first visit to this amazing art experience. Hopefully we can answer a few of those questions for you.

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Yosemite National Park: Mariposa Grove

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite, with over 500 mature giant sequoias. In 1864, President Lincoln signed legislation protecting Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley. You can see why Theodore Roosevelt said that we should keep a grove of giant sequoias like we would keep a cathedral.

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Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is truly a wonder of the world. So we wanted to share some of the activities and hikes that made up our basic itinerary. I hope you are inspired to visit the Grand Canyon and enjoy all that it has to offer!

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Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park you stole our hearts and quickly became one of our favorite National Parks. So today we are going to recap our short, but oh so sweet, trip to Yosemite National Park. We only had 48 hours to explore, so we made the most of the time we had.

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Great Sand Dunes National Park

Whether this is your first visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park, or it has been awhile since your last visit, don’t worry this list of top things will be just the thing to help you start planning. Are you ready to quest for adventure?

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Bishop Castle, Colorado

Bishop Castle is the largest self-built castle in the United States, and maybe the world. The castle was built by one man, Jim Bishop. There are no tours of the castle, therefore you are free to explore at your own pace.

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Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Want to know the nice thing about a cave…they are always cool! Carlsbad Caverns National Park is hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert. It was formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind more than 119 caverns ranging in size.

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Capitol Reef National Park

A trip to Capitol Reef is definitely worth your time. This national park got its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble the dome of the Capitol building. It is a hidden gem dotted with red rock cliffs, canyons, and arches.

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Free National Parks checklist with all 63 National Parks, including the latest addition, New River Gorge!