| Are
the US National Parks Really Worth Seeing?
In a word.....YES. If you have a
lot of time to travel, whether at one time or over the span
of a year, the National Parks in the United States are
really worth the trip and a bargain if you buy the National
Parks Pass.
The National Parks Pass is available
at any National Park for a $50 fee and is good for one year
from month of purchase. It is accepted for entry into
all the National Parks in the United States - which makes it
a great deal, especially for those traveling to more than
one park.
Yosemite
NP
Yosemite is an amazing
place to visit because of it's extreme beauty. From
rocky cliffs to crystalline waterfalls, as well as it's
colorful trees and frontier history makes it a sure bet
everyone will find something to love. Located in
mid-California, about 4 hours southeast of Sacramento and 6
hours from San Francisco. This is a great place for
international travelers to visit, especially those with only
3 or 4 days to travel. I highly recommend seeing San
Francisco and then taking a trip to Yosemite. By doing
this, the extremes found all over America will be
experienced - a fascinating, bustling city close to
beautiful, untouched nature.
Yellowstone/Grand
Teton National Park
Yellowstone is the first
established national park in the world. It's located
in the northwestern part of Wyoming, bordering Montana and
Idaho. This park is truly a haven for wildlife.
This place is great with children for their education, for
their nature and also science study. Volcanic geysers,
like Old Faithful, and face to face contact with many
different kinds of wildlife, are a child's dream come truel
The Grand Teton's are located south of
Yellowstone and is the most majestic meeting place for the
continental divide, with it rugged mountain views.
It's difficult for international
travelers to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Teton's due to
their remote location, but for those determined to see the
diversity of America, it's a great destination.
Grand
Canyon NP
The Grand Canyon is
considered one of the 10 wonders of the world, and it's
enormity makes it hard to describe in words, and even
photographs don't do it justice. The mouth-dropping
views are awe-inspiring to those who visit the colossal
canyon.
The Canyon is so huge and deep the
mighty Colorado looks like a tiny creek in the bottom.
Visitors on the opposite side of the canyon are mere specks
in the distance. It is a definite "must-see"
among the U.S. National Parks!
Smoky
Mountains National Park
The name says it all.
These mountains appear to have smoke rising above them in
the early morning. This park is located in eastern
Tennessee and western North Carolina and is unlike the Rocky
Mountains or even the Grand Tetons, but commands attention
with a different more subtle beauty. This low
elevation range, is most beautiful in autumn when the
foilage changes color to give us spectacular fireworks in
nature.
You can also experience a culture
different from that of other parts of the United States.
For foreigners visiting Atlanta, GA the Smoky Mountains are
a 5 hours drive away, but will worth the trip, especially in
the autumn. During the summer a river rafting trip is
refreshing break from the heat.
Rocky
Mountains NP
Hmmm, they're rocky? No, really,
they are massive in their size and the distance they cover.
Located in Colorado, just outside Denver, the Rocky Mountain
National Park is a good drive up steep hills.
Since the elevation is so high, 12,000
to 14,000 feet above sea level, the road crossing through
the middle of the park is closed during fall/winter months
due to snow and ice. The summer months are the best
time to visit because even then, snow can be found on the
ground at the highest elevations. Experiencing the
incredible drive from one end of the park to the other is
something you just don't want to miss.
Arches/Canyonland
National Park
Both parks have interesting rock
formations cause by erosion, but the most famous of the two
is the Arches National Park. The infamous Landscape
Arch's future is uncertain as portions of it continue to
break apart.
For those fascinated by rock erosion
and desert beauty, this is a must see, especially since the
arch is on the verge of extinction. There are several
other arches visible in the park, but none more poignant
than the Landscape Arch.
Mesa
Verde NP
Experience ancient Native American
lifestyles and learn about their history in this incredibly
intact park. Ancient homes, building technology and
social structures are evidenced in their well-preserved
cliff dwellings.
Not for the faint at heart or those
afraid of heights, a trip down a ladder on the edge of a
cliff takes you to another world - that of the Anasazi
Indian. Great for sightseeing with older
children - they will love the breath-taking trail down the
cliffs.
Petrified
Forest National Park
The largest Petrified Forest in the
United States is found in Arizona right off Interstate 40.
This park is perfect for those with an interest in geology
and earth science. It's extremely easy to get to from
the interstate and is probably the most "walking
friendly" park to visit. Even very young children
or the elderly would have little to no problem navigating
this park.
Mt.
Rainier NP
A dormant volcano, Mt. Rainier is
found in the northwestern part of the United States in
Washington state (not D.C.). It is particularly
beautiful with the winter snow as a backdrop. It is about 4
hours from Seattle, WA - hometown of Starbucks Coffee!
Olympic
National Park
This park seems like it's a hidden
secret from the rest of the United States. Found on
the west side of Seattle, you take a twisting, winding road
that makes this park somewhat difficult to get to. One
you arrive, it feels pure and untouched due to the lack of
population surrounding it.
Another interesting feature of this
park is that it borders the Pacific Ocean in addition to
giving a view of the mountains. There is a lot of
natural beauty to see and is worth the long, winding trip to
get here.
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