May 8, 2005
# 4
THIS AND THAT ABOUT HERE AND THERE

America’s National Parks are not just the great outdoors, they’re the greatest outdoors. They are the wide open spaces and the wild places, where generations of Americans escape to marvel amid the Earth’s most wonderful playground of caves, caverns and canyons; of dry desert hills that stretch as far as the eye can see and geysers and waterfalls that conquer the air with water; of mountains, volcanoes and glaciers that make men look like ants and historic sites that remind us that some men become giants.

With 388 national park sites to choose from, picking one should be easy. At the tip of your travel tongue may be Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, but dig a little deeper and you will find many surprises. America's National Parks are more than just hiking trails into mountain valleys, campsites overlooking sweeping vistas and unparalleled chances to watch moose and elk run wild. Many are famous historical sites, battlefields and small parks with big-time scenery.

Whether you want a wild adventure or an historical quest, follow my helpful tips.

Follow Your Sense of Adventure
Choosing the park that’s right for you is as simple as choosing how you want to play, for the parks offer a nearly endless range of activities to explore and indulge.
In America’s National Parks, you can scale an active volcano in Hawaii; raft over class V rapids through magnificent gorges and valleys at Gauley River National Recreation Area; cap off a day on Alcatraz Island back at your hotel with a spa treatment before hitting the streets of San Francisco; embrace history by tracing footprints at Antietam National Battlefield or watching oil droplets bubble to the surface of Pearl Harbor above the USS Arizona Memorial; shine a solitary beacon of light into the dark depths of Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave; snorkel off the coast of Padre Island National Seashore; experience a mystifying sense of neighborly warmth around the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site; or conquer the ice age by hiking along Glacier National.
No matter which park you choose, you will find many options and many delights, so keep your mind open to the possibilities and your soul open to the experiences.  Here are some “ off the beaten path” parks to consider.

Nez Perce National Historical Park (Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana)
These 38 sites in the valleys, prairies, mountains and plateaus of the inland northwest honor the history of the Nez Perce people as they mixed with explorers, fur traders, missionaries, settlers, soldiers, gold miners and farmers. Several sites feature interpretive trails, and visitors will often see golden eagles, marmots, black bears and mule deer.

Isle Royale (Michigan, Minnesota)
You’ll escape crowds of people in these wild woods of the North, but encountering crowds of wolves, otters and moose is another thing. Roadless Isle Royale is a 45-mile long wilderness archipelago in the heart of Lake Superior, gloriously threaded with 165 miles of scenic hiking trails connecting historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, ancient copper mining sites and plenty of spots to observe wildlife.

Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland)
You will not see the President on Catoctin Mountain, for his nearby, well-known retreat, Camp David, is closed to the public. But you will see plenty of white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and woodpeckers among the beauty of this rolling forest. Camping and hiking dominate the minds of visitors here, with relaxation in resplendent nature the ultimate goal for presidents and common folk alike.

When to Go
Even though parks are open year round, I suggest you check with each individual park to confirm that it will be open to the public. The summer and winter months are generally the most popular times, depending upon when the scenery excels. To avoid the crowds, gain better access to the viewing areas and enjoy more time in leisure pursuits, travel during the spring and fall, as the rising and falling foliage will add to the splendor of the landscape.
Peak periods also follow school schedules, so avoid winter break, spring break and the summer holidays. Visiting during the week will garner you much more open spaces than weekends. That said, traveling during peak times, like most of us are forced to do, should never deter you from visiting, for the parks are well worth the trip 365 days a year.

Fun for the Whole Family? Children, Yes. Pets, No.
National Parks are perfect for kids. Most of the larger parks run Junior Ranger Programs, allowing kids to participate in fun activities while learning about the area’s natural habitat and historic significance. Other parks offer nature walks and wildlife talks specifically geared towards children, to show them that nature has more to offer than video games.
While kids thrive in the wide-open expanse of National Parks, pets do not. Simply put, the wilderness is not pet-friendly. Some hiking trails prohibit all pets, while others demand that they remained leashed. Bears, wolves and mountain lions prey on small animals and will be attracted to your trail or tent if you bring little Fifi along.

General Tips
The first thing you should always do upon arriving is stop in at the Visitors Centers. Inside, the friendly park rangers will have the latest information about safety hazards, closures, weather and wildlife notices.

Always stay on the trails when walking and hiking to protect both you from the wilderness and the wilderness from you.

Clean up after yourself. We all must do our part to preserve the parks, so that everyone can experience the wonders they have to offer for years to come.

Get out of your car. Too many people drive through the parks, stepping out here and there for a quick view. To truly experience the park, get out and find a hiking trail.

Save on park fees by getting a pass. A National Park Pass costs $50 and is good at all parks for one year. This will allow you to pass through the entrance gates more quickly and motivate you to visit more parks throughout the year.

With 388 National Parks to choose from, millions of Americans enjoy this privilege, while millions more are welcomed to explore.

And remember…Travel Agents like us will get you there easier than anyone else.