People who grow up with trees are very interesting to me, a person who grew up with no trees. I'm 17 years away from the plains and I still get claustrophobic in a forest. A sky you can see from horizon to horizon is what I'm used to. I lived in NM for a little while when I was young and the desert completely captivated me. The stark wildness of it matched so much of what I was feeling.
There’s a part of me that feels sad that Rocky Mountain National Park was only briefly mentioned but I acknowledge that is my bias as a Coloradan and having Estes basically in my backyard.
I listened to the episode a little later in the week and came to say I adored Sarah and Beth's comments feeling all things while visiting national parks. I read everyone else's comments and it is not at all surprising that Pantsuit Politics people are also national parks people! Maybe a future Pantsuit Politics retreat in a national park?
Excellent episode! I felt what Beth said about the trees, I definitely feel more deeply when I’m in the parks. Everything feels vast and beyond comprehension. I agree with Sarah it makes me sad when people say they aren’t parks people. I grew up in a family that was not outdoorsy so going to the parks felt outside my comfort zone but the first time I did it I fell in love. It’s where I feel most connected to America and most proud to be an American
Not Sarah coming in with a sneaky and swift dig at RBG being in Italy while she was supposedly working. Never change, Sarah. Anytime I see efigies to RBG, which are both frequent and often large in scale, I think of you and quietly roll my eyes. But I could talk for hours about the damage that has been done by treating humans, living or dead, as either invincible, flawless heroes or evil demons.
I’m glad you had a nice time visiting National Parks in the intermountain west! The NPS has lost 25% of its staff since Trump took office and more are expected to leave this year. Also, don’t sleep on the national monuments and historic sites. They are amazing too and teach us a lot about what it means to be an American. Wish I could have hung out with you in Santa Fe!
I feel like such a cynic asking this (and if it’s already been brought up my apologies) when we’re talking about the strategy around Iran there is a part of me that has to wonder if the plan is create such lasting chaos and an ongoing crisis and use it as a “reason” to cancel the midterms.
I think this administration will make conspiracy theorists of us all! I comfort myself that our elections are so decentralized and have been one area where even a lot of republican electeds draw a line and say "here and no further"
When you are ‘fasting’ because of lack of resources that is food insecurity and is a social determinant of health. It is linked to increase chronic disease. I’m sure MAHA will spin it as good for you, but from the rooftops I shout added stress because you can’t feed your self or your family is not good for you.
A plug for Sarah’s itineraries! We used her itinerary for our spring break trip to the mighty 5 in Utah last year and it was great! I wouldn’t have known where to start otherwise.
My current theory is that Trump and Vance still disagree strongly about Iran. Trump has 0 interest in diplomacy.
Trump refuses to be present for any negotiations or deeper discussions about what's next. He loves to be seen as the ultimate deal-maker... are we all really buying that he trusts Vance to negotiate for him? The only thing he wants to do is bomb and bomb until no one is left to fight back.
We did a southwest vacation back in 2018 and found some excellent state parks and national monuments! I ❤️ all parks. The state parks tend to be less crowded and much cheaper.
I am the least fit person you’d ever meet. I am more for the great indoors. However, one Christmas we left Texas and drove to Williams, AZ. We had an Airbnb outside town. We visited the Grand Canyon. It’s amazing. Breathtaking. I love the fact that if you are into roughing it out there, you can. But if you depend on your car being nearby and maybe a bench to sit and taking it in, you also can. Also, the dog we took with us became a Bark Ranger. I love the national park system. I haven’t visited many but I hope to get to some more.
I feel like the Petrified Forest flies under the radar as it is a hidden gem. It was the inspiration landscape for the original Cars movie. When we lived in Montana we would go to Yellowstone every summer and once we moved away I realized how I took it for granted. It was only about a 2.5 hour drive from our house.
There’s nothing like going to a national park to feel small, in a good way. We went to the Grand Canyon this past spring break. We did the mule rides and also hiked a little over a mile down the South Kaibab trail. It was awe inspiring.
I have cried in every national park I’ve ever visited. Nothing got me quite like coming through the tunnel in Yosemite into that beautiful valley.
Okay, you got me with the national parks! I grew up in the west, so visiting them was a rite of passage in childhood. But I have gotten away from it in recent years. Your tributes were so eloquent and thought-provoking, and tying it all to love of country and all the people really spoke to me. Thank you— I’m off to do some travel planning!
If anyone wants to try the second largest canyon, and my favorite canyon, Texas has it: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon
People who grow up with trees are very interesting to me, a person who grew up with no trees. I'm 17 years away from the plains and I still get claustrophobic in a forest. A sky you can see from horizon to horizon is what I'm used to. I lived in NM for a little while when I was young and the desert completely captivated me. The stark wildness of it matched so much of what I was feeling.
There’s a part of me that feels sad that Rocky Mountain National Park was only briefly mentioned but I acknowledge that is my bias as a Coloradan and having Estes basically in my backyard.
I listened to the episode a little later in the week and came to say I adored Sarah and Beth's comments feeling all things while visiting national parks. I read everyone else's comments and it is not at all surprising that Pantsuit Politics people are also national parks people! Maybe a future Pantsuit Politics retreat in a national park?
Sarah and Beth, have you gone to Joshua Tree yet?? I know you just went out west but it is SO cool. Wonderland of rocks be still my soul.
Excellent episode! I felt what Beth said about the trees, I definitely feel more deeply when I’m in the parks. Everything feels vast and beyond comprehension. I agree with Sarah it makes me sad when people say they aren’t parks people. I grew up in a family that was not outdoorsy so going to the parks felt outside my comfort zone but the first time I did it I fell in love. It’s where I feel most connected to America and most proud to be an American
Not Sarah coming in with a sneaky and swift dig at RBG being in Italy while she was supposedly working. Never change, Sarah. Anytime I see efigies to RBG, which are both frequent and often large in scale, I think of you and quietly roll my eyes. But I could talk for hours about the damage that has been done by treating humans, living or dead, as either invincible, flawless heroes or evil demons.
I’m glad you had a nice time visiting National Parks in the intermountain west! The NPS has lost 25% of its staff since Trump took office and more are expected to leave this year. Also, don’t sleep on the national monuments and historic sites. They are amazing too and teach us a lot about what it means to be an American. Wish I could have hung out with you in Santa Fe!
I feel like such a cynic asking this (and if it’s already been brought up my apologies) when we’re talking about the strategy around Iran there is a part of me that has to wonder if the plan is create such lasting chaos and an ongoing crisis and use it as a “reason” to cancel the midterms.
I think this administration will make conspiracy theorists of us all! I comfort myself that our elections are so decentralized and have been one area where even a lot of republican electeds draw a line and say "here and no further"
When you are ‘fasting’ because of lack of resources that is food insecurity and is a social determinant of health. It is linked to increase chronic disease. I’m sure MAHA will spin it as good for you, but from the rooftops I shout added stress because you can’t feed your self or your family is not good for you.
100%
A plug for Sarah’s itineraries! We used her itinerary for our spring break trip to the mighty 5 in Utah last year and it was great! I wouldn’t have known where to start otherwise.
My current theory is that Trump and Vance still disagree strongly about Iran. Trump has 0 interest in diplomacy.
Trump refuses to be present for any negotiations or deeper discussions about what's next. He loves to be seen as the ultimate deal-maker... are we all really buying that he trusts Vance to negotiate for him? The only thing he wants to do is bomb and bomb until no one is left to fight back.
We did a southwest vacation back in 2018 and found some excellent state parks and national monuments! I ❤️ all parks. The state parks tend to be less crowded and much cheaper.
Here's our 10 days for anyone interested: https://blogunta.blogspot.com/2018/06/southwest-vacation-wrap-up.html?m=1
I am the least fit person you’d ever meet. I am more for the great indoors. However, one Christmas we left Texas and drove to Williams, AZ. We had an Airbnb outside town. We visited the Grand Canyon. It’s amazing. Breathtaking. I love the fact that if you are into roughing it out there, you can. But if you depend on your car being nearby and maybe a bench to sit and taking it in, you also can. Also, the dog we took with us became a Bark Ranger. I love the national park system. I haven’t visited many but I hope to get to some more.
wait wait a Bark Ranger?!?! Omg that's the most adorable thing
I feel like the Petrified Forest flies under the radar as it is a hidden gem. It was the inspiration landscape for the original Cars movie. When we lived in Montana we would go to Yellowstone every summer and once we moved away I realized how I took it for granted. It was only about a 2.5 hour drive from our house.
We are going to Yosemite in June and I cannot wait!
There’s nothing like going to a national park to feel small, in a good way. We went to the Grand Canyon this past spring break. We did the mule rides and also hiked a little over a mile down the South Kaibab trail. It was awe inspiring.
I have cried in every national park I’ve ever visited. Nothing got me quite like coming through the tunnel in Yosemite into that beautiful valley.
Okay, you got me with the national parks! I grew up in the west, so visiting them was a rite of passage in childhood. But I have gotten away from it in recent years. Your tributes were so eloquent and thought-provoking, and tying it all to love of country and all the people really spoke to me. Thank you— I’m off to do some travel planning!