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Of all the terrific national parks we have which ones are your favorites and why?
Any oldies out there? I remember back in the early sixties, before camping became popular, the National Parks were not crowded. Back then the kids at school asked what I was going to do for my summer vacation. I told them we're going to Montana to see Glacier National Park. The response was "Huh? What for?"
Outdoor equipment was almost non-existent. This was during the era of heavy canvas tents with no floors, heavy cotton sleeping bags which were still chilly in July, and cooking on a Coleman stove. But the places I've seen were spectacular and many great memories remain.
I've been to most parks out west except the ones in California. Where have you been?
I've been to quiet a few. I like a lot of them.
I've been to:
Big Bend NP
Guadalupe Mountains NP
Carlsbad Caverns NP
Grand Canyon NP
Yellowstone NP
Grand Tetons NP
Mesa Verde NP
Rocky Mountain NP
Everglades NP
Canyonlands NP
Arches NP
Great Sand Dunes NP
Petrified Forest NP
Bryce Canyon NP
Capitol Reef NP
Painted Desert NP
Dinosaur NP (I went when it was a monument though)
I've also been to various National Monuments... and I don't want to go to saguaro NP, cause I've already seen the cacus in the wild. In mexico they're everywhere, go south of Nogales and the drive you'll see some with 25 arms... or more or less...
My favorite was Grand Tetons and Rocky Mountain.
Tetons for the view, you literally have mountains out of the ground at a lakes edge. Mountains with snowy peaks, it was beautiful...
and Rocky Mountains for the Tundra it was cool to see these little flowers called 'forget-me-not'.
kudos to Everglades too, they take you on a tram ride and you will like 100% see gators, you can spot them while driving. You see Snakes and fish too.
Florida has some GREAT state parks, some with tons of gators, I like Manatee Springs, you can see manatees and they have this crystal clear (literally its so beautiful) swimming hole which the water is ALWAYS at 70 degrees. I was lucky enough to have the Manatees swim into the swimming hole, although everyone was demanded out of the water it was too cool. the water is really deep too... John Pennekamp and Bahia Honda deserve Mention too.
ANYWAYS
Yellowstone is cool too, they have this one geyser that is like a toilet hahahahaha
I think we've been to most of them. Yellowstone is probably my favorite--it's hard to beat the mud pots and that bizarre formation at the northern end of the park that looks like a hollywood set for one of the Busby Berkeley musicals.
I have very fond memories of Big Bend Park. Great rafting there, and if you ever go there, take the burro ride over to the tiny little town of Boquillas, Mexico.
We have a national park within walking distance of our house, so for that reason Great Falls National Park is one of my favorites. It's not a big park, but interesting in its own way. And absolutely free if you hike along the Potomac to get there--you gotta love a national park that gives city residents an incentive (free admission) to get some real exercise.
I'm watching a documentary on the Travel Channel as we speak about Yosemite National Park, and I'm astonished by its natural beauty. For as much as folks on this forum bash California for one reason or another, what other state has such diversity in terrain and natural surroundings? Only in CA could you enjoy the Sierra-Nevadas, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco Bay, Catalina Island, and various other beautiful sites.
I love Theodore Roosevelt national park in North Dakota! Its beautiful! The north Unit is the best part. its so peaceful and not many people around! there are Vast areas of flowers that overlook valleys with huge rivers running though it like a snake. its amazing! and there are really nice cacti there with flowers budding out of them! and buffalo roam through and wild horses, its such an amazing place! Other national parks that i really liked are Shenandoah NP, Grand teton NP, Bryce canyon NP, Arches NP, Glacier NP, and Mesa Verde NP
Glacier in Montana-loved the space and rugged outdoors, great for hiking, uncluttered by civilization, not hot.
Isle Royale in Michigan-spent two weeks there backpacking and hiking. I loved it and the ferry to and from was a great experience.
---I should preface that the parks in Arizona and Utah were great (Grand Canyon, etc) but I just don't like really hot days and they were going through a heat wave there that sent me running.
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