I was 12 years old, returning to this country permanently, after years of an exile forced upon me due to my fathers career. I was blessed with new friends, when much to my disgruntled heart, I was forcefully taken on a 8 day hike in Glacier National Park.
My father, a borderline insane conservationist, gave me no choice. From this distance it can’t be disputed that it is was better I didn’t have a choice. Had I been allowed to whine myself out of the trip, by convincing my parents it would psychologically damage me to leave my new found friends, I never would have seen the sights that sooth the soul. Never would have become an avid hiker. The hike was breathtaking, even as a 12 year old I knew power when I saw it. My father, my uncle, my brother, three cousins, and myself saw no one for 8 days, though we saw remnants of people almost every day. It was not easy for a 12 year old. I was the youngest cousin on the hike, but by the 3rd or 4th day I felt the enormity of what was out there. I felt small, yet all the more powerful because of it.
Give your kids some power, take them on a hike in a National Park. There are 400 of them, from Gettysburg to Biscayne, Denali to Acadia. Not all require you to be in Olympic training shape.
Premiering tonight on public telly, Kens Burns, The National Parks: America’s best Idea.
The only country with national parks, though not the only country with protected lands, this film is much of the how and the wherefore of how our National Park System began, who was responsible, and why those responsible felt the way they did. It’s also a reminder of why we need to keep them. It’s presented in a series, took eons to make, and is available on DVD. If you can pull yourself away from crap telly for a few weeks, this is the place to be. I am looking forward to this series, will most likely end up purchasing it. So very few things worth owning these days. Yes?
Reading in what was last weeks Sunday supplement, Burns listed 10 must parks. Denali, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Grand Canyon, the Everglades, and Glacier National Park, and The Grand Canyon. There are many lists of the top ten, lists of the best ten no one ever goes to and so on and so forth.
How many of our 400 national parks, from the list presented here, have you been to? Which are you favorites?
Living in Utah, and having a love of astronomy, Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the last truly dark-sky sites left in the continental U.S. The night sky is breathtaking from the park, and many of the rangers are schooled in astronomy. During the summer they hold regular “star parties”, and they are fabulous. The park is also stunning during the day, with lots of hiking trails and beautiful colored rock formations.
That sounds awesome.I’ve been to Snowbird and Park City to snowboard but that is all I’ve seen of Utah. The star parties sound fabulous.
Looking at the list I’m surrounded by two or three others states with tons of National Parks, many I’ve been to, but more I haven’t. The big ones I’ve been to include The Grand Canyon and Zion. But Gettysburg, Antietam, Haprers Ferry I’ve been to. Quite a few on that list of those close to here that I have yet to hit.
I’ve got some work to do.
We are inundated. Get on it.
I was just reading about the Rockelfellers’ role in the park system. That’s credit I’d as soon not give.
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I’m willing to give credit where credit is due.
Hey, I was watching that on the tube earlier tonite!
Although I’ve been to Gettysburg often enough to know it like the back of my hand, Acadia remains my fave. There is nothing quite like hiking up to Chamberlain early in the morning to watch the sun rise while the ocean plays naughtily below. Yes, Cadilac is the official place to watch the sun rise but there are too many people yapping away at 5 am for the experience to be enjoyable.
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I’ve only been there once. I really like Yosemite, but there are a lot of places on that list I’d like to spend some time. More time than I’ll ever have it seems.
I can strongly recommend this youth hostel near Gettysburg, where we stayed. It is in a lovely out-of-the-way, idyllical nature reserve. Most of the clientel are on hiking trips through the Appalachian mountains.
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI — Gardners – Gettysburg – 060064.en.htm
I live not all that far from Gettysburg really. I’m a pretty good youth hostel myself.
I’d love to go to Denali. I’ve seen a number of parks, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Everglades, Shenandoah Parkway, Assateague, I go there a lot, all those historic sites I grew up around in Maryland, the Volcano in Hawaii, different parts of the Appalachian trail.
Oh the GW parkway, lol can’t believe that is a park.
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It is pretty sometimes. It’s hard to tell when fighting the traffic though.
Funny my best friend just said she’s never been to a national park and wants to go – I don’t think she realized The Applachian trail is and a beach in NY also. And I’m planning on doing a post on how my niece grew up this summer by learning and/or practicing new skills in many national parks
I always think my favorite should be the Grand Canyon because it is grand but I love Yosemite the most. Just thinking about it brings back the smells
On your comments off post – have wanted to say this – if Polanski had done what he did the week after his wife was killed I might have some sympathy for him but…coincidentally the woman who actually killed Tate and her baby died this past week. During her parole hearings I found myself not caring about all the “great” things she did in prison, and I have no empathy for people who find God in prison. I’m always surprised at the depths of my feelings. I assume I would be the kind of person who believes in redemption– and I never am for murderers or abusers – so it was kind of a full circle week
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Yea I don’t really fall for that I found Jesus BS. Whatever gets you thrugh the night I guess.
Yea really, I live among probably fifty places called National parks( most of them civil war related) including as G pointed out the GW parkway. The C and O canal towpath I run is a national park for goodness sake. I am the national park queen. Your friend probably is too, she just doesn’t know it.
Oh I loved the little look into Little Cooper’s life. Where you ever young?
pia´s last blog ..My boot camp needs a brand; no my blog needs branding; no I’m going to be my own brand
I was young last year. It’s gone.
I went to “Badlands” and “Wind Caves when I was very young. Yosemite is my favorite, never been to Yellowstone.
I have always wanted to do Death Valley. Maybe one of these days.
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On the comment off post above. I don’t know much about Polanski, haven’t heard the story until now, but if that were anyone else there’d be no question that sucker’d be in jail right now.
The judged misconduct was at fault. I’m not sure who cares anymore, but my god he was 40 years old and he gave Qualudes to a 13 year old?? And then had sex with her?
john´s last blog ..Problematic
icky I know.
on the comments off post
Hey, I agree on Polanski. I wasn’t around during the murder of his wife and all, but there is no excuse for having sex with a drugged and dazed 13 year old. It’s a wonder how people in the industry seem so willing to forgive him for what they call “his amazing talent”.
— — - National Parks
I’ve been to a few of them. I’ve taken my son to a lot of the local parks, MD., PA., VA, W.VA.
He loves Assateague National Seashore and The Shenandoah Parkway, and Gettysburg.
I’m thinking next summer might be a good time to do either Acadia, OR The Smokey Mountains, saving Yosemite and The Grand Canyon, until he is older. I hear there are some golf courses in the Smokey Mountains.
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Your kid will thank you for sure.
Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier and Crater Lake are nice if you haven’t been.
Denali is worth the trip if you’re into that kind of thing. I worked in Alaska during graduate school, for work on Climate, Tectonics and Landscape Evolution — too many years ago to count. Everything there is huge, but it’s beautiful. Not for the weak of heart or body but wonderful nonetheless.
Denali is on my list. I haven’t been to the others either. If one could do nothing but that, wouldn’t life be grand?
I used to think Petrified Forest was the best thing around. My Grandparents are from Arizona, I spent winter vacations there. I think I’ve been to most parks there. I still love all of Arizona’s parks.
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I have always wanted to see the petrified forest.
none in the US Cooper..
but plenty here in OZ..
my favourite
Cape Byron Lighthouse at Byron Bay
… most easterly point of Australia .. rugged headland… rainforest… gullies and subtropical waters… great spot for watching turtles…dolphins and humpback whales on their annual migration..
.. magnificent cliff-top walking track and panoramic views of the ocean and north coast hinterland…
lived their for 6 months…would go back again…especially for new year
A surfers Paradise. I love it.
I’ve only ever been to Acadia. It was gorgeous though.
I was actually watching the first season of the West Wing last night and I loved the episode where Bartlett just won’t shut up about how much he loves the National Parks.
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ha ha, I knew you had posted something as you never show up unless you have.
Acadia is awesome though I have been there not nearly enough. There is not time in the world to go everywhere we should so we each find our own peace, somewhere.
Guilty as charged, I’m afraid. The thing is, I only wind up checking up on blogs when I’ve posted. I’d break this habit, but it’d be better for me if I just started writing more.