Favorite national park?

Those of you who haven't been to Yellowstone since the 1988 fire should know that it's still a great park, but there are large areas that are less beautiful than they used to be. We went on a hike in one area that was stymied by downed dead trees.
 
Favorite? The one I'm in.

It used to be the one my older brother was stationed at - we got the best tours from him, got to see all the closed off areas, great stories, and we stayed at his house in comfortable beds - and got in for free. But he retired so no more.

Rocky Mountain is probably my favorite for sentimental reasons - we used to go up there every weekend when I was a child. I loved that place!

Wrangels up in AK is spectacular. I love the park system.
 
JoeDreaming said:
Acadia National Park is one of my favorites too.

In Yosemite National Park, Glacier Point has to be the most beautiful awe-inspiring spot on earth.

You can make a nice trip out of visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, along with Bryce and Zion National Parks - 3 canyons but each one is so different. South Rim of the Grand Canyon is also very different from the North Rim so you should visit both if you can (but probably not on the same trip).
Click to expand...

Actually, I visited them all on the same trip... flew into Vegas, rented a car and went north...

The most strange part of the trip was the North Rim.... it was CLOSED... I did not know it closed... but the gate was open so I just drove on in and took a look... there was one other car besides me.. we kept passing each other and waving... as we were the only two there...

I can't remember... but it was either 10 days, or maybe two full weeks...
 
most incredible views - Yosemite off season (if you're willing to hike to them)

best cycling - Death Valley (shoulder seasons), Smoky Mtn/Blue Ridge Parkway (shoulder seasons)
 
Twenty two NPs so far and fourteen of them where on our 42 day RV trip this summer! I am a big fan of Glacier but they are all so incredible and different. We are already talking about another trip like this past years again this summer. RVing at NPs and NMs is so much fun! Excellent info on many a wonderful trip had by forum members.
 
MuirWannabe said:
Travelover, do you have any site recommendations for Big Bend? Although I live in Dallas ironically enough I've never been to Big Bend. But we are planning on going next year (maybe around Spring Break) and renting a Class C RV to experience that lifestyle as well. I know very little about Big Bend but glad to hear you liked it.
Click to expand...

I recommend camping in the chisos basin but the cottonwood camp is nice too for RV's... remember though there is a reason they call it BIG Bend...
 
They are all gorgeous. I've been through most of them west of the Rockies. I'd have to say Yosemite is still tops. I agree on the comment about Glacier Point, but the view coming out of the tunnel into the valley is unsurpassed. It takes your breath away.

Other favorite places:
- Muir Woods (mentioned earlier)
- Yellowstone

In Canada, Banff/Jasper is also stunning.
 
I am posting this from a hotel in Zion National Park. We flew into Vegas on Friday and rented a car. We drove to Bryce Canyon and are working our way back to Vegas. It is beautiful here. I love being here off season when the crowds are few and reservations are not necessary.

I can not wait to retire and travel at a slower pace. There is so much to see and do.
 
travelover said:
When I was 20 yo I did one lap of America during a 6 month period, living out of an Econoline. I stopped at every National Park and Monument that I reasonably could. One of my favorites is Big Bend National Park in Texas. But they are all so beautiful and diverse, it is like trying to pick a favorite child.
Click to expand...

Ditto,

Free to canoe
 
heyduke said:
I recommend camping in the chisos basin but the cottonwood camp is nice too for RV's... remember though there is a reason they call it BIG Bend...
Click to expand...

okay heyduke. Guess I'm a little slow. What is your main point about the park being BIG? You warning me that there will be a lot of driving involved to get around. Please clarify. And thanks for the campground recommendation.
 
MuirWannabe said:
okay heyduke. Guess I'm a little slow. What is your main point about the park being BIG? You warning me that there will be a lot of driving involved to get around. Please clarify. And thanks for the campground recommendation.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest to you to look it up on Goggle maps or equivalent. It is a long way from anywhere, even if you consider El Paso "anywhere". :D And yes, you'll need to drive a bit once you get there, but that is also an advantage in that it combines mountain, river, and desert habitats all in one park.
 
I'm bumming...Yosemite is a now a NO GO this year.
dh2b has a huge inspection coming up in Sept and his boss just told him no big vacations this year until they pass it. :'(
So Plan B is now Cape Cod National Seashore on an extended weekend trip in the fall. :)
dh2b has never been there and is very excited to go see the ocean, eat fresh seafood, and fly kites at Race Point Beach. :D
I am thrilled to return to a very special place of memories from my childhood, 1st honeymoon and many adult birthdays.
Lemonade from lemons...:flowers:
 
I've explored the rocky mtns for much of my adult life. Last year (Feb) I took my first trip to Death Valley. It is now on the top of my NP to visit. It is so different and so HUGE. Of the Parks I've visited, there truely isn't a bad one as long as you can go slightly off season. But there are some gems of equal quality that are seldom visited among the National Monuments. And I'm not telling my favorites of those.
 
roger r said:
................ there truly isn't a bad one as long as you can go slightly off season.....................
Click to expand...

I'd add, also, as long as you get away from the parking areas. Even the most crowded parks are pretty empty once you hike 1/4 mile or more away from the big parking lots. Most people like to show up in their RV, lean against a railing, shoot a couple of pictures then tear off for the next lot.
 
CuppaJoe said:
Hey, I showed you mine.;)
Click to expand...

All right..all right.:cool:

Hovenweep N.M. is in a remote part of SW Colorado. It has some pretty neat Anasazi ruins, though nothing like Mesa Verde. There is a smallish camping area that has never been full when I've been there (maybe 6-8 times). A few hiking trails. And plenty of quiet and blue skies. No huge dramatic landscapes, just a cool place to relax and soak it in. But very hot in mid-summer.

So you can actually drive from there to another favorite in half a day. Natural Bridges in Utah. Another nice camping area, but slightly more crowded. I think there are about 25 camp sites. It has some of the largest natural bridges in the world that span the canyons there. You can hike done under the bridges as either a strenuous or moderate hike. And it's centrally located to explore almost countless ancient ruins and cultural sites on near-by federal land on the Colorado Plateau.

Now, since you are already in canyonland country, you can do another half day drive to Capitol Reef NP. It is probably one of the least crowded National Parks I've visited and very neat also.

Oh, if you really want some quiet, try Dinosaur National Monument. I actually think I've seen it documented as one of the quietest places in the US. The place is huge and has great overlooks of deeply carved canyons, some dinosauer stuff for the kids, white water rafting, and a large network of dirt roads you can bump around on or mtn bike.

So...don't tell anyone, OK.
 
My personal favorite is Assateague National Seashore. It's a short 15 minutes down the road from me. We go there when we go to the beach. I love seeing the ponies and all the other wildlife, and going offroad in the sand. I just found out yesterday they have River Otters out there, so I have something new to watch for on the kayak trips.

My mother lives in a small area on the Shenandoah River (South Fork) nestled in between the Shenandoah National Park and the Jefferson National Forest. When I go see her (and have a little spare time) I drive home via the Skyline Drive. A little out of the way, but oh so beautiful. Especially on weekdays, when the crowds are thinner. Just past prime leaf season now, but still a wonderful trip.

Also a big fan of the Appalachian Trail, a National Scenic Trail. In my life I've hiked all of it's length in VA and WV (all 4 miles lol), all of Maryland, and about 40 miles each in NC and PA. One of my retirement dreams is to through hike the whole trail (currently 2178 miles). It would take me about 6 months. I have a number of issues to resolve first, including getting in shape and not getting killed when I tell DW I'll see her in 6 months, and oh yeah, send me all these food packages. :LOL:

I'm planning to see most if not all of the NPs in my remaining years too. I can't think of a more rewarding bucket list item.
 
Favorite: Grand Tetons - camping at Jenny Lake campground and hiking up to Lake Solitude.
Soon-to-be-favorite: Glacier - seen the pictures and headed there next summer.
Close faves: Rockies, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Yellowstone.
 
My favorite National Monument is Cedar Breaks in Utah. The summer wildflowers there are beyond description.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0792.JPG
    IMG_0792.JPG
    54.1 KB · Views: 232
It's far off the beaten path in southern Utah, but Zion National Park is not to be missed:
 

Attachments

  • Zion Day 1 - view from the trail across the canyon.jpg
    Zion Day 1 - view from the trail across the canyon.jpg
    801 KB · Views: 5
Harley...I have to agree with you on incomparable beauty of both Assateague and the Skyline Drive. There was a program earlier this week on the National Geographic channel about the AT. They profiled various people hiking the 4 sections. One fellow was in his 70's(from HI) and he took 6 months to hike the entire trail from Georgia to Maine. I guess they recommend starting in Maine and going to GA due to the fact that Maine can get snow early and some of the trails there can close in the early fall.
 
Actually, most people start at Springer Mt in GA in early spring (March-April), so they can get to Maine before it gets too cold. I'd hate to have to finish my hike through the VA, NC, and GA in the hot part of the summer. :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Earl E Retyre
Washington State road trip
2 3
Replies
51
Views
2K
skyking1
skyking1
Earl E Retyre
yosemite national park
2
Replies
44
Views
1K
MC Rider
M
starry night
Let’s visit National Parks
2 3
Replies
55
Views
3K
iloveyoga
iloveyoga
iloveyoga
Hot Springs National Park - hike?
Replies
7
Views
378
iloveyoga
iloveyoga
aja8888
Favorite product jingle
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
Koolau
Koolau

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom