Arches National Park

Did you know that this weekend kicks off National Park Week? What the heck is that you ask? It’s an awesome week where the National Park Service waives fees for entrance at all 392 of their National Parks! It runs April 17- April 25 and chances are you live near one- so get out and enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of this great country! Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon- yup all free! Save yourself $25 bucks! What better way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22)?

For more information on National Park Week visit the National Park Service’s website.

Of the 58 National Parks in the U.S., many go unnoticed. Sure, everyone has been to Yellowstone and probably a few other parks throughout the country, but I’d bet not many of us have been to more than a handful.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Mesa Verde National Park and boy was I surprised. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but after I did some research, I realized, “Oh, that’s where those Navajo cliff dwellings are.”

I’m sure most everyone has seen pictures of the famous Cliff Palace or other ruins in history class, but until you see it up close you don’t realize how impressive these structures really are. Another surprise is that there are over 600 cliff dwellings in the park as well – some which appear nearly impossible to reach, let alone build.
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