1) Wildlife, whatever kind, as undisturbed as possible, just doing their thing.

2) Scenery, the wilder the better.

3) Learning stuff, whether from a prepared Ranger talk or just schmoozing with them (when they aren't busy keeping people from getting to close to the moose ;>)

Kirby, the ranger from Acadia that you mentioned, Lora, finally got a permanent position with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Sacramento. If you want more of her knowledge you'll have to travel out there!

Ranger Holly

Holly, that's good to hear about Lora, though USFWS's gain is certainly Acadia's loss. I hope all the rookie rangers out there took notes!

Owen, I didn't mean to imply I was disappointed in interpretive talks because they were lacking in any way. I just happen to be consumed with the collection of knowledge to the point that I've spent years, literally, reading everything I can get my hands on about the ecology and biogeography of a place before going there. My wife always says our trips are like the final exam for the six-credit course I've made out of studying where we're going to go. So while the talks are usually quite well done, I usually end up wishing I'd spent the time actually on the trail learning the real story you just can't find in a book. That's just me. I'd highly recommend that anyone that wanders past a ranger/naturalist/historian giving a talk, have a seat and lend an ear. That's your tax money well-spent.

1) Seeing wildlife and great scenery.
2) Getting lots of great pictures of that wildlife and scenery.

For me, it's fun and unique trails. Sure, the traditional climb to a peak or trail through a canyon is fun, but I like to be a bit more adventurous. What makes a visit great for me is a hike that involves rock scrambling, climbing and maybe even a rappel here or there. I'm talking about the Double O primitive trail in Arches, Old Rag in Shenandoah, Angel's Landing in Zion and any really any technical or non-technical canyon route in the Colorado Plateau.

Being a Ranger in training its great to see this topic and read everyone's post. This is pretty much the only website news related site that I look at everyday and can't ever get enough of it. I took a trip out to Utah back in August and found some things that I love the most about National Parks, Rangers that could not of been friendlier. The interpretive programs I went to were great and all the Rangers who led them took plenty of time afterwards to answer questions and chat a little. I know a lot of visitors don't even stop into visitor centers, but those that do might be getting the only interaction with a Ranger during there entire visit. A Ranger that tries to say Hey if they are just standing behind the desk or one that comes around the counter to explain something on a relief map has always been a like of mine. To those Rangers in Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, and Zion back in August, thanks for inspiring me more and helping me better experience and love Utah's National Parks!

P.S. Ed, I'm pretty sure what you saw in the Smokies was an Elk, not a Moose.

Any visit to any NPS area is the best experience -- EXCEPT for the time a couple of years ago when I ran headlong into the Bush/Cheney idea of "privatization." That summer I was appalled to find no rangers in the visitor center at Bryce Canyon. Instead, all the "privatized personnel" were wearing FORD MOTOR COMPANY T-shirts!

Man, I hope to goodness that's over now!

And, by the way, I do love the real, honest-to-gosh VIP volunteers. What wonderful people they all are. Back in the early 70's my five-year old daughter was one of the first VIPs when we were at Sunset Crater. She'd sit on a stool behind the desk proudly wearing her little VIP vest and would steer visitors toward the restrooms and then give them the full spiel about the drive through to Wupatki and all the trails they needed to hike. It was a lot of fun to watch how visitors would come in the front door, spot Jennifer and a real ranger standing at the desk and head straight for her. I had hired a blind seasonal that summer and she would lead Charlie through the campground as he walked around inviting campers to his evening program. Overflow crowds at our improvised campfire circle every night as Charlie read a Braille version of Helen Keller's essay, If I Had One Day To See, while color slides of beauty were on the screen. Many of our visitors left that program in tears as they sometimes did when Charlie led them on guided walks with either Jennifer or a visitor holding his arm and guiding him as he guided them on a walk that taught them to use their other senses.

Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away in some great memories.

I remember that non-profit group at Bryce Canyon sponsored by Ford Motor with a prominent logo on their uniforms. I once went on what I thought would be a ranger-led walk, but it was led by one of these non-profit workers with the sponsor logo right on the shirt. This is the best photo I can find. I wasn't deliberately trying to obscure her face, but it just turned out that way.

That sort of felt cheap. I frankly don't mind scheduled walks led by personnel from non-profits like the Yosemite Association that don't wear sponsor logos. Once I walked into the Yosemite Valley visitor center and all the people behind the counter were YA personnel. A lot of NPS sites and visitor centers are staffed at least part of the time by non-profit workers and volunteers.