Some places are not as they first appear. Great Sand Dunes and the surrounding San Luis Valley and Sangre de Cristo mountains will puzzle and challenge with hidden visual feats.

The Junior Ranger program is in almost every National Park. It helps rangers and volunteers interpret ecological resources in a fun, kid-friendly way. I got a firsthand look at how the National Park Service creates young stewards of our protected lands.

The earth is not a static thing being acted upon; it is changing on its own all the time. After a week driving through the “Mighty Five,” I’m reminded that water, second only to time, is one of nature's most powerful forces.

I was fortunate to go on an eye-opening safari that filled me with deep respect for these wild animals. Many are critically endangered and I have renewed hope for ongoing wildlife conservation efforts.