Hey, adventurers!
I’ve been pretty busy in my quest to travel to all fifty states, but that doesn't mean I don't have time to paws and take over the Storylark blog each Caturday of September! (It is still National Cat Month, after all!)
This week I wanted to share with you the three coolest spots that I’ve visited so far!
Thaddeus's Top 3 Must-Visit Locations
Here are three of the most pawtastic places I've been so far!
The Summit of Maunakea in Hawai’i
The summit was our final destination in the Aloha State and what a grand finale it was—me-WOW! If you get the chance to go, I suggest experiencing this ancient inactive volcano just the way my friend Crabby and I did … by trekking all the way to the summit. The air was thin at 14,000 feet (4.2km), but our breath was already taken away by the sunset and the vast expanse of stars and sky above us. Thinking about how incredibly ancient Maunakea is makes my whiskers quiver! Rich in history and cultural tradition, Maunakea is a sacred place for Hawaiians, and my friend and I were privileged to spend some quiet time there together.
Eureka Dunes in California
Ahhh, the desert has its own kind of beauty. Besides all the lizards available to chase—ahem, I mean observe—this landscape in the Mojave Desert (home to the unique Joshua trees found only in this area) is a sight to see! Imagine giant mountains of sand 680 feet (207 meters) high. The Eureka Dunes are located in Death Valley National Park in California, which is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the United States. It's also the largest national park in the contiguous 48 states, covering 3.4 million acres! If that isn't amazing enough, it's also only 76 miles from the highest point in the country ... Mount Whitney (which we also trekked on our trip)! No wonder California is known for its pawsitively diverse landscapes!
Valley of Fire in Nevada
Picture this: giant red rocks set on fire by the sun with blue mountains in the distance! It truly is like a postcard! When friend Craybella and I were in Nevada, we scurried up unusual formations like Elephant Rock (spoiler: no elephants) and the fascinating Fire Wave with its swirls of red, pink, and white sandstone that look like a never-ending lollipop (yes, I licked it). But the best part is the sheer rock face covered in petroglyphs created over 4,000 years ago! I felt honored to gaze upon these symbols used in ancient Native American cultures to send messages and tell stories. Sigh!
What are some of your favorite spots?
What about you? What are some must-visit spots in your home state? Let me know in the comments and maybe I’ll explore them when I get to your state!
