Everglades National Park (01/2012)

This was another fantastic visit to Everglades National Park.  There was a lot of bird and gator activity in the park today, including several baby gators.  And, something I don't usually see, wood storks that were very near to spectators.  There were a lot of great blue herons, little blue herons, green herons (my personal favorite), egrets, of course lots of anhingas, and a real treat -- a limpkin looking for snails.  The lazy alligators were just lying around waiting for some little varmint to fall in their mouths!  I also got some good shots of a great blue heron who had just caught a big fish!  He was very pleased with his lunch.

Lots of people in the park today!

Gator lying right on the pathway

Nice variety of birds today

Blue Heron and an Alligator

Nice Catch!

Wood Stork near the walkway

He was fishing for something

He's warning me to stay clear

He was such a beauty!

Cormorant

Nice sighting - A limpkin

He picked up a snail

but, he didn't know how to eat it

Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

I hate the nitt-witts who throw their trash into the Everglades!

Green Heron

Snapping Turtle

Lots of gators

Baby Alligators

This was the biggest gator I have ever seen!

Anhinga

Ibis

Beautiful Osprey

Lots of Egrets

Me loving everything this wonderful national park has to offer . . . a very lazy alligator right behind me!

Custer National Cemetery at Little Bighorn Battlefield

Little Bighorn Battlefield (Custer's Last Stand). The area memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. On June 25 and 26, 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, died fighting several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors.

This National Park site is a beautiful National Cemetery,

as well as the battlefield where Custer had his last stand.

 

These tombstones are the spots where the U.S. Soldiers and Indians
actually fell and died.  The black one is Gen. Custer's grave (he
is no longer buried here).

 

This is a beautiful memorial for the Indians who died.

A memorial for the U.S. Soldiers and Civilians.






A marker for the horses who perished.

 

Shenandoah National Park (10/2011)

This was my first visit to Shenandoah National Park and I am hooked!  My first day, I entered at the north end.  I drove to the center, then the next day reentered at the center point and drove to the south end.  Each stop and each trail was more beautiful than the next.  It didn't hurt that it was October and the fall colors were still very vibrant in several areas.  I saw a bunch of black bears (including a mother with 3 cubs), and a lot of deer.  I can't wait to go back one day!

Spectacular views!

An artist couldn't ask for a better spot to get inspired!

A very large black bear on the side of the road.

A mother bear with 3 cubs.

There were a lot of cyclists travelling Skyline Drive.

There are many spots to hike on the Appalachian Trail;

it runs through the entire park.

Shenandoah Valley

Nice spot for a picnic lunch.

Me, realizing how good life is in this picturesque National Park!

When Skyline Drive ends at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park, it becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway and travels for over 400 miles to the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park; it is a beautiful and peaceful drive.  Whether you go 400 miles or 5 miles, you are assured the most spectacular scenery!