Visiting the National Parks--Where We've Been and Where I Long to Go "A to Z"

"Rocks at Tahoe" ©Mary Montague Sikes

After last year when I did a painting a day to create an animal alphabet, I was undecided about participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge 2014. Although I loved the 2013 work I produced which has already been in several art exhibitions, painting a new piece of art each day was time-consuming and difficult to keep up during a week-long art workshop I decided to take.

What to do this year?

Since I don't have enough small canvases stockpiled, I am unprepared to undertake another painting a day challenge. However, I may do a painting here and there throughout A to Z. For this year's theme, I've decided to go with National Parks, focusing on those we've visited and places where I long to go.

Many of the most beautiful parks that have attracted me seem to be located in the West. I love those places that offer photo opportunities in every direction like Tahoe in California which is a National Forest, not a Park. I started to wonder about the difference between National Parks and National Forests and found there is a big difference. National Parks are developed to protect the "natural and historic resources." They are operated under the Department of the Interior. The National Forests focus on preservation of many resources including a variety of commodities and services. They are under the Department of Agriculture. Hunting is allowed in the National Forests but not in the Parks.

I'm looking forward to the A to Z 2014 Blogging Challenge. Please stop by and take a look each day, starting on Tuesday.