Place: My National Park diary........

I agree with the million others that the National parks and monuments area the true jewels of the USA..visiting these wonderfully resourceful places is always a matter of excitement to me...each of them are so uniquely beautiful and enriching...

So, I have all of them in my bucket list..though its not quite feasible monetarily or time-wise, I will be glad if I could get a taste of a fraction of them...

It's my secret desire to visit as many US National parks as possible...so far its a humble 8 only, but definitely, the most significant ones...just going through the pictures clicked there infuse joy in me...let's take a look, for they are unparalleled treasures.....

  Grand Canyon...established in 1919.......

In the Ponderosa and Pinyon pine forest of the park...

On the Southern rim ....

The year 2013 has been great for us, in terms of visiting US national parks.....we had been to four amazing parks.....

In May, we landed in Lassen Nat'l park (CA)...established in 1916.......it was the end of spring and snow was still blanketing the earth...

In July, We went to Glacier Nat'l park (MT)....established in 1910.......summer was in full swing and myriad varieties of wildflowers and snow-thawed waterfalls mesmerized us...

                         

The same week, we headed towards the crowning jewel of National parks...yes, Yellowstone (MT and WY)....established in 1872.......wildflowers, rain, smoke...we were fortunate to witness everything...

The yellowstone river.........

In Thanksgiving holidays, we hit Sequoia Nat' park (CA), to spend some days with the tree  giants.....established in 1890.......

In 2014, Labors day weekend we visited Yosemite........established in 1890.......

In 2015 Spring break, Zion......established in 1919.......

and Bryce........established in 1928.........

I cherish the eyeful of inspiring landscapes, wildlife, fresh air and rejuvenation that I garnered from the trips....hope and wish, the coming year replicates this blessing.....

Place: Bountiful beauty of Glacier national Park...some reminisces...

'Big sky state' Montana... ethereal beauty of Glacier National park....such splendid is its beauty and abundant is its wildlife, you can't help not dwelling in the blissful moments...

Here I am sharing some of the snapshots from that land of serenity, tranquil lakes, snow-capped peaks, verdant greenery, cascading waterfalls, beautiful chalets tucked in the wilderness, wildlife...

View from Going-to-the sun road...

All you can utter is picturesque!

A stunning waterfall...

A famous glacier...Salamander...

Sunset accentuates the montane landscape..

Clement's peak topped with tinted-clouds

Another view of the Salamander glacier...

(On Santa Ana-driven hot, scorching days in San Diego,  cherishing these sublime, snowy landscapes give me solace).

It was July and the meadows were busting with myriad variety of wildflowers...lupine, columbine, monkey flower, fireweed, balsam root and  many more.. 

You can't help running among the flowers, pausing to inhale their fragrance and admiring their delicate beauty..

And taking stroll along the rivers was enjoyable..

Misty waterfall..........

And contemplating by the cascading waterfall was peace!!...

Indulging in the fun of perching on a log bridge on the rivulet and swinging legs...

And marveling at the towering mountains plastered with massive glaciers (also, feel sorry for the receding glaciers)...

One of the iconic chalet............

Another stunning one....

Abundant wildlife........
Mule deer........

Wild horse......

Columbian squirrel.......

Marmot.......

Bighorn sheep flock......

Mountain goat....

Swallow.....

Pine squirrel.....

I feel blessed to have got the opportunity taste a slice of this paradise....