Written by: Chuck Hayden
- Chiricahua National Monument – March
Located in the southeastern Arizona, Chiricahua NM is a beautiful area to explore. There are many unique rock formations, including hoodoos and balancing rocks. There is a very nice Visitor Center with a very helpful staff ready with maps and suggestions on where to go and what to do in the area.
The drive-up Bonita Canyon is amazing and at the top is Massai Point, elevation 6870ft (2094m) and the views are breathtaking. There are plenty of hiking trails to discover and valleys to explore. I was there in mid-March and there was still a good amount of snow in the area. I will absolutely return to explore this place more extensively.
- White Sands National Park – March
White Sands is one of my favorite places to stop and visit. Located in south central New Mexico it is a very interesting geological location. It’s not really sand but powered gypsum that erodes off the surrounding mountains and the winds drive it to form the dunes.
I’ve been there 3 times and will continue to visit as I cross the US. It can get crowed at times, but I’ve always been able to find a quiet place on top of one of the dunes to sit and look over this unique landscape and be grateful for all the beauty surrounding me. I walk up with a cup of coffee and have sat there for 2-3 hours just soaking it all in.
I feel re-energized after leaving White Sands and ready to continue to explore North America.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park – March
Carlsbad Caverns is in the southeast corner of New Mexico. I’ve wanted to visit this park for many years and was able to check it off my bucket list in 2025.
I knew the caverns were going to be specular but once inside I was completely stunned at the vastness and formations. You can do a guided tour or go on your own. I elected to go on my own to explore and photograph this amazing underworld place. I took my time wondering through the cavern and was able to experience the real beauty at a slow pace.
It’s almost impossible to describe the caverns and do it any justice. All I can say is, if you find yourself anywhere close to Carlsbad Caverns, stop and visit. You won’t be disappointed.
- Oklahoma National Monument – April
This is a very moving place. The monument honors those lost in the Oklahoma City bombing at the Murrah Federal Building in 1995. It’s a very solemn place to visit and reflect on the horrible tragedy that occurred here and hopefully learn from our past.
There is a Reflecting Pool with calming sounds providing a peaceful place for quiet thoughts and prayers. There is a Field of Empty Chairs representing the 168 people killed on April 19, 1995, in the bombing. 19 of the chairs are smaller representing the 19 children that lost their lives in the daycare center in the building.
It was a very moving and emotional stop, and I am glad that our country built this memorial to honor those that were killed, their families and the first responders.
- Pocahontas State Park – April
The park is located about 30 minutes southwest of Richmond, VA and is the biggest state park in Virginia. It offers a variety of activities, including camping, cabins, hiking, boating and so much more.
I stopped here in my way to Maine to visit with my brother and his family. They rented a cabin for the weekend, I joined them for the weekend and then decided to stay a few extra nights in the campground.
The park is beautiful and well kept. I enjoyed spending time with my family having dinners and campfires. Full disclosure, this was the first time I made s’mores and ate s’mores. I’m hooked now.
- Hocking Hills State Park – April
This beautiful state park is located 1 hour southeast of Columbus Ohio and is a wonderful place to soak in nature’s beauty. It’s really a 4-season park to enjoy throughout the year.
There are hiking trails, scenic overlooks, towering rock cliffs, and 10 stunning waterfalls to enjoy.
A friend of mine is a professional photographer and he has explored and photographed all of nature’s beauty throughout the park. I love his photography and made a point of visiting this park and staying in the campground for 3 nights.
I’m not nearly as good a photographer as my friend but I was able to capture some great shots around the park.
- The Ohio State Reformatory – May
I saw this place on Google Maps and did a little research and decided to add this to my route. It’s located in Mansfield, Ohio and is the location for most of the scenes in The Shawshank Redemption.
The reformatory/prison was built in 1996 and remained an active prison until 1990. Much of the original facility was demolished after it closed but in 1995 a preservation society tackled the job of restoring the facility back to its original state.
Much of the restoration money is raised through private but they also offer guided tours through much of the prison. In addition to learning about the history of the facility you get to hear about the many movies that have been filmed here. Shawshank was the most famous movie filmed there, and they have a lot of the props from the movie on display in the museum and throughout the facility. Other movies filmed there include Tango & Cash, Harry and Walter Go to New York, Air Force One and also several music videos and documentaries.
Another interesting piece of history I’m glad I visited.
- Brooklin and Bar Harbor Maine – June/July
Brooklin Maine has become my summer ‘home’ for the last 3 years. My friends own a unique waterfront campground in Brooklin, Maine, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather spend summer than at their peaceful spot, just steps from the beach. When the rest of the country is experiencing 90+ degree summer days, on the water in Brooklin the temperature rarely rises about 75 degree. It’s glorious.
Brooklin is about an hour drive from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia gets very crowded in summer but when I wake up early, I can make the drive very easy and explore the Acadia without all the crowds. It’s a very peaceful time and the sunrises a stunning. Sitting on the rocks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a cup of coffee and my camera is my favorite thing to do.
- Newfoundland – August/September
After leaving Maine I ventured through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada on my way to spend 30+ days traveling around Newfoundland.
If you haven’t been to the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, you need to make plans and go!
I could write pages and pages about my experience in Newfoundland (I am currently working a complete trip report on this adventure). But it’s been difficult to put into words how wonderful everything was during my visit.
The people, the scenery, the wildlife, the food, everything is better in Newfoundland in my opinion. It’s so amazing that I’m already booked on the ferry to ‘The Rock’ next summer.
- Casey, Illinois – October
This was a very surprising find on my travel across the US this fall. Casey is unlike any other small town I have driven through in the last 3 years.
Casey famous for having the ‘world’s biggest’ stuff! The world’s biggest rocking chair, mailbox, golf tee, birdcage, pencil, barber pole and so many more ‘biggest things’.
Casey just happened to be on my route west, and I looked at Google to see if there was anything interesting to do that day. Well Casey sure delivered. It’s just one of those places that you just can’t help but smile as you walk around the downtown area. If you enjoy quirky attractions, don’t miss this spot.
