National Parks

The first National Park declared in the United States is Yellowstone, established in 1872 with the help of President Ulysses S. Grant.  It covers three states and is home to the famous Old Faithful geyser.  As I understand it, there are currently 58 National Parks (keep in mind there are other monuments, memorials, and numerous other areas of land the park service presides over along with these parks).  The most recent park, the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, was added to the list in 2004…so it’s 58 and counting.

Roughly 600 miles to the south and west is arguably the equally famous Grand Canyon.  This is one of the few National Parks I’ve had the luxury to visit and I can tell you that no photo or video could possibly do it justice.  I was only able to explore the South Rim, but when I go back intend to make a stop at the North Rim and take a mule ride down to the bottom.  While we were checking out the Grand Canyon, we decided to drive not too far away to see Zion.  There was some debate between my travel companion and myself as to whether Grand Canyon was more breath taking or Zion.  My advice….go to both, they’re close enough that if you don’t, you’re missing out.  Bryce Canyon is another short jog away but sadly we had a plane to catch so I have to slap my own wrist for missing out on that one.

Some of the other parks I’ve had the pleasure to visit are the Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Mammoth Cave, and the Everglades (Yes, you can expect to see a full post on each of the National Parks I have visited at some point in the future).  I do hope that I eventually can say that I at least stepped foot in each of the 58, but those that are at the top of my must visit list are Bryce Canyon, Yosemite….where the famous photographer Ansel Adams made a name for himself, Mount Rainier, Rocky Moutain, Hawaii Volcanoes, Denali, Acadia, Grand Teton, Virgin Islands, Petrified Forest, and Canyonlands.  Just a short list, right?

Here is a list of the 58 National Parks so you can create your own checklist: Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, Wind Cave, Mesa Verde, Glacier, Rocky Moutain, Hawaii Volcanoes, Haleakala, Lassen Volcanic, Denali, Acadia, Grand Canyon, Zion, Hot Springs, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Carlsbad Caverns, Isle Royale, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah, Olympic, Kings Canyon, Mammoth Cave, Big Bend, Everglades, Virgin Islands, Petrified Forest, Canyonlands, Guadalupe Mountains, Redwoods, North Cascades, Arches, Capitol Reef, Voyageurs, Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt, Channel Islands, Biscayne, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Wrangell-St. Elias, Great Basin, American Samoa, Dry Tortugas, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Saguaro, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Cuyahoga Valley, Congaree, Great Sand Dunes.

Entrance fees can vary between the parks, some are based per car load and others are based on the activities you plan to partake in, and still others are free year round.  Roughly 100 of the parks and facilities that do generally charge some sort of fee or admission will at various times throughout the year wave those fees (i.e. Veteran’s Day).  You will have to keep checking back to the National Parks website or do a search because I haven’t yet come across a list of dates and locations for 2010.