We love visiting the largest National Park outside of Alaska. Its rich history, diverse terrain and constant opportunity for fun exploring makes Death Valley one of our favorite escapes.

Almost instantly, we were greeted by wildflowers. Not a super bloom but super beautiful, none-the-less.



Since we entered the Park on a different road than in year's past, we had the chance to discover new things, including the Ashford Mill Ruins.
In January 1907, a man named Harold Ashford wandered into the Death Valley region and attracted by the gold strikes nearby. Harold and his brothers, Henry and Lewis, worked the mine off and on between 1910 and 1914, without good results. In November 1914, they leased the mine to B. W. McCausland and his son, Ross.
No one made their fortune here though the ruins of Ashford Mill remain and consist of the crumbling walls of a concrete office building, and the ruins of the mill itself. Not much is left of the mill, with the exception of the large concrete foundations and a very limited amount of debris. The ruins of the mill foundation and the office building are rather interesting, and according to local legend, are due to the fact that a double load of cement was shipped to the McCauslands when construction was in progress. Rather than send it back, which would have entailed further transportation expenses, the extra cement was used in the construction of the mill and office building, which largely accounts for their still standing today. Yes, history is everywhere!

We can never drive by Badwater and not pause for an explore. Where else can one linger at 282 feet below sea level? Answer: No where else!

Steve is pointing to a cliff with a sign indicating just where sea level is, from the desert floor. So cool.

Another must is a cruise through Artist's Drive. The green, blue and mauve colors at Artist's Palette are a result of weathering of volcanic rock and ash. This amazing path is a one-lane 9-mile scenic loop road and is one of the park’s most popular attractions.




Lunch was delicious Indian Tacos prepared by the Timbisha Tribe. Wow.


Part of why we are here this weekend is for the Dark Sky Festival. "Explore the park’s unique landscape and dark night skies that help us better understand the wonders beyond our world. This event is a collaboration between the park, Death Valley Natural History Association, NASA, and many other organizations." Tonight's Keynote speaker presented to a standing room only crowd. So very interesting.
"Join Michelle Thaller, Assistant Director for Science Communications at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, on an interplanetary park tour! We gather tonight in one of the most unique places on our planet: Death Valley National Park.  What we learn here about the forces of geology and the tenacity of life changes how we view the rest of our solar system.  What places beyond earth might be someday designated as “Interplanetary Parks?” Moons of Saturn have deserts made of organic dust, methane seas, and liquid water geysers hundreds of miles high.  What about the strange, disconnected mountains floating on the nitrogen glaciers of Pluto? Looking farther out, we find wonders like a nearby star that has seven earth-sized planets tucked in to an area much smaller than the orbit of Mercury.  Some places are more wondrous than any fiction, and it’s time to explore."

What a great day #1 in Death Valley.