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Teddy Bear Leads Kids to the National Parks

No electronics, just an old-fashioned book that sparks youngsters' imaginations, is the driving force behind Tedrick de Bear's travels across the national park system. Teddy's Travels, America's National Parks ($19.95, TdB Press), is an award-winning book by Trefoni Michael Rizzi that teaches kids a little something about the parks while they're enjoying them.

Launched just about a year ago, the book built around Tedrick de Bear approaches visits to national parks much as an 8-year-old might.

My favorites pictures are the ones of ME in front of the signs at the main entrance to each park. They help me remember which parks I visited. I ALWAYS make sure we stop at the Visitor Center to get my National Park stamp, and I write in my journal, too. That way, I won't forget all the great things we did on our 'Venture.

Throughout the book Teddy talks about things to do in the parks, such as campfire talks, hikes, and tours, and even provides some helpful advice, such as, Don't feed the bears! and take care to protect the parks.

Whenever I go to a National Park or Monument, it's important to remember that I am a visitor. We need to respect our parks, and take care of them for the future.

Teddy's book also is crammed with activities. There's room for journal entries, to paste postcards purchased at the parks, even space to leave a National Park Passport cancellation so your kids will know exactly when they visited a particular park.

This book is designed tough to stand up to the rigors of going on the road and intended for kids to read as they tour the parks. As Teddy leads youngsters around the various regions of the park system, he talks about a handful of the parks, monuments, and historic sites in each and asks questions about the sites to get youngsters to exercise their brains a bit.

But the book isn't the only part of the package. There's a website where kids can read Teddy's blog, and if they join Teddy's CubClub they'll receive a quarterly email newsletter.

This creative book, which recently won Silver Medals in the Book of the Year competition from both Foreword Magazine and the Independent Book Publisher's Association, not only is a great introduction to the parks for kids, but can turn into a keepsake thanks to the activities it offers and stores on its pages.

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The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.