Keen observers will note that our planned road trip to Colorado and Utah did not occur. This is because one of us (and it wasn't me this time) managed to fall and sustain an ankle injury. After our recent aborted attempt to reach Isle Royale National Park, not to mention our 2021 non-trip to Alaska, one might think that we are lost causes, at least in regard to our National Parks Quest. Au contraire!
Now, with the passing of a few weeks, Debbie has been recovering. So much so, that we're going to try again: we are ready for another try at a road trip. The problem is that now, we don't have nearly the amount of time we would need for a trip like the one we'd planned. What to do with the week we do have? Well, we can manage to visit a couple of closer National Parks, and possibly even swing into the deep South to see a Civil War Battlefield.
Please don't get me started on why the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a National Park. It could easily be considered a National Monument, National Historic Site, or National Cultural Site. But no, it's been granted full National Park status, and that, of course, necessitates a visit by Debbie and Dan. It's number 46 on our list.
Unfortunately, the weather isn't cooperating. We visit the museum and then take the tram/elevator/pod up to the top. But we can't see a darn thing out of the little tiny windows, due to the fog and rain. We do, however, witness a betrothal as a guy asked a young lady to marry him (she said yes). It would have been nice to walk around the grounds that border the Mississippi River, but it was just too rainy.
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| Rainy day below the Arch |
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| At the top (it was rainy up here too) |
It is pouring harder as we drive South out of St. Louis. Eventually, though, the weather clears and we enjoy the ride through Southern Missouri. It's a corner of Ozark country, and it's pretty neat. The scenery deteriorates as we continue through Arkansas, but then it's nice again as we approach Hot Springs.
Hot Springs National Park is the second smallest, after the Gateway Arch. It's also another unique one, since it is also adjacent to a small city. The park itself consists of Bathhouse Row (which is, you guessed it, a row of historic bathhouses), and some wooded areas in the surrounding hills.
We take the scenic drives around West Mountain and North Mountain, stopping for short walks along the way. We also take the elevator to the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower.
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| View of Bathhouse Row from the tower (notice the shadow) |
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| At the Gazebo just below the Tower |
Back to the Row. The N.P. Visitor Center is located in one of the bathhouses. We begin walking around inside, but we don't last long. There's a ranger talk beginning on the front porch. This turns out to be a highlight of the trip, as Ranger Lissa takes us for an informative walk and talk along the Grand Promenade that runs in back of the Row.
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| Bathhouse Row |
We top that off with beer, a pretzel, and buffalo cauliflower at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, where they make the beer directly from the hot springs' water. It ain't bad.
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| Superior Bathhouse Brewery |
The drive from Hot Springs to Vicksburg takes us through Louisiana and into Mississippi, states number 49 and 50 for us. We head directly into Vicksburg National Military Park. There's a lot to see and take in here. A whole lot.
The battle of Vicksburg went on for months but ultimately ended with victory for the forces of the Union Army, under Ulysses S. Grant. This came within a day or two of the Battle of Gettysburg, and it was at least as important. We make the drive through the extensive park area, stopping at all of the important points. It's all very beautiful, peaceful (now), quiet (now), stunning, and goose-pimpling.
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| On the bluffs above the Mississippi |
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| Union Cemetary within the Park |
We follow the park up with a drive through the historic city of Vicksburg. Too bad we don't have more time for the walking tours and historic home tours.
Only one final question: why were all these Civil War Battles fought in National Parks?
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