America’s National Parks are having a moment right now. With most international borders closed to Americans in 2020, there is no time like the present to explore the breathtaking landscapes of America’s protected lands!

With 62 National Parks across 28 states and 2 US territories, the options are endless. From Acadia to Zion, here are 17 National Parks Books with ideas to inspire you and help you plan your next adventure.

List of National Parks Books

1. 59 Illustrated National Parks: 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service

By Joel Anderson

This beautiful coffee table book is a celebration of the 100 years of wilderness and wonders at the 59 (at time of publication) National Parks.

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2. 100 Parks, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

By Joe Yogerst

This great read from National Geographic is a sequel to their best-selling 50 States, 5,000 Ideas, and gives readers inspiration for 5,000 places to visit in 100 different national, state, and city parks from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between!

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3. America’s National Parks

By Esther Tome

This picture-perfect coffee table book highlights the raw and natural beauty of America’s National Parks, from Glacier Bay in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida.

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4. America’s National Parks Book: A Photographic Tour of All 61 National Parks of the USA

By Matt Noble

This book is filled with gorgeous photography of all 61 (at the time of publication) National Parks, in alphabetical order from Acadia to Zion!

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5. Moon USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 62 Parks

By Becky Lomax

This newly-released tome covers all 62 National Parks, including the newest addition of White Sands National Monument in New Mexico! Not only does it have pretty pictures, but it is filled with practical planning tips and expert advice.

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6. National Geographic Atlas of the National Parks

By Jon Waterman

This book is written by a former ranger at the National Parks and goes beyond pictures with informative graphics with details about the wildlife, climate, culture, and archaeology about “America’s Greatest Idea.”

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7. National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States

By Mel White

Another great contribution to this list from National Geographic, Complete National Parks is just that — a complete guide to planning your dream trip to the National Parks with practical information, historical background, and detailed maps, and beautiful photos.

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8. National Geographic Guide to National Parks of the United States

By National Geographic

This is National Geographic’s flagship, best-selling guide filled with 300 photos and 80 maps, as well as travel planning tips and itineraries, and secret spots for the best photo ops for the wildlife and scenery.

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9. National Geographic The National Parks: An Illustrated History

By Kim Heacox

National Geographic is the G.O.A.T. when it comes to National Parks books. And this gift-worthy illustrated history features the best photographs accompanied by the storied history of the parks as a celebration of their 100th anniversary.

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10. National Parks of America: Experience America’s 59 National Parks

By Lonely Planet

This list wouldn’t be complete without including a contribution from the authors from the Lonely Planet who give expert advice on what to do, what to see, and where to stay in all 59 (at the time of publication) of America’s National Parks.

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11. Roaming America: Exploring All the National Parks

By Renee Hahnel

If you’re not already following Renee Roaming on Instagram then you are missing out. She and her husband Matthew embarked on a 7-month journey to visit all 59 (at the time of publication) National Parks and put together this book filled with their gorgeous photography, top planning tips, and stories from the road.

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12. The Complete Guide to the National Parks: All 61 Treasures From Coast to Coast

By Erika Hueneke

This is another great option if you are looking for an informative book combined with beautiful pictures of America’s National Parks, from Golden Gate Bridge on the West Coast to Acadia National Park all the way on the East Coast.

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13. The National Parks of the United States: A Photographic Journey

By Andrew Thomas

This stunning photographic journey through America’s National Parks would make a beautiful addition to any coffee table book collection! In addition to the gorgeous photography and informative details, there are also quotes interspersed from notable personalities such as Mark Twain detailing personal reflections about the National Parks.

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14. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

By Dayton Duncan & Ken Burns

This book is an accompaniment to the well-known documentary of the same name and takes an interesting look at the history of how America’s National Parks, which have been dubbed “America’s Best Idea,” came to be. It delves into the evolution of the park system that has come to protect some of America’s most breathtaking landscapes.

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15. The National Parks: An American Legacy

By Ian Shive

This book coincides with the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and includes breathtaking photos of the protected landscapes of the 59 (at the time of publication) National Parks, and looks towards the next 100 years of enjoying this American legacy.

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16. Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey Through America’s National Parks

By QT Luong

Treasured Lands is another great gift option for any coffee table book lover. It pays homage to all 62 National Parks through vivid photographs and aims to inspire readers to visit the parks and recreate the images for themselves.

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17. Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to all 59 National Parks

By Michael Joseph Oswald

This complete guide to all 59 (at the time of publication) National Parks touts itself as “the only guidebook you’ll need to explore the United States National Parks.” It extensively details the hotels, restaurants, and attractions available in each park and includes more than 450 photographs, 160 maps, and 50 hiking tables to help plan your trip.

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List of All 62 National Parks

Which US National Parks are you inspired to visit?!

More Wanderlust-Filled Book Recommendations

• 17 Books to Inspire Your Next American Road Trip

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With most international borders closed to Americans for 2020, there is no time like the present to plan a Great American Road Trip!

The options of beautiful places to visit on a Great American Road Trip are endless but what is the most scenic drive in the United States?

Well, that depends on what you’re looking for — mountains, ocean, desert, lakes, or farmland.

From East Coast to West Coast to Cross-Country Road Trips, here are 17 American Road Trip Books filled with ideas to inspire your next adventure!

List of American Road Trip Books

1. 50 States 500 State Parks: An Essential Guide to America’s Best Places to Visit

By Publications International Ltd.

National Parks seem to dominate bucket lists these days but did you know there are over 500 State Parks across all 50 states? From beaches to mountains, wildlife reserves to historic sites, this book will give you some American road trip ideas for planning your next domestic adventure.

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2. 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

By Joe Yogerst, National Geographic

The travel experts at National Geographic have put together a comprehensive, illustrated book filled with 5,000 ideas on places to visit in all 50 states, plus every province in Canada. From well-known famous sights to relatively undiscovered hidden gems, there is bound to be something for every type of traveler on this list.

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3. 100 Drives, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Do, What to See

By Joe Yogerst, National Geographic

Another great read from National Geographic, this sequel to 50 States, 5,000 Ideas gives readers inspiration for 5,000 places to visit on 100 different drives from Alaska to Hawaii and the 48 contiguous states, plus 10 Canadian provinces!

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4. 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die

By Patricia Schultz

You’ve probably heard of the famous 1,000 Places To See Before You Die book, but why not start off your quest with these regional 1,000 Places to See in the United States and Canada Before You Die? The title is a bit morbid but the suggestions in the book are anything but.

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5. Lonely Planet USA’s Best Trips

By Simon Richmond, Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has taken the hassle out of planning road trips with their book about the 51 best road trips in the USA! This beautifully-photographed tome also includes planning advice, itineraries from 2 days to 2 weeks, detailed maps and directions, and other essential information to make your road trip dreams a reality.

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6. National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways: The 300 Best Drives in the U.S.

By National Geographic

The folks at National Geographic have compiled practical planning tips and information on 300 of the best drives in the good ‘ole U S of A, from day trips to multiple week-long adventures in all 4 corners of the United States and everywhere in between.

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7. NYT. 36 Hours. USA & Canada.

By Barbara Ireland

This is the perfect book for the full-time working wanderluster. The New York Times has compiled entries from its 20-years-old “36 Hours” column to bring us weekend itineraries spanning, you guessed it, 36 hours in 150 destinations across the USA and Canada.

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8. Off the Beaten Path: A Travel Guide to More Than 1000 Scenic and Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting

By Reader’s Digest

A book after my own heart! I’m a lover of hidden gems and relatively undiscovered places so Reader’s Digest’s compilation of 1,000 off the beaten path places is right up my alley! Sure, the Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge are obviously worth visiting but have you ever thought about following the dinosaur trails through Colorado?

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9. Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways

By Jamie Jensen

This author traversed nearly 400,000 of two-lane highways in order to narrow down a collection of 35,000 miles of the best stretches of pavement for would-be road trippers. The book includes hundreds of possible itinerary combinations and over 125 detailed driving maps to make your next road trip a breeze.

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10. Roadfood: An Eater’s Guide to More Than 1,000 of the Best Local Hot Spots and Hidden Gems Across America

By Jane Stern

The best part of traveling is the food, amiright? The Roadfood eater’s guide provides over 1,000 unique options for travelers who are tired of repetitive roadside chain restaurants. The legendary chef James Beard said that “this is a book that you should carry with you, no matter where you are going in these United States.” SOLD.

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11. Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition

By Michael Wallis

Can you even call it a Great American Road Trip if you don’t traverse “America’s Main Street,” Route 66? The 75th Anniversary Edition of Route 66: The Mother Road pays homage to the people and places along this iconic stretch of pavement that has been traveled by road warriors over the past eight decades.

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12. Secret Route 66: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

By Jim Ross & Shellee Graham

For road trippers who have “been there, done that” and seen the main sights of America’s Main Street or who gravitate towards hidden gems in their travels, Secret Route 66 is the perfect remedy. This tribute to the Mother Road highlights 90 places along Route 66 that, as the name implies, are weird, wonderful, and obscure.

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13. The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips

By Editors of Reader’s Digest

This recently revised and updated book is the perfect coffee table book for anyone who enjoys landscape eye-candy. The editors at Reader’s Digest have put together 120 of the most scenic drives in America and is great for active road trippers and armchair travelers alike.

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14. The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA

By Jessica Dunham

Part of the notable Moon travel guides family, The Open Road is a collection of 50 of the best road trips in these great united states. Whether you’re looking to travel coast-to-coast or just get away for the weekend, there is bound to be an itinerary that fits the bill.

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15. The Ultimate Pet-Friendly Road Trip

By Amy Burkert

Just because you’re going on a road trip doesn’t mean you need to leave Fido behind. In fact, I’d argue road trips are the best type of travel for pet owners. This book offers up the ultimate pet-friendly road trip bucket list of 49 attractions across the country so you don’t need to leave your furry companion at home when you hit the road.

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16. Unique America – Strange, Unusual, and Just Plain Fun: A Trip Through America

By Publications International Ltd.

Are you the type of traveler that looks to the Atlas Obscura website first for ideas for your next trip? If so, then Unique America is for you. Get ready to see the world’s largest ball of twine, a floating bridge, or a ginormous artichoke the size of your car.

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17. Where To Go When the Americas

By DK Eyewitness

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are my go-to choice when I have an upcoming trip. I love the balance between visual representation and easy-to-digest information about the places they cover. Where To Go When is only last on this list because it’s in alphabetical order, haha. But if you’re looking for seasonal inspiration for your next American road trip, look no further.

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Have any of these American Road Trip books inspired your next adventure?!?!

More Wanderlust-Filled Book Recommendations

• 17 Books That Will Inspire You To Visit America’s National Parks

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The infamous “Figawi hat” is the most coveted souvenir from the race – partly because it cannot be bought, only earned (or stolen!). Mount Gay Rum embroiders hats with the name and date of each of the 140 regattas they sponsor worldwide, including Figawi. The red and yellow baseball caps made their debut for Figawi in the late 1970s and have been a sought-after item ever since.

 

However, only 3 hats are included in the Skipper’s Bag given to the captain of each registered boat. Each crew is made up of 8-12 team members on average, so even if you sail in the race you are still not guaranteed to get a hat! I was a lucky recipient of a hat in the first Figawi race I sailed in 2016. I think the captain took pity on me because I almost went overboard on one particularly gnarly tack! It’s a badge of honor to receive a Figawi hat, and I treasure mine and the memories it brings with it.

 

As with most things on Nantucket, new and shiny items do not always outrank items of tradition and prestige. And so, the older the date embroidered on the Figawi hat, the more bragging rights the proud owner has since this shows how long they’ve been participating in the storied Figawi Race Weekend.

 

It has also become a tradition for the local island teens to devise schemes to steal these highly-prized hats off the heads of unsuspecting sailors! So if you are lucky enough to own a coveted Figawi hat, I recommend holding onto it tight!

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How many countries have you visited? Easily keep track and get inspired with this FREE Country Collector Checklist!

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People who know me, or have been reading my blog, know that travel planning is one of my favorite things to do. However, for this trip, all the credit goes to my friend Jill. She crafted an amazing itinerary filled with as many “Vermonty” things as we could fit into two days in the Green Mountain State. It is a high compliment coming from an incessant trip planner like me that I was able to just go along for the ride, both literally and figuratively!

Our weekend started bright and early on Saturday morning when Jill picked me up in her convertible – the perfect road tripping car. Alas, Mother Nature did not cooperate with us this weekend. It was a bit too chilly and rainy to put the top down. And when I say “a little rainy,” I mean it was a torrential downpour for the entire first leg of the trip.

Stop #1: Hanover, New Hampshire

The first stop on Jill’s itinerary was for lunch at one of my favorite places in Vermont, the Simon Pearce Restaurant in Quechee. My one requested addition to the itinerary was to first stop at my alma mater, Dartmouth College, on the way since it is only a 20-minute drive to Simon Pearce! Luckily, the rain had stopped by the time we pulled into the Dartmouth campus. We did a quick driving tour and then popped into a few stores on Main Street before heading onto lunch in Quechee.

Stop #2: Quechee, Vermont

The Simon Pearce Restaurant is set in an idyllic location overlooking the Ottauquechee River waterfall and a quintessential covered bridge (a classic Vermont staple). Travel and Leisure magazine has called the Mill at Simon Pearce one of “America’s Most Romantic Restaurants.” It has also been bestowed the “Best of Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator.

The farm-to-table restaurant is reason enough to visit Simon Pearce. However, they are actually more famous for their gorgeous, handmade glassware and pottery. After lunch, we headed to the downstairs workshop to watch the glassblowers in action.

Here we saw them make the very items sold in the shop above, and all across the country. You can see the entire process from start to finish. First, the rocks are melted into globs of fiery molten. These are then expertly blown into various shapes by the glassblowers. And, finally, they are smoothed and perfected into beautiful masterpieces.

Fun Fact #1: I bought a glass table lamp from Simon Pearce as a present to myself on the 1-year anniversary of buying my first home!

Stop #3: Waitsfield, Vermont

After our classy lunch, we got into the fun part of the trip – touring different craft breweries in the Burlington, Vermont area! Our first stop was at Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield, Vermont. We happened to be there during their 11^th-anniversary celebration so there was a festive vibe in the taproom and a band playing music in a tent set up outside. We also took advantage of the free brewery tours and vintage beer tasting! They had the most amazing-looking homemade “everything” pretzels (like an everything bagel but a pretzel) but we were too full from lunch. I’ll have to try one on my next trip back!

Stop #4: Williston, Vermont

Next on our itinerary was a stop at Burlington Beer Company in Williston, Vermont. Whereas Lawson’s taproom had a Vermont ski lodge feel to it, BBC’s taproom was much more industrial. It is literally located in a nondescript industrial park so I guess that makes sense! It was fun to experience two breweries with totally different vibes. My favorite thing about BBC, however, was not the beer (although that was good, too, if you like IPAs). No, my favorite part was the fact that it was dog friendly!

Fun Fact #2: I am OBSESSED with all dogs but especially with Golden Retrievers. This puppy didn’t stand a chance of avoiding me. 

Stop #5: Burlington, Vermont

Stop #5a: Hotel Vermont

After two brewery stops, we decided it would be the most responsible idea to drop the car off before continuing on the brewery tour. We checked into Hotel Vermont, our accommodations for the night, and the impetus for this road trip. The hotel describes itself as rustic and modern and I would agree that they achieved this aesthetic. The rooms were relatively simple but also luxurious. I know that doesn’t make sense so you’ll just have to trust me on this one that it is true. They have an awesome help-yourself coffee and tea bar on every floor, complimentary bikes, and a beer concierge. Oh, and did I mention they are dog-friendly?!

Stop #5b: Foam Brewers

After freshening up, we walked a short distance to Foam Brewers, which is ideally located on the waterfront of Lake Champlain. Coincidentally, Foam Brewers was also celebrating an anniversary (their 3rd). There was a good crowd, a food truck outside, and live music. Although I think those three things are probably there on regular nights as well!

Stop #5c: Farmhouse Tap & Grill

Next, we stopped for a beverage at a Burlington favorite, the Farmhouse Tap & Grill. I had stopped here for lunch on my way to go skiing in Québec in January. This time, however, Jill clued me in on the “secret” bar downstairs. I don’t think you’d know it was there if you weren’t looking for it. The restaurant describes what is known as The Parlor as “a subterranean speakeasy with a cult following” and the description seemed apt. After a beer by the fireplace, we took a stroll down the famed pedestrian-only Church Street, and then it was time for dinner.

Stop #5d: Hen of The Wood

Our hotel was conveniently located next to one of the most highly-acclaimed restaurants in town, Hen of the Wood. We had stopped in earlier to put our name on the list for bar seating later in the night. And as luck would have it, it was Restaurant Week in Burlington! So we got to enjoy a spectacular meal for half the normal price. We started with a cheese course, then I had a scallop appetizer, and finished with the rib-eye steak. We definitely didn’t have room for dessert and actually couldn’t even finish our beers with dinner. I guess that is a sign of a good night!

Stop #5e: Penny Cluse Cafe

The next morning we headed to brunch at another local favorite, the Penny Cluse Cafe. Knowing there would be a wait for a table, we put our names on the list and then strolled around Church Street in the daylight, popping into a few stores. Then it was back to the cafe for a brunch that met all expectations I had about this place. It had come highly recommended by many friends!

Stop #6: St. Albans, Vermont

Next on the itinerary was what could quite possibly be the most “Vermonty” thing possible – we drove to St. Albans to check out the 53^rd annual Vermont Maple Festival! The festival is held every year during the last weekend of April. St. Albans is a small town (although they call themselves a city) near the Canadian border. Main Street looks like a movie set and the townspeople have a penchant for all things maple. I’m talking fresh maple syrup, maple milkshakes, maple cotton candy, maple donuts, maple creemees, Sugar on Snow (which I had for the first time on my trip to Québec over New Year’s Eve!). They have a saying that the maple syrup harvest in the Spring is the “reason for the season” – how adorable is that?!

Stop #7: Shelburne, Vermont

But the weekend fun didn’t end after the Maple Festival. The next stop on our road trip was to Shelburne Farms in (you guessed it) Shelburne, Vermont. Shelburne Farms is actually a non-profit educational organization that has all sorts of programs about sustainability and farming. We were there just before the start of the season so not much was open except for a bakery where we were able to buy some delicious homemade bread!

At this point in the weekend, the sun had come out so we took a nice long stroll on the walking trails that wind through the farm property. Then we drove through the farm grounds to the storied Inn at Shelburne Farms, on the banks of Lake Champlain. The inn looks like it comes straight out of the Gatsby Era. This makes sense since it was the country home of a member of the Vanderbilt family! We had hoped to have a drink at the inn but it didn’t open for the season for a few more weeks. A good excuse to make a return trip!

Stop #8: Middlebury, Vermont

Our last stop on a jam-packed itinerary was at Jill’s alma mater, Middlebury College. Jill gave me a quick tour of the campus and then we grabbed sandwiches from Noonie’s for the ride home. I love how we started and finished our weekend with a trip down memory lane at each of our old stomping grounds.

I honestly don’t know how we fit so many things into this weekend, and yet were never rushed. It seemed much longer than a weekend normally does and Friday felt like a distant memory by the time we made our way back to Boston on Sunday night. Kudos to Jill for planning the perfect Vermont weekend getaway!

Which of the stops on our itinerary would you most like to visit?

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Le Massif De Charlevoix, Québec

The Northeast had an epic start to the winter with powder for days in November and early December. However, due to some family commitments and the holidays, I wasn’t able to finagle a trip to the mountains until I headed to Québec City in Canada over New Year’s Eve weekend. I took a trip with the Boston Ski & Sports Club to Le Massif de Charlevoix, about an hour outside of Québec City. So I was able to sneak in one day on the slopes on December 31st before the ball dropped at midnight.

There are a few unique features of Le Massif de Charlevoix which make it unlike any other mountain I have skied before. First, the set-up of the resort is such that the main parking area and lodge are at the summit of the mountain, instead of the base. Once you park and grab your lift ticket, you can just ski right down the mountain and then hop on the gondola for a ride back up. Second, the St. Lawrence River runs right along the bottom edge of Le Massif, so you get gorgeous views of the ice-capped river as you ski down the mountain.

Mont Tremblant, Québec

Coincidentally, I headed back up to Canada for another ski trip a scant 2 weeks later. The NYE Québec City trip came together at the last minute, but I had actually made plans months before to go to Mont Tremblant with a group of girlfriends. Last year, we went to Montreal for a long weekend and took a day trip to Mont Tremblant. We decided that one day in sub-zero temps (seriously, the temp was -15°F) was just not enough. So, this year we decided to spend the weekend in the picture-perfect, brilliantly colored village. Ok, maybe the real reason for the extended stay was so that we didn’t have to leave the raucous après ski party at Le P’tit Caribou!

Stowe, Vermont

The weekend following Tremblant, I made the trek up to Stowe, Vermont over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend. Stowe is one of my favorite mountains on the East Coast. Even though it is on the Epic Pass (I have the Ikon Pass), I try to get up there at least once a season. We totally lucked out with a massive Nor’easter storm that brought in about 18” of fresh powder over the long weekend. We did not luck out with the temps though as the high was -1°F!

While in Stowe, I checked out a few of my favorite haunts, like The Bench and The Rusty Nail. I had been wanting to try Idletyme Brewing Company for a while and I finally made it on this trip. I was expecting it to be sort of a big, bare taproom. But it is actually a really chic restaurant inside and the food was mouth-wateringly good. I’ll definitely be going back next time I’m in Stowe!

Loon, New Hampshire

Next up on the skiing agenda was a girls’ trip to New Hampshire with my Mom, sister, aunt, and cousin. The others don’t ski but I snuck off early Saturday morning to make it in time for first chair at Loon Mountain. Even though the temperatures in Canada and Stowe were more frigid, I actually felt the bitter cold the most at Loon. I seriously thought I had frostbite on my toes. It took about 30 minutes sitting close to the fire for me to actually start to feel my feet again. I called it quits on the early side that day and met up with the fam for a late lunch!

Grandvalira, Andorra

Two weeks later I set off on my most anticipated trip of the season – skiing in Andorra! I know what you’re thinking – where the heck is Andorra?! Well, it is a tiny micro-nation in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe, tucked between Spain and France. I had heard of Andorra before but once I found out that you could ski there, it shot to the top of my bucket list!

This trip was filled with blue skies, sunshine, beautiful views, and champagne. Lots of champagne. Oh, and there was also some skiing mixed in there as well. =) Seriously, this trip ranks up there with one of the best I’ve taken to date. I’m now on a mission to spread the word about this beautiful country that hardly anyone outside of Europe has heard of. On second thought, maybe I should keep this secret to myself. But if you’re curious to know more, check out the detailed recaps I wrote about skiing at Grandvalira and spa-ing (is that a word?) in the capital city of Andorra la Vella.

Park City, Utah

Somehow I was lucky enough to squeeze in another big ski trip this winter – this time out West in Utah! Park City and the surrounding mountains have come to feel a bit like a second home to me. I think this was my 5^th or 6^th time there. Every time I fall more and more in love with the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountain range.

Arriving at the SLC airport is a scene like no other. It is overtaken in equal measure by ski bums lugging their equipment and Mormons gathered to welcome their loved ones home from a mission! It is quite the dichotomy. My first trip to Utah in 2008 was my longest. I was there for 10 days, skied 8 of them, but took a 1-day break in the middle. This recent trip was only 8 days long but I skied 7 consecutive days of fresh powder, at 5 different mountains!

You can really make the most of the Ikon pass in Utah since there are 5 nearby mountains on the pass. These include Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, as well as Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon. These 4 mountains are about 45 minutes from Park City. The 5^th mountain on the Ikon Pass is Deer Valley Resort, which is right in the heart of Park City. I skied 4 of the 5 mountains on this trip (I didn’t make it to Solitude). I also forked over some cash for a day pass to Park City Mountain Resort (aka The Canyons) to ski one day with some friends who have the Epic Pass. My legs definitely needed a break by the 7th day of skiing in a row!

Snowbird

Alta

Brighton

Deer Valley

The Canyons

Sunday River, Maine

To finish off the season, some friends and I headed up to Sunday River in Maine. They throw a Spring Fest/Parrothead Festival the first weekend in April every year. The conditions were definitely on the slushy side, but that didn’t matter too much since we were eager to partake in the festivities. The resort sets up an outdoor stage with musicians performing throughout the afternoon. And there’s a Tiki Bar serving up classic Painkillers (à la Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the BVIs), nutmeg and all. To top it off, some of the girls I met on my trip to Andorra happened to be there, as well as a friend I met on my NYE trip to Le Massif in Québec! Things really came full circle this season.

So, that’s the round-up of my 2019 ski season adventures! I’ve already bought my Ikon Pass for next year and am daydreaming of a trip to Aspen, Taos, or Big Sky. And a repeat trip to Utah, of course. Although, I heard that Squaw Valley is open until July 7^th this season. So I might just have to take a trip to Tahoe in May or June to squeeze in one more ski-venture!

What’s your favorite memory from this ski season?

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The name Scituate is derived from the Wampanoag Native American word Satuit, meaning “cold brook,” and refers to the brook that runs into Scituate Harbor. Scituate was one of the earliest towns settled by English immigrants in America and was officially incorporated in 1636. That is ancient in terms of United States history!

My father has lived in Scituate since 1950* and my mother grew up only a few towns away; they still live in the same house I was raised in from the age of four (and before that we lived only a mile down the road!). Perhaps it is because of this continuity of home during my childhood, or the sheltered life I lived in the only hometown I ever knew, that I had a yearning to explore the far corners of this earth; however, as much as I love to travel, I am always excited to come back to the familiarity of home. And, there are two beacons of light standing at the ready to guide me back home…

…which brings me to the tale of two lighthouses. One of the characteristics that I think makes Scituate so special is that we have not one, but two picturesque lighthouses, and each has a storied past of its own.

Old Scituate Lighthouse

Old Scituate Lighthouse, or “Scituate Light,” was built on a peninsula of land jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, protecting Scituate Harbor. It was completed in 1811, making it the 11^th oldest lighthouse in the United States. It is perhaps best known for a story involving the first lighthouse keeper’s daughters, Rebecca and Abigail Bates, who warded off a British attack during the War of 1812.

As the story goes, British warships had been raiding New England coastal towns, so when the two Bates sisters saw a British Naval ship anchored in the harbor near Scituate Light, they knew they had to act quickly. There wasn’t time to warn the townspeople of the imminent attack so, instead, the sisters picked up their fife and drum and began playing as loudly as they could. The British mistook the 2-person band comprised of these courageous heroines for what they thought was the Scituate town militia and they hastily retreated. The Bates sisters have since come to be known in history books as “The Army of Two.”

In the present day, Scituate Light and its accompanying rock jetties are a place of serenity. It’s a popular spot for local fishermen to cast their lines; kids play on the smooth oversize stones that take the place of sand on the small beach; paddleboards glide by in the calm and protected waters; high schoolers sneak kisses on the jetty at night; nearly every weekend in the summer you will find a bridal party taking their wedding photos at this picturesque spot. I often go to the lighthouse point to sit at the end of the jetty, look out into the harbor and watch the sailboats go by, reflecting on how lucky I am to have grown up in this town.

Minot’s Ledge Light

Minot’s Ledge Light, also known simply as “Minot’s Light,” is situated (pun intended) about 1 mile off the coast of Scituate in the Atlantic Ocean. While the lighthouse technically belongs to the neighboring town of Cohasset, it has become an unmistakable landmark and symbol for the town of Scituate. Minot’s Ledge Light is named after George Minot, an 18th-century merchant from Boston, whose ship fell victim to the dangerous rock ledge prior to the construction of the lighthouse in 1847.

The lighthouse was first lit on January 1, 1850, but the famous light signal, for which Minot’s Light has come to be known, was implemented on May 1, 1894. In order for mariners to tell which light they are approaching, every lighthouse is given a unique “light characteristic” using different colors, frequencies, and patterns of light. Minot’s Light was randomly assigned the flash pattern of 1-4-3 (a single flash followed by an interval of three seconds, then four flashes separated by one second, then another interval of three seconds of darkness followed by three flashes), which coincidentally corresponds to the numerical count of the letters in the phrase “I Love You.” Thus, Minot’s Light has affectionately become known as “Lover’s Light.”

Minot’s Light was romanticized in Helen Keller’s imagination as she passed by the lighthouse en route to Boston in 1901:

How delightful it was to see Minot’s Ledge in the morning light. There one expects to see the ocean lashed into fury by the splendid resistance of the rocks; but as we passed, the ‘light’ seemed to rise out of the tranquil water, like Venus from her morning bath. It seemed so near, I thought I could touch it; but I am rather glad I did not; for perhaps the lovely illusion would have been destroyed had I examined it more closely.

Helen Keller

So, there you have the tale of two lighthouses! I certainly am proud of the history of my hometown and its lighthouses.

What do you love most about your hometown?

*Post-Script added on June 16, 2019:

I published my first blog post about the hometown I love so much on October 15, 2018, one day after my father’s 70th birthday. I was at my parents’ house in Scituate on Sunday, October 14th to celebrate this milestone birthday with my father and I excitedly showed him the draft of the post I had written about his home for the past 68 years. He was not well at the time and I watched him slowly move his head from left to right while diligently reading each line of the post. With his approval and blessing obtained, I published the “Tale of Two Lighthouses” post the following day, thus beginning this blog. 

After singing happy birthday to my father with a candle stuck in a cup of his favorite maple walnut ice cream, I hugged him extra tight, looked him in the eyes and told him I love him, and then made my way back to Boston. I had an uneasy feeling leaving him that night, and it turned out to be the last time my father and I saw and spoke to each other. Following his passing, I wrote a different homage to him, and I share it here on the first of many Father’s Days without him:

I have always stated with pride that I am “Jim Grip’s daughter,” because, without fail, each person I encounter has told me what a great man he is and has regaled me with some story of how he positively impacted their life. I proudly boast on behalf of my Dad (because he NEVER would) that he was the first All-American hockey player in Norwich University’s school history, an inductee into the Norwich Athletics Hall of Fame, and was just shy of making the 1972 Olympic hockey team.

(Update: My mother, sister, and I were invited to take part in the 20th Annual Allen Doyle Golf Classic [Allen Doyle is a former pro golfer who was one of my Dad’s best friends from college] in August. We were completely surprised when it was announced during the golf tournament dinner that the Norwich men’s hockey team’s annual most valuable player award will be renamed in honor of my Dad starting this season.)

I’ve also always been proud of the fact that my Dad is one of the longest-running members of Hatherly Country Club, having been a member since 1956, with his childhood home bordering the 16th hole. My Dad was at one point a scratch golfer, but he took more pride in running the Junior Golf program at our club for years and teaching my sister and me everything we know about the game. He is one of only a handful of people in the club’s history to have a trophy named after him, which has been awarded annually for decades to the most dedicated junior boy golfer who embodies the true spirit of golf.

He counts Olympians, pro athletes, 4-star generals, and CEOs among his good friends, but truly could have cared less about titles or celebrity; he treated these friends the same way he did his friends who are barbers, or electricians, or firemen. He had a way of making everyone feel like they were his best friend.

My Dad was a simple man who wanted for nothing. Material items had no value to him. He had no ego. He played golf for the game, not for the status that is sometimes associated with private clubs. He was a meat and potatoes type of guy who hated “frou-frou” beer (i.e., craft beer) and would jokingly ask waiters to bring him their “finest bottle of Budweiser,” which he exclusively called “Bud Heavy” once he learned that term. His go-to dance move was the chicken dance. Once he finally got a cell phone (he held out for as long as he could) and learned how to text, he would often include random emojis, like a penguin or a cat, for no particular reason. A life-long and proud resident of Scituate, he would consistently make the same comment on family trips to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, and even Ireland, that their harbors looked just like Scituate so why did we even leave home in the first place! (Side Note: I clearly did NOT get my love of traveling from my Dad!)

My Dad worked out of his office in our home but nevertheless had a daily commute that involved first stopping at Mary Lou’s News for his coffee, then onto the post office to check the mail, followed by a drive around the ocean on his way to our golf club to chat with his buddies as they teed off, followed by a stop in the harbor to feed the ducks, and ultimately back home to start his workday.

His flexible work schedule afforded him the opportunity to come to every one of my high school field hockey, basketball, and softball games; he was affectionately nicknamed “Jimbo” by my teammates and was universally acknowledged as our #1 fan. He tirelessly hit fly balls to me in the front yard until I caught 100 in a row (my benchmark, not his). And he and my Mom were the only fans crazy enough (in a good, supportive way) to come to my intramural college hockey game which started at midnight.

My Dad spoiled me with head scratches and by always having a cup of hot tea waiting for me on my bedroom bureau when I woke up each morning before school, yet shaped me into the independent woman I have become by billing me for ¼ of every family meal once I reached adulthood (yes, seriously).

He derived satisfaction from a freshly mowed lawn and a roaring fire in our living room fireplace. He sent me pictures of sunrises and instilled in me an appreciation for a beautiful sunset. It is only fitting that he waited until just after the sun had set on December 4th to pass on.

Dad, you were one-of-a-kind, a caring and devoted husband and father, and a true friend. You will be heart-achingly missed. Love, (your favorite daughter) Laura

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