As we made our way out of the beautiful Rocky Mountain NP we traveled South through Boulder Colorado. Stopping only to pick up some Boulder beer brats and Portobellas for dinner. The further south we drove the warmer the temperature became. Soaring into the 100's and topping out around 104 degrees. We drove through some beautiful country and across some pretty flat land with scrub brush everywhere you looked. Finally we arrived at The Great Sand Dunes National Park! We set up camp at the Oasis campground just outside of the entrance to the park. The campground was not the best, however the view of the dunes was amazing and the hot shower and electricity made for a great stop. Mule deer were everywhere! I almost got run over by three of them on my way to the bathroom! We took the kids for a quick tour before sundown of the Great dunes. Ryan and Alexis were giddy with delight as they ran and jumped and rolled down the giant sand dunes. Prompting Ryan to claim that this was his "favorite National Park so far". They are like no others that I have ever seen. They are Huge! We walked for about a mile without our shoes and we were nowhere near the top. You would need to walk for almost a day to get up to the top!
The next day we got up early and went to the visitor center so Ryan and Lexi could become Junior Park Rangers and get their badges. We went back to the dunes to play a little more before we shoved of for The Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Driving up to The Black Canyon of the Gunnison provided incredible vistas everywhere you looked. The rock formations and colors were breathtaking. We arrived in the park with just enough time for the kids to investigate the visitors center, take a quick hike, and become Jr. Park Rangers. Their goal is to learn about all the parks we visit and collect a badge from each one to hang by their camper bed. They are learning alot and are truly respecting the nature and beauty they encounter.
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