There are few birds that are more iconic than the snowy owl. With its round head and plump white body, these efficient predators stay well camouflaged when cloaked against the frozen backdrop of their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Some of the owls choose to stay near their breeding grounds year-round, while others migrate south into parts of Canada and the US. The frosty feathered friend pictured above chose a sandy beach at Assateague Island National Seashore to spend part of its winter. Beginning in April and into May, these owls will begin their journey north and back to the frozen tundra to create the next generation of “snowies.”

Have you been lucky enough to see one of these rare visitors from the north? Pic by Earl Blansfield (Sharetheexperience.com)

Let’s start the week with an Atlantic sunrise above the sandy beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina. A trip here is a memorable experience, no matter your activity level. You can enjoy walking along the nearly 70 miles of beach, sitting around the crackle and warmth of a beach fire in the evening, flying kites in the warm summer breezes, picnicking with your favorite food, searching for shells washed ashore, sculpting sand into works of art or just relaxing on the warm, golden sand. Photo by Eric Blankenship (www.sharetheexperience.org).

You’re so close to the holiday weekend!
Each year, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles like this one are released as part of a recovery program on Padre Island National Seashore in Texas. The seashore is part of the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world. The area provides vital habitat to turtles Photo by the Padre Island National Seashore Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery, National Park Service.

What a colorful wetland scene! Cumberland Island National Seashore is on the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both people and nature. Natives Americans, missionaries, enslaved African Americans and wealthy industrialists all walked here. Photo by Tone Watson (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Famous for its place in space travel history, Canaveral National Seashore in Florida has wonders that are much easier to experience than the walking on the Moon. As high-tech rockets soar into space, sea turtles – one of the oldest animals still living on Earth – nest on a nearby beach. Walking paths lead visitors by more than 1,000 species of plants as exotic birds fly overhead. Mosquito Lagoon harbors an amazing variety of fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp. We also recommend settling in the sand and watching the sunset. Photo by Phillip Lott (www.sharetheexperience.org).

With Labor Day behind us, beach season is drawing to a close. If you’re looking for one more sunset stroll on the sand, check out Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts. With over 44,000 acres of beaches, wetlands, forests and grasslands, there’s a lot to explore. Photo by
Marisa Geraghty (www.sharetheexperience.org).

It’s World Sea Turtle Day – a perfect chance to share this video of a baby sea turtle release. This release of Kemp’s ridley hatchings from Padre Island National Seashore in Texas is just one example of how the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are aiding the recovery of these magnificent animals. Sea turtles can live for decades and swim thousands of miles in their lifetimes. Kemp’s ridley are small, but leatherback turtles can weigh in at over 1,000 pounds. Video by National Park Service.

You don’t have to travel far and wide to experience the beauty of the world – sometimes it can be found not far from home. Located only 60 miles away from the hustle and bustle of New York City is the endless coastline of #FireIsland National Seashore. Containing New York state’s only wilderness area, Fire Island has much to offer including an 150+ year old lighthouse, a shipwreck from 1922 and almost 20,000 protected acres of marine and terrestrial habitat. Photo courtesy of Ian Barin.

A stroll through the Monterey cypress tunnel is one of many ways to enjoy serenity and scenery at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. From rocky headlands and sand beaches that seem to stretch forever to open grasslands and forested ridges, the park’s unique landscapes captivate visitors and provide a home for over 1,500 species of plants and animals. Photo courtesy of Brian Chan.

Assateague Island National Seashore protects sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays along a strip of barrier island that stretches across the Maryland and Virginia border. In this dynamic coastal environment, the island is continuously being reshaped by wind and water. Explore life on the edge of the sea by crabbing, clamming, kayaking, biking and camping – be sure to plan ahead, as campsites for the summer start filling up in March! Sunrise photo by Jake Breach (www.sharetheexperience.org).