Read more about the article Boquillas Canyon and Hot Springs – Bend Bend National Park
Overlooking the Rio Grande from the Boquillas Canyon Trail

Boquillas Canyon and Hot Springs – Bend Bend National Park

After completing the Balanced Rock Trail, we ventured to the eastern side of Big Bend National Park. We passed the Panther Junction visitor center – one of two places in the park to purchase gasoline. Then we drove about 20 miles to Boquillas Canyon.

Even though we had seen the Rio Grande at Santa Elena Canyon the previous day, this area was completely different. Instead of being surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs, this area was more open and the river seemed to flow faster.  Additionally, we could see people on the other side in Mexico riding horses. (more…)

Read more about the article Bathhouse Row – Hot Springs National Park
The restored Fordyce on BathhouseRow

Bathhouse Row – Hot Springs National Park

My husband thought I was nuts – completely nuts. We were visiting my hometown of Shreveport, La. when I said, “Instead of going straight back to Atlanta, we could go up through Arkansas, over to Tennessee, spend the night in Memphis and then get back to Atlanta tomorrow night.” Within a few hours, we found ourselves in Hot Springs where I had vacationed as a child.

Things had changed since those trips in the 1970’s. Well,  not everything had changed, especially not the Arlington Hotel. This historic hotel has looked the same since 1924 and will continue to do so until a natural disaster comes along. I fondly recall walking with my parents across the street from the Arlington into the Hot Springs National Park at dusk. It was the first time I had ever seen fireflies, which we called lightning bugs. (more…)