On a road trip with no rules, Danielle said,“Look! The sign says, Great Sand Dunes National Park. Should we go?” My daughter and I had no idea what to expect when we decided to visit. Row after row after row of sand dunes pile up against the mountains. The sand is too hot to touch with bare feet for much of the day; but a shallow, wide creek runs the entire length of the dunes. The puppies could not get enough of running in the creek. Fascinated by bubbles in the water; they chased and tried to bite them. At night, the porch of our cabin showed a sky more full of stars than I had ever seen.

Sand dunes climb to sky

Cool creek refreshes spirit

Soft blanket of stars