Travel with Rolando Chang Barrero

Travel with Rolando to Yosemite National Park Traveling America’s national parks during a government shutdown comes with unexpected challenges. In this AARP article, writer Molly Snow follows my journey as a cross-country RVer navigating limited park staffing, uncertainty on the road, and a memorable two-hour traffic standstill leaving Yosemite National Park — all with my loyal travel companion, Bella, by my side. Braving national parks with limited staff  By Molly Snow is a writer for AARP These days, cross-country RVer Rolando Chang Barrero, 63, and his four-legged sidekick, Bella, are rarely in one place for long. ​​That is, of course, unless the retired Florida art gallerist is stuck in traffic for two hours on the way out of  Yosemite National Park.  That was his recent experience after the  shutdown . ​  Continue reading...

Travel with Rolando to Mt. Rainier National Park Mount Rainier National Park Washington Experience Wildflower Meadows and Glacial Landscapes Around Mount Rainier.  By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review   Subscribe to YouTube     Support me at Patreon   Mount Rainier National Park: Experience Wildflower Meadows and Glacial Landscapes Around Mount Rainier Mount Rainier National Park has long been on my list, and even though much of the park was closed due to the 2025 government shutdown , Bella and I decided to go anyway. I’m so glad we did. Standing beneath the massive presence of Mount Rainier , with its snowfields, glaciers, and dramatic volcanic slopes, it was immediately clear that this landscape doesn’t need open facilities to make an impact. The topography alone tells the story —ancient, powerful, and impossibly beautiful. What struck me most was...

Zion National Park Utah Walk Among Towering Red Cliffs and Emerald Narrows in Utah’s Canyon Paradise. By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review Subscribe to YouTube     Support me at Patreon  Zion National Park has a way of wrapping you in its beauty the moment you arrive, and visiting during my birthday made the experience even more meaningful. Walking beneath towering red cliffs that rise straight from the canyon floor, I felt completely immersed in Utah’s canyon paradise. The contrast of rust-colored sandstone against pockets of green vegetation—and the promise of the emerald waters of the Virgin River and the Narrows deeper in the canyon —gave Zion a vibrancy unlike any other park. It’s a place where scale and serenity coexist beautifully. I kicked off my birthday celebration with a wonderfully delicious lunch at the Red Rock Grill , and it couldn’t have been mo...

Yosemite National Park California Experience Majestic Waterfalls, Granite Cliffs, and Iconic Valley Views. By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review Subscribe to YouTube      Su pport me at Patreon I didn’t arrive at Yosemite National Park feeling carefree or lighthearted. In fact, the timing couldn’t have been stranger. Just before heading out, with a government shutdown unfolding in real time, I was interviewed by AARP journalist Molly Snow about traveling during uncertainty — and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t rattle me. Driving toward Yosemite, I genuinely didn’t know what I’d find. Would the park be accessible? Would roads close? Would services be shut down? There was an edge to the journey — that quiet tension you feel when plans might unravel at any moment. I kept going anyway, because sometimes the road doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. And then...

Rockport State Park Washington A Quiet Gateway to the North Cascades Local Guide Review By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks and State Parks Subscribe to YouTube     Support me at Patreon Tucked away along State Route 20, just before the dramatic climb into the North Cascades, Rockport State Park is one of those places that doesn’t shout for attention — it simply exists , quietly and confidently, waiting for travelers who appreciate subtle beauty and peaceful moments in nature. Visiting Rockport State Park felt like stepping into a pause between destinations. It’s the kind of park that invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and notice the details: the filtered light through towering old-growth trees, the scent of damp earth and cedar, and the soft crunch of leaves underfoot as you wander the trails. 🌿 A Forest That Feels Ancient and Alive The park is small compared to Washington’s larger, more famous parks, but what...

Gateway Arch National Park Missouri Visit the Iconic 630-Foot Arch That Symbolizes America’s Westward Expansi on. Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review Subscribe to YouTube     Support me at Patreon Visiting Gateway Arch National Park in downtown St. Louis, Missouri was genuinely exciting—especially after so many years of seeing this iconic structure only in books, photos, and documentaries. Standing before it in person, the scale and symbolism of the 630-foot stainless steel arch are truly impressive. It’s not just a landmark; it’s a powerful piece of American history rising from the heart of the city. Completed in 1965 , the Gateway Arch was designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and stands as the tallest monument in the United States . It commemorates America’s westward expansion , honoring pioneers, explorers, and the role St. Louis played as the “Gateway to the West” d...

Everglades National Park Florida Encounter Wildlife and Endless Wetlands in America’s Largest Subtropical Wilderness. By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review Everglades National Park: Encounter Wildlife and Endless Wetlands in America’s Largest Subtropical Wilderness As a Florida local , I’ve always known the Everglades were special—but it wasn’t until this visit, wandering the wetlands with Bella by my side, that I truly felt just how extraordinary Everglades National Park really is. This is not a place of quick overlooks or dramatic peaks. The Everglades reveal themselves slowly, quietly, and with a kind of raw honesty that stays with you long after you leave. A Landscape That Breathes The Everglades aren’t a swamp—they are a vast, living river of grass , stretching across southern Florida in a mosaic of sawgrass marshes, cypress prairies, mangrove forests, and wetlands t...

Congaree National Park South Carolina Walk Through One of America’s Last Old-Growth Floodplain Forests. By Rolando Chang Barrero Travel with Rolando and Adventures with Bella More National Parks Welcome to Travel with Rolando! Google local Guide Review Congaree National Park: Walk Through One of America’s Last Old-Growth Floodplain Forests Some places don’t just show you nature—they immerse you in it. Congaree National Park did exactly that for me, and the timing of our visit made it even more unforgettable. After a powerful storm swept through South Carolina, I explored the park with Bella and my friend Jose while the floodplain was alive with high water , reflections, and a deep, almost mystical stillness. It turned an already special place into an extraordinary experience. Entering a Living, Breathing Forest Congaree protects the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States , and the moment you step onto the elevated boardwalk trail , you feel it. To...