simply journey bound

West Region

Idaho

California National Historic Trail

City Of Rocks National Reserve

Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve

Journeybound Hot Take
In the middle of nowhere lies an unearthly terrain. Its features of black lava rock, lava tunnels, caves, old volcanoes, and spatter cones leave you questioning where you are. Climb atop a cinder cone volcano, peer into dormant mini-volcanoes, walk the rocky terrain, and venture into caves. It's also a dark night sky park, and there is a campground right in the middle of the park!

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Minidoka National Historic Site

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Oregon National Historic Trail

Yellowstone National Park

Montana

Big Hole National Battlefield

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site 

Glacier National Park

Journeybound Hot Take
Since our first travels to the National Parks, we have been anticipating a visit to this park. It felt like Glacier has two distinct worlds, the East and West, each offers different experiences. The West exudes a town-like vibe, while the East is rugged and untamed. The verdant hills on the West stand in contrast to the rocky peaks adorned with snow on the East. Every hike here is nothing short of majestic, leaving you in awe of the natural beauty that surrounds you. It's as if you're walking through a slice of Heaven on Earth. Yet, words cannot do justice to the depth of this park's magnificence. It's an experience that must be lived, felt, and seen firsthand.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

Journeybound Hot Take
Welcome to Cowboy Land! Our visit here was an absolute blast. We had the opportunity to explore the inner workings of houses, barns, and even a blacksmith shop, where the ranger working in the shop branded some wood for our kids. We were also able to get up close and personal with ranch animals, including some that had just been freshly branded. But the real highlight of our visit was the amazing program that showed us how cowboys lived, ate, and traveled in their iconic covered wagons. Our kids were thrilled to ring the big dinner bell, while us adults savored the experience of freshly brewed cowboy coffee over the campfire.

Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Nez Perce National HIstorical Park

Yellowstone National Park

Wyoming

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

California National Historic Trail

Devils Tower National Monument

Journeybound Hot Take
Our stay at the KOA on the borders of the Monument was truly a sight to behold. Every morning and evening, we were greeted by the majestic wonder of the Tower. The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the best hike around the entire monument, where we had the opportunity to teach our children about the significance of this sacred land to some indigenous tribes. We were also pleasantly surprised to learn from an educational group while hiking that certain trees in the area had a unique butterscotch fragrance when their bark was smelled. Needless to say, we spent some time enjoying this unique experience, even if it did make us look a bit odd!

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Fossil Butte National Monument

Grand Teton National Park

Journeybound Hot Take
This may just be our favorite National Park so far. We set up camp at Gros Ventre Campground and were awestruck by the stunning views of the mountain range that surrounded us. The campground sits in front of the Gros Ventre River, which is known for being home to moose. We enjoyed exploring this area thoroughly, from soaking up the breathtaking views from Mormon Row to taking a boat ride across Jenny Lake and hiking to the best waterfalls. We did see a moose, elk, and bear claws on trees and footprints which was really cool. The campground even held a bear safety coarse at night which was great and at the end he let us touch the hide of black and brown bear, and see the sizes of their paws and claws. The sheer beauty of this place is truly unparalleled, and it is definitely an ideal spot for families to enjoy together.

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

Oregon National Historic Trail

Pony Express National Historic Trail

Yellowstone National Park