The volcano reminds us that we can also grow from destruction. Just as a quiet mountain can suddenly erupt with molten lava to wipe out all forms of life and provide soil for new growth, a volcano symbolizes resilience, as life and fertile new beginnings can rise directly from total devastation.
Read moreMy Great American Road Trip: The Circle of Discovery
I ended up visiting Crater Lake National Park, the Oregon Caves National Monument, which features a cave system in the Siskiyou Mountains, and the Redwood forests along the northern California coast, which protect some of the tallest trees on Earth.
Read more