News this week was that a survey of Americans on their 2009 vacation plans showed that two-thirds consider a national park visit to be their "dream" vacation.
So tell us, what's your dream national park vacation?
Is it a climb to the top of Grand Teton National Park or perhaps to the top of Mount Rainier National Park? Would it revolve around a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park or Valley Forge National Historical Park?
Do you want to see Old Faithful erupt under a full moon at Yellowstone National Park, tour Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, or dive on the coral reefs in Virgin Islands National Park?
So many parks, so many options. Tell us, what would your dream park vacation?
Comments
A dream vacation:
When I was much younger my family would take summer trips to Yellowstone NP. This was back in the days when feeding bears along the sides of the road was allowed. We have many family photos with bears pocking their heads through the window of the car to see what we had to offer. Now the bears have been moved away from people for both the bears and tourists betterment. I remember my first sight of the Old Faithful Lodge with that huge fireplace blazing away. The smell of the gift shop and that little black stuffed bear I got. That's my dream vacation with family.
The new Yellowstone has been turned over to foreign companies to run the park for a profit. Turning over the parks to vendors was the death of our first and greatest national park. I'm sorry to say that I will not be able to take my grand kids to my favorite national park because it is gone.
National Park of American Samoa would be a cool trip...beaches, South Pacific coral reefs, Samoan hospitality....
Mine would be to take a driving journey through the Rocky Mountains & adjacent parks. I would begin at Mesa Verde (or one could start at Grand Canyon and include Monument Valley) then go through Canyonlands and Arches. Then I would go through Colorado National Monument then up to Dinosaur National Monument. From there I would travel US 40 to Colorado 14 and over Cameron Pass then down into Estes Park and into and through Rocky Mountain National Park. From the Western Side of Rocky Mountain, I would go up to Grand Teton through Dubois. After spending time also in Jackson WY, I would go up to Yellowstone (spending at least 5 days there) and then up to Glacier/Waterton. One could also continue north to the Baniff/Lake Louise area. To do this trip justice, it would require at least a month and you would usually need several days at most parks. However, you would see some of the most beautiful scenery and diversity (as well as a plethora of animals - raptors [Bald & Golden Eagles plus numerous Hawks & Owls), mammal preditors (Wolves, Grizzly and Black Bear, Coyotes, Fox, Badger, Marten among others) and ungulates (Mule and White Tail Deer, Elk, Pronghorn, Moose, Moutain Goat & Sheep and Bison) as well as many, many birds, and small animals) that the National Park System can provide in the Western US.