Music City, Motoring, and Many Waterfalls

It's time for yet another photo spread. This time, it's from Tennessee, Kentucky, and a bit of North Carolina. Specifically, we're talking about Nashville, Mammoth Caves National Park, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and a few other famous spots, including The Hermitage and the Polk home. 

The Parthenon, which was a temporary structure as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. It was such a hit, that the effort was made to make it a permanent structure, which was completed in 1931.

A rain soaked Parthenon

Mammoth Caves - the historical entrance tour. We missed out on seeing more of the cave system because we didn't make reservations ahead of time. We'll know better next time. 

One of the many bears spotted during our trip through the Smoky Mountains.

There were countless waterfalls along the way. This is one.

Want to cross the Green River in Mammoth Caves National Park? Take a ferry. 

Grotto Falls, in Smoky Mountains NP

At the President James Polk home in Columbia, TN.

Nashville at night.

The Ernest Tubb Record Shop, home to one of the most famous radio shows in country music. Imagine the history told, the music strummed in those walls.

The Kitchen Sinks at Great Smoky Mountains NP.

Yet another waterfall in Great Smoky Mountains NP.

Outside the Nashville Symphony.

One of the many neon signs along the Honky Tonk Row in Nashville.

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At the summit of Clingmans Dome.

A natural bridge.

Broadway after a rain soaked night in Nashville.

A Trip Through History - Civil War and Presidential History in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia

Black Hawk Helicopters flying over Gettysburg National Park

Gun emplacement at Gettysburg

Memorial at Antietam

Looking down from the Observation Tower at Antietam National Battlefield

Burnside Bridge at Antietam.

Belle Grove plantation; focal point of the last major battle in Shenandoah Valley.

Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park.

The night sky from Skyland Resort in Shenandoah NP.

Overexposed and light pollution from Luray in Shenandoah NP.

Luray Caverns.

Thomas Jefferson's masterpiece at Monticello.

Ash-Highland (James Monroe's residence, the original bit of which is the building on the left).

James Madison's Montpelier, which is undergoing ongoing archeological restoration and work to reveal slave quarters on the south side of the building.

Partial rainbow over Manassas (Bull Run).

Dramatic sky over Manassas.

Old Stone Bridge at Manassas.

Great Falls on Ice

The Great Falls of Paterson, New Jersey have been a national park for only a short time, but their power and size has been a draw since before the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton saw the promise of the falls, and it became a generator for business making Paterson an industrial hub for decades to come.

Paterson may have fallen on hard times, but the Falls endure. The Falls are now part of a National Historical Park, and I can only hope that people get to experience the falls up close to enjoy the wonder and the important role they played in our nation's development. There's also a move to include the nearby Hinchliffe Stadium into the national park for its role as host to Negro Leagues games. It is one of the few remaining stadiums from that era to still exist.

The Great Falls iced over. The building on the left is a hydropower turbine room, which still produces power today.

The snow was beginning to fall as we were out taking pictures.

A closeup of the falls from the bridge seen in the photo above.

Looking across the national park.

Iced over.

You can't tell from the photos, but you could see the water flowing in behind the ice.

Southern Utah National Park Touring

It was a trip that was over far too soon. There's so much to see across Southern Utah that there's no way to see everything you want in one shot.

So, after having taken in Bryce and Zion and Capitol Reef on a prior trip, we decided to hit Arches and Canyonlands on this on. Add to that a day trip to Mesa Verde and a stopover in Capitol Reef since it was essentially on the way back to Salt Lake City, and we had three major national parks on the itinerary, plus the well renowned Dead Horse Point State Park.

1,600+ miles driving later, and nearly an equivalent number of photos taken, here are just a sample of the shots.

The scenery in Arches is something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, or a Dali painting. It is absolutely surreal, and there's no way to understand it unless you're out there and see these formations in person. Delicate Arch was a favorite, in part of the hike to get there, but Landscape Arch was perhaps more impressive since it was even more delicate - it is 200+ feet long, but six feet wide at its narrowest point. It wouldn't take much for that arch to collapse.

Mesa Verde provided a glimpse back in time, and left us with more questions than answers - namely what happened to the people who came to the region, built these structures in the caves, and left just as quickly as they came. Why did they leave? Where did they go? No one really knows.

Canyonlands, at least in the Islands in the Sky district, was most similar to a perch atop the rim of the Grand Canyon. Similar vistas, but with perhaps an even clearer sky - meaning more visibility. It was quite impressive, as was the neighboring Dead Horse Point State Park.

Capitol Reef is one of the lesser known national parks, but it's known for its solace, and dark skies. Of course, on this trip, it was overcast, so no night shots this time.

Delicate Arch from the Upper Viewpoint

Landscape Arch; one of the world's longest arches.

At the Windows

Double Arch

Delicate Arch after hiking 1.5 miles only to realize there was an oncoming sandstorm.

Courthouse Mesa

Only the Shadow Knows

Mesa Arch. This guy walked on top, but I wouldn't have. It's a long way down, and a gust of wind could have been real bad.

Islands in the Sky at Canyonlands NP.

Budding Flowers in Canyonlands.

The ponds are part of a potash plant that runs between Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park. 

Jug handle Arch, which is appropriate since we're from the state that makes all turns from the jug handle. New Jersey.

Meadows at Capitol Reef National Park.

Swirling skies and shadows at Capitol Reef at sunset.

The Utah State Capitol at night.

Mesa Verde National Park - a panorama shot of Cliff House.