The national parks of the western United States are wondrous sights that have been part of America’s charm since before President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service in 1916. Many of these parks, particularly those in the southwest, seem like a surreal and alien landscape to be held in awe. Eroded by time, they stand as monolithic reminders of the Earth’s vast history. The ways in which the traveler can enjoy these parks are nearly endless. Bryce Canyon National Park is a perfect example of this scenic…

As I write this, my phone is sitting on the table near me, silently beckoning. It has a giant arsenal of ways to lure me, a thousand tentacles that hook into my subconscious and tug at my attention, poke at me, tear down my concentration. There are so many important reasons to pick it up: that email I’m waiting for, the weather forecast—will I need a jacket? How’s my bank balance holding up? Maybe better take a quick look at the news, to be prepared in case of another war or the next disaster. Almost any fact I want will be mine within a few clicks on Google.

Once I pick it up, it’s all too easy to yield to the temptation to take a quick…