tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16605256058492246982024-03-18T20:35:46.999-07:00All The ParksOn a Quest to Visit All of America's National Park UnitsJennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-59806137420071093812012-02-05T09:03:00.000-08:002012-02-05T09:03:30.676-08:00Gulf Islands National Seashore<br />
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<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Zach & Jackson<b><br />Date of Visit: </b>January 2012<br /><b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/guis">www.nps.gov/guis</a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Location: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Florida & Mississippi (although we just went to the Florida portion)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Entrance Fee: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">$8/car, good for 7 days</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Type of trip: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Day trip</span><br />
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<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>11</div>
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Recently, we headed over to Pensacola to attend a wedding of a high school friend. Although it's still in Florida (our home state), it's more than 300 miles from our home -- so we decided to make a weekend of it, and check out Gulf Islands National Seashore while we were visiting the area. </div>
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Gulf Islands National Seashore is the largest national seashore in the park system (who knew?) and protects parts of the natural barrier islands that form along the gulf coast of Florida and Mississippi. Unlike some National Parks, Gulf Islands has several distinct areas on many different islands. We visited the Fort Pickens, on the west end of Santa Rosa Island, as well as Fort Barrancas, which is in the Naval Air Station on the mainland part of Florida. We also drove through the Santa Rosa and Okaloosa areas, to the east of Pensacola Beach. The main visitor center, which we skipped on this trip, is located in the Naval Live Oaks area -- this area sounded intriguing, as it was one of the first federal tree areas in the United States, but unfortunately we ran out of time to visit. </div>
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We began our visit with a trip to Fort Pickens. The barrier islands of Florida were important from a defensive standpoint, as they block the entrance to Pensacola Bay. A trio of forts (Pickens, McRee and Barrancas) provided triangulated protection for this important shipping hub. During the Civil War, Ft. Pickens was defended by Union troops (and was one of only four forts in the south not to be captured by the Confederacy), while Confederate troops captured Ft. Barrancas over on the mainland. A battle broke out between the two forts in November 1861 which resulted in over 5000 shots/shells being fired into the forts, and ultimately led to the Confederacy withdrawing from Pensacola Bay.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson by one of the cannon in Ft. Pickens</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>Ft. Pickens is at the extreme western edge of Santa Rosa Island, about four miles from the entrance station to the National Seashore. Although much of Santa Rosa Island is developed, and has beach hotels, condos, restaurants and so on, by the time you drive the park road to Ft. Pickens, you are far, far away from all the commercialism. </div>
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The drive was particularly beautiful on this cold (50ish) winter morning, and I was not surprised to discover that there were not many other visitors in the park. The sand here is very fine and white, and in places it was drifting over the park road -- very closely resembling snow! We saw several RVs in the large campground (full of huge oak trees, it looks like this would be a great place to camp) but very few other people on the drive. We arrived at Ft. Pickens about half an hour before the visitor's center opened, so we grabbed a brochure and took the self-guided tour of the Fort.</div>
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The fort has been restored, but it was very interesting to walk through the battery and magazine areas (Jackson really enjoyed looking for and counting the semi-circle marks on the floor, used for turning cannon) and we even got to walk up on top of the fort walls and take a look out into the ocean. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the large guns at Fort Pickens</td></tr>
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Fort Pickens continued to be used after the Civil War -- in fact, it was not abandoned until after WWII, and concrete black-out batteries were installed in the early 20th century, so we took a look at that too.</div>
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By the time we completed our tour, the Visitor's Center had opened. Jackson was interested in completing the Junior Ranger activities, so we picked up a booklet. We spent a little time doing some of the activities in the booklet, and then headed over to the museum to watch the park video (a requirement for Jackson to complete his Junior Ranger badge). The museum is a short walk from the fort; the island sustained considerable damage from a hurricane a few years back, and so the current building is only temporary while repairs are completed on the permanent museum. The video was very interesting (a "push play when you're ready" type of thing) and told all about the natural life on the islands. Jackson was very intrigued by the information about the sea turtles.</div>
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To complete Jackson's Junior Ranger badge, we next had to head to the beach area to pick up 10 (or more) pieces of trash. Florida is well-known for its beaches, and although we have visited several beaches over the course of the last few years, this area has to be one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The sand is powdery-fine and white, and the water has a clear, emerald color; there are also seashells everywhere. The best part, however, is the lack of development in the area. Since it was a winter morning and quite chilly, we had the beach to ourselves.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson sitting on a piece of driftwood on the beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore</td></tr>
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Sadly, it did not take us long to find 10 pieces of trash (including a sock...gross), so we headed back to the ranger station at the fort where Jackson was sworn in as a Gulf Islands National Seashore Junior Ranger. He wore his badge proudly for the rest of the weekend. At this point, we had to head back to our hotel to get ready for the wedding.</div>
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The next day, we drove over to the Naval Air Station to take a look at Fort Barrancas. Before visiting the fort, however, we stopped at the Naval Air Station Museum -- which has nothing to do with the Park Service -- but I have to mention how impressive this museum was! It had planes and spacecraft and everything a war buff could enjoy...and it was completely free. Definitely worth a stop.</div>
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Fort Barrancas is a smaller site than Fort Pickens, but definitely worth a look. There is no fee to enter Fort Barrancas. Although the current fort has been restored, there has been a fort on this site since 1763, when the British built a log fort. A Spanish fort followed about 30 years later. From the top of the fort, you can clearly see the entrance to Pensacola Bay between Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key; this was obviously a strategic defensive location.</div>
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The current fort was built by slaves in the early part of the 19th century (and these men were craftsmen...it took millions of bricks, but only 65 men to build the entire masonry structure). We walked over the drawbridge and through all of the battery areas and even down the tunnel to the newer Water Battery. All in all, we spent only about 45 minutes at this fort. The park service does provided guided tours once a day, so if you time it right, that might be an even better way to learn about Fort Barrancas. There is also a small picnic area and small visitor's center/gift shop.</div>
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After our tour of Fort Barrancas, we had to point our car towards home. On the way home, we drove through the Santa Rosa and Okaloosa areas of the National Seashore. Although we didn't stop, I can definitely see how this area would be great for a day of beach-going, picnicking or looking for seashells. There were some places where the road was only about 50 feet from the emerald green water.</div>
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All in all, we really enjoyed our visit to Gulf Islands National Seashore. I've been to many beaches in Florida, and this was the one that really seemed to fit my image of what a "Florida beach" should look like. Campers would enjoy the campground and even hotel-goers can enjoy the seashore, as Pensacola Beach is only a few miles from the entrance to the National Seashore. I truly hope we are able to return one day and spend some more time on the beach....and maybe make it over to the Mississippi sections.</div>
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<br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-60282555722246436732011-02-28T09:40:00.000-08:002012-01-25T17:50:04.878-08:00Junior Ranger ProgramOne of the ways that we have gotten Jackson excited about visiting National Parks is by utilizing the Junior Ranger Program at several parks...and even from the comfort of our own living room!<br />
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<b>How it works in the Parks. </b>Almost all units of the National Park system have a Junior Ranger program; some even have different "levels" of Junior Ranger programs geared toward different age groups. Typically, completing the Junior Ranger program consists of going to a Visitor's Center and requesting an activity book. Junior Rangers-to-be complete several age-appropriate activities (like attending a ranger program or talk, hiking on a park trail, picking up trash, completing a word search, and so on) that focus on environmental, historical or wildlife topics. Some parks, like<a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/forkids/beajuniorranger.htm" target="_blank"> Yellowstone</a>, even offer "Junior Ranger Packs" including binoculars or a magnifying glass that a child or family can check out to help complete the activities. After completing the activities, children take the book back to a Visitor's Center where a ranger will review it and reward the child with a badge, certificate or button. At one park we visited, <a href="http://alltheparks.blogspot.com/2011/02/timucuan-ecological-historical-preserve.html" target="_blank">Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve</a>, Jackson even got to raise his hand and take an "oath of office" (he thought that was pretty cool). Back at home, we have a cork board in Jackson's room where all his pins and certificates are displayed. In addition, we have made it a habit to record his efforts and his thoughts about each park in his <a href="http://www.eparks.com/store/product/74118/Kids'-Passport%C2%AE-To-Your-National-Parks-Companion/" target="_blank">Kid's Passport Companion</a> (along with his stamps). Just to make it a little more "official," we even bought him a kid's version of a ranger hat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson hard at work at his "Ranger desk"</td></tr>
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<br /><b>How it works on the web. </b>The National Park Service also operates a nifty <a href="http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/" target="_blank">WebRanger</a> program, which allows kids and families to learn about the parks and park-related topics right from their living rooms. Kids (with a parent's help) can create an account, print an id badge, do activities at all different difficulty levels, customize their ranger desk, post photos they've taken in the parks and so on. Jackson loves going online with me to do "park ranger stuff." If a kid completes all the activities, he or she will receive a patch.</div>
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We have found the WebRanger and Junior Ranger programs to be a great way to keep Jackson engaged in learning about the units of the National Park system. He has really internalized it, and will now go out of his way to pick up and throw away trash he sees outside because, as he says, "I'm a Park Ranger, mama!" I'm one proud parent.<br /><br /></div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-61976210434333716802011-02-24T09:37:00.000-08:002011-03-08T07:01:12.923-08:00Yellowstone National Park<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Players:<span> </span></b>Jenny, Jake & Jackson<b><br />
Date of Visit:<span> </span></b>Most recently, June 2007 although I lived there for three months in 2005<br />
<b>Website:<span> </span></b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell">www.nps.gov/yell</a></div><b>Location:<span> </span></b>Wyoming<br />
<b>Entrance Fee:<span> </span></b>$25/car, good for 7 days at both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Type of trip:<span> </span></b>Several nights camping as part of Western US Road Trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available:<span> </span></b>24 (!!)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">In the documentary <i>The National Parks:<span> </span>America’s Best Idea</i> by Ken Burns, one of the featured speakers talks about how every family has one National Park that feels like “their” national park; for me, Yellowstone is “my” Park.<span> </span>Yellowstone was a park I visited with my family as a child; my father before me had visited with his parents as well.<span> </span>Yellowstone is directly responsible for the existence of my son (whose name Jackson Cody recalls the two Wyoming towns closest to the Park); I have lived within the boundaries of the Park and hiked hundreds of miles in the backcountry.<span> </span>I’ve seen the Park in the snow and in the heat, crowded in midsummer and nearly empty in early May; the Park has seen me joyous and sad, sick with fever and more alive than I’ve ever felt. I’m not a religious person, but if ever I’ve felt the presence of a higher power, it was here.<span> </span>I came to Yellowstone at a crossroads in my life, and found it sublimely healing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But enough of the existentialism! </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Yellowstone National Park sits in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, and spills over the border into Montana and Idaho.<span> </span>It is one of the largest National Park units in the lower 48 states, and was our first National Park.<span> </span>When people think of Yellowstone, they normally think of two things:<span> </span>wildlife and geysers.<span> </span>Yellowstone has both, in abundance.<span> </span>In Yellowstone, visitors can see an actual herd of bison, wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes, pronghorn, cutthroat trout, pelicans, pikas, bald eagles, elk, and many other examples of exciting wildlife.<span> </span>In addition, Yellowstone is home to more than 10,000 “thermal features:”<span> </span>geysers, fumaroles, mudpots, and hot springs that owe their existence to the volcano on which the Park sits.<span> </span>Either reason – wildlife or geysers – is enough to merit a visit to Yellowstone, and the park can keep you happily busy for as long as you let it.<span> </span>Due to its size, Yellowstone begs for an extended stay of a week or more.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are eight main visitor areas within Yellowstone, which I’ve outlined below.<span> </span>If I had only a day to spend in the Park, I would concentrate it in the Old Faithful Area; this is the most popular part of the park, and for good reason.<span> </span>My other favorite choice would be the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.<span> </span>However, I would strongly encourage all visitors who are able to get out of the car and do some hiking!<span> </span>Only a small percentage of Yellowstone’s visitors ever get more than half a mile from the main park road; even on the most crowded day in July, you can escape the hoards by getting out on a trail.<span> </span>Yellowstone has over 1000 miles of trail, of varying degrees of difficulty.<span> </span>Good ones for short-ish day hikes would include Bunsen Peak near Mammoth or Mt. Washburn north of the Canyon Area.<span> </span>The Grebe Lake trail, off the Norris-Canyon Road, is a mostly flat, 3-mile-long trail that takes you to the shores of Grebe Lake and the best rainbow trout I have ever eaten.<span> </span>The 5-mile-round-trip trail to Lone Star Geyser is paved and takes you to a large, interesting geyser just north of Old Faithful.<span> </span>Even a walk up Observation Point above Old Faithful itself will give you a different perspective on the park.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re looking for even more adventure, consider an overnight trip into the backcountry.<span> </span>Backcountry campers have to have a permit, and must stay in designated sites.<span> </span>If you aren’t picky about where you want to camp, you can show up 48 hours (or less) before you want to go backpacking and pick up a free permit.<span> </span>The rangers in the various Backcountry Offices can show you a map of your options and help you pick a site that will suit your ability and your desires.<span> </span>The best backcountry trip we did was the trip to the top of Electric Peak in the northwest corner of the park; we made this a two-night trip, but extremely fit people could do this trip in a really long day.<span> </span>I also really enjoyed the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone trip we did, as well as the Pebble Creek backpack.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I certainly have lots of ideas about the best things to do in Yellowstone, and have outlined many of them here.<span> </span>I have so many things I could suggest that it would be silly to try and list them all here <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>:)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some general things to keep in mind when visiting Yellowstone.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">1.<span> </span>You really need a car to visit Yellowstone.<span> </span>There is no public transportation to speak of.<span> </span>If you are flying to the area, rent a car.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoPlainText">2.<span> </span>Camping fees will range from $14/night -- $30/night depending on where you camp.<span> </span>Most of the campgrounds in the park have flush toilets, but only a few have showers.<span> </span>Xanterra-run campgrounds can be reserved, but the public campgrounds are first-come, first-served.<span> </span>As long as you arrive in the morning, not on a holiday weekend, you shouldn't have trouble snagging a site at the campground of your choice.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">3.<span> </span>Lodging fees will range greatly and depend on when you are coming to the park....reserve ahead for the best deals.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">4.<span> </span>Supplies (groceries, camping goods, etc) are expensive in the park.<span> </span>Stock up on your way in to avoid paying high prices.<span> </span>If you are coming through Cody, the Super WalMart is probably the best place to do this as the grocery stores in the border towns can be expensive.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">5.<span> </span>Park speed limits are 45 mph and strictly enforced due to the winding, narrow roads and the abundance of wildlife.<span> </span>Particularly after dark, please observe the speed limits (bison are not reflective and would put a rather large dent in your vehicle).</div><div class="MsoPlainText">6.<span> </span>Please pay attention to park regulations regarding approaching wildlife and the hot springs.<span> </span>Visitors who do not pay attention run the risk of ruining their vacation.<span> </span>A great book on this topic is entitled <i>Death in Yellowstone</i> and chronicles all of the ways people have perished in the Park since it’s founding.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Main Visitor Areas in Yellowstone</b></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Mammoth Area:</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Closest area to Gardiner, MT (literally just inside the border of the park)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Headquarters for the park and open year-round</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Lodging, dining and camping available (although the campground here is not great)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Gas station available year-round</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Definitely worth a day (or at least a few hours) to look around the interesting rock formations and terraces created by water and limestone.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Some good day hikes in this area</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Norris Area:</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Good public campground here (my favorite in the park)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- A few interesting hikes in the area</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Close to lots of other tourist areas (Mammoth, Old Faithful, Canyon)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Great display of thermal features (hot springs, geysers, etc) at the Norris Geyser Basin</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- No lodges, cabins or dining available in this area, although there are picnic areas available</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Museum of the National Park Ranger is here...small museum but interesting</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Madison Area:</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Xanterra-operated campground here (it's ok....)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Access to the river for fishing</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Good campground ranger programs here</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Old Faithful Area:</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Some of the best visitor services are here (lodging, dining, gas stations, gift shops, bookstores, general stores, huge new visitor's center)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- No camping in the immediate area</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Tons of short hikes/walks in the area</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Vast array of thermal features, including at least 5 geysers that are predictable -- you can catch them all erupting in one day if you time it right</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- The place I would go in the park if I had only one day</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Grant Village Area:</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Camping, lodging, dining, gas station available</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Near the lake</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Not much else very exciting about this area</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Lake Area (including Bridge Bay/Fishing Bridge)</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Camping, lodging, dining, gas station available....the campgrounds are Xanterra-run and ok (not great)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Marina available if you brought your own boat, or you can rent one or go out on a guided tour of the lake</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Lots of day hikes in the area</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Cooler here than lots of other places in the park due to elevation</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Canyon Area</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- See the grand canyon of the Yellowstone!</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Camping, lodging, dining, gas station available.<span> </span>I like the diner here and the campground is one of the only ones in the park with showers (you have to pay to use the showers though)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- The visitor's center here is great</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- My second choice for destination if you only have a day or two -- the canyon is not to be missed.<span> </span>You can walk the rim or take a trail down to the bottom.</div><div class="MsoPlainText">-You can take trail rides here (horses).</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><u>Roosevelt Area</u></div><div class="MsoPlainText">- More "rustic" area of the park</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Near the famous Lamar Valley of the park, notable for its wildlife</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Lodging and dining available, as well as several good campgrounds</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- You can take trail rides here or ride a stagecoach out into the prairie for a cookout (highly recommended if you have kids)</div><div class="MsoPlainText">- Some of the best fishing in the park is here, in the Slough Creek area</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><u><b>Campground Review</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campgrounds Stayed: </b>Norris Campground, Bridge Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>NPS (Interesting online tour of campground located <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/norriscg.htm">here</a>) for Norris, Xanterra for Bridge Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>No for Norris, Yes for Bridge Bay (and you should)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$14/night for Norris, $20/night for Bridge Bay</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water at both campgrounds, but no showers.</div><b>Review: </b>I love, love, loved the Norris campground. We had a "walk-in" site, which means that our campsite was not right next to our car. We had to walk about 20 yards from the parking area to our campsite, which was located right next to a small stream on the southeastern side of the campground. Like many NPS campgrounds, this type of campground attracts those who like their campgrounds long on scenery and peace and short on amenities. Our site had a picnic table, a fire ring, and a bear box for storing food and other objects. The walk-in sites are not very private, as there are several scattered along the banks of the stream, but it was great to be able to walk down to the stream and look around. There are flush toilets in the campground, but not many of them and I sometimes encountered a short wait to use the toilet. A few trails leave from the campground, and it is within walking distance of the Norris Geyser Basin, home to some of the weirdest geysers in the park. Norris Campground is strictly first-come, first-served, and was completely full the whole time we were there. We arrived around 10 am and did not have trouble snagging a site, but the campground was full by about 3 pm every day. There were bison that wandered through the camp; they never bothered us, but did come pretty close to the tent on occasion.<br />
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The Bridge Bay Campground is located near the Lake area of the park. There are no NPS campgrounds in the immediate area, so if you want to stay in this part of the park, Bridge Bay might be your best option. (The other option in the area is the Fishing Bridge RV park, but it is not open to tenters due to bear activity in the area). This is a large campground. It is run by Xanterra, so it takes reservations ahead of time and due to its proximity to the Lake, it does fill up. When you call to reserve, they will ask you about your tent size in order to assign you the best possible spot. Basically, it is a huge field that slopes downhill, so there is little privacy in the campground. However, the site we camped in was HUGE and was on an outer loop so we had no one behind us. We were camping with my mom and sisters, and the site was large enough to accommodate a very large cabin-style tent as well as a small backpacking tent. It had a picnic table and fire ring, and was a short walk to the restrooms. The other benefit of this campground is the small store and marina on one end of the campground. Many supplies are available at the store, and you can also dock your boat or charter a boat here if you want to out on the lake. In addition, a short hike to the Natural Bridge leaves from the Bridge Bay Campground. We did enjoy this campground, as it is very convival and in a convenient location. If you are traveling at the height of summer, it is nice to have a reservation to count on. We camped here at the end of July and the entire campground was full the whole time. It did take several minutes to register at the campground, so you may want to plan for that in your schedule. There is also a large amphitheater here where you can attend nighttime ranger programs (highly recommended).Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-79629855948688140772011-02-23T09:36:00.000-08:002011-02-27T18:33:36.284-08:00Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Players: </b>Jenny, Zach & Jackson </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Date of Visit: </b>January 2011</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/timu">www.nps.gov/timu</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Florida<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b> Free<b> </b>(unless you decide to enter the beach/visitor areas of the Talbot Islands State Parks)<br />
<b> Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip from home<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>4</div><b>Trip Report: </b>Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve is a small NPS unit in/near Jacksonville, Florida -- I did not even know it existed until I was on the Park Service website doing a search on all the NPS units in the state of Florida. It is made up of several small areas in the Jacksonville area, all of which have some historical or ecological significance and provides a glimpse of Florida's past. The main visitor center is at the Ft. Caroline section of the park; the other areas you can visit are the Theodore Roosevelt Area, the Ribault Club on Ft. George Island, the Talbot Islands State Parks, and Kingsley Plantation. There are no camping or food options within the National Park area, making this a great one-day trip. There are, however, picnic areas available as well as camping in the state parks on the Talbot Islands. In addition, you have to drive from section to section of this park, so there are plenty of opportunities to grab something to eat if you didn't bring your picnic basket. Dogs are allowed throughout all of the park units, as long as they remain outdoors and on a leash. If you visit, I highly recommend picking up (or downloading <a href="http://www.nps.gov/timu/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=141068">here</a>) a copy of the "If You Have One Day" brochure, which outlines the best way to visit all of the sections of this park in one day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZRal7YCZ8Ic/TUWlfns2bUI/AAAAAAAAAH0/bEaABjGQdtE/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZRal7YCZ8Ic/TUWlfns2bUI/AAAAAAAAAH0/bEaABjGQdtE/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson & Zach taking a break near Ft. Caroline</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>We started at the Ft. Caroline section of the park. We arrived a little after noon and the small parking lot was nearly full of cars. We had brought a picnic lunch, and so spend the first half an hour of our visit eating at one of the picnic tables outside the Visitor's Center. We did have a nice view of the St. John's River while we ate.<br />
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After a quick lunch, we took a look around the Visitor's Center. It is very small, but has some interesting displays, including some 17th century Spanish armor and a Timucuan owl totem, thought to be one of the only existing totems of this kind from east of the Mississippi River. Jackson also asked the ranger for a Junior Ranger packet -- the first one he's done (more on that later).<br />
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Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve is named for the Timucua (TEEM-oh-kwa) people that lived in this area before the arrival of the Europeans. North Florida and southern Coastal Georgia were home to approximately 200,000 people at the point of European first contact.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-upaqrhj2IUk/TWr_lWAYQDI/AAAAAAAABm0/RO25B3Qu0FM/s1600/LemoyneRibaultMon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-upaqrhj2IUk/TWr_lWAYQDI/AAAAAAAABm0/RO25B3Qu0FM/s320/LemoyneRibaultMon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engraving of Timucuan people by Jacques le Moyne (from Wikipedia's Common Source File)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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A path leading down a short hill from the Visitor's Center brings you to a Timucuan Hut and Shell Mound, similar to what the people of this area would have built. The rangers lead daily talks about the history of the Timucua on this site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-17FOnUohG_c/TUWlLxS84OI/AAAAAAAAAHI/4wExBhIYd5Q/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-17FOnUohG_c/TUWlLxS84OI/AAAAAAAAAHI/4wExBhIYd5Q/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson in the entry of the hut</td></tr>
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In 1564, the French came to Florida, and established their first colony in the present-day United States. They named their settlement Ft. Caroline. The French settlement was intended to be a refuge for the Hugenots fleeing from France, but it was only occupied by the French for approximately one year before being taken over by the Spanish who had a much stronger foothold in the region. The Spaniards then built a new fort on the site, which was abandoned shortly thereafter. Today, a replica one-third scale fort occupies a site near where the first fort stood; the fort's original location has been lost, and is most likely obscured by the movement of the St. John's River. The replica fort was built in 1964 and is based on historic drawings of the French fort. There's not much here to look at, although the view across the river is nice. It did make me think about how lonely this must have been for the people who were trying to settle here....and how strange this must have looked to the people who were already here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiHFvURHhb8/TUWlXJr_ruI/AAAAAAAAAHk/HEO3SiFPfPw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EiHFvURHhb8/TUWlXJr_ruI/AAAAAAAAAHk/HEO3SiFPfPw/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gate of the replica fort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XPKUBkV9LOo/TUWlWkYcrqI/AAAAAAAAAHc/HE1ol3tfcKQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XPKUBkV9LOo/TUWlWkYcrqI/AAAAAAAAAHc/HE1ol3tfcKQ/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson and Zach next to one of the cannon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--38pjrXVGyQ/TUWlW7UfA7I/AAAAAAAAAHg/mSv4U3DWXxg/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--38pjrXVGyQ/TUWlW7UfA7I/AAAAAAAAAHg/mSv4U3DWXxg/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View downriver from the fort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After visiting the fort, we decided to walk the Hammock Trail Loop Nature Walk. This easy one-mile trail winds through several ecosystems that exist in Floria; one of the interesting things about hiking in Florida is that an elevation change of just a few feet can make a difference in the trees and plants that you encounter. This trail is well marked, wide, and has interesting displays along its length about the different ecosystems. Jackson particularly enjoyed learning about the ferns that curl up when there hasn't been much rain. We did encounter a few other people walking the trail, including a few with dogs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nzSgQbmD0_8/TUWlf-gOLYI/AAAAAAAAAH4/PwgQ5ADM-t4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nzSgQbmD0_8/TUWlf-gOLYI/AAAAAAAAAH4/PwgQ5ADM-t4/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking on the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QIpdNSmTrYY/TUWlfLYtwzI/AAAAAAAAAHw/wphIqEniCdk/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QIpdNSmTrYY/TUWlfLYtwzI/AAAAAAAAAHw/wphIqEniCdk/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson made Zach take a nap on a log</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Theodore Roosevelt area of the park is nearby; however we chose to skip that section of the park in favor of heading out to Kingsley Plantation. The Theodore Roosevelt section provides more opportunities for hiking and birdwatching.<br />
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Before leaving the Ft. Caroline area, Jackson completed his Junior Ranger Activity Book. The Activity Book is just a few pages of educational activities that kids can complete (with the help of parents if necessary). If the child completes the activities in the book, he or she can present the book at the Visitor's Center for a badge. Jackson was very proud to receive a plastic badge for his efforts. Upon receiving the badge, the ranger asked Jackson to pledge to help take care of our parks -- and I have heard him several times since this trip refer to "I'm a park ranger now!" We did buy him a replica Park Ranger hat at the gift store (what can I say, I'm a sucker for the Park Ranger uniform......) and then I made him pose for the obligatory picture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yTjL-QJuOgI/TUWlgRTKbuI/AAAAAAAAAH8/iu0dor3AfLQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yTjL-QJuOgI/TUWlgRTKbuI/AAAAAAAAAH8/iu0dor3AfLQ/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior Ranger Jackson and the NPS Arrowhead</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>With that task completed, we made sure to stamp our passport books and we headed off to Kingsley Plantation. The other sites of the Preserve are on the north side of the St. John's River, and take about 45 minutes to reach by car. The next site you can visit is the Ribault Club on Ft. George's Island; it is a recently-restored 1920s golf clubhouse and provides a look into this historical and natural history of the area. We skipped this as well because it was getting fairly late in the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g4m3bzpA16Y/TWsEmCctApI/AAAAAAAABnE/OAGWqRuwaVg/s1600/img346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g4m3bzpA16Y/TWsEmCctApI/AAAAAAAABnE/OAGWqRuwaVg/s320/img346.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North Florida stamps in my National Parks Passport book</td></tr>
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Our next stop was Kingsley Plantation, also on Ft. George Island. Kingsley Plantation is an old sea island cotton plantation and includes the oldest standing plantation house in Florida as well as some of the the outbuildings and slave quarters still remaining. Kingsley Plantation lies down a bumpy gravel road, but it is well marked. Our first stop was the Visitor's Center, and we discovered that a tour of the plantation house would be commencing shortly. The plantation house is currently undergoing repairs, and only small groups of people are allowed into the house, accompanied by a guide. There were only a few other visitors present on this day, so we joined the tour. Our ranger guide was very informative, and provided quite a bit of information about the plantation house. The house itself is rather small, hardly the sort of thing a person imagines when picturing the plantation houses of the south. However, the guide did a nice job of explaining why the house is so much smaller than you might thing (pirates were active on the river right outside the house, and taxes were assessed based on square footage of the house). He also did a nice job of explaining how the house was originally laid out to catch the breeze off the river -- very important in the Florida summer, well before air-conditioning. The house itself is not all that interesting inside; due to the restoration, there is no furniture or furnishings in the house. Jackson got quite bored by the tour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qzIAxqrBSFE/TUWlwCgoOXI/AAAAAAAAAM8/2kJ7Pkly_eQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qzIAxqrBSFE/TUWlwCgoOXI/AAAAAAAAAM8/2kJ7Pkly_eQ/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the river from in front of the plantation house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After the tour, we took a look at the kitchen and barn, and then headed over to the slave quarters. The slave quarters were built in a large semi-circle, and there are several buildings (around 25) still standing. They are constructed of tabby, a lime/sand/shell building material that was used in this area because there was no clay suitable for bricks. The houses were built between 1815-1830, and each contained a sleeping area, fire place and another room. They are not large, and would house a family or two at a time. They are considered to be some of the best surviving examples of slave quarters in the United States, because many others were destroyed after Emancipation or rotted away due to their poor construction.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2yLtZOh40Xo/TUWlwQFXWEI/AAAAAAAAANI/WRQS2XqdLx4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2yLtZOh40Xo/TUWlwQFXWEI/AAAAAAAAANI/WRQS2XqdLx4/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slave cabins at Kingsley Plantation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wp8zPPGWSLQ/TUWlwq2I-VI/AAAAAAAAANQ/LrXmjcnQYTY/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wp8zPPGWSLQ/TUWlwq2I-VI/AAAAAAAAANQ/LrXmjcnQYTY/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zach takes it all in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After our visit to Kingsley Plantation, we took a drive through the Talbot Islands (both Big and Little) State Parks, and finally ended up on a public access beach on Amelia Island. Zach had promised Jackson a short trip to the beach to collect shells and fly a Star Wars TIE Fighter kite (it was much too cold to swim), so we spent about an hour on the beach (until it got too dark and cold to be out).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rS5VL--OkWQ/TUWlmFxbGAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/5U0VKJCGMHg/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rS5VL--OkWQ/TUWlmFxbGAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/5U0VKJCGMHg/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying the kite at sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This was a great day trip from home, and again I was more than impressed by a relatively unknown National Park Service unit. I have definitely decided that these small units are more than worth a detour, and can make a fun daytrip all by themselves -- and I usually learn something too. If you find yourself in North Florida, you should take a look at Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-41179895533335419932011-02-19T09:33:00.000-08:002011-02-27T17:20:42.638-08:00How to Plan a Great Family Camping TripCamping with your family can be great fun -- cooking hot dogs and s'mores around a glowing campfire, discovering new animals and plants on a nature trail, cuddling in your tent reading books at night, and so on. It can also be wet, disgusting, buggy, hot, dirty, and many other things. The difference between a good family memory and a vacation nightmare comes down to two things -- attitude and planning. In this post, I'll review some pros and cons of a camping vacation, take a look at some of the essential gear for camping, and provide some tips and tricks for making your camping trip a great success.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping at 2 months old</td></tr>
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First, a little background. I did not camp much as a kid (other than a week at summer camp every year); I didn't really discover my love for camping until I was much older. However, my family did spend a lot of time together growing up, and we were raised to be inquisitive, adventurous and not worried about appearance. Conversely, my son Jackson spent his first night in a tent at six weeks old, and has been camping (in both tents and campers) several times in his short life.<br />
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<b>1. Deciding whether or not to go camping.</b> <br />
It's no secret that camping can be an economical way to spend a vacation -- at many national or state parks, camping fees are usually under $20/night, and you don't have to spend hours in the car to find a suitable place to camp. If you want to try it for yourself, here are some things to keep in mind:<br />
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<u>Pros</u><br />
- Camping can be a very economical trip (see above), particularly if you cook your own food.<br />
<u> </u>- Contrary to popular belief, usually a family camping trip does not involve lugging your gear for miles. Typically, you can drive right up to the campsite.<br />
- Camping allows you to leave some of the distractions of daily life at home -- your computer, phone, etc -- and connect with the people you're camping with.<br />
- Camping allows you to be in nature, as opposed to just looking at it.<br />
- Little kids usually love the opportunity to get dirty, poke at bugs, throw things in the fire, and sleep in between mom and dad.<br />
- Bigger kids can be given more responsibility, and ultimately more ownership, over their vacation.<br />
- Spending the night in a national park gives you the opportunity to experience the park at its most magical hours: early morning, dusk, and the middle of the night (think stargazing).<br />
- Depending on the campground, camping can be a great way to get to know other people. Kids usually find other kids to play with in campgrounds.<br />
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<u>Cons</u><br />
- Camping in the rain can be miserable, especially if you are crammed into a too-small tent with nothing to do.<br />
<u> </u>- Depending on the campground and equipment you choose, camping can actually be more expensive than staying in a hotel (especially if you are camping with an RV).<br />
- Camping typically requires quite a bit of gear, even for the most basic trip. This means you probably need a car or other means of transportation to haul all your gear from home to the campsite.<br />
- Just as campgrounds can be magic, quiet, and friendly places, you can also end up in stinky, buggy campgrounds full of partying teenagers.....<br />
- Unless you bring a separate tent for the kids, there's not really a lot of privacy in family camping!<br />
- Some kids, particularly those who have not spent a lot of time outdoors, may have fears or squeamishness about things like getting dirty, not being able to shower every day, bugs, or thunderstorms. <br />
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<b>2. What to bring</b><br />
<b> </b>If you decide to take the plunge, the next thing you'll need to is consider some gear. The number one rule of gear is: don't buy it unless you know you will need it and like it! If this is your first camping trip, see if you can borrow some gear from a friend. If you have an REI store near you, you can rent tents and sleeping bags and all sorts of other things. Gear can get very expensive, and you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars just to find out you hate camping! Here are the basics of what you'll need.<br />
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<u>Shelter</u><br />
Of course, the most basic thing needed for camping is shelter. For many people, that means a tent. The first thing you should know about tents is that the stated capacity of the tent is only correct if all of the people who are going to fit in the tent are tiny....in other words, a 3 person tent is really only good for about two people! For family camping, opt for a little more space. You should look for a tent that is easy to set up, even in the dark. There are literally thousands of choices in terms of shape, size, color, bells and whistles, and so on. The best advice I can give about choosing a tent is to go to a sporting goods store where they actually let you set up a tent and crawl in it. Even if you don't end up purchasing the tent at the store, it should give you an idea of how difficult it is to set up, and how much room you'll have inside. Many families really like tents that come with a zippable dividing "wall," which allows for a modicum of privacy.<br />
<u> </u><br />
<u> </u>For other people, shelter means an RV or camper. I don't have a lot of experience with these vehicles, but I know that they can be rented fairly inexpensively in the off-season for short trips. <a href="http://www.cruiseamerica.com/">www.cruiseamerica.com</a> is a good place to start to look at RV rental options. Camping with an RV means you lose some of the flexibility and economy of a tent, but it can be a good option for those who aren't sure if this outdoor thing is really for them, or if you are going some where that weather can be a significant factor.<br />
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Finally, some campgrounds (notably the <a href="http://www.koa.com/">KOA</a> chain) operate camping cabins. Camping cabins are typically pre-fabricated structures that are usually small, and have a few beds, a couple of chairs, and a hard roof over your head and a floor below -- you provide the linens. Camping cabins are typically cheaper than motel rooms, but more expensive than a tent or RV site. This could be a good in-between option for a family looking to ease slowly into camping culture. Some KOAs and independent campgrounds have other options as well -- train cabooses, boats, teepees, etc. A visit to one of these unique lodgings could be a real treat for the kids.<br />
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<u>Sleeping gear</u><br />
Minimally, for sleeping, you will need something to lay on and something to cover up with. Clearly, your choice of shelter will impact this -- in an RV, you can probably get by with sheets and a blanket; in a tent, you probably want a sleeping bag. For a family camping trip, the type of sleeping bag probably doesn't matter too much, especially if most of your camping will be done in the summer. Again, go to a sporting goods store and test out a bunch before you buy one. A couple of things to help you with kids' sleeping bags: first, remember that a sleeping bag's warmth comes from the body heat of the person filling it. Putting a four year old in a huge sleeping bag meant for a six-and-a-half foot tall adult will mean that the four year old will be cold all night. Kids sleeping bags are shorter and meant for small bodies. We have one that "grows" with the kids -- a zip-out compartment on the bottom "hides" about a foot of sleeping bag, meaning that Jackson can use the same sleeping bag until he surpasses five and a half feet. Second, if you have a kid who is potty training, still wears diapers, or is prone to nighttime accidents, I highly recommend a non-flannel and non-down sleeping bag. A nylon sleeping bag is much easier to clean, and down takes way, way, way too long to dry.<br />
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Sleeping in a tent becomes much more bearable if you have something between the ground and you. For some, an air mattress is a good option. We have self-inflating sleeping pads (like Thermarest makes) that provide quite a bit of comfort but don't take up much space. I have one Cabela-brand pad that I actually like better than the pricier Thermarests we have.<br />
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Finally, consider your pillow options. Some people don't use a pillow when they camp (and I don't when doing backpacking, aka hiking a long way to get to your campsite) but I find that a pillow helps me sleep better. I just bring a full-size from home rather than monkey around with the tiny camp pillows you can buy.<br />
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<u>Cooking gear</u><br />
This is a category of gear that you may or may not need, depending on your trip plans. If you want to eat cereal for breakfast, PB&J for lunch, and go out for dinner, you might not need to bring anything more than some marshmallow sticks and a cooler. I like to cook in camp, though, so I bring cooking gear. <br />
<u> </u><br />
<u> </u>While you can do all your cooking over a campfire or in a grill in the park, I like to bring a stove. I have the popular Coleman 2-burner stove, which runs on propane. It lights quickly, works well, and heats things up fast. Propane canisters for these stoves last quite a while and only cost a few dollars to replace. (Note that you cannot take these on airplanes, so if you are flying to your destination, you will need to buy a canister when you get there).<br />
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In addition to a stove, you will need a couple of pots, a skillet, some plates, utensils, and cups. I usually just use old ones from home. You can buy all kinds of cooking gadgets as well, like a coffee percolator, a camp stove toaster, and so on. I don't usually bother. Also handy is a sharp knife and a cutting board of some sort.<br />
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<u>Miscellaneous Gear</u><br />
These things are not strictly necessary for a good camping trip, but will help make you more comfortable and will allow the trip to go more smoothly: camp folding chairs, flashlights, a lantern (battery operated or gas), a clothesline, trash bags, a small whisk broom/dustpan for cleaning out your tent, flip flops/slippers/shoes to wear around camp, deck of cards or small board games, reading material, toilet paper (just in case!), matches, tablecloth, dish soap, sponge, water jugs/container, pocket knife, firestarters, tent fan, some extra rope, and so on. <br />
<u> </u><br />
<u> </u><b>3. Some things to consider</b><br />
Here are some tips to make your camping trip more successful:<br />
<b>- </b>Practice setting up your gear at home before you go! Nothing is worse than arriving at your campsite, in the dark, in the rain, and not knowing how to set up your tent -- or worse, discovering something is missing.<br />
- Take a trial trip, perhaps an overnight at your local state park, or even in your backyard. It's good to work out the kinks prior to a week-long trip in the woods.<br />
- Involve your kids in the planning and execution of the trip. Ask them to help you pick the campsite, clear the tent site of debris, set up the tent, camp kitchen, put out the campfire, etc. If you have many kids, assign them (or let them volunteer for) a particular duty in camp.<br />
- Speaking of camp chores, don't underestimate the time it takes each day to cook meals, clean dishes, tidy up camp, and so on. It's also important to have some "hanging out at the campsite" time -- this is vacation after all!<br />
- Understand that there are many different types of campgrounds. Public campgrounds (think state parks, national parks, national forests, etc) usually are cheaper and quieter but don't come with much extra in the campground (no/limited electricity, sometimes no showers or flush toilets, and so on). Private campgrounds (like the KOA) are usually more social and come with things like swimming pools, rec halls with pool/ping pong tables, organized activities, and the like -- but cost sometimes twice as much as public campgrounds. Typically, private campgrounds are more geared towards RVers although some have great tent sites as well. Tenters will usually feel more at home in public campgrounds.<br />
- Bring at least a few "comforts of home." If your son's Game Boy, daughter's teddy bear, or your coffee press (which I usually bring....) will help you have a good trip, bring it!<br />
- When you get home, dry out your tent/sleeping bags, clean your dishes, and then store all your camping gear in one place. Mine's all in a couple of rubbermaid tubs -- when I want to go camping, I don't have to hunt through a bunch of stuff to find the camping equipment -- I just throw the tub in the car and go.<br />
- Finally, know when to bail out! If it's raining, someone gets sick, or people just stop having fun, it's ok to leave and find a hotel (or head home). While visiting Mesa Verde, we did just this....the weather forecast was calling for flurries and we'd already been camping for several days by that point. Rather than freeze in a tent, we opted for the local Best Western, and enjoyed an evening of TV and made use of the laundry facilities. Even if "bailing out" means going out for dinner one night instead of cooking, it's perfectly ok. It's your trip; do what works for YOU.<br />
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I love camping and think it's a great opportunity to spend quality time with my kid. I hope you try it, and I hope you like it as much as we do.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-73137529974948586622011-02-19T09:32:00.000-08:002011-02-21T15:57:07.213-08:00Great Smoky Mountain National Park<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Players: </b>Jenny </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Date of Visit: </b>May 2009 </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsm">www.nps.gov/grsm</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>North Carolina & Tennessee<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b> Free!<b><br />
Type of Trip: </b>Weeklong camping trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>10</div><b>Trip Report: </b>Great Smoky Mountain National Parks sits on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, and is the most-visited park in the National Park System. In addition to being a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/GSMNP%20Backcountry%20Map.pdf">fabulous hiker's park</a> (the great <a href="http://alltheparks.blogspot.com/2011/01/appalachian-national-scenic-trail.html">Appalachian Trail</a> runs for nearly100 miles through the park), Great Smoky Mountain houses an amazing array of plant and animal life -- including black bears and the reclusive salamanders. GRSM also houses hundreds of waterfalls, lofty mountain peaks, and an interesting feature known as the Appalachian Grassy Bald -- an open hilltop or mountainside whose origins are not really known. There is also a human history to the area (not entirely pleasant as hundreds of people who had lived in the park for years were moved out upon the creation of the national park), and you can visit old settlements and cemeteries within the park boundaries.<br />
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Part of the reason it is home to such an abundance of wildlife is due to the climate in the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountain receives a lot of rainfall every year, and my trip in May of 2009 was no exception to this. It rained on me every day that I was there -- sometimes only at night and the sun did come out while I was there but it was rain nonetheless. It is important for visitors to the Smokies to be prepared for all types of weather, and hikers/campers should plan on rain during at least part of their visit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic View of the Smokies</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a> I did several hikes while I was in the park. One of them was the Alum Cave Bluffs trail, which leads up the side of Mt. Le Comte. Mt. Le Comte is actually a lodge on the top of a mountain that is accessible only by hiking -- I would totally love to stay here someday! The Alum Cave Bluffs trail is quite popular, because it is a relatively short trail and the trailhead is only a few miles from the northern entrance on the main park road. To Alum Cave Bluffs is only about a 5 mile round-trip hike, but it's STEEP like many of the trails in the Smokies. The trail starts out near a river, providing plenty of nice views and opportunities for picnics; even a short hike along this trail would be nice if you just need to get out and stretch your legs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZDRwH-KGA4AddbZjwVPjdCreHPVr3N9x40Y3c4bkvbLuoFMVrkefoy-YdJfqK81hyphenhyphenEo7CJk7F9u2T5L4nCw5N3gy8Ys85iAHIR-x9mRyFeTUfQ2NXFHyiKWTRtLZU5xvuNGO-CYpPK7J/s1600/DSC01795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZDRwH-KGA4AddbZjwVPjdCreHPVr3N9x40Y3c4bkvbLuoFMVrkefoy-YdJfqK81hyphenhyphenEo7CJk7F9u2T5L4nCw5N3gy8Ys85iAHIR-x9mRyFeTUfQ2NXFHyiKWTRtLZU5xvuNGO-CYpPK7J/s320/DSC01795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream on the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF4aoAakux3zYQFpp6e_iWS5VRYZo_v_1nJvGRCu9pynwoGFycjPNZ6Yl_TD4BUtbxmpA_1gkO_VPZ30IUar8otcGDSiLrWBT7IbxmlO5Za4bgG32QYLR0rqlhjUTdIkcIveTlwFPBx4j/s1600/DSC01796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF4aoAakux3zYQFpp6e_iWS5VRYZo_v_1nJvGRCu9pynwoGFycjPNZ6Yl_TD4BUtbxmpA_1gkO_VPZ30IUar8otcGDSiLrWBT7IbxmlO5Za4bgG32QYLR0rqlhjUTdIkcIveTlwFPBx4j/s320/DSC01796.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallen log over the stream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>From the streambed, the trail climbs quite steeply to the Alum Cave Bluffs area, providing some nice views of the surrounding valley. There are several bridge crossings along the way, and the trail does get narrow in some places.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E0UNkYPhUTYL4bGeoDQO2pM5VBzcyThZFHmizpxAL5Had76_rj0zEHSJU2nWgFMtCBjHv4d7vjaYdtZSXLg06u1IyTHsXaw9v1CMVFDDdfMQxyFdNFvrnUWYWzgo-_QT4RN_dnLPUaHH/s1600/DSC01803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E0UNkYPhUTYL4bGeoDQO2pM5VBzcyThZFHmizpxAL5Had76_rj0zEHSJU2nWgFMtCBjHv4d7vjaYdtZSXLg06u1IyTHsXaw9v1CMVFDDdfMQxyFdNFvrnUWYWzgo-_QT4RN_dnLPUaHH/s320/DSC01803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge crossing on the Alum Caves Trail </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTMTkt5SoSZraRifnDRv9vvF5CSI1iR8eCQ1AZBhnshP-ilrV4pZ7P_9U7cQ9n7M6Loc0ktw7BGSUp71kgDVzLuAX6wWKIErNVnj3NexXMpcpbU4kJDKRrNjRin0AWQasXdjqOe8vGpll/s1600/DSC01804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTMTkt5SoSZraRifnDRv9vvF5CSI1iR8eCQ1AZBhnshP-ilrV4pZ7P_9U7cQ9n7M6Loc0ktw7BGSUp71kgDVzLuAX6wWKIErNVnj3NexXMpcpbU4kJDKRrNjRin0AWQasXdjqOe8vGpll/s320/DSC01804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scenic Vista -- notice how green (wet) everything is</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Alum Caves area is a nice place to stop for a picnic lunch, and provides some shelter from the weather should you encounter rain like I did. You will certainly not have this area (or the rest of the trail) to yourself.<br />
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One of the other interesting parts of visiting Great Smoky Mountain National Park is to see some of the human history of the area as well. This is a place you can see some remnants of Appalachia, and it provides an interesting look into the lives of the people that inhabited this area not so very long ago. By far the most popular area of the park to see human history is the Cades Cove area. In Appalachian parlance, a "cove" is a open valley area in the mountains. A loop road circles the Cades Cove area, and if you drive the road, you can stop and see several buildings, including churches, a working mill, barns, log houses and so on. This area is also very congested at times and it can take several hours to drive the 11 mile road. On certain mornings, the Park Service closes the road to traffic and visitors can bike the route instead. There is a campground in the Cove, as well as several walking trails.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNHkjHrfDTnSN1yui8Cg4fecbEJkk9jbCgzMxIoMy_QY6ltpKSaSLdxphw8mwryih0R94LmVYaMlhPu7uOlaEtMI73NGuKPd2PbBo2Lw6ZYYyzmndoy1V4ZqsWGFrNTYLp4tP4JKG-Rwq/s1600/DSC01814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNHkjHrfDTnSN1yui8Cg4fecbEJkk9jbCgzMxIoMy_QY6ltpKSaSLdxphw8mwryih0R94LmVYaMlhPu7uOlaEtMI73NGuKPd2PbBo2Lw6ZYYyzmndoy1V4ZqsWGFrNTYLp4tP4JKG-Rwq/s320/DSC01814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House in Cades Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpuUzYEHxUMphKeOtw9m3GEQKgO-L462q4aMsQWmG764T54dvgo2IUpuYwiiXRnWWe75WefimK10t19Jb1WQrVAWdZoD0u1-SMLiBpyr_NMsRbpHX0Engr7DPekgqhSVvc9ArxKhmN-PY/s1600/DSC01812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpuUzYEHxUMphKeOtw9m3GEQKgO-L462q4aMsQWmG764T54dvgo2IUpuYwiiXRnWWe75WefimK10t19Jb1WQrVAWdZoD0u1-SMLiBpyr_NMsRbpHX0Engr7DPekgqhSVvc9ArxKhmN-PY/s320/DSC01812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Log house and split rail fence in Cades Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr07jEcTJMgp8jIOszWKS7tkZR-Ggi0JKjcLI18w1wj24HPXN4sC08lWsSmjrkKegpzHX5apEL9GkUPt6gUO3zcDGwG_G7UrFxbtWvV7hopcUsGnT96NsZ3RhuQY_CeYv9orW5-t61Wdu/s1600/DSC01815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr07jEcTJMgp8jIOszWKS7tkZR-Ggi0JKjcLI18w1wj24HPXN4sC08lWsSmjrkKegpzHX5apEL9GkUPt6gUO3zcDGwG_G7UrFxbtWvV7hopcUsGnT96NsZ3RhuQY_CeYv9orW5-t61Wdu/s320/DSC01815.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working grist mill in Cades Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABdfUdxX5caFB32H5waRvi0Cb_TYl695CN6Yg-_EtuG2NCbS37EA8iVxYl5N_lrq_I5h-TeHpLrzUYF7MD2vrC0tFtMx9xQkRGp29X9kvGkGAZamyDSSMCsVRB2G6MwEG2-aXDc6KKYhh/s1600/DSC01816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABdfUdxX5caFB32H5waRvi0Cb_TYl695CN6Yg-_EtuG2NCbS37EA8iVxYl5N_lrq_I5h-TeHpLrzUYF7MD2vrC0tFtMx9xQkRGp29X9kvGkGAZamyDSSMCsVRB2G6MwEG2-aXDc6KKYhh/s320/DSC01816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A broad view of the valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of course, there are less popular places to see old buildings as well. One of the more interesting places I went was the Little Greenbrier School, located a few miles west of Gatlinburg. To get there, you drive down a really old, narrow road, and find yourself in a small glade. There's an old, old one-room school as well as a small cemetery. I found this area really interesting...but I definitely wouldn't try the drive in an RV!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREHRZM89r5__qpxL2FerolikBYIrm4VO4a6lZNRmg3XwpqZtuBx3d2_d3rcs1tFWc-xFdKpVfFflPk7obQIXtASOTSvPrftEtLMGP6fRJsfWyluxb1NSMIrc17odnHc3B-vG36VqjlL5_/s1600/DSC01817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREHRZM89r5__qpxL2FerolikBYIrm4VO4a6lZNRmg3XwpqZtuBx3d2_d3rcs1tFWc-xFdKpVfFflPk7obQIXtASOTSvPrftEtLMGP6fRJsfWyluxb1NSMIrc17odnHc3B-vG36VqjlL5_/s320/DSC01817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schoolhouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r3KmZKcwjvhzfkuET3KV4StYO-BKV8osoMVMppLHP-UgyZeNvzXnMenwnV47DrrXkGYoypv8X0tEl9f6Uk0QGUUiOZtSDuDE7tbrU-CwiPgcYQwLWxvSFsduB9dm0jq2Lv4e3ZCVi2nF/s1600/DSC01818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r3KmZKcwjvhzfkuET3KV4StYO-BKV8osoMVMppLHP-UgyZeNvzXnMenwnV47DrrXkGYoypv8X0tEl9f6Uk0QGUUiOZtSDuDE7tbrU-CwiPgcYQwLWxvSFsduB9dm0jq2Lv4e3ZCVi2nF/s320/DSC01818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of the schoolhouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0vS0VqsdsIMGWKvGzdTcFtH33vZuC6738f8fU-AS-Q0QxC4n8-hv9RdYUAM97JpHf45OLqLEVWIV_2EWY0UIGtEcYZstKDDo7lBWUeWqSnRFVBMcaNwlsXhPBM3vSt7SUnM1mr5xrSYr/s1600/DSC01819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0vS0VqsdsIMGWKvGzdTcFtH33vZuC6738f8fU-AS-Q0QxC4n8-hv9RdYUAM97JpHf45OLqLEVWIV_2EWY0UIGtEcYZstKDDo7lBWUeWqSnRFVBMcaNwlsXhPBM3vSt7SUnM1mr5xrSYr/s320/DSC01819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Cemetery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another place that many people in the park visit is Clingman's Dome. This is the highest peak in the park, and you can either drive to the top or hike to the top. There is a lookout tower on top of Clingman's Dome which is supposed to provide really good views; unfortunately, it was completely cloudy and rainy the day I was there.<br />
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I did two other hikes in the park. One hike took me out to Andrew's Bald, one of the famous Appalachian Balds that this area of the country is known for. Basically, a bald is a big grassy area on top of a mountain. Certain grasses and flowers grow in the balds that you can't find many other places; no one really knows why the balds even exist. This hike is a relatively short and easy walk from the Clingman's Dome parking area. The other hike I did in the park was the Charlie's Bunion hike, an 8 mile round trip hike to a rocky feature that is actually on the famous Appalachian Trail. This hike would have been spectacular, except it was pouring down rain the entire time I was on the trail, and I ended up turning back early.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtJXDz3cjKISngxka0BsQXJ0sx0fuMMAaK1acYNzWmisNOAOFyb8hBXeCoAs4GwRbtGExWQLL4Cfh8lAgkdkdmHGWLluDPrkK-ozIdv1b2wLelvyppTQvgXUgcaBUk3Bj2MJKvlaPjeBs/s1600/DSC01828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtJXDz3cjKISngxka0BsQXJ0sx0fuMMAaK1acYNzWmisNOAOFyb8hBXeCoAs4GwRbtGExWQLL4Cfh8lAgkdkdmHGWLluDPrkK-ozIdv1b2wLelvyppTQvgXUgcaBUk3Bj2MJKvlaPjeBs/s320/DSC01828.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew's Bald</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMCoaYeFbiB1gvEh0g2EBtSFT_-AlBLSqNAubed577AO9TZBJD5bwSGCYGJzpgFqVN9Z2Wmtrbm87VV8cGADwJkyeMATMRjyT8Xtz9z1_LYkXEpDwe6jTmE1G2BydSS7v0n_OZIhKGiw7/s1600/DSC01832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMCoaYeFbiB1gvEh0g2EBtSFT_-AlBLSqNAubed577AO9TZBJD5bwSGCYGJzpgFqVN9Z2Wmtrbm87VV8cGADwJkyeMATMRjyT8Xtz9z1_LYkXEpDwe6jTmE1G2BydSS7v0n_OZIhKGiw7/s320/DSC01832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail sign on the Charlie's Bunion Trail. Katahdin, ME is the end of the AT, 1972 miles away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The other things park visitors should definitely do is to drive the entire length of the Newfound Gap road, the road that bisects the park and travels from Gatlinburg in the north to Cherokee in the south. The drive is spectacular, but don't plan on completing it quickly!<br />
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All in all, I enjoyed my trip to the Smokies, but I would have preferred a little less rain. I'm told that the fall leaf season is just spectacular in Great Smoky Mountain, but it's important to reserve ahead. I will return to this park again someday because there is just so much to do.<br />
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Two more notes about visiting GRSM: First, outside of the Cades Cove campground store, there are no places within the park to get anything to eat. There are plenty of places available for eating and/or grocery shopping in the gateway towns of Gatlinburg (ate in a great pancake restaurant here) and Cherokee. There are also plenty of nice picnic areas in the park. Secondly, due to a generous gift from John D. Rockefeller, entrance to the park is free. This is great news for visitors, but it also means that this popular park suffers from a problem of thieves targeting unattended cars in popular parking lots. Don't leave valuables in your car!<br />
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<u><b>Campground Review</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campgrounds Stayed: </b>Cosby Campground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>NPS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>Yes during certain parts of the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$14/night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water, but no showers.</div><b>Review: </b>This is the one campground I have stayed in that is run by the National Park Service that I didn't really like. However, I was solo camping and this was one of the quietest and most deserted campgrounds I've ever stayed in. It is on the far eastern edge of the park, well off the beaten path, and I was here midweek at the end of May. There were maybe six other people camping in the campground, which made it feel kind of creepy. It is very green and leafy, and I had a very private campsite at the end of a tent-only loop. If I had had my family with me, I probably would have liked this campground. However, it's kind of far from the main attractions in the park. First-time visitors and solo campers might like the more popular Cades Cove, Smokemont, or Elkmont campgrounds. If I go back, I will probably choose one of these campgrounds instead.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-82258187198008113962011-02-15T09:31:00.000-08:002011-02-15T09:31:00.223-08:00Grand Teton National Park & John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Players:<span> </span></b>Jenny & Jake<br />
<b>Date of Visit:<span> </span></b>A few times during Summer 2005, but camped overnight in July </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Website: </b>www.nps.gov/grte<br />
<b>Location:<span> </span></b>Wyoming<br />
<b>Entrance Fee:<span> </span></b>$25 per car, good for both Yellowstone & Grand Teton for 7 days<b><br />
Type of Trip:<span> </span></b>Overnight trip from Yellowstone<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available:<span> </span></b><span>4 for Grand Teton, plus 1 for the Rockefeller Memorial Parkway</span></div><b>Trip Report: </b><span>During the summer of 2005, when I was living and working in Yellowstone, we made several trips down to the Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming. To me, the Tetons epitomize what mountains should be...rising nearly 7000 feet from the Valley below, with a sparkling blue lake at their base. It's hard to look at those craggy mountain tops without wanting to hike right up the side :) Like it's neighbor to the north (Yellowstone), Grand Teton offers plenty of hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife watching, and so on. It is also one of the premier climbing destinations in the Rockies. Due to its slightly lower elevation, many of the trails and visitor facilities on the valley floor are accessible a little earlier in the spring than some of the places in Yellowstone. Trails at higher elevations, however, may not be snow-free until mid-July. Grand Teton is also a much smaller park than Yellowstone, allowing you to get a really good feel for the park in just a few days.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDl-fg9nCz0/TVnd5Hs2z6I/AAAAAAAABio/_6O5bfpiJD8/s1600/tetons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zDl-fg9nCz0/TVnd5Hs2z6I/AAAAAAAABio/_6O5bfpiJD8/s320/tetons.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tetons & Lake Jackson</td></tr>
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<span>Leaving Yellowstone from the South Entrance, you first come to the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. This 8 mile stretch of highway commemorates the generosity of Rockefeller, who helped to shape not only Grand Teton National Park, but also Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Acadia National Park. Grand Teton National Park administers the Parkway. The Flagg Ranch section of the park is just off this road.</span><br />
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<span>We did three main things in Grand Teton: canoeing on Jackson Lake from the Signal Mountain Lodge area, driving up Signal Mountain to the overlook, and hiking around Jenny Lake and up Cascade Canyon. We camped in two places in Grand Teton: Signal Mountain Campground right on the shores of Jackson Lake, and the Gros Ventre campground, which is the closest campground to the town of Jackson.</span><br />
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<span>Canoeing on Jackson Lake was fun. You can rent canoes by the hour from the concessionaire at Signal Mountain Lodge. It currently costs $18/hr to rent the canoes. They also have kayaks and motorboats for rent. It was extremely windy the day we went, and Jackson Lake is really really cold (like, hypothermic cold) and I was afraid we would tip. Plus, the wind kept pushing us back out onto the lake as we were trying to come back into the dock. But we got some great pictures.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0EnTEaJv6M/TVnd4jifpUI/AAAAAAAABik/6XyYv-n7R4E/s1600/tetons+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0EnTEaJv6M/TVnd4jifpUI/AAAAAAAABik/6XyYv-n7R4E/s320/tetons+at+night.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teton Range at Night</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span> </span><br />
<span>The drive up Signal Mountain is absolutely gorgeous. We did it right as the sun was setting, and had magnificent views of the valley (known as Jackson Hole). The road winds up Signal Mountain, and you have to take it slow. You can also hike to the top of the mountain if you want.</span><br />
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<span>The final thing we did, and the thing I inexplicably don't have any pictures of, was hike up Cascade Canyon. This is one of the park's most popular trails, and as we were hiking on the 4th of July weekend, felt a bit like a highway at some points. Most people take the boat across Jenny Lake and then do the short hike to Inspiration Point; we opted to save the money and walk around Jenny Lake (pretty and we saw a ton of fish) and then hike further up Cascade Canyon on the other side. This is a spectacular hike, and well worth the popularity. It climbs very steeply for the first 2 miles or so, and then levels out the farther up the canyon you get (you also get away from more and more people the further up the canyon you get). It's a long dayhike, and we saw several people heading up into the high country for backpacking trips; even in July, they were carrying ice gear. The views of Grand Teton are A-MAZ-ING. We ran out of daylight and I was suffering from a severe sinus headache, so we didn't get to go as far up the canyon as I would have liked....another thing to put on my list for a return trip!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDxMiYhNiRU/TVnfVrfocGI/AAAAAAAABjc/EeuAZkN5GXg/s1600/cascade+canyon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDxMiYhNiRU/TVnfVrfocGI/AAAAAAAABjc/EeuAZkN5GXg/s320/cascade+canyon.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cascade Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span><u><b>Campground Reviews</b></u></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campgrounds Stayed: </b>Gros Ventre & Signal Mountain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>Park Concessionaires (Signal Mountain Lodge & Grand Teton Lodge Company)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>No </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$20/night at Gros Ventre, $20.50/night at Signal Mountain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water in both campgrounds, but no showers.</div><b>Review: </b>We spent two nights at Gros Ventre and one night at Signal Mountain. Gros Ventre is a massive campground that rarely fills, and we were using it mainly as a place to sleep to partake in the Jackson, WY 4th of July festivities. It is the campground in the Tetons closest to Jackson. The sites are huge but not very private. There are lots of trees around, however, and since this campground rarely fills, it's pretty quiet. This is a good bet if you show up in late afternoon and need a spot to camp.<br />
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Signal Mountain Campground does fill up, and we were lucky enough to snag a site as someone else was leaving. Our site was TINY! We were lucky we were tenting. But it was close to the bathrooms and this campground has a very community-type feel to it. It's also within walking distance of the Signal Mountain Lodge, restaurant and marina. I would stay at both of these campgrounds again.<br />
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The most popular campground in the park is at Jenny Lake. It's a tent-only campground with views of the Tetons; consequently, it fills before 9 am most days. There used to be a number you could call to see what time the campground filled that day, but I cannot find that phone number anywhere. Someday, I plan to camp at Jenny Lake!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-39495872274616306912011-02-13T09:22:00.000-08:002011-02-14T16:31:04.612-08:00Grand Canyon National Park<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Players:<span> </span></b>Jenny, Jake & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit:<span> </span></b>May 2008</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/grca">www.nps.gov/grca</a><br />
<b>Location:<span> </span></b>Arizona<br />
<b>Entrance Fee:<span> </span></b>$25 per car, good for 7 days at both the North Rim and the South Rim<b><br />
Type of Trip:<span> </span></b>Overnight as part of Western US road trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available:<span> </span></b>11 (!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <b>Trip Report:<span> </span></b>To me, calling the magnificent area in Northern Arizona the “Grand Canyon” is a little bit like calling a cruise ship a “big boat;”<span> </span>the words don’t really do it justice.<span> </span>Neither do the pictures or anything I’m about to describe.<span> </span>Really, you should just go see it yourself.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Grand Canyon is immense, nearly 300 miles long, a mile deep and ten miles across the rim.<span> </span>The Colorado River has carved the depth of the canyon, exposing some of the oldest rocks visible on the planet; wind and water have done the rest of the work to widen the canyon and form the various spires and formations in the area.<span> </span>The canyon is so awe-inspiring that it moved President Theodore Roosevelt to remark, “In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. I want to ask you to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is. I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, the sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon. Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it."</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szoh2QO4XrQ/TUWmgbVUrKI/AAAAAAAAAdM/esNJZpe8Ft4/s1600/DSC00815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szoh2QO4XrQ/TUWmgbVUrKI/AAAAAAAAAdM/esNJZpe8Ft4/s320/DSC00815.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view into the Grand Canyon</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Grand Canyon National Park includes not only the canyon itself, but also the Visitor’s Services on both the North and South Rims.<span> </span>The North Rim is more secluded and harder to get to; due to its increased elevation (over 7000 feet above sea level) it is only open during the late spring, summer and early fall. <span> </span>The south rim is a little lower in elevation and easier to reach; consequently, it is open year-round although some of the facilities may have reduced hours in winter.<span> </span>There is lodging, camping and dining available on both rims.<span> </span>Finally, Phantom Ranch – a campground/lodging/dining rustic ranch – is located near the Colorado River at the bottom of the Canyon.<span> </span>It is accessible by foot or mule only.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our visit was contained to the South Rim, and we stayed a total of four days.<span> </span>Since we had a one-year-old with us, and trails into the canyon are steep, sunny and mostly waterless, we limited our activities on this trip to things we could do on the rim.<span> </span>Hiking to the bottom of Grand Canyon is certainly on my bucket list, however!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2bEfAN3Xoo/TUWmi_Q7ExI/AAAAAAAAAd8/sUrLqx2vl6c/s1600/DSC00826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w2bEfAN3Xoo/TUWmi_Q7ExI/AAAAAAAAAd8/sUrLqx2vl6c/s320/DSC00826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white line going along the plateau is a trail. The tiny brown buildings in the patch of green in the center is Phantom Ranch.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We entered the park via car at the East Entrance near the Desert View area.<span> </span>It was the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and even at 9 in the morning, there was a bit of a line to pay our entrance fee into the park.<span> </span>The cars moved quickly, however, and we were in the park soon enough. <span> </span>Our first stop was the Desert View campground.<span> </span>Since it is a first-come, first-served campground, and it was a holiday weekend, we decided to get set up before having a look around the rest of the park.<span> </span>We ended up with a GREAT campsite (see below in Campground Review).<span> </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Desert View area is on the eastern edge of the park, approximately 26 miles from the rest of the development on the South Rim. At Desert View, you can find a relatively large general store as well as a gas station. And of course, there are plenty of views of the canyon itself. We watched the sunset from here the first night.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XByjBdf8Y1c/TUWmf1wJDTI/AAAAAAAAAdE/ewBYKdq3w5o/s1600/DSC00812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XByjBdf8Y1c/TUWmf1wJDTI/AAAAAAAAAdE/ewBYKdq3w5o/s320/DSC00812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in the Canyon</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The more developed area of the South Rim is the Grand Canyon Village area, with Visitor's Centers, hotels, restaurants, shops, campgrounds and so on. It gets quite crowded in this area, and free shuttle buses run during the day to help limit the amount of traffic in the area.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Clearly, the most exciting thing to do at Grand Canyon is to see the canyon itself. We walked several sections of the Rim Trail, which (unsuprisingly) follows the rim of the canyon for 12 miles. It is paved in several places, which was nice for us with a kid in a stroller. I was a little paranoid at the canyon, and wouldn't let Jackson walk anywhere near the rim. Many of the major viewpoints have railings, but parts of the Rim Trail (and many other locations around the canyon) do not....so watch your kids! While we were in Grand Canyon, I bought a book called <i>Death in Grand Canyon</i> which outlines all the ways people have died in the Canyon (accidents, slips, falls, dehydration, heat stroke, jumping off the canyon edge on purpose, etc). I'm sure that contributed to my paranoia. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFgDlt6Bh8Y/TUWmhVDE_wI/AAAAAAAAAdc/A3uqkpMxpdo/s1600/DSC00819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oFgDlt6Bh8Y/TUWmhVDE_wI/AAAAAAAAAdc/A3uqkpMxpdo/s320/DSC00819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rim trail. It's close to the edge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgkgPHdUiUw/TUWmiMkeEnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/CxKI6wgHIII/s1600/DSC00822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgkgPHdUiUw/TUWmiMkeEnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/CxKI6wgHIII/s320/DSC00822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the Rim Trail</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">It seems like the Canyon looks different from many different viewpoints, and we spent a couple of days just exploring the rim at our leisure. We did eat at the snack bar in the big General Store in Grand Canyon Village once...I remember the ice cream being really good! We also took a look in the historic El Tovar hotel. We really wanted to hike down the Brright Angel trail a ways, to see the canyon from the interior, but just couldn't bring ourselves to do it with the kid (even though he would have been in the backpack). Looking down in the canyon almost makes you dizzy...it's so big that I think your brain has a hard time computing its vastness, and I was afraid we would get dizzy and fall....so we will save the hiking into the canyon for another time. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYorAaD6WSk/TUWmiR90KmI/AAAAAAAAAdw/hF2NUE2pK9I/s1600/DSC00824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYorAaD6WSk/TUWmiR90KmI/AAAAAAAAAdw/hF2NUE2pK9I/s320/DSC00824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views in the Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ9youQA05Y/TUWmivo-KII/AAAAAAAAAd4/uuIwg5hO5vA/s1600/DSC00825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ9youQA05Y/TUWmivo-KII/AAAAAAAAAd4/uuIwg5hO5vA/s320/DSC00825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many viewpoints in Grand Canyon</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We did attend an excellent ranger program one night. The program was about the ravens of the canyon, and the ranger was funny and highly interesting. I had no idea that ravens were such intelligent birds.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Four days was a really good amount of time to visit, even though we just stayed on the rim. It would not be out of line to spend a week in Grand Canyon, especially if you plan to hike down to the bottom and back. Adding the North Rim (which takes about 5 hours to drive to from the South Rim) could easily add another couple of days. I can't wait to go back!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><b>Campground Review</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campground Stayed: </b>Desert View Campground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>National Park Service</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>No </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$12/night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water in the campground, but no showers. The nearest showers are in Grand Canyon Village, 26 miles away</div><b>Review: </b>This was my favorite campground of the entire trip. Our site was huge, shady, relatively private, and had a great view. One night, some deer came right into our site. The Desert View area is very quiet compared to the Grand Canyon village area, which suits us well. The bathrooms in the campground were always clean, and we had fun talking to our neighbors in the campground. It is a short drive/several minute walk from a large general store. We arrived early on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and had no trouble snagging a site, but by about 3 pm all of the sites were empty. We stayed through the holiday weekend and the campground was full the entire time. It gets very dark here, and we loved being able to look at the stars from our site. The one slight nuisance was the ravens...they were huge and like to steal food! But Jackson loved watching them and chasing them. I would not hesitate to stay here again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tVYngSA7B0/TUWmgHTvcTI/AAAAAAAAAdI/p2cQUSWC2ow/s1600/DSC00814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tVYngSA7B0/TUWmgHTvcTI/AAAAAAAAAdI/p2cQUSWC2ow/s320/DSC00814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campsite in Grand Canyon</td></tr>
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</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-24025661887882370712011-02-11T09:20:00.000-08:002011-02-12T14:15:35.915-08:00Everglades National Park<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Jake & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>March 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b>www.nps.gov/ever<br />
<b>Location: </b>Florida<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>$10 per car, good for 7 days<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Overnight camping trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>5<br />
<b>Trip Report:</b> I had lived in Florida for a total of four years before I ever made it to South Florida, and the two things that I wanted to visit the most were the Florida Keys and the Everglades. The Everglades is a truly unique environment, encompassing hundreds of square miles of very slow moving water as well as hundreds of species of birds, fish, alligators and even crocodiles. Before we visited, I had a very clear picture in my head of what I would see in the Everglades: miles of sawgrass, the ocean, and some birds. I was sort of shocked to discover that there were campgrounds in the Everglades (how do you camp in a marsh?) I did see all those things, but we discovered a whole lot more in the park as well. I was pleasantly surprised by Everglades National Park, and would like to return someday soon to spend more time in the area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iURg8Btla5E/TUWk9AhaVHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ItLjWo3xcgs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iURg8Btla5E/TUWk9AhaVHI/AAAAAAAAAGk/ItLjWo3xcgs/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Everglades</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a name='more'></a>There are several ways to access Everglades National Park, but we were visiting in a car and so we headed for the main entrance near Homestead, Florida. After paying our entrance fee at the booth, we stopped for a quick look in the Coe Visitor Center. It should be noted that we were visiting in March, during the dry (busy) season in the Everglades and so we experienced heavier use in the park than people who visit in the heat of summer. The weather was a little cool for March in southern Florida (highs in the low 70s), and very very windy, but this made it a really nice time for us to visit.<br />
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The Coe Visitor Center is the main visitor center for the park, and has several displays about the ecology of the park. We stopped in mainly to find out about any Ranger-led activities that were going on, and found out that there would be a tour of the Nike Missile site in just a few minutes. Now, this was not something that we were expecting (and I will admit, completely ignorant about the mere existence of this site). After inquiring about cost (it's free!) we drove a few miles to the site where the tour began.<br />
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The Nike Missile Site in the Everglades is one of the best-preserved cold war sites left in the United States. It has been left virtually untouched since it was decommissioned in 1979 and has only been open to the public for tours since 2009. This missile base was constructed immediately after the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Due to its location (160 miles from the coast of Cuba), this missile site was on a ready-alert status for many years.<br />
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The tour was very informative, as Ranger-led tours usually are, and the Ranger who led our tour was actually in the military during the Cold War -- providing us with additional interesting details. We were able to go into the barracks and a missile barn while we were there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vI9jTu8oRu0/TVU7qjG7FMI/AAAAAAAABfs/1zXnkVmbQUs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vI9jTu8oRu0/TVU7qjG7FMI/AAAAAAAABfs/1zXnkVmbQUs/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going into one of the barracks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBa-TZLeqLs/TVU7rCjbgDI/AAAAAAAABfw/1mdYiYBRtD4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBa-TZLeqLs/TVU7rCjbgDI/AAAAAAAABfw/1mdYiYBRtD4/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs from the Nike Missile site, now housed in one of the missile barns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now, the Cold War is not something I spend a whole lot of my life thinking about, but seeing this site makes me realize how tense things must have been -- all over the world, but particularly here in South Florida. This was a very sobering reminder of how technology could be used for annihilation as well as for exploration. Tours of this area are available daily during the dry season (December - April) and I highly recommend this tour. There is alot of standing and listening, however, so perhaps this site is best seen without small children -- although Jackson did ok.<br />
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After the Nike Missile Site tour, we backtracked a little bit to the Royal Palm area of the park. This area has a couple of shorter trails that can give you a good look at some of the flora and fauna of the park. The Anhinga Trail usually will give you a look at some alligators. It's a very popular trail and was completely crowded when we were there, although we did walk a little way down the trail. We did walk the Gumbo-Limbo trail, however, which winds its way through several of the gumbo-limbo trees (sometimes called tourist trees, because they turn red and peel....).<br />
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After the Royal Palm area, we continued down the main park road, with a quick stop at the Pa-hay-okee Overlook. From here, you can see quite a ways over the grassy, marshy land. Our next stop was the Flamingo area of the park, right on the Florida Bay. The Flamingo area has a campground, small Visitor's Center, marina, small store and snack bar. There used to be a hotel and restaurant here, but the succession of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 rendered them unusable and they are currently closed. We had a reservation at the campground (see below for a review of the campground) so we checked in and got all set up. Then we headed over to the marina to see about a boat tour. You can do several things at the marina. If you brought your own boat, you can dock it/launch it here; you can sign up for a boat tour (for a fee), or you can rent canoes, etc. We had decided not to rent canoes as Jackson was still pretty small and not much of a swimmer, but Jackson and Jake decided to go on a sunset cruise of the Florida Bay. I was looking forward to a nap, so I skipped the cruise, but the boys had a great time. It cost $26.50 for Jake and Jackson was free. The cruise took about 2 hours, and a park naturalist narrated the tour. The boys saw all sorts of wildlife, including a blue heron. The naturalist told them that the only park employee that's been killed by an animal was killed by a blue heron. The park employee was tagging the heron for tracking, and the heron didn't like that and so pecked the person with its long beak. Unfortunately for the employee, the heron got him right in the chest and its beak pierced the employees heart. Jackson is, to this day, completely freaked out by any bird he thinks is a blue heron.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4yiY__bs0E0/TUWk9aP7KmI/AAAAAAAAAGs/zntCSBXf2qw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4yiY__bs0E0/TUWk9aP7KmI/AAAAAAAAAGs/zntCSBXf2qw/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson found a coconut near the marina</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Flamingo Visitor Center onto Florida Bay</td></tr>
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It got dark, so we cooked our dinner and had a campfire before bed. We woke up very early the next day, and had a coldwater shower in the campground. We packed up the tent and headed out of the park. Jake really wanted to take an airboat tour, so we took the Tamiami Trail road across the norther part of the park. This road actually borders the park, so there are plenty of private airboat tours along the way. We found one that looked ok and the boys went on an airboat tour. This proved to be very popular with them, and Jackson actually got to feed an alligator. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_m63WZfpQY/TUWlLIoYH8I/AAAAAAAAAG8/51VO7cS-4CA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_m63WZfpQY/TUWlLIoYH8I/AAAAAAAAAG8/51VO7cS-4CA/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the airboat tour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This wrapped up our visit to the park! We did drive through the Big Cypress Preserve on the way out. Note of caution: Do not take the gravel "scenic drive" marked on park maps unless you have a high clearance vehicle! We very nearly got stuck in the middle of nowhere surrounded by hundreds of alligators stacked like logs! True story.<br />
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On my next visit to the Everglades, I hope to do some backcountry canoeing/camping on one of the many canoe trails in the park.<br />
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<u><b>Campground Review</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campground Stayed: </b>Flamingo Campground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>National Park Service</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>Yes </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$16/night for tent site; $30/night for electric site. Camping is usually free during wet season, but there is no way in the world I would want to be in a tent during the summer in south Florida.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets, water and cold showers in the campground.</div><b>Review: </b>The campground is located right on Florida Bay, and was very windy when we were there. Basically, it is a giant open field with some campsites designated; for this reason, there is not very much privacy at all in the camp ground. We were on the outside of the loop in one of the last sites, so we had a very small degree of privacy because we didn't have "neighbors" on two sides. There are also several walk-in sites available overlooking the bay, literally just spaced out in a big grassy field. That being said, I liked the campground. The sites were huge and the other people in the campground were pleasant and friendly, as I have found in many National Parks campgrounds. (There was one group on the other side of the campground that ended up having a visit by the rangers due to noise, but this is the first time I can recall this happening in many, many nights in NPS campgrounds). I tend to like the no-frills types of campgrounds because I like being outdoors and having peace and quiet, so this campground suited me just fine. It was also much less expensive than some of the state park campgrounds in Florida, which are far inferior in my opinion. This would be an ideal campground to spend an extended trip in, because you are not very far from the marina as well as many of the canoeing trails in the Flamingo Area. I would camp here again.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-11451211473461701982011-02-10T09:19:00.000-08:002011-02-10T19:27:11.040-08:00Cumberland Island National Seashore<b>Players: </b>Jenny & some friends<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>January 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/cuis">www.nps.gov/cuis</a><br />
<u><b> </b></u><b>Location: </b>Georgia<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>$4 per person plus $20 per person for the boat ride to the island<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip from home<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Cumberland Island National Seashore is one of the barrier islands off the coast of Georgia, just north of the Florida/Georgia border. In addition to being an interesting natural environment, it was also the winter retreat of many wealthy northerners around the turn of the century – including members of the Carnegie family from Pennsylvania. Many ruins are still standing on the island for you to explore. Visiting Cumberland Island is a bit of a challenge. You either need a boat, or a ticket to ride on the park concessionaire’s boat. The park concessionaire’s boat costs $20 per person to ride (round-trip) and tickets must be purchased in advance. We were visiting in the off-season, so were able to show up at the Visitor’s Center early and purchase day-of tickets that way. However, in the busy season, I would recommend calling ahead to reserve tickets. Twice a month, tours of the Plum Orchard house (built by the Carnegie family) are also available. We happened to be visiting on a day this tour was offered, and so we decided to go for it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhNu4qHqws4/TVSrv4gAZwI/AAAAAAAABfQ/6WMDNibFLBM/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Dungeness+Ruins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhNu4qHqws4/TVSrv4gAZwI/AAAAAAAABfQ/6WMDNibFLBM/s320/Cumberland+Island+Dungeness+Ruins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dungeness Ruins on Cumberland Island</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URehomIdT6w/TVSrvh6YjvI/AAAAAAAABfM/0jdflTj7564/s1600/Cumberland+island+dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>After parking our car at the Visitor’s Center in St. Mary, and buying our tickets, we boarded the Cumberland Queen to take us to the island. The boat ride to the island takes approximately 45 minutes one-way. It’s moderately scenic, providing views of a naval base just to the north of the island. Dolphins in the sound love to play in the wake of the boat, so we had fun watching them jump.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URehomIdT6w/TVSrvh6YjvI/AAAAAAAABfM/0jdflTj7564/s1600/Cumberland+island+dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-URehomIdT6w/TVSrvh6YjvI/AAAAAAAABfM/0jdflTj7564/s320/Cumberland+island+dolphin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolphin playing in the wake of the boat</td></tr>
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Be aware that much of the seating on the boat is outdoors and not covered – fun on a hot day, but very chilly in the winter! Also, be sure to wear sunscreen. The boat stops at two places before making a return trip to the mainland. Day visitors are encouraged to disembark at the first stop, the Dungeness Ruins. Campers get off at the second stop, the Sea Dock. We disembarked at the first stop. A ranger is on hand to meet the boat and give a short tour of the immediate area. I grabbed a park brochure to take us on a self-guided tour of the ruins. It’s a short walk from the dock to the ruins. A house has been on this site since the early 1800s, although the ruins that can be seen today are from the second house that was constructed in the 1880s. The house burned to the ground in 1959, so all that is left are some skeletal ruins, including a few of the outbuildings. It is very scenic in this area, however, with views over the marsh back to the mainland.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyIHev-aYAI/TVSrvVO3KmI/AAAAAAAABfI/WxFoxXwCPmg/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyIHev-aYAI/TVSrvVO3KmI/AAAAAAAABfI/WxFoxXwCPmg/s320/Cumberland+Island+Cemetery.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me "breaking into" the cemetery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tiatA-I-6mQ/TVSrwZqFubI/AAAAAAAABfg/yN83Eg85uDg/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Wild+Horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tiatA-I-6mQ/TVSrwZqFubI/AAAAAAAABfg/yN83Eg85uDg/s320/Cumberland+Island+Wild+Horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild horses on the island</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">After touring the ruins, we headed towards the eastern end of the island to walk on the shore. Along the way, we passed several houses. There are still private homes on the island and people who live in them year-round. We also passed an old cemetery, and looked at a few of the stones. Some of them were nearly 200 years old.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The walk to the beach is relatively short. Like all barrier island, the beach here is full of seashells. Because shells are considered to be a renewable resource, you are allowed to gather shells and take them with you from the park – the only thing that you are legally allowed to remove from the island (besides, obviously, anything you bring with you). We spent about an hour on the beach enjoying the views and walking near the water. It being winter, it was much too cold to swim, but the beach is broad and flat and this would be a nice place to bring kids for a dip in the ocean during summer or early fall. There are no lifeguards, however, so all swimming is at your own risk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezbub463tkk/TVSrwDmCOlI/AAAAAAAABfc/uNTdcguoeZs/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezbub463tkk/TVSrwDmCOlI/AAAAAAAABfc/uNTdcguoeZs/s320/Cumberland+Island+Trail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my friend Chris on the walk to the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U88aikTBk0/TVSrvL1wHJI/AAAAAAAABfE/42l7VAHSedA/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3U88aikTBk0/TVSrvL1wHJI/AAAAAAAABfE/42l7VAHSedA/s320/Cumberland+Island+Beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris, Sean and I on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After spending some time on the beach, we continued north towards the Sea Camp dock. This is where we would pick up the boat to Plum Orchard, on the north end of the island. It took us about 45 minutes or so to walk up the beach to the Sea Camp area. On the way back west to the dock, we walked through the campground. It is full of huge, huge oak trees with amazing curved limbs! I really think camping here would be a great time. The walk from the dock to the campground is, at most, half a mile, and you can borrow carts to haul your stuff from the boat to your campsite. It is a relatively primitive campground, although there are cold water showers and flush toilets available. There is no place to buy any kind of food or supplies on the island, so you have to bring everything with you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We arrived at the Sea Camp dock and enjoyed sitting down for a few minutes. Pretty soon, the boat arrived to take us to Plum Orchard. The trip to Plum Orchard, which is on the northern part of the island, took about 45 minutes. Upon arrival, an NPS ranger takes you on a tour of the house and grounds. The house was built by a Carnegie woman for her son and his wife in 1898. It was truly a grand house for the age, complete with indoor plumbing, shampoo/soap dispensers in the showers, an indoor swimming pool, and so on. Restoration work is ongoing in the house, but the rangers did a great job of making the area come alive. The Plum Orchard tours are very popular; even in the offseason, our tour was completely full. I highly recommend advance reservations, and I recommend this tour very much. There is an additional fee for the boat/tour. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_90UF9ANmc/TVSrvwqQSdI/AAAAAAAABfU/1lgbPK7buhw/s1600/Cumberland+Island+Plum+Orchard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_90UF9ANmc/TVSrvwqQSdI/AAAAAAAABfU/1lgbPK7buhw/s320/Cumberland+Island+Plum+Orchard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of Plum Orchard house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vryk6aLKT8k/TVSrwOsiQKI/AAAAAAAABfY/MbVrv45DD5M/s1600/cumberland+island+swimming+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vryk6aLKT8k/TVSrwOsiQKI/AAAAAAAABfY/MbVrv45DD5M/s320/cumberland+island+swimming+pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indoor Swimming Pool at Plum Orchard</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMQe5tqQb64/TVSrvCjGvFI/AAAAAAAABfA/XEQiRQoXGqw/s1600/Cumberland+Island+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMQe5tqQb64/TVSrvCjGvFI/AAAAAAAABfA/XEQiRQoXGqw/s320/Cumberland+Island+bathroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting plumbing at Plum Orchard -- notice the "shampoo" nozzle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After the Plum Orchard tour, we hopped back on the boat to the mainland. We relaxed on the trip (I think a few members of our group actually fell asleep…) and then it was off to our car for the trip home. Cumberland Island was a great day trip, and I know there is an entire northern section of the island that we didn’t even touch. Most of the northern section can only be reached by foot or by bicycle, making this an ideal place to do an overnight weekend trip, or even an extended backcountry trip. As with all National Park Service units, I was pleasantly surprised by this trip and glad we spent the extra money to see Plum Orchard – all of the people in my group agreed that it was one of the highlights of the trip.</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-88902329989999002792011-02-09T09:44:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:57:15.158-08:00Top Ten (Ok, 17...)Things to Do in Yellowstone National ParkAs outlined in a previous post, I spent the summer of 2005 working for the park concessionaire in Yellowstone National Park. It wasn't glamorous work, but I did get the opportunity to live in Yellowstone for an entire summer and I spent alot of my free time exploring and hiking. I created this Top Seventeen list for a friend who was going to Yellowstone the following summer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li class="MsoNormal">Walk around the Old Faithful Geyser Basin. You can pick up a guide leaflet by the trail for 50 cents (or return it when you’re done and you can use it for free). Stop by the Old Faithful Visitor Center before you start walking to note the times of the major eruptions in the area. Old Faithful erupts about every 90 min; if you can time it right, try to catch either Castle Geyser or Riverside Geyser too.</li>
</ul><ol style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmBQXWXkI/AAAAAAAABRw/u9AUSOzafOg/s1600/DSC01035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmBQXWXkI/AAAAAAAABRw/u9AUSOzafOg/s320/DSC01035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Geyser</td></tr>
</tbody></table></ol><ul><li class="MsoNormal">For a unique perspective, hike up to Observation Point to watch Old Faithful erupt. The trail goes off the boardwalk behind the Old Faithful Lodge. It’s about a ½-mile hike and kind of steep, but well worth it.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Walk around the Hot Springs at Mammoth. Same thing with the guide leaflet. Rangers at Mammoth lead guided walks of the terraces too that are pretty interesting.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Check out the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone. If you feel like getting out of your car, check out the Uncle Tom’s Trail on the South Rim of the Canyon. It’s a whole bunch of stairs down to the base of the falls – hard on your lungs coming up but well worth it.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Take a few minutes to go in the Old Faithful Inn. It is the original National Park lodge and it’s stunning. They do historical tours of the inn which are really cool.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWl-CqokhI/AAAAAAAABRg/sNYw0yFBues/s1600/DSC01014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWl-CqokhI/AAAAAAAABRg/sNYw0yFBues/s320/DSC01014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of Old Faithful Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ul><li class="MsoNormal"><a name='more'></a>Eat some huckleberry ice cream at one of the Yellowstone General Stores. You won’t regret it.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">For wildlife viewing, check out the Lamar Valley (NE corner of the park, especially good for wolves) or the Hayden Valley (between Lake and Canyon, best for bison and bears). Dawn or dusk is best, although you will see bison and elk at any time.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Hayden Valley is one of my favorite spots in the park.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">If you fish, take the 3-mile hike from the Canyon-Norris road into Grebe Lake. Tons and tons and tons of trout, grayling, etc. Very tasty too. The rangers can help you find the trailhead on the map – it’s a really flat trail.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">If you like to hike and aren’t afraid of some steep hills, try either Bunsen Peak (just south of Mammoth) or Mt. Washburn (just north of Canyon). Bunsen Peak is shorter, maybe 3 miles roundtrip, but you have great views of the Gardner Valley. Mt. Washburn is quite possibly the most bang-for-your-buck hike in the park, you can see the whole caldera and the Tetons off to the South. It’s a long hike, though…8 miles round trip, but there is an observation station on top with toilets and a place to go inside.</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmFDMxj4I/AAAAAAAABRo/eG83DDbevts/s1600/DSC01059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmFDMxj4I/AAAAAAAABRo/eG83DDbevts/s320/DSC01059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from top of Mt. Washburn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li class="MsoNormal">The Artist Paintpots just north of the Norris Junction are very cool and largely overlooked.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Check out the West Thumb geyser basin for some neat thermal features and a pretty cool view of the lake.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">A great place to watch the sunset – there’s a bluff overlook drive on the Fishing Bridge-East Entrance Road. Watch for the turnoff about three miles down the road. Drive to the top, bring a picnic or bottle of wine, and watch the sun go down.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Lake Yellowstone Hotel is worth a look. The dining room there is pretty decent, especially for breakfast. There’s a string quartet that plays in the lobby there around dinner time – great views of the lake and a good place to drink a cocktail.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Night time Ranger programs are almost always good and are offered just about every night in various locales. Check the paper you get when you come in…I’ve been to programs on history, wildlife, art in the park, stargazing, etc.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">If you’re looking for good food in West Yellowstone, MT, try the Gusher. They have great pizza and it’s pretty cheap.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">In Gardiner, check out Helen’s Corral Drive-Inn for the biggest, tastiest, greasiest cheeseburger you’ve ever had. They only accept cash, and the burgers cost about $9 but you won’t be sorry. In fact, it's rumored this is the cheeseburger that Jimmy Buffet wrote about in “Cheeseburger in Paradise” (as Gardiner is in the Paradise Valley).</li>
</ul><ol></ol>Of course, this list only scratches the surface of all of things to do in Yellowstone, but I think it's a pretty good start :) <br />
<ol style="font-family: inherit;"></ol>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-23808378639405009502011-02-08T09:17:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:17:00.406-08:00The National Parks: America's Best Idea -- Review of Ken Burns' DocumentaryIn the fall of 2009, the acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns released his newest project: a six-episode documentary history of America's National Parks. Spanning twelve hours, the film covers the history of the National Park idea, the history of the park service, and some of the history of the parks themselves. Interwoven throughout the narrative are stories about ordinary people who played a role in the history of the parks, whether as a leader in the National Park Service like Stephen Mather or as visitors to the parks, like the Gehrke family from Nebraska. <br />
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Having been a fan of Ken Burns' other works like <i>The Civil War, </i>I made sure to catch the series during its original airing in September 2009. Burns and his co-writer, Dayton Duncan, have done an excellent job of outlining the history of the parks through the eyes of people. Much of the first episode is dedicated to John Muir, who became instrumental in spreading the gospel of nature to people in the last part of the 19th century. Later episodes focus on people such as Theodore Roosevelt, Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, and so on. Sticking with the documentary style that made him famous, Burns utilizes still photographs to help illustrate the story he is telling. There are also scenic live-action shots in many of the parks; Burns almost seems to utilize the scenery of our National Parks as an additional character in the movie. And finally, there are interviews with several experts, such as Carl Pope from the Sierra Club, to help illustrate the story. <br />
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Visually, this film is exceptional. The film crew spent several years filming parks in all different seasons and times of day, and the inherent natural beauty of the United States alone would make this film worth watching. I now own the documentary on Blu-Ray, and it looks even better. At times, the story feels a little slow, particularly (for me) in the second episode. However, there are stories throughout the film that are small gems -- such as the story of the Gehrkes, a couple from Nebraska who visited several parks throughout their marriage. Using old scrapbooks, diaries and photos, the film shows the couple's visit by train to the Grand Canyon, followed by the camping trips in their new Buick a few years later, and ends with Mrs. Gehrke's final solo trip to Rocky Mountain National Park after her husband had passed away. <br />
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What I think this film does extremely well is exploring and attempting to explain the emotional and visceral reaction that the parks can have on people. John Muir, the self-proclaimed "mountain prophet," seemed to understand this when he said <span class="body">"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.</span>" The film seems to underline and bold this premise.<br />
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Finally, a word must be said about the music in this film. It is absolutely beautiful and accompanies the cinematography very well. Burns has used Peter Ostroushko, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason -- all artists he has used before to provide music for his films. Jay Ungar & Molly Mason did the "Ashokan Farewell," the main theme heard in <i>The Civil War.</i> The main theme heard in the film is <i>The Mallard Island Hymn</i>, and it is great to listen to just on its own.<br />
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<i>The National Parks</i>: <i>America's Best Idea</i> is a great addition to any park lover's collection. Currently, it is also available on Netflix, in both the streaming & mail option. For more information on the film, go to <a href="http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks">www.pbs.org/nationalparks</a>. Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-90228858008234057672011-02-07T09:16:00.000-08:002011-02-07T09:16:00.208-08:00Castillo de San Marcos & Ft. MatanzasWhen I first decided that we would try our hardest to get to all the National Parks units in the United States, of course the first ones we would visit would be the ones closest to home. St. Augustine, Florida is only about 75 miles from where we live; I had been to the Castillo de San Marcos several times, but had never even heard about Ft. Matanzas until I started looking for National Parks units to visit! I am quite glad that we found this little gem.<br />
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<u><b>Castillo de San Marcos</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny & Jackson<u><b> </b></u><br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>February 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/casa">www.nps.gov/casa</a><br />
<u><b> </b></u><b>Location: </b>Florida<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>$6 per person for adults ages 16 & up; kids free<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip from home<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>Castillo de San Marcos is one of the truly old structures still existing in the United States today. It is a fort begun by the Spanish in 1672; it is the only 17th century fort still standing in the US. The fort is built from coquina, a limestone including phosphate most often in the form of shells. It was the only material available to the Spanish; the Castillo is one of only two buildings in the world made of coquina (the other is Ft. Matanzas, 14 miles south).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance Sign for Castillo de San Marcos</td></tr>
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Castillo de San Marcos is located on a strategic waterway, and was used to defend the Spanish settlement from pirates and invaders. Its cannon (replicas of which are still on display) were capable of firing rounds up to a mile away. On our visit, Jackson was particularly impressed by the soldiers' sleeping quarters (dark stone rooms with rough wooden beds) and decided to ask the ranger where the soldiers went to the bathroom. He was shocked to find out that they had only a wooden board with a hole cut in it (which you can still see in the fort) instead of a modern toilet. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson ducks from the enemy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannon firing demo</td></tr>
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One of the other things that Jackson really enjoyed was the cannon firing demonstration. Every weekend, the Castillo does at least a couple of these demonstrations. Park employees and volunteers, dressed like 17th century Spanish soldiers, demonstrate the firing of one of the cannon on the wall of the fort. They explain the process of readying the cannon, loading it, aiming it and firing; then the entire demonstration is done in the original Spanish commands ("Fuego!"). The only thing that is different is that they shoot a blank round, instead of a live one. Afterwards, people can ask questions from the cannon crew. Jackson thought this whole demonstration was very interesting, and commented on the rotten-egg/sulfur smell left behind by the gunpowder.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson poses near the coquina wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He thought the boy dressed as a soldier was just too cool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wider shot of the Castillo de San Marcos</td></tr>
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The fort also has a small museum and some interesting displays; all in all, it takes a few hours to see fairly thoroughly. The only drawback to the Castillo de San Marcos is the very limited parking -- which is all metered. Arrive early if you want to grab a space! After you are done visiting the Castillo, you can head 14 miles south on the A1A highway to....<br />
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<u><b>Ft. Matanzas National Monument</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny & Jackson<u><b> </b></u><br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>February 2010<br />
<b>Website: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1878010444"> </a></b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/foma">www.nps.gov/foma</a><br />
<u><b> </b></u><b>Location: </b>Florida<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>Free!<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip from home<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>Ft. Matanzas is one of the small hidden gems of the National Park Service. It was built by the Spanish as a watchtower fort along the river to defend Spanish St. Augustine from the British. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkSTxrbJI/AAAAAAAAAFo/sS8RZZ1xsZ4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkSTxrbJI/AAAAAAAAAFo/sS8RZZ1xsZ4/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak trees in the parking lot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The first thing you notice upon entering the parking lot is the huge oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss. There are several picnic tables, flush toilets and even a nature trail which winds 1/2 mile through the forest. This would be a great, shady place to have a picnic lunch before (or after) touring the fort. <br />
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The Visitor's Center houses a very small gift shop/museum. Here you can watch a short film about the Fort, and of course, get your park passport stamp. The fort itself is a short ferry ride away, across the river. The ferry holds about 30 people at a time, and departs on the half-hour all day long. There is no charge for the ferry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkSXsptYI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Nm7XMBwKMLw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkSXsptYI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Nm7XMBwKMLw/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ft. Matanzas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The ferry ride over to the small fort is quick, and can get chilly in the summer. Your tour guide, a ranger, will introduce him/herself and then you're on your way. Once arriving at the fort, there are some benches where you will listen to the ranger give a short talk about the fort and its uses. The ranger we had was excellent! He really knew his stuff and gave a very entertaining talk about life in the military in the 17th century. Jackson was especially interested to know about how the soldiers had to have at least two teeth to be in the military. After the talk, you have about 15 minutes to look around the fort, including climbing up a steep ladder to the lookout point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkBLeFcLI/AAAAAAAAAFU/cr8QQhZOwT0/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWkBLeFcLI/AAAAAAAAAFU/cr8QQhZOwT0/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the river from top of Ft. Matanzas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All in all, it takes about an hour to see the fort, including the ferry ride to and from. It's a great short stop to stretch your legs, and you could easily turn it in to half a day with a picnic and a walk on the nature trail. On the day we were there, an owl's nest held some hatchlings...very cool for Jackson. Jackson wrote in his park diary about our day at Castillo de San Marcos & Ft. Matanzas: <br />
<blockquote>I like the boats in the harbor. We saw lots of cannon. We asked the ranger where the soldiers went potty and she told us they went on the ground in a room. I think that's pretty silly. We went in the sentry box. The cannon are going to shoot soon. We went in some rooms and saw the beds where the soldiers slept. We saw lots of soldiers. We walked on the fort wall. We saw the lighthouse. Everything is really old. The sun is shining but its really cold. We also went to the little fort [Ft. Matanzas]. We saw a big owl in a tree. We rode on a boat to the fort. I climbed up a big ladder. We could see for 13 1/2 miles. The ranger told us about the soldiers at the fort, that they only needed 2 teeth to be soldiers. Now we will get our stamps.</blockquote><br />
Ft. Matanzas & the Castillo de San Marcos are a great day trip from the St. Augustine area. As with all NPS units, they are staffed by helpful rangers & volunteers that really know their stuff, and will help you learn about something you didn't know anything about to begin with!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-58858864434007303012011-02-06T09:15:00.000-08:002011-02-06T09:15:00.403-08:00Bryce Canyon National Park<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Jake & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>June 2008<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca">www.nps.gov/brca</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Utah<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: $</b>25 per car<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Overnight trip as part of Western US Roadtrip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>Bryce Canyon is a very unique place. Located in southern Utah, it is part of the Colorado Plateau (which also includes several other national parks and scenic areas in the Southwest). Bryce is a natural amphitheater full of rock spires and formations called hoodoos; what really sets Bryce Canyon apart, however, is its gorgeous colors -- reds, oranges, yellows, even purples. Bryce is named for an early settler, Ebenezer Bryce, who commented that the canyon was "a hell of a place to lose a cow."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryce Canyon Amphitheater</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a name='more'></a>The first thing you will encounter, right before entering the park, is a giant eating/shopping/dining/lodging complex called Ruby's. Ruby's has a campground (including teepees!), motels, restaurants, laundromat, shopping, horseback rides, and a ton more. While a little too commercial for our tastes, many people really enjoy this area. It is literally just a few hundred yards from the entrance to Bryce Canyon, and is on the park shuttle line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GG6nKROgPgXT48ZMFJw_caCDPcRPTFaLDviADYO1pUmYnwCd-zOkpEwCHSls1uT3MgiN_V_O1Ukwk3bOtf0QcmtVAyJnQRgOMyPzcw6WXtizdQ0XBQkumz0mePeSk7X4fVsypvFU39Dq/s1600/Shuttle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GG6nKROgPgXT48ZMFJw_caCDPcRPTFaLDviADYO1pUmYnwCd-zOkpEwCHSls1uT3MgiN_V_O1Ukwk3bOtf0QcmtVAyJnQRgOMyPzcw6WXtizdQ0XBQkumz0mePeSk7X4fVsypvFU39Dq/s1600/Shuttle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryce Canyon Shuttle (NPS Photo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the really nice things about Bryce Canyon is the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/shuttle.htm">shuttle system</a>. During the summer months, park shuttles make the trip up and down the park road, pretty much all day long. It is free to ride the shuttles, allowing you to park your car and leave the driving to someone else. The great thing about this is that you only have to worry about finding a place to park once! Also, it leaves you free to look at the scenery. Bryce can be very crowded, and parking is limited, so I highly encourage you to utilize the shuttle system. Jackson thought riding the shuttle was great fun. <br />
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The Visitor Center for Bryce Canyon is located right inside the main entrance, and it is a good Visitor Center, including a small theater to watch a movie about the canyon and its history. This is also where the backcountry office is located, should you be interested in planning any backcountry camping trips or extended hikes.<br />
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Bryce Canyon has two developed campgrounds, including the Sunset Campground where we stayed (see below). There is also a lodge, restaurant, and shower/laundry facility operated by the park concessionaire. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake & Jackson check out the view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmlP3PFMI/AAAAAAAAAeo/N1eIzM4KAvU/s1600/DSC00836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmlP3PFMI/AAAAAAAAAeo/N1eIzM4KAvU/s320/DSC00836.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening is approaching in the Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The weather we encountered at Bryce in June was absolutely perfect -- 70s/80s, sunny and little to no humidity. However, it can get very hot here in the summer. We did several things in Bryce Canyon, including taking the park shuttle all through the park to view the canyon from many viewpoints. Sunset, in particular, is spectacular. <br />
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We hiked quite a bit in Bryce Canyon, including the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop. This trail, 2.3 miles in length, is easy to reach from the Sunset Point overlook. It also a very popular trail (read: crowded at times) and so it is important to get an early start, or wait until late in the evening before beginning the hike. The hike begins with a steep, switchbacked descent into the canyon, eventually winding its way through some of the more spectacular hoodoos. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmnUZeS_I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/LkGKgBRXCms/s1600/DSC00845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmnUZeS_I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/LkGKgBRXCms/s320/DSC00845.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switchbacking down the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmnWwz5tI/AAAAAAAAAfU/DwwFmW0AeZo/s1600/DSC00846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmnWwz5tI/AAAAAAAAAfU/DwwFmW0AeZo/s320/DSC00846.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the sandstone hoodoos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmoPM8sPI/AAAAAAAAAfg/ADZ0brT4cJ4/s1600/DSC00849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmoPM8sPI/AAAAAAAAAfg/ADZ0brT4cJ4/s320/DSC00849.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking through the canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At a few points on this trail, you come to some tunnels carved out of the sandstone, as well as some places where the canyon walls are very close together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmsolVT7I/AAAAAAAAAnI/id-bmGgMd24/s1600/DSC00868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmsolVT7I/AAAAAAAAAnI/id-bmGgMd24/s320/DSC00868.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake in one of the tunnels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmtCGqb7I/AAAAAAAAAnM/Teyu9GxPy10/s1600/DSC00871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmtCGqb7I/AAAAAAAAAnM/Teyu9GxPy10/s320/DSC00871.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake near the hoodoos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of course, what goes down must come back up, and the hike ends with a steep trip back up the canyon. To make this trail a loop, you'll have to walk along the rim trail to get back to Sunset Point....or you can catch the park shuttle!<br />
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Another hike we did, albeit much more strenous, was the Hat Shop trail. This trail is approximately 4 miles round trip and has virtually no shade -- please don't do this one during the heat of the day! The trail itself is interesting, but it takes you to an area known as the Hat Shop. The Hat Shop is an area of hoodoos where the sandstone spires have eroded but stronger stones are still on top of each of the hoodoos, resembling hats on stands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmxbaAIAI/AAAAAAAAAiY/3BqscbfRnZw/s1600/DSC00891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmxbaAIAI/AAAAAAAAAiY/3BqscbfRnZw/s320/DSC00891.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hat Shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmxoXLygI/AAAAAAAAAic/Wwz1QVqvd7w/s1600/DSC00892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmxoXLygI/AAAAAAAAAic/Wwz1QVqvd7w/s320/DSC00892.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of two of the "hats"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The trail is an out-and-back, meaning you come back the same way you came.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmv-upusI/AAAAAAAAAh0/LCar15qOQPw/s1600/DSC00883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmv-upusI/AAAAAAAAAh0/LCar15qOQPw/s320/DSC00883.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake hiking the Hat Shop trail with Jackson in the backpack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We also attended a Ranger Program at the Bryce Canyon Lodge....I don't even really remember what the program was about, but I tend to enjoy the Ranger programs no matter the topic. During summer, Ranger programs are offered several times a day. <br />
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Bryce Canyon is an excellent place to spend a few days exploring. We were here a total of 3 nights, which gave us a chance to have a fairly comprehensive visit to the park. Bryce is also very near to the Utah State Park of Kodachrome Basin, which I hear is excellent. And it's only a few hours from here to Zion National Park.<br />
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<u><b>Campground Review</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campground Stayed: </b>Sunset Campground</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>National Park Service</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>Some sites are available to reserve, although we were able to grab a first-come, first-served site with no difficulty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$15/night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water in the campground, but no showers or electric hookups.</div><b>Review: </b>Again, I really liked this campground. I tend to enjoy the no-frills campgrounds offered by the National Park Service as they are quiet and spacious. Our campsite had a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad; there was plenty of shade in our site. We were in a tent-only loop so didn't have to worry about RVs running generators. We were also on the end of the loop, so didn't really have neighbors, but even if we did, our site was fairly huge. We were able to walk to several hiking trails from our campground but it was a little far to walk to the lodge area with a 1 year old. Scenery-wise, this was not as scenic of a campground as we had in Grand Canyon or Arches, but it was very green and we did see some deer. I would definitely stay here again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWml5cYHoI/AAAAAAAAAe0/WX-ha5JDIu4/s1600/DSC00839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWml5cYHoI/AAAAAAAAAe0/WX-ha5JDIu4/s320/DSC00839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of deer from somewhere in our campground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-15739804863700396442011-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:002011-02-05T11:25:09.283-08:00Blue Ridge Parkway & Shenandoah National ParkWhen most people think of the National Parks in the United States, they picture the snow-capped Rockies of Grand Teton, the geysers of Yellowstone, or the Sierra Nevada in Yosemite. Although these parks are magnificent and deserving of a visit, the parks that lie closest to the most number of people are actually in the East. In this post, I'll outline Shenandoah National Park -- only about an hour from the major population center of Washington, DC. We'll also take a look at a road that provides an opportunity for Sunday driving at its best, the Blue Ridge Parkway.<br />
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<u><b>Shenandoah National Park</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny & Zach<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>June 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b>www.nps.gov/shen<br />
<b>Location: </b>Virginia<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: $</b>15 per car<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Drive-through (Wish I could have stayed longer!)<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>5 (including a special 75th Anniversary Stamp only available in 2011!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TU2fjiVThpI/AAAAAAAABdM/R8cM9YzGI3k/s1600/shenandoah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TU2fjiVThpI/AAAAAAAABdM/R8cM9YzGI3k/s1600/shenandoah.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving through Shenandoah</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Trip Report: </b>Shenandoah National Park encompasses the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains; the Blue Ridge is an old mountain chain, and years of erosion have worn them down to gentle peaks. To the east of the Blue Ridge lies the farmland of Eastern Virginia -- making for some terrific views. Shenandoah National Park is long and skinny, only a few miles wide but stretching 100 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Front Royal to Waynesboro. The Skyline Drive is the main park road, and travels the length of the park. Besides the scenic drive through the park, there are many things to do here: camping, hiking (the Appalachian Trail runs through the length of the park), viewing nature, learning about history, and so on. Shenandoah benefited heavily from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) efforts in the 1930s, and several of the park's buildings are remnants from that period. In addition, this is one of the few outdoor/hiking parks where you can witness the changes history has wrought -- the Lewis Mountain area was originally built as a segregated area for African Americans. Even more interesting, and something I really want to do someday, is stay in a hiker's cabin in the park run by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club :) However, on this trip, all we were able to do was to drive through the park.<br />
<a name='more'></a>The park road is well maintained and easy to reach from Front Royal, where we entered the park. It is only a few miles south of I-66 west of Washington, DC. Right after the entrance station, the road begins to climb pretty steeply, switchbacking up the mountains. Once you have gained the elevation, the park road is fairly flat, although with many twists and turns. The speed limit through the park is 35 miles per hour, and frequently this is too fast. Use the pullouts located several places along the Skyline Drive to let vehicles pass or to look at the scenery. Food and lodging is available at several places along the way, including at the Skyland Area, Big Meadows Area and Loft Mountain Area. The only ways out of the park (or into it, depending on your perspective) are at Front Royal at the northern end, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, or Rockfish Gap at the southern end. Rockfish Gap is also the place where you can begin your drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway.<br />
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The day we were in Shenandoah, the weather was a bit misty and that prevented some of the great views. Zach actually slept through the whole drive (we had been up late at a wedding the night before) but I enjoyed driving the mountain roads with my window down. Every few miles, we'd pass a sign post for a hiking trail, and I was itching to stop and go for a walk, but we had many miles to drive that day so I wasn't able to. However, I will be returning to the area sometime in the near future and I hope to do some hiking and/or camping. This park would be spectacular in the fall. I am told that there are many relatively easy hikes here, making this a great place to bring kids.<br />
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<u><b>Blue Ridge Parkway</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny <br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>May 2009<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/blri">www.nps.gov/blri</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Virginia & North Carolina<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>Free!<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Drive-through (Wish I could have stayed longer!)<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>2<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park at its north end with Great Smoky Mountain National Park at its south end. It is marked by stone mile markers every mile along its 469-mile length. The speed limit on the parkway is 45 mph, making this an ideal place to slow down and take in the scenery. There are hundreds of overlooks, hiking trails, picnic areas and so forth along the route. There are also a couple of museums at various points. I have driven just the small bit closest to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, but I think a fabulous vacation would be to spend a few days in Great Smoky, drive the Blue Ridge up to Virginia, and then spend a few days in Shenandoah National Park. There is a ton of history in this area as well. A great resource for planning this type of trip is Lonely Planet's Guide to Great Smoky Mountain & Shenandoah National Parks. Again, I look forward to revisiting this route someday in the near future!Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-43385147080940480142011-02-04T09:13:00.000-08:002011-02-04T09:13:00.281-08:00Badlands National Park<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Jake & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>June 2007<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/badl">www.nps.gov/badl</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>South Dakota<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>$15 per car<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip as part of Western US Road Trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>I have actually been to the Badlands three times -- once as a kid, once on my way out to work in Yellowstone, and once in 2007 on the way back from our Western US trip. In 2007, we basically just took a scenic drive through the park; on the other visits, however, I was able to hike around a little bit.<br />
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Badlands National Park combines strange landscape formations with a large prairie ecosystem, providing an interesting look at both geology and nature. There are also fossils to be found here (hmmm, will have to remember that the next time I take Jackson out west). In certain places, you can even climb up on some of the weird rock formations -- as a kid, I found this highly entertaining!<br />
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The easiest way to visit the Badlands is to drive the main park road, which takes about 60-90 minutes, depending on traffic. It's just a quick drive off of I-90 to get to the park, so even if you don't have a lot of time, you can still at least get a taste of what this park has to offer. Mount Rushmore is only 100 miles west of the Badlands, so you could easily combine the two into a day trip. However, with more time, you could take in a ranger program, or do some hiking around on the rock formations. The Notch Trail, in particular, can give a good glimpse of the canyon and rock formations in a relatively short period of time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsGmNtfjTG-r9HqhN61FoJFMJjIGyqXCD0WQvLcVHYC9FDCdfZT0QVgKAbDN6CUah5uZA0wfm6ORprWm2gIHsuv7c2iTHKEWrOA1mbOts_UjNRpyCgGbtXhkssLqtEEcCeABdgP2xOXZt/s1600/badlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsGmNtfjTG-r9HqhN61FoJFMJjIGyqXCD0WQvLcVHYC9FDCdfZT0QVgKAbDN6CUah5uZA0wfm6ORprWm2gIHsuv7c2iTHKEWrOA1mbOts_UjNRpyCgGbtXhkssLqtEEcCeABdgP2xOXZt/s320/badlands.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badlands Scenery</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>As with all places in the prairie, the Badlands can be very hot in summer and cold and snowy in the winter -- plan accordingly! There is also only one place in the park for lodging and dining -- the Cedar Pass Lodge. There are two campgrounds in the park, one developed and one primitive. I have not camped in the Badlands, however.<br />
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One of the other fun things to do -- which can also be done from your vehicle -- is watching wildlife. The Badlands are home to coyotes, bison, bighorn sheep, bobcats, prairie dogs, foxes and much more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wokffmw_5SiquUWMkD7FzDaP9W6w18QKyjYUNwC9cow5kiXKQ_0AYJ26UC9lE-96qDfe6UTMRwtnKGH641EzRVlDFVaRdfFi2wfah4eRRv4CZP-DTAYiwJpuLRRQkodyt-6H4dsQiokT/s1600/bison.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wokffmw_5SiquUWMkD7FzDaP9W6w18QKyjYUNwC9cow5kiXKQ_0AYJ26UC9lE-96qDfe6UTMRwtnKGH641EzRVlDFVaRdfFi2wfah4eRRv4CZP-DTAYiwJpuLRRQkodyt-6H4dsQiokT/s320/bison.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Bison, symbol of the American West</td></tr>
</tbody></table>All in all, this is a great park in which to spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days. I look forward to visiting again and discovering some of the additional activities in the park.<br />
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Interesting sidenote: the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, dedicated to teaching about the Cold War, is located just a few miles from Badlands National Park. You can take a tour of the missile launch center and everything -- hard to believe I missed this the last time I was at Badlands. FMI: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/mimi">www.nps.gov/mimi</a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-31284857740469015472011-02-03T09:10:00.000-08:002011-02-03T17:43:47.057-08:00Washington, DC Parks & Monuments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdATwa5qboSewPcJBqFSIccB-DSvdDKkp21OBeB-FaZtlsIYxlOPobSVoMsw39_dgf-dMfpYp71uI-_X0EA-_X7-xum0ghYFVfHvHWPdV6zPGxUjS8U7cRjlCFeXwiYBnE4xjyqflh5D2v/s1600/DSC01660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>In this post, I'll cover several of the memorials & monuments in Washington, DC. Please note, these are not ALL of the units covered by the National Park Service in Washington, DC -- only the ones I have been to recently. The great thing about all of these sites is that they are completely free, and many of them are very close to each other -- making it possible to see many of them in one day.<br />
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<u><b>Arlington House</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Steve & Deb<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>February, 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/arho">www.nps.gov/arho</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (just outside Washington, DC)<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>Free!<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Daytrip while visiting Washington, DC<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>1<br />
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The Arlington House, located on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, is a memorial to Robert E. Lee. Lee, the famous Civil War general who fought for the Confederacy, lived in the house before the war; it had actually belonged to his wife's family. After the Civil War, the decision was made to bury the Federal dead literally in Lee's backyard, rendering it unusable. Arlington House is located at the top of a steep hill; needless to say, the views of the city are quite stunning from the front porch. When I last visited, the National Park Service was working on restoring Arlington House, and so it was empty of furniture. Jackson has been here, too, although not on my most recent trip. He was relatively underwhelmed, but enjoyed Arlington National Cemetery overall.<br />
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<u><b>George Washington National Memorial Parkway</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny<br />
<u><b> </b></u><b>Date of Visit: </b>February, 2010<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/gwmp">www.nps.gov/gwmp</a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Virginia<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>Free!<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Drive-through<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>3<br />
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The George Washington National Memorial Parkway is a historic roadway, opened in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth. It runs from Washington's plantation, Mount Vernon, to the Great Falls of the Potomac. It passes many sites along the way. Really, it's kind of just a pretty road to drive between Mt. Vernon and Washington, DC. But it does make you appreciate that Mt. Vernon was a lot "further" away from DC by carriage than by car! Drive the parkway if you're going that way, but don't go out of your way to do it.<br />
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<u><b>National Mall & Memorial Parks</b></u><br />
<b>Players: </b>Jenny, Zach & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit: </b>October 2009<br />
<b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.nps.gov/nacc">www.nps.gov/nacc</a><u><b> </b></u><br />
<b>Location: </b>Washington, DC<br />
<b>Entrance Fee: </b>Free!<br />
<b>Type of Trip: </b>Day trip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available: </b>7<br />
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The National Mall & Memorial Parks includes a bunch of sites operated by the NPS, including the National Mall, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans' Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Most of these monuments and memorials are located within a quick walking distance of each other on the National Mall itself; a couple (Jefferson Memorial and FDR Memorial) are a little further afield. Honestly, these monuments and memorials are something that every American should see at once in his or her lifetime.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nugQjvyI6_1Nak-VQwDphTE_pIf4Zwk4WkXx-kur2poMxrWaaNskXQT9vlK1lj5TrB7BGpojCTiB75VBD2HVchhuXOTSfgxnfCtapY9xZVcFSFJ2fuBjRyXbnhnvPGZTy7VewDWi-78E/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nugQjvyI6_1Nak-VQwDphTE_pIf4Zwk4WkXx-kur2poMxrWaaNskXQT9vlK1lj5TrB7BGpojCTiB75VBD2HVchhuXOTSfgxnfCtapY9xZVcFSFJ2fuBjRyXbnhnvPGZTy7VewDWi-78E/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Washington Monument from in front of Lincoln Memorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Washington Monument is the only monument that requires lining up and/or purchasing an advance ticket to be able to enter. You can get your tickets at <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/">www.recreation.gov</a>. All of the rest of the monuments and memorials are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be toured for as long or as short of a time frame as you'd like to visit. I did notice on our last trip that the NPS has started doing cell phone tours of some of the monuments (I noticed it at the Lincoln Memorial); basically, you dial a certain number and then follow the prompts or push a certain number displayed on a sign to get your own personal tour of the different memorials. Ranger programs are also available at certain times of day.<br />
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My favorite of the memorials are the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial is a fitting tribute to (in my opinion) the greatest president that the United States has ever known. It is simple in its design, yet moving to many who visit. Lincoln's two greatest speeches -- the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address -- are carved in stone on either side of the giant marble statue. From the top of the Lincoln Memorial, you have great views down the mall. If you pay attention and look for it, you can find the spot on the steps where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech. It's amazing to me to look out on the mall from this spot and think about how many people crowded together to hear his speech that day. Jackson asked a lot of questions about Abraham Lincoln and now remembers him as the man who's on the back of the penny.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Lincoln inside the memorial</td></tr>
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The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial is another very moving site. Again, it's very simple in its design but what always strikes me is the sheer volume of names carved on the wall -- and every name represents a person who lost their life in defense of our county, in a very unpopular war. Family members still leave notes, flowers, and tokens at the wall. These items are collected by the National Park Service and stored. If you are looking for a particular name on the wall, there are registers that can help you find it. The other thing that always stands out to me when visiting this memorial is how somber and quiet people are when they walk its length; it's an unspoken but almost universally observed sign of respect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBiYS4Qm78k3Qf705h8OttZ2NJ_H9QmAY5X5ud9IqFaNKodt9RfxEzZCwrh6bA05h1ptopkfmeycbNhlAeVdPaQuXWwl4Eg5LWWGc1Lk8ujW2WqgFF-edQsLmYNbfzzZE5PebveR5Jqva/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBiYS4Qm78k3Qf705h8OttZ2NJ_H9QmAY5X5ud9IqFaNKodt9RfxEzZCwrh6bA05h1ptopkfmeycbNhlAeVdPaQuXWwl4Eg5LWWGc1Lk8ujW2WqgFF-edQsLmYNbfzzZE5PebveR5Jqva/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vietnam Veterans' Memorial</td></tr>
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The National Mall has long been considered the "Nation's Front Yard," and remains a gathering place for people to this day. A walk from end to end will take you some time, but it's worth it to see all of the monuments and tributes to our experimental nation.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-80832883330362520202011-02-02T09:10:00.000-08:002011-02-02T09:10:00.799-08:00Arches National Park<b>Players:</b> Jenny, Jake & Jackson<br />
<b>Date of Visit:</b> May 2007<br />
<b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch">www.nps.gov/arch</a><br />
<b>Location:</b> Utah<br />
<b>Entrance Fee:</b> $10 per car<br />
<b>Type of Trip:</b> Overnight Trip as part of Western US National Parks Roadtrip<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available:</b> 1<br />
<b>Trip Report: </b>This was Jackson's first national park, and the first stop on a 3-week roadtrip through the Western United States that we took in 2007. Arches National Park is located in southern Utah, in the desolate rock/canyon section of that state. Arches is just a few miles outside of Moab, UT and a few miles from Canyonlands National Park (which we did not visit for some reason). This means that Arches can get very hot in the summer and snowy/icy in the winter. Arches National Park protects some of the fantastic red sandstone arches, natural bridges, and hoodoos found in this area.<br />
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One of the great things about Arches National Park is that it is relatively small, making it an easy park to visit in one day. However, the colors at sunrise/sunset are unbelievable, and the park gates actually close at night, so only registered campers get the luxury of doing early-morning hikes in the park. Due to it's small size, most of the trails at Arches are relatively short and somewhat easy, making this a great park to test out some hiking gear or to take small children out on the trail. We hiked every trail in the park, except for the Devil's Garden Primitive Loop (7 miles is a little far to hike with a kid in your backpack) and the Fiery Furnace. The Fiery Furnace requires reservations because it is a ranger-guided hike, and there were no reservations available for the days we were there. However, you can now make reservations for this hike on www.recreation.gov, something that I would do if you are interested in the hike.<br />
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We spent 2.5 days in Arches, and really felt like we had a good tour of the park. The first day, we arrived just in time to set up camp and eat before it started to pour down rain (more on the campground in a minute). The second day we spent hiking to Delicate Arch and around the hoodoos towards the front of the park; on Day 3, we completed the trails at the back of the park. I will note that there is only one road that leads into/out of the park, and it can get quite crowded during the peak visitation months.<br />
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Hiking among the different rock formations is really quite incredible. They all have creative names, which are very apparent when you see the formations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmPbZ5_MI/AAAAAAAAAYM/eXksfm_E6TA/s1600/DSC00739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWmPbZ5_MI/AAAAAAAAAYM/eXksfm_E6TA/s320/DSC00739.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson takes a break in front of Balanced Rock</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landscape Arch</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've seen a Utah license plate, you've seen Delicate Arch, arguably the most famous arch in the park. The trail to reach Delicate Arch is quite neat, since you have to follow cairns right over some of the slickrock. We did this trail very early in the morning and had the trail almost to ourselves -- quite a rarity, I'm told.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail to Delicate Arch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWlmD9yiNI/AAAAAAAAAJM/kBubjB3I6Xg/s1600/DSC00716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4DDV83-flGw/TUWlmD9yiNI/AAAAAAAAAJM/kBubjB3I6Xg/s320/DSC00716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the trail to Delicate Arch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicate Arch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the other neat things about Arches is the human history of the area as well. We were able to see some neat petroglyphs, right near the parking area of Delicate Arch.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient rock drawings</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, we really enjoyed Arches. We spent enough time in the park that we didn't feel as though we were rushed and we got to see everything we wanted to see. The weather -- this was in late May -- was quite nice; it rained on us the first night but then it was in the upper 60s/lower 70s and very low humidity the rest of the time. Arches has also opened a relatively new Visitor's Center that has a short movie about the park and its formation. Jackson seemed to enjoy Arches, although he wasn't talking at the time so I"m not really sure. We'll have to go back sometime so he can be an Arches Junior Ranger!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other things to consider if you visit: there is no food service, gas or hotel/motel lodging in the park. Make sure to bring a picnic or check out Moab for places to sleep or eat. Also, it gets very hot here in the summer. Make sure to bring and drink plenty of water. Rock climbing, biking, and backcountry travel/camping are allowed in the park; in fact, Moab is famous for this type of activity. Be sure to stop at a ranger station for more information.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b>Campground Review</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Campground Stayed: </b>Devils Garden Campground (only campground in the park)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u><b> </b></u><b>Campground Run by: </b>National Park Service</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Available to Reserve?: </b>Yes, and I strongly recommend you do so</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Cost per night: </b>$20/night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Other notes: </b>There are flush toilets and water in the campground, but no showers or electric hookups.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Review: </b>I really liked this campground. It is very small, with only about 50 sites, so reserving ahead is essential. The campground was completely booked the nights we were there. We are tenters, so I can't really comment on sites big enough for RVs, but our site was great. We had a fire ring and a picnic table, and million-dollar views. The sites are quite sandy, which makes for comfortable tent sleeping. There aren't very many trees, so the sites are not really private at all, even though they are quite large. The bathrooms were clean and since the campground is small, they are not far from any of the sites. The campground also has a small amphitheater where the rangers present campfire programs....highly recommended! I would definitely stay in this campground again.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campsite at Devils Garden Campground in Arches</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out my tent in the morning.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For More Information on Arches:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/arch">Official NPS Website: www.nps.gov/arch </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Campground/Fiery Furnace Reservations: <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/"> www.recreation.gov</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Information on Moab including hotel information: <a href="http://www.discovermoab.com/">www.discovermoab.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Information on nearby Canyonlands National Park: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cany">www.nps.gov/cany</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-48296066388202765492011-02-01T16:03:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:31:20.388-08:00Working for a Park ConcessionaireIn the summer of 2005, I decided I wanted a break from the "real world" and headed out to Yellowstone National Park to work for the park concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts. A concessionaire is a for-profit company that has an exclusive contract with the National Park Service to provide food, lodging, tours, entertainment, and so on to the visitors of the park. Many of the National Park Service units have at least one concessionaire on their property (such as Eastern National, which runs many of the gift shops at other parks). Xanterra is one of the larger companies, with several properties in Yellowstone as well as Zion National Park, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and others. Every season, they hire thousands of "seasonals;" workers interested in working for a particular heavy period of visitation. In Yellowstone, the main season is summer; in other parks, it might be winter. Xanterra also has several "permanents," who work both the summer and winter season in Yellowstone, or year-round at their headquarters in Gardiner, Montana. Most of the seasonals are college kids on summer break, international workers who come for an experience or retirees. Many seasonals come back year after year to work in the park. It's relatively easy to get a job as a seasonal in Yellowstone or one of Xanterra's other properties. Here, then, are the pros and cons of working for a park concessionaire.<br />
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<u>Pros</u><br />
<ul><li>You get to spend a season living and working in one of the most beautiful places on earth. What's more, most of the various units of the concessionaire are pretty good about giving you consistent days off every week, and letting you work early shift on your Friday and late shift on your Monday -- essentially giving you 2 full days and 2 half days every weekend to explore.</li>
<li>It's easy to get a job. Just go to the Xanterra website (www.xanterra.com) and fill out an application. Assuming you aren't a criminal and are at least 18, chances are you'll get hired.</li>
<li>There are many different types of jobs you could do. I did Food & Beverage management. Food & Beverage and Housekeeping tend to hire the most people, but you can also be a tour guide, a concierge, or plan employee trips.</li>
<li>Speaking of employee trips, there are recreation centers and outings planned just for Xanterra employees. What's more, you get a discount on lodging, camping, stuff at the gift shops, restaurants, and so on.</li>
<li>Food and lodging are easy. Xanterra payroll-deducts a set amount each week to cover your lodging (dormitory-style, shared bedroom and bathroom) and meals. To eat, you just show up at the right time at the Employee Dining Room and show your badge. You can even get a sack lunch to go if you are going hiking. There is also an employee pub. Also, laundry is free.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IV7ZJVWRH9o/TVnd4XHbWiI/AAAAAAAABig/odZ2o5VrtV8/s1600/bitterroot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IV7ZJVWRH9o/TVnd4XHbWiI/AAAAAAAABig/odZ2o5VrtV8/s320/bitterroot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bitterroot Dorm at Old Faithful. My window is on the second floor, second room from the right.</td></tr>
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<ul><li>You get to meet people from all over the world. Many of the seasonals are from Asia, Eastern Europe and South America; they've come here on a working holiday to get an experience. I also met people from all over the United States.</li>
<li>Many of the activities you can engage in are completely free, such as hiking and fishing (assuming you have the right gear/license/permit). </li>
</ul><u>Cons</u><br />
<ul><li>It really doesn't pay very much. After your room/board are taken out, you aren't left with much more than spending money. If you don't have any bills or don't need to save up giant piles of cash, this is ok. Probably not a good thing for someone with a mortgage at home.<u> </u> </li>
<li>You have to share a room with a stranger, and a bathroom with at least three other strangers. This didn't really bother me as I have lived in college housing for several years, but there are times when privacy would have been nice.</li>
<li>Some of the seasonals are "interesting," to say the least. Some of the dorms can become quite frat-house-like in the evenings, and underage drinking/drug use happens quite frequently among the seasonals. That's not my scene, so I list this under the cons.</li>
<li>If you aren't bringing a car, you are at a major disadvantage, at least in Yellowstone. There is no public transport in the park, and hitchhiking is unreliable. You need a car, or a friend with a car.</li>
<li>People tend to quit/get fired as the season goes along, so by the end of the season, you will probably be working a lot of hours. This could be good for your bank account, however. Also, if you complete the entire season, you get a money bonus.</li>
<li>The work is not the most interesting thing in the world. I worked in food service at a cafeteria, as a front of the house manager. Most days it was fine....some days it was hell. I was on my feet from 5:30 am until 2:30 pm every day. </li>
<li>There is very little internet/cell phone access in the park. This bothered me a lot at first, but by the third or fourth week, I didn't really miss it. There is a house phone in all the dorms so people can call you or you can call them using a phone card.</li>
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All in all, would I do it again? Yeah, in a heartbeat. I might have timed it a little differently, but it was worth it. I got to know Yellowstone like it was my own backyard, and in a way, it will always be "my park."Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-65841076531520041832011-01-31T10:42:00.000-08:002011-01-31T10:50:21.925-08:00Appalachian National Scenic Trail<b>Players:</b> Jenny<br />
<b>Date of Visit:</b> Several, but most recently in May of 2009 in Great Smoky Mountain National Park<br />
<b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/appa">www.nps.gov/appa</a><br />
<b>Location:</b> From Georgia to Maine! Trail Headquarters is in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia<br />
<b>Entrance Fee:</b> None for the trail itself, although some access is via state parks, national parks or other lands requiring an entrance fee.<br />
<b>Type of Trip:</b> Day Trips/Section Hikes<br />
<b>Park Passport Stamps Available:</b> 1<br />
<b>Review: </b> Stretching 2,175 from North Georgia to the wilds of Maine, the Appalachian Trail works its way up (or down, depending on which direction you want to go) the spine of the Appalachian Mountains; it passes through 14 different states over its length. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is the granddaddy of the long-distance hiking trails in the United States; it was completed in 1937. Hundreds of people attempt to hike it from end-to-end during one season, usually taking 3-4 months to complete the hike. It is a true wilderness trail, marked by white blazes and rarely passing through towns, requiring distance hikers to carry supplies with them or arrange for resupply drops along the way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_pWKznbo0d5cc7asWFqkZWjTu_BEyH-ykOyPIozfROkAVN6iNwoo7QPi6VRSwDF7Tvy0pJJs2EfE7yiyE7YfN4udT_fk3E2m7vxRaZKxujkBlJ9-zNIu_gsM7K7beGEjhUmyvCaVZMcU/s1600/AT+white+blaze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_pWKznbo0d5cc7asWFqkZWjTu_BEyH-ykOyPIozfROkAVN6iNwoo7QPi6VRSwDF7Tvy0pJJs2EfE7yiyE7YfN4udT_fk3E2m7vxRaZKxujkBlJ9-zNIu_gsM7K7beGEjhUmyvCaVZMcU/s320/AT+white+blaze.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">White Blaze along the AT</div><br />
Although I would love to hike the entire distance of the AT, so far I have managed only several miles -- including a few miles in each Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Shenandoah National Park, as well as the approach trail to Springer Mountain from Amicalola State Park in Georgia (which I will focus on in this post).<br />
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In January of 2009, I decided to make a trip up to Georgia to hike the approach to the Appalachian Trail. The trouble with the Appalachian Trail is getting there; the southern end -- at Springer Mountain in Georgia -- lies several miles by trail from the nearest parking lot. The Georgia State Park system maintains the Approach Trail as a part of Amicalola State Park (entrance fee $5, there's a Visitor's Center and camping available in developed campgrounds); from the parking lot at the bottom of the park, its 8.5 miles by trail before you even reach the start of the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail. In his fabulous book <i>A Walk in the Woods, </i>author Bill Bryson (an Iowan!) describes the approach:<br />
<blockquote><i>The route led down into a wooded valley with a chuckling stream edged with brittle ice, which the path followed for perhaps half a mile before taking us steeply up into denser woods. This was, it quickly became evident, the base of the first big hill, Frosty Mountain, and it was immediately taxing. (</i>From<i> A Walk in the Woods</i>, p. 35) </blockquote><br />
Bryson wasn't kidding. I was in reasonable shape at the time, carrying only a daypack and hiking in cool weather (it was January) and this was a pretty hard hike. Right from the beginning, you are climbing and climbing in elevation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdATwa5qboSewPcJBqFSIccB-DSvdDKkp21OBeB-FaZtlsIYxlOPobSVoMsw39_dgf-dMfpYp71uI-_X0EA-_X7-xum0ghYFVfHvHWPdV6zPGxUjS8U7cRjlCFeXwiYBnE4xjyqflh5D2v/s1600/DSC01660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdATwa5qboSewPcJBqFSIccB-DSvdDKkp21OBeB-FaZtlsIYxlOPobSVoMsw39_dgf-dMfpYp71uI-_X0EA-_X7-xum0ghYFVfHvHWPdV6zPGxUjS8U7cRjlCFeXwiYBnE4xjyqflh5D2v/s320/DSC01660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beginning of Approach Trail to AT</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF2ku4ibfzqbyMWR59uF_M7-W-DquvQHRcAK_Iun2vdDGZXydN8FsjpCvb05tRv4P6QJXL0a87ZAXEB3RK5M_tP4TsfkVcTppvF1aJYAaHx7cYa6778HewWK4C-4QbjnelCNlko5PUXKu/s1600/DSC01661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF2ku4ibfzqbyMWR59uF_M7-W-DquvQHRcAK_Iun2vdDGZXydN8FsjpCvb05tRv4P6QJXL0a87ZAXEB3RK5M_tP4TsfkVcTppvF1aJYAaHx7cYa6778HewWK4C-4QbjnelCNlko5PUXKu/s320/DSC01661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Frozen waterfall along the Approach Trail</div><br />
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After about 7 miles by trail, there is a backpacker's shelter -- a three-sided wooden building designed for sleeping. There are literally hundreds of these shelters scattered throughout the AT and are designed for thru-hikers to use on an end-to-end hike. You cannot reserve a shelter; they are strictly first-come, first-served and can fill up during thru-hiking season. When I was there, only a trail maintenance crew was using the shelter to grab a bite to eat. There is also a picnic table, pit toilet, and water source nearby.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-3nN78S5gdb0xiM-P8Y5293sVUcuTP0zY3yjYIZbUv-8ro6S0Dkj9dQomjotarNufSgatTaeOgUJ95foI1yIj75n6nd-ktDRzqkQud85-arvozOy5ZRylOZUyssCcmW10lHl4Wcso52a/s1600/black+mountain+gap+shelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-3nN78S5gdb0xiM-P8Y5293sVUcuTP0zY3yjYIZbUv-8ro6S0Dkj9dQomjotarNufSgatTaeOgUJ95foI1yIj75n6nd-ktDRzqkQud85-arvozOy5ZRylOZUyssCcmW10lHl4Wcso52a/s320/black+mountain+gap+shelter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black Mountain Shelter</div><br />
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I was really pooped by the time I got to the Black Mountain shelter, having hiked 7 miles in about 2.5 hours. However, I stopped and had a bite to eat; I was contemplating turning back but the trail maintenance crew urged me to go on ahead to Springer Mountain. I was really glad I did. The next 1.5 miles were pretty easy, except for the final push up Springer Mountain itself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23d7bl7mftuFhyphenhyphenyGM2U80y1cVlbd1qlAA0dA-IUzp1zf3LKOAbGZ7tIdaKDvLQzGqWGccw8FH3AP2CUg2xK0npmwQNVgUMSS9eDnDmVGGiXNQcHgIv9xmIGYO6tnCnIASP-Jrcq_UBG5/s1600/DSC01668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv23d7bl7mftuFhyphenhyphenyGM2U80y1cVlbd1qlAA0dA-IUzp1zf3LKOAbGZ7tIdaKDvLQzGqWGccw8FH3AP2CUg2xK0npmwQNVgUMSS9eDnDmVGGiXNQcHgIv9xmIGYO6tnCnIASP-Jrcq_UBG5/s320/DSC01668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View from Springer Mountain</div><br />
At the top of Springer Mountain are two plaques, one commemorating the trail itself and one marking the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxcAfPHPhKRMPxigwi1rZMrhQDNDfiGpW50jK4m5zxQvkVCyRvX1wzaMZqul2JvgivI38TIFm0Ly7C4wlGEwLRZbdtd4GDu_Xi4_3iqAqj0BgIXGzvjal6Gy-_3xNi_89hPFaF47tlSzh/s1600/DSC01669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxcAfPHPhKRMPxigwi1rZMrhQDNDfiGpW50jK4m5zxQvkVCyRvX1wzaMZqul2JvgivI38TIFm0Ly7C4wlGEwLRZbdtd4GDu_Xi4_3iqAqj0BgIXGzvjal6Gy-_3xNi_89hPFaF47tlSzh/s320/DSC01669.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZZqnls4kPDcYI4rinuf_7KuFVbyfmX2tpuBe8OxpP3vuHNq7_4KiJvLE_c0gRyR_rEuLJktTAKIlLrZ9HP6-WovJoV9W47XVSyxfgfo7LUDNZesqVHP9V0tQfp_GJoD6iMViy3vHOYZE/s1600/DSC01670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZZqnls4kPDcYI4rinuf_7KuFVbyfmX2tpuBe8OxpP3vuHNq7_4KiJvLE_c0gRyR_rEuLJktTAKIlLrZ9HP6-WovJoV9W47XVSyxfgfo7LUDNZesqVHP9V0tQfp_GJoD6iMViy3vHOYZE/s320/DSC01670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After a few pictures from the top of Springer Mountain, I decided to head back. The hike back was just as tough as the hike in, although I did have the added benefit of ending on a mile-long downhill slope back to the parking lot. The Visitor's Center was closing just as I reached the parking lot around 5 pm, and I was extremely tired, having hiked 17 miles in one day. Unfortunately, I found a flat tire on my car when I returned! Luckily, a Georgia State Parks ranger saw how tired I was and helped me put on the spare.<br />
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All in all, I'm glad I hiked up to Springer and I hope to complete more sections of the AT over the next several years. However, I think this is better done as an overnight hike, maybe including a stay at the <a href="http://hike-inn.com/default.asp">Len Foote Hike Inn</a>, a mountain lodge only accessible by foot. 17 miles is far to hike in one day when your legs aren't used to it!<br />
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For more information:<br />
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<a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls">Amicalola Falls State Park</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nps.gov/appa">National Park Service Page -- Appalachian Trail</a><br />
<a href="http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805859/k.BFA3/Home.htm">Appalachian Trail Conservatory</a>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-49081438091285203292011-01-30T18:11:00.000-08:002011-01-31T09:31:18.565-08:00Parks Visited as a Child, Part 2Continuing in this post, I'm going to outline the National Park Service Units I have only visited as a child with my family. I hope to re-visit most of these sites some day as my memories of many of them are quite hazy.<br />
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<b>Glacier National Park</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sisters<br />
Date of visit: Summer 1994?<br />
Website: www.nps.gov/glac<br />
Location: Montana<br />
Entrance Fee: $25 per car<br />
Type of Trip: Daytrip as part of Western US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 9<br />
Review: One of the "crown jewels" of the National Park system, Glacier National Park has attracted lots of attention in recent years because of the rapid shrinking of its namesake glaciers. The thing I remember most about Glacier was driving over Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50 mile road that is a feat of engineering through some of the most stunning alpine passes to be found on the American continent. I distinctly remember sitting in the backseat of the car on the passenger side and being able to look out my window straight down the side of the mountain....I didn't like that so much! I'm glad my dad is a good driver :) But I do remember the scenery on the drive. And I think we stopped at a chalet somewhere in the park, and it was snowing lightly -- a novel thing for the middle of summer for an Iowa girl. Glacier is on my list of parks to go back and hike ASAP.<br />
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<b>Great Sand Dunes National Park</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Jenny's cousin & Jenny's grandma<br />
Date of Visit: Summer 1996?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsa">www.nps.gov/grsa</a><br />
Location: Colorado<br />
Entrance Fee: $3 per adult<br />
Type of Trip: Daytrip while passing through Colorado on way to New Mexico<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve has the tallest sand dunes in North America. It is truly a unique experience to climb up sand dunes and slide down them right here in the United States. We stopped at this park on a trip to the Southwest with my grandma. My cousin and I had a great time here. It was really hot and I remember how hot the sand was on my feet. And it is much harder to climb up a sand dune than it appears! I look forward to taking Jackson here someday.<br />
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<b>Little Bighorn National Monument</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Carole, Steve & Jenny's sisters<br />
<b> </b>Date of visit: Summer 1994?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/libi">www.nps.gov/libi</a><br />
Location: Montana<br />
Entrance Fee: $10 per car<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of Western US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: Little Bighorn National Monument used to be known as Custer Battlefield, named after the inept but dashingly mustachioed George Armstrong Custer. In 1876, Custer, a Civil War veteran, decided that he would attack a Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho force nearly three times larger than his own. Needless to say, all five of the companies Custer commanded were killed to the last man, including Custer himself. The battlefield itself is covered with markers, white marble representing the places where the Federal soldiers fell, and red granite to represent the warriors. Many of the Federal soldiers are buried nearby in the cemetery. Mostly, I remember looking at all the markers all over the battlefield and wondering why war is ever a good idea.....that, and it was really windy out there. I admit that I don't really know too much of the history of the Indian Wars in the American West; will have to do some reading before I make it back to Little Bighorn.<br />
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<b>Mt. Rushmore </b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole, & Jenny's sisters<br />
Date of Visit: Several times<br />
Location: South Dakota<br />
Entrance Fee: Free, but it costs $11 to park<b> </b> <br />
Type of Trip: Day Trips<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: On the face of it (har de har har), Mount Rushmore is rather odd. I mean, there are four dead white guys' heads carved into the face of a mountain. However, upon closer inspection, Mount Rushmore is actually quite a feat of engineering and dedication, not to mention its location in quite a pretty area of the United States. The Black Hills are a place that sort of surprise you that they are there; coming from Iowa, you drive and drive and drive and drive across the emptiness that is South Dakota and then, all of a sudden, you are driving up pine-lined highways and looking out from the bluffs of the Black Hills. One of the things that I could not get over the first time I went to Mt Rushmore was how blue the sky appeared. I also remember learning all about Gutzon Borglum and his project of carving the faces into the mountain. It took more than 14 years for the project to be completed and Borglum actually died prior to its completion. The four presidents sculpted on the mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt; all were chosen for their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory. Originally, the figures were supposed to be full busts, but money ran out so only the heads were completed. The project was begun in 1927, and when you think that much of the sculpting was done via dynamite, the artistry and engineering become evident. In addition to the carving, there are hiking trails at Mount Rushmore -- one more reason why this is South Dakota's #1 tourist attraction.<br />
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<b>Petrified Forest National Park</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sister and grandparents<br />
<b> </b>Date of Visit: Summer 1988?<br />
Location: Arizona<br />
Entrance Fee: $10 per car<br />
Type of Trip: Day trip as a part of a family trip to California<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 4<br />
Review: Petrified Forest National Park preserves several trees that have been petrified, or turned into rocks. The petrified trees are situated in the colorfully-banded badlands of the Painted Desert. I remember thinking the trees that had turned into rocks were really cool, and I remember the vivid colors of the Painted Desert. My family, to save money, brought along picnics when we went on road trips. At the Painted Desert, we stopped for a picnic and our bread for PB&J turned to toast before we could even start to eat -- that is how hot and dry it is there in the summer! I bought one of my only souvenirs on the trip at the Petrified Forest, a piece of petrified wood (probably from somewhere else). That is all I really remember about this park.<br />
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<b>Yosemite National Park</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole, Jenny's sister & grandparents<br />
<b> </b>Date of Visit: Summer 1988<br />
Location: California<br />
Entrance Fee: $20 per car<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of a family trip to California<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 9<br />
Review: Of all the parks in the National Park System, Yosemite is the one I most long to go back to as an adult. It is here, high in the Sierra Nevada, that John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, and others began the promotion and lobby for the creation of the national parks system in the United States. Muir called the Sierra Nevada the "Range of Light" and I have a very vague recollection of why that would be so. I remember standing on the valley floor of Yosemite, looking up at the waterfall...and I have a very fuzzy memory of a picnic somewhere else in the park....and that's it. I know that Yosemite includes much, much more than just the Valley itself and I itch to return to do some real hiking in the high country.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-31579533115917234802011-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:002011-01-30T13:14:44.752-08:00Parks Visited as a Child, Part 1In this post and the next one, I'm going to outline the National Park Service Units I have only visited as a child with my family. I hope to re-visit most of these sites some day as my memories of many of them are quite hazy.<br />
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<b>Antietam National Battlefield</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sisters <br />
Date of Visit: Summer 1991?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/anti">www.nps.gov/anti</a><br />
Location: Maryland <br />
Entrance Fee: $4 per person or $6 per family<br />
Type of Trip: Day trip as part of Eastern US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 2<br />
Review: Antietam is the site of the single bloodiest battle in United States history, with over 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing after the battle on September 17, 1862. Honestly, I don't remember too much about this park. My dad, a history teacher for many years, had a great time traipsing around the battlefield and showing us different things. I must have been about 9 or 10 when we went, and the one thing that stuck out for me was walking the Bloody Lane and thinking about how many soldiers it would take to fill up the sunken road with bodies. I believe we also did a driving tour of the battlefield, which the website indicates is still available. I look forward to going back some day to do the walking tours via podcast!<br />
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<b>Assateague Island National Seashore</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sisters<br />
Date of visit: Summer 1991?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/asis">www.nps.gov/asis</a><br />
Location: Maryland <br />
Entrance Fee: $15 per car<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of Eastern US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 2<br />
Review: Again, not a park I remember a whole lot about. We went to Assateague because my sister Becca had read the book <i>Misty of Chincoteague </i>and its sequels and was really into horses at the time. I remember the weather being quite windy, chilly and foggy the day we were there. Mostly we just drove around. We did see lots of the island's famous horses. Again, a place I look forward to returning someday!<br />
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<b>Devil's Tower National Monument</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sisters<br />
Date of visit: Summer 1994?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/deto">www.nps.gov/deto</a><br />
Location: Wyoming<br />
Entrance fee: $10 per car<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of Western US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: I have a better memory of this park. In fact, I think I've been there twice, but I'm not 100% sure. The time I remember going was when I was 13 years old. One of the neat things about Devil's Tower is that you can see it from miles away, rising up from the flat eastern plains of Wyoming. It just kept getting bigger and bigger as we approached. We walked around the entire base of the monument, which I remember taking quite awhile. It is 1.3 miles around the base of the Tower, which took us awhile as my younger sister was only 3 years old at the time. My other sister enjoyed running around the path and yelling "speed bump!" as she found bumps in the pavement. Someone was climbing on the Tower while we were there, which I remember watching with awe. The other thing I remember really well about Devil's Tower was the color of the tower -- dark red rock against a bright blue sky. At the Visitor's Center, we read about the Native American legend of the tower; I remember hearing the Kiowa legend about a group of sisters that were trying to escape a bear. The bear was going to eat the sisters, and so they climbed on a tall rock. The Great Spirit made the rock grow to put the girls out of harm's reach; the bears claws slid down the side of the rock, making the grooves we can see on the tower now. The sisters, trapped on top, became the stars in the sky. I look forward to returning one day to really learn about the history of the place.<br />
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<b>Ford's Theater National Historic Site</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve & Jenny's sister<br />
Date of visit: March 1996<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/foth">www.nps.gov/foth</a><br />
Location: Washington, DC<br />
Entrance fee: Free, but uses a timed ticket system for entrance<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of Washington, DC trip. Also saw a play at Ford's Theatre<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: This, of course, is the place that President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in April of 1865. I remember watching the play here more than I remember visiting the theatre itself. The theatre is still a working professional theatre. We sat in the upper balcony to watch the play, and had a good view of the President's Box, where Lincoln had been shot. You can also tour the Petersen Boarding House, where Lincoln was taken after being shot and eventually died. I don't remember going there, and it's currently closed until later in 2011. Another one I need to revisit.<br />
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<b>Ft. Larned National Historic Site</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve, Carole & Jenny's sisters<br />
Date of visit: Summer 1994?<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fols">www.nps.gov/fols</a><b> </b><br />
Location: Kansas<br />
Entrance Fee: Free<br />
Type of trip: Day trip as part of Western US Epic Road Trip<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 2<br />
Review: This historic site on the Santa Fe Trail was a part of the system of forts set up to help regulate and patrol the Western frontier in the mid-19th century. I remember walking through the whole fort with my dad. We may have taken a guided tour for part or all of the fort. I don't really remember much else, except that it was really hot and sunny outside.<br />
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<b>Gettysburg National Military Park</b><br />
Players: Jenny, Steve & Jenny's sister<br />
Date of visit: March 1996<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.nps.gov/gett">www.nps.gov/gett<b> </b></a><br />
Location: Pennsylvania<br />
Entrance Fee: $10.50 per adult to visit the Visitor's Center & see the movie & exhibits, grounds free<br />
Type of Trip: Day trip as part of Trip to Washington, DC<br />
Park Passport Stamps Available: 1<br />
Review: Gettysburg marked the turning point in the Civil War. It was a much-needed Union victory, and sent the Confederate army back to Virginia. It also proved that Robert E. Lee, the celebrated commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, could make mistakes and be defeated. We visited Gettysburg as part of a school trip that my dad lead. I believe we hired a battlefield guide to ride on the school bus with us and point things out. We spent several hours at the battlefield, including a trip up to Little Round Top and Cemetery Ridge. I remember going to the battlefield fairly well, but it didn't really make much sense to me at the time as I only had the most basic knowledge of how the battle went and the importance of Gettysburg in the Civil War. I am very excited to return someday now that I have studied the battle in depth.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-26638796640595608972011-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:002011-01-30T13:12:45.410-08:00List of National Park Service Units (National Parks in BOLD)<table class="sortable wikitable" id="sortable_table_id_0"><tbody>
<tr><th width="50%"> Name<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units#"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> <th width="25%">Location<a class="sortheader" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units#"><span class="sortarrow"><img alt="↓" src="http://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/sort_none.gif" /></span></a></th> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_Bend_National_Military_Park" title="Horseshoe Bend National Military Park">Horseshoe Bend National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_River_Canyon_National_Preserve" title="Little River Canyon National Preserve">Little River Canyon National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Cave_National_Monument" title="Russell Cave National Monument">Russell Cave National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen_National_Historic_Site" title="Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site">Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Institute_National_Historic_Site" title="Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site">Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alagnak_Wild_River" title="Alagnak Wild River">Alagnak Wild River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniakchak_National_Monument" title="Aniakchak National Monument">Aniakchak National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniakchak_National_Preserve" title="Aniakchak National Preserve">Aniakchak National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Land_Bridge_National_Preserve" title="Bering Land Bridge National Preserve">Bering Land Bridge National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Krusenstern_National_Monument" title="Cape Krusenstern National Monument">Cape Krusenstern National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali_National_Park" title="Denali National Park">Denali National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali_National_Preserve" title="Denali National Preserve">Denali National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_of_the_Arctic_National_Park" title="Gates of the Arctic National Park">Gates of the Arctic National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_of_the_Arctic_National_Preserve" title="Gates of the Arctic National Preserve">Gates of the Arctic National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Bay_National_Park" title="Glacier Bay National Park">Glacier Bay National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Bay_National_Preserve" title="Glacier Bay National Preserve">Glacier Bay National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katmai_National_Park" title="Katmai National Park">Katmai National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katmai_National_Preserve" title="Katmai National Preserve">Katmai National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenai_Fjords_National_Park" title="Kenai Fjords National Park">Kenai Fjords National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush_National_Historical_Park" title="Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park">Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobuk_Valley_National_Park" title="Kobuk Valley National Park">Kobuk Valley National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Clark_National_Park" title="Lake Clark National Park">Lake Clark National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Clark_National_Preserve" title="Lake Clark National Preserve">Lake Clark National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noatak_National_Preserve" title="Noatak National Preserve">Noatak National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitka_National_Historical_Park" title="Sitka National Historical Park">Sitka National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrangell-St._Elias_National_Park" title="Wrangell-St. Elias National Park">Wrangell-St. Elias National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrangell-St._Elias_National_Preserve" title="Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve">Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon-Charley_Rivers_National_Preserve" title="Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve">Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a><br />
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_of_American_Samoa" title="National Park of American Samoa"><a name='more'></a>National Park of American Samoa</a></b></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoa" title="American Samoa">American Samoa</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyon_De_Chelly_National_Monument" title="Canyon De Chelly National Monument">Canyon De Chelly National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Grande_Ruins_National_Monument" title="Casa Grande Ruins National Monument">Casa Grande Ruins National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiricahua_National_Monument" title="Chiricahua National Monument">Chiricahua National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado_National_Memorial" title="Coronado National Memorial">Coronado National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bowie_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Bowie National Historic Site">Fort Bowie National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Canyon_National_Recreation_Area" title="Glen Canyon National Recreation Area">Glen Canyon National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park" title="Grand Canyon National Park">Grand Canyon National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohokam_Pima_National_Monument" title="Hohokam Pima National Monument">Hohokam Pima National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbell_Trading_Post_National_Historic_Site" title="Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site">Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montezuma_Castle_National_Monument" title="Montezuma Castle National Monument">Montezuma Castle National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_National_Monument" title="Navajo National Monument">Navajo National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_Pipe_Cactus_National_Monument" title="Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument">Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrified_Forest_National_Park" title="Petrified Forest National Park">Petrified Forest National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_Spring_National_Monument" title="Pipe Spring National Monument">Pipe Spring National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro_National_Park" title="Saguaro National Park">Saguaro National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Crater_Volcano_National_Monument" title="Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument">Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonto_National_Monument" title="Tonto National Monument">Tonto National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumacacori_National_Historical_Park" title="Tumacacori National Historical Park">Tumacacori National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuzigoot_National_Monument" title="Tuzigoot National Monument">Tuzigoot National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut_Canyon_National_Monument" title="Walnut Canyon National Monument">Walnut Canyon National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wupatki_National_Monument" title="Wupatki National Monument">Wupatki National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_Post_National_Memorial" title="Arkansas Post National Memorial">Arkansas Post National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_National_River" title="Buffalo National River">Buffalo National River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_High_School_National_Historic_Site" title="Central High School National Historic Site">Central High School National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Smith_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Smith National Historic Site">Fort Smith National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Springs_National_Park" title="Hot Springs National Park">Hot Springs National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_Ridge_National_Military_Park" title="Pea Ridge National Military Park">Pea Ridge National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_William_Jefferson_Clinton_Birthplace_Home_National_Historic_Site" title="President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site">President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas" title="Arkansas">Arkansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrillo_National_Monument" title="Cabrillo National Monument">Cabrillo National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Islands_National_Park" title="Channel Islands National Park">Channel Islands National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_National_Park" title="Death Valley National Park">Death Valley National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada">Nevada</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Postpile_National_Monument" title="Devils Postpile National Monument">Devils Postpile National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_O%27Neill_National_Historic_Site" title="Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site">Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Point_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Point National Historic Site">Fort Point National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_National_Recreation_Area" title="Golden Gate National Recreation Area">Golden Gate National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_National_Historic_Site" title="John Muir National Historic Site">John Muir National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Tree_National_Park" title="Joshua Tree National Park">Joshua Tree National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Canyon_National_Park" title="Kings Canyon National Park">Kings Canyon National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassen_Volcanic_National_Park" title="Lassen Volcanic National Park">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava_Beds_National_Monument" title="Lava Beds National Monument">Lava Beds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzanar_National_Historic_Site" title="Manzanar National Historic Site">Manzanar National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_National_Preserve" title="Mojave National Preserve">Mojave National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_Woods_National_Monument" title="Muir Woods National Monument">Muir Woods National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinnacles_National_Monument" title="Pinnacles National Monument">Pinnacles National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Reyes_National_Seashore" title="Point Reyes National Seashore">Point Reyes National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Chicago_Naval_Magazine_National_Memorial" title="Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial">Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_National_Park" title="Redwood National Park">Redwood National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_the_Riveter/World_War_II_Home_Front_National_Historical_Park" title="Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park">Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Maritime_National_Historical_Park" title="San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park">San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Mountains_National_Recreation_Area" title="Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area">Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park" title="Sequoia National Park">Sequoia National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity_National_Recreation_Area" title="Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area">Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_National_Park" title="Yosemite National Park">Yosemite National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" title="California">California</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent%27s_Old_Fort_National_Historic_Site" title="Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site">Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Canyon_of_the_Gunnison_National_Park" title="Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park">Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_National_Monument" title="Colorado National Monument">Colorado National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curecanti_National_Recreation_Area" title="Curecanti National Recreation Area">Curecanti National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_National_Monument" title="Dinosaur National Monument">Dinosaur National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florissant_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument" title="Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument">Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sand_Dunes_National_Park" title="Great Sand Dunes National Park">Great Sand Dunes National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sand_Dunes_National_Preserve" title="Great Sand Dunes National Preserve">Great Sand Dunes National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovenweep_National_Monument" title="Hovenweep National Monument">Hovenweep National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_Verde_National_Park" title="Mesa Verde National Park">Mesa Verde National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_National_Park" title="Rocky Mountain National Park">Rocky Mountain National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Creek_Massacre_National_Historic_Site" title="Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site">Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_House_National_Monument" title="Yucca House National Monument">Yucca House National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weir_Farm_National_Historic_Site" title="Weir Farm National Historic Site">Weir Farm National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut" title="Connecticut">Connecticut</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Cypress_National_Preserve" title="Big Cypress National Preserve">Big Cypress National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscayne_National_Park" title="Biscayne National Park">Biscayne National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaveral_National_Seashore" title="Canaveral National Seashore">Canaveral National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_San_Marcos_National_Monument" title="Castillo de San Marcos National Monument">Castillo de San Marcos National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeSoto_National_Memorial" title="DeSoto National Memorial">DeSoto National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park" title="Dry Tortugas National Park">Dry Tortugas National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_National_Park" title="Everglades National Park">Everglades National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Caroline_National_Memorial" title="Fort Caroline National Memorial">Fort Caroline National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Matanzas_National_Monument" title="Fort Matanzas National Monument">Fort Matanzas National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Islands_National_Seashore" title="Gulf Islands National Seashore">Gulf Islands National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timucuan_Ecological_and_Historic_Preserve" title="Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve">Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersonville_National_Historic_Site" title="Andersonville National Historic Site">Andersonville National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattahoochee_River_National_Recreation_Area" title="Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area">Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickamauga_and_Chattanooga_National_Military_Park" title="Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park">Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Island_National_Seashore" title="Cumberland Island National Seashore">Cumberland Island National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Frederica_National_Monument" title="Fort Frederica National Monument">Fort Frederica National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pulaski_National_Monument" title="Fort Pulaski National Monument">Fort Pulaski National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_National_Historic_Site" title="Jimmy Carter National Historic Site">Jimmy Carter National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw_Mountain_National_Battlefield_Park" title="Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park">Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr_National_Historic_Site" title="Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site">Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocmulgee_National_Monument" title="Ocmulgee National Monument">Ocmulgee National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Pacific_National_Historical_Park" title="War in the Pacific National Historical Park">War in the Pacific National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleakala_National_Park" title="Haleakala National Park">Haleakala National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Volcanoes_National_Park" title="Hawaii Volcanoes National Park">Hawaii Volcanoes National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaupapa_National_Historical_Park" title="Kalaupapa National Historical Park">Kalaupapa National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaloko-Honokohau_National_Historical_Park" title="Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park">Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu%27uhonua_O_Honaunau_National_Historical_Park" title="Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park">Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu%27ukohola_Heiau_National_Historic_Site" title="Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site">Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Arizona_Memorial" title="USS Arizona Memorial">USS Arizona Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Rocks_National_Reserve" title="City of Rocks National Reserve">City of Rocks National Reserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craters_of_the_Moon_National_Monument" title="Craters of the Moon National Monument">Craters of the Moon National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craters_of_the_Moon_National_Preserve" title="Craters of the Moon National Preserve">Craters of the Moon National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagerman_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument" title="Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument">Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minidoka_National_Historic_Site" title="Minidoka National Historic Site">Minidoka National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nez_Perce_National_Historical_Park" title="Nez Perce National Historical Park">Nez Perce National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Home_National_Historic_Site" title="Lincoln Home National Historic Site">Lincoln Home National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rogers_Clark_National_Historical_Park" title="George Rogers Clark National Historical Park">George Rogers Clark National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana" title="Indiana">Indiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Dunes_National_Lakeshore" title="Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore">Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana" title="Indiana">Indiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Boyhood_National_Memorial" title="Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial">Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana" title="Indiana">Indiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effigy_Mounds_National_Monument" title="Effigy Mounds National Monument">Effigy Mounds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa" title="Iowa">Iowa</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Hoover_National_Historic_Site" title="Herbert Hoover National Historic Site">Herbert Hoover National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa" title="Iowa">Iowa</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_vs._Board_of_Education_National_Historic_Site" title="Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site">Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Larned_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Larned National Historic Site">Fort Larned National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Scott_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Scott National Historic Site">Fort Scott National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicodemus_National_Historic_Site" title="Nicodemus National Historic Site">Nicodemus National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallgrass_Prairie_National_Preserve" title="Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve">Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas" title="Kansas">Kansas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Birthplace_National_Historical_Park" title="Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park">Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Gap_National_Historical_Park" title="Cumberland Gap National Historical Park">Cumberland Gap National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_National_Park" title="Mammoth Cave National Park">Mammoth Cave National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_River_Creole_National_Historical_Park" title="Cane River Creole National Historical Park">Cane River Creole National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lafitte_National_Historical_Park_and_Preserve" title="Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve">Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Jazz_National_Historical_Park" title="New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park">New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_Point_National_Monument" title="Poverty Point National Monument">Poverty Point National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadia_National_Park" title="Acadia National Park">Acadia National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine">Maine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_National_Scenic_Trail" title="Appalachian National Scenic Trail">Appalachian National Scenic Trail</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine">Maine</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28U.S._state%29" title="Georgia (U.S. state)">Georgia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_Island_International_Historic_Site" title="Saint Croix Island International Historic Site">Saint Croix Island International Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine" title="Maine">Maine</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antietam_National_Battlefield" title="Antietam National Battlefield">Antietam National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assateague_Island_National_Seashore" title="Assateague Island National Seashore">Assateague Island National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catoctin_Mountain_Park" title="Catoctin Mountain Park">Catoctin Mountain Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_%26_O_Canal_National_Historical_Park" title="C & O Canal National Historical Park">C & O Canal National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Barton_National_Historic_Site" title="Clara Barton National Historic Site">Clara Barton National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry_National_Monument_and_Historic_Shrine" title="Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine">Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Washington_Park" title="Fort Washington Park">Fort Washington Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbelt_Park" title="Greenbelt Park">Greenbelt Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampton_National_Historic_Site" title="Hampton National Historic Site">Hampton National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monocacy_National_Battlefield" title="Monocacy National Battlefield">Monocacy National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piscataway_Park" title="Piscataway Park">Piscataway Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potomac_Heritage_National_Scenic_Trail" title="Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail">Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Stone_National_Historic_Site" title="Thomas Stone National Historic Site">Thomas Stone National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_National_Historical_Park" title="Adams National Historical Park">Adams National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_African_American_National_Historic_Site" title="Boston African American National Historic Site">Boston African American National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Harbor_Islands_National_Recreation_Area" title="Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area">Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_National_Historical_Park" title="Boston National Historical Park">Boston National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_National_Seashore" title="Cape Cod National Seashore">Cape Cod National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmstead_National_Historic_Site" title="Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site">Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_National_Historic_Site" title="John F. Kennedy National Historic Site">John F. Kennedy National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longfellow_National_Historic_Site" title="Longfellow National Historic Site">Longfellow National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_National_Historical_Park" title="Lowell National Historical Park">Lowell National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuteman_National_Historical_Park" title="Minuteman National Historical Park">Minuteman National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford_Whaling_National_Historical_Park" title="New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park">New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_Maritime_National_Historic_Site" title="Salem Maritime National Historic Site">Salem Maritime National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saugus_Iron_Works_National_Historic_Site" title="Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site">Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Armory_National_Historic_Site" title="Springfield Armory National Historic Site">Springfield Armory National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_Royale_National_Park" title="Isle Royale National Park">Isle Royale National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keweenaw_National_Historical_Park" title="Keweenaw National Historical Park">Keweenaw National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictured_Rocks_National_Lakeshore" title="Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore">Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Raisin_National_Battlefield_Park" title="River Raisin National Battlefield Park">River Raisin National Battlefield Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Bear_Dunes_National_Lakeshore" title="Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore">Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Portage_National_Monument" title="Grand Portage National Monument">Grand Portage National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_National_River_and_Recreation_Area" title="Mississippi National River and Recreation Area">Mississippi National River and Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipestone_National_Monument" title="Pipestone National Monument">Pipestone National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyageurs_National_Park" title="Voyageurs National Park">Voyageurs National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brices_Cross_Roads_National_Battlefield_Site" title="Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site">Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_National_Historical_Park" title="Natchez National Historical Park">Natchez National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace_Parkway" title="Natchez Trace Parkway">Natchez Trace Parkway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_Trace_National_Scenic_Trail" title="Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail">Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama">Alabama</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupelo_National_Battlefield" title="Tupelo National Battlefield">Tupelo National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicksburg_National_Military_Park" title="Vicksburg National Military Park">Vicksburg National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver_National_Monument" title="George Washington Carver National Monument">George Washington Carver National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S_Truman_National_Historic_Site" title="Harry S Truman National Historic Site">Harry S Truman National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_National_Expansion_Memorial" title="Jefferson National Expansion Memorial">Jefferson National Expansion Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozark_National_Scenic_Riverways" title="Ozark National Scenic Riverways">Ozark National Scenic Riverways</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant_National_Historic_Site" title="Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site">Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilsons_Creek_National_Battlefield" title="Wilsons Creek National Battlefield">Wilsons Creek National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri" title="Missouri">Missouri</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Hole_National_Battlefield" title="Big Hole National Battlefield">Big Hole National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bighorn_Canyon_National_Recreation_Area" title="Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area">Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_National_Park_%28U.S.%29" title="Glacier National Park (U.S.)">Glacier National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant-Kohrs_Ranch_National_Historic_Site" title="Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site">Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Bighorn_Battlefield_National_Monument" title="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument">Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument" title="Agate Fossil Beds National Monument">Agate Fossil Beds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_National_Monument_of_America" title="Homestead National Monument of America">Homestead National Monument of America</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_National_Recreational_River" title="Missouri National Recreational River">Missouri National Recreational River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobrara_National_Scenic_River" title="Niobrara National Scenic River">Niobrara National Scenic River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_National_Monument" title="Scotts Bluff National Monument">Scotts Bluff National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" title="Nebraska">Nebraska</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Basin_National_Park" title="Great Basin National Park">Great Basin National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada">Nevada</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mead_National_Recreation_Area" title="Lake Mead National Recreation Area">Lake Mead National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada">Nevada</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Gaudens_National_Historic_Site" title="Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site">Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire" title="New Hampshire">New Hampshire</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Egg_Harbor_Scenic_and_Recreational_River" title="Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River">Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morristown_National_Historical_Park" title="Morristown National Historical Park">Morristown National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison_National_Historical_Park" title="Thomas Edison National Historical Park">Thomas Edison National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_Ruins_National_Monument" title="Aztec Ruins National Monument">Aztec Ruins National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandelier_National_Monument" title="Bandelier National Monument">Bandelier National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capulin_Volcano_National_Monument" title="Capulin Volcano National Monument">Capulin Volcano National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_Caverns_National_Park" title="Carlsbad Caverns National Park">Carlsbad Caverns National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_Culture_National_Historical_Park" title="Chaco Culture National Historical Park">Chaco Culture National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Malpais_National_Monument" title="El Malpais National Monument">El Malpais National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Morro_National_Monument" title="El Morro National Monument">El Morro National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Union_National_Monument" title="Fort Union National Monument">Fort Union National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gila_Cliff_Dwellings_National_Monument" title="Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument">Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecos_National_Historical_Park" title="Pecos National Historical Park">Pecos National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroglyph_National_Monument" title="Petroglyph National Monument">Petroglyph National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas_Pueblo_Missions_National_Monument" title="Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument">Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Sands_National_Monument" title="White Sands National Monument">White Sands National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Burial_Ground_National_Monument" title="African Burial Ground National Monument">African Burial Ground National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Clinton_National_Monument" title="Castle Clinton National Monument">Castle Clinton National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt_National_Historic_Site" title="Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site">Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Hall_National_Memorial" title="Federal Hall National Memorial">Federal Hall National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Island_National_Seashore" title="Fire Island National Seashore">Fire Island National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Stanwix_National_Monument" title="Fort Stanwix National Monument">Fort Stanwix National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_National_Recreation_Area" title="Gateway National Recreation Area">Gateway National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Grant_National_Memorial" title="General Grant National Memorial">General Grant National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governors_Island_National_Monument" title="Governors Island National Monument">Governors Island National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Grange_National_Memorial" title="Hamilton Grange National Memorial">Hamilton Grange National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt_National_Historic_Site" title="Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site">Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren_National_Historic_Site" title="Martin Van Buren National Historic Site">Martin Van Buren National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Paul%27s_Church_National_Historic_Site" title="Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site">Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagamore_Hill_National_Historic_Site" title="Sagamore Hill National Historic Site">Sagamore Hill National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_National_Historical_Park" title="Saratoga National Historical Park">Saratoga National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty_National_Monument" title="Statue of Liberty National Monument">Statue of Liberty National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey">New Jersey</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Birthplace_National_Historic_Site" title="Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site">Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Inaugural_National_Historic_Site" title="Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site">Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanderbilt_Mansion_National_Historic_Site" title="Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site">Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Rights_National_Historical_Park" title="Women's Rights National Historical Park">Women's Rights National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Parkway" title="Blue Ridge Parkway">Blue Ridge Parkway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Hatteras_National_Seashore" title="Cape Hatteras National Seashore">Cape Hatteras National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Lookout_National_Seashore" title="Cape Lookout National Seashore">Cape Lookout National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sandburg_Home_National_Historic_Site" title="Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site">Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Raleigh_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Raleigh National Historic Site">Fort Raleigh National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilford_Courthouse_National_Military_Park" title="Guilford Courthouse National Military Park">Guilford Courthouse National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moores_Creek_National_Battlefield" title="Moores Creek National Battlefield">Moores Creek National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Brothers_National_Memorial" title="Wright Brothers National Memorial">Wright Brothers National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Union_Trading_Post_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site">Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota" title="North Dakota">North Dakota</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_River_Indian_Villages_National_Historic_Site" title="Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site">Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota" title="North Dakota">North Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_National_Park" title="Theodore Roosevelt National Park">Theodore Roosevelt National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota" title="North Dakota">North Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuyahoga_Valley_National_Park" title="Cuyahoga Valley National Park">Cuyahoga Valley National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton_Aviation_Heritage_National_Historical_Park" title="Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park">Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Ladies_National_Historic_Site" title="First Ladies National Historic Site">First Ladies National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell_Culture_National_Historical_Park" title="Hopewell Culture National Historical Park">Hopewell Culture National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield_National_Historic_Site" title="James A. Garfield National Historic Site">James A. Garfield National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry%27s_Victory_and_International_Peace_Memorial" title="Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial">Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Howard_Taft_National_Historic_Site" title="William Howard Taft National Historic Site">William Howard Taft National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickasaw_National_Recreation_Area" title="Chickasaw National Recreation Area">Chickasaw National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma" title="Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washita_Battlefield_National_Historic_Site" title="Washita Battlefield National Historic Site">Washita Battlefield National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma" title="Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crater_Lake_National_Park" title="Crater Lake National Park">Crater Lake National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon" title="Oregon">Oregon</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_National_Historical_Park" title="Lewis and Clark National Historical Park">Lewis and Clark National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon" title="Oregon">Oregon</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Day_Fossil_Beds_National_Monument" title="John Day Fossil Beds National Monument">John Day Fossil Beds National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon" title="Oregon">Oregon</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Caves_National_Monument" title="Oregon Caves National Monument">Oregon Caves National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon" title="Oregon">Oregon</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_Portage_Railroad" title="Allegheny Portage Railroad">Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Water_Gap_National_Recreation_Area" title="Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area">Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe_National_Historic_Site" title="Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site">Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhower_National_Historic_Site" title="Eisenhower National Historic Site">Eisenhower National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_93_National_Memorial" title="Flight 93 National Memorial">Flight 93 National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Necessity_National_Battlefield" title="Fort Necessity National Battlefield">Fort Necessity National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_Hill_National_Historic_Site" title="Friendship Hill National Historic Site">Friendship Hill National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_National_Military_Park" title="Gettysburg National Military Park">Gettysburg National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell_Furnace_National_Historic_Site" title="Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site">Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_National_Historical_Park" title="Independence National Historical Park">Independence National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnstown_Flood_National_Memorial" title="Johnstown Flood National Memorial">Johnstown Flood National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Delaware_National_Scenic_River" title="Middle Delaware National Scenic River">Middle Delaware National Scenic River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamtown_National_Historic_Site" title="Steamtown National Historic Site">Steamtown National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaddeus_Kosciuszko_National_Memorial" title="Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial">Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Delaware_Scenic_and_Recreational_River" title="Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River">Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Forge_National_Historical_Park" title="Valley Forge National Historical Park">Valley Forge National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_National_Historic_Site" title="San Juan National Historic Site">San Juan National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico" title="Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Williams_National_Memorial" title="Roger Williams National Memorial">Roger Williams National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island" title="Rhode Island">Rhode Island</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Pinckney_National_Historic_Site" title="Charles Pinckney National Historic Site">Charles Pinckney National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congaree_National_Park" title="Congaree National Park">Congaree National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowpens_National_Battlefield" title="Cowpens National Battlefield">Cowpens National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sumter_National_Monument" title="Fort Sumter National Monument">Fort Sumter National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Mountain_National_Military_Park" title="Kings Mountain National Military Park">Kings Mountain National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety_Six_National_Historic_Site" title="Ninety Six National Historic Site">Ninety Six National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina" title="South Carolina">South Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_National_Park" title="Badlands National Park">Badlands National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Cave_National_Monument" title="Jewel Cave National Monument">Jewel Cave National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuteman_Missile_National_Historic_Site" title="Minuteman Missile National Historic Site">Minuteman Missile National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore_National_Memorial" title="Mount Rushmore National Memorial">Mount Rushmore National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_Cave_National_Park" title="Wind Cave National Park">Wind Cave National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota" title="South Dakota">South Dakota</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson_National_Historic_Site" title="Andrew Johnson National Historic Site">Andrew Johnson National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_South_Fork_National_River_and_Recreation_Area" title="Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area">Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Donelson_National_Battlefield" title="Fort Donelson National Battlefield">Fort Donelson National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky" title="Kentucky">Kentucky</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smoky_Mountains_National_Park" title="Great Smoky Mountains National Park">Great Smoky Mountains National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obed_Wild_and_Scenic_River" title="Obed Wild and Scenic River">Obed Wild and Scenic River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh_National_Military_Park" title="Shiloh National Military Park">Shiloh National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi" title="Mississippi">Mississippi</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stones_River_National_Battlefield" title="Stones River National Battlefield">Stones River National Battlefield</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee" title="Tennessee">Tennessee</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alibates_Flint_Quarries_National_Monument" title="Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument">Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amistad_National_Recreation_Area" title="Amistad National Recreation Area">Amistad National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park" title="Big Bend National Park">Big Bend National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Thicket_National_Preserve" title="Big Thicket National Preserve">Big Thicket National Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamizal_National_Memorial" title="Chamizal National Memorial">Chamizal National Memorial</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Davis_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Davis National Historic Site">Fort Davis National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe_Mountains_National_Park" title="Guadalupe Mountains National Park">Guadalupe Mountains National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Meredith_National_Recreation_Area" title="Lake Meredith National Recreation Area">Lake Meredith National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson_National_Historical_Park" title="Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park">Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padre_Island_National_Seashore" title="Padre Island National Seashore">Padre Island National Seashore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palo_Alto_Battlefield_National_Historical_Park" title="Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park">Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Wild_and_Scenic_River" title="Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River">Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Missions_National_Historical_Park" title="San Antonio Missions National Historical Park">San Antonio Missions National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arches_National_Park" title="Arches National Park">Arches National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon_National_Park" title="Bryce Canyon National Park">Bryce Canyon National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canyonlands_National_Park" title="Canyonlands National Park">Canyonlands National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Reef_National_Park" title="Capitol Reef National Park">Capitol Reef National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Breaks_National_Monument" title="Cedar Breaks National Monument">Cedar Breaks National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Spike_National_Historic_Site" title="Golden Spike National Historic Site">Golden Spike National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Bridges_National_Monument" title="Natural Bridges National Monument">Natural Bridges National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_National_Monument" title="Rainbow Bridge National Monument">Rainbow Bridge National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timpanogos_Cave_National_Monument" title="Timpanogos Cave National Monument">Timpanogos Cave National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_National_Park" title="Zion National Park">Zion National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah" title="Utah">Utah</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller_National_Historical_Park" title="Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park">Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont" title="Vermont">Vermont</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Island_Reef_National_Monument" title="Buck Island Reef National Monument">Buck Island Reef National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands" title="Virgin Islands">Virgin Islands</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiansted_National_Historic_Site" title="Christiansted National Historic Site">Christiansted National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands" title="Virgin Islands">Virgin Islands</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_River_Bay_National_Historical_Park_and_Ecological_Preserve" title="Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve">Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands" title="Virgin Islands">Virgin Islands</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands_National_Park" title="Virgin Islands National Park">Virgin Islands National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands" title="Virgin Islands">Virgin Islands</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands_Coral_Reef_National_Monument" title="Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument">Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Islands" title="Virgin Islands">Virgin Islands</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appomattox_Court_House_National_Historical_Park" title="Appomattox Court House National Historical Park">Appomattox Court House National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_House,_The_Robert_E._Lee_Memorial" title="Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial">Arlington House</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington_National_Monument" title="Booker T. Washington National Monument">Booker T. Washington National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Creek_and_Belle_Grove_National_Historical_Park" title="Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park">Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_National_Historical_Park" title="Colonial National Historical Park">Colonial National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredericksburg_and_Spotsylvania_National_Military_Park" title="Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park">Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Birthplace_National_Monument" title="George Washington Birthplace National Monument">George Washington Birthplace National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Memorial_Parkway" title="George Washington Memorial Parkway">George Washington Memorial Parkway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_L._Walker_National_Historic_Site" title="Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site">Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manassas_National_Battlefield_Park" title="Manassas National Battlefield Park">Manassas National Battlefield Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petersburg_National_Battlefield_Park" title="Petersburg National Battlefield Park">Petersburg National Battlefield Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_William_Forest_Park" title="Prince William Forest Park">Prince William Forest Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_National_Battlefield_Park" title="Richmond National Battlefield Park">Richmond National Battlefield Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_National_Park" title="Shenandoah National Park">Shenandoah National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Trap_Farm_Park" title="Wolf Trap Farm Park">Wolf Trap Farm Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebey%27s_Landing_National_Historical_Reserve" title="Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve">Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Vancouver_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Vancouver National Historic Site">Fort Vancouver National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon" title="Oregon">Oregon</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Chelan_National_Recreation_Area" title="Lake Chelan National Recreation Area">Lake Chelan National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Roosevelt_National_Recreation_Area" title="Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area">Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier_National_Park" title="Mount Rainier National Park">Mount Rainier National Park</a></b></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Cascades_National_Park" title="North Cascades National Park">North Cascades National Park</a>'</b></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park" title="Olympic National Park">Olympic National Park</a></b></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Lake_National_Recreation_Area" title="Ross Lake National Recreation Area">Ross Lake National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Island_National_Historical_Park" title="San Juan Island National Historical Park">San Juan Island National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitman_Mission_National_Historic_Site" title="Whitman Mission National Historic Site">Whitman Mission National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_%28U.S._state%29" title="Washington (U.S. state)">Washington</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_G._Woodson_Home_National_Historic_Site" title="Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site">Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Gardens" title="Constitution Gardens">Constitution Gardens</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford%27s_Theatre_National_Historic_Site" title="Ford's Theatre National Historic Site">Ford's Theatre National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt_Memorial" title="Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial">Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass_National_Historic_Site" title="Frederick Douglass National Historic Site">Frederick Douglass National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War_Veterans_Memorial" title="Korean War Veterans Memorial">Korean War Veterans Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial" title="Lincoln Memorial">Lincoln Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Baines_Johnson_Memorial_Grove_on_the_Potomac" title="Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac">Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McLeod_Bethune_Council_House_National_Historic_Site" title="Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site">Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Capital_Parks" title="National Capital Parks">National Capital Parks</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Mall" title="National Mall">National Mall</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Avenue_National_Historic_Site" title="Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site">Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Creek_Park" title="Rock Creek Park">Rock Creek Park</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_Island" title="Theodore Roosevelt Island">Theodore Roosevelt Island</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson_Memorial" title="Thomas Jefferson Memorial">Thomas Jefferson Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial" title="Vietnam Veterans Memorial">Vietnam Veterans Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monument" title="Washington Monument">Washington Monument</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House" title="White House">White House</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_Memorial" title="World War II Memorial">World War II Memorial</a></td> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_DC" title="Washington DC">Washington DC</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluestone_National_Scenic_River" title="Bluestone National Scenic River">Bluestone National Scenic River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauley_River_National_Recreation_Area" title="Gauley River National Recreation Area">Gauley River National Recreation Area</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpers_Ferry_National_Historical_Park" title="Harpers Ferry National Historical Park">Harpers Ferry National Historical Park</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_River_Gorge_National_River" title="New River Gorge National River">New River Gorge National River</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia" title="West Virginia">West Virginia</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_Islands_National_Lakeshore" title="Apostle Islands National Lakeshore">Apostle Islands National Lakeshore</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin" title="Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Croix_National_Scenic_Riverway" title="Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway">Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin" title="Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower_National_Monument" title="Devils Tower National Monument">Devils Tower National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Laramie_National_Historic_Site" title="Fort Laramie National Historic Site">Fort Laramie National Historic Site</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Butte_National_Monument" title="Fossil Butte National Monument">Fossil Butte National Monument</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Teton_National_Park" title="Grand Teton National Park">Grand Teton National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Rockefeller_Memorial_Parkway" title="John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway">John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway</a></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park" title="Yellowstone National Park">Yellowstone National Park</a></b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming" title="Wyoming">Wyoming</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho" title="Idaho">Idaho</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660525605849224698.post-72061121463928078372011-01-30T10:25:00.000-08:002011-01-30T10:25:26.595-08:00Our Mission<u>Main Characters </u><br />
<b>Jenny</b> -- writer of blog, lover of outdoors, introduced to the National Parks at a very young age due to multiple epic road trips with her family growing up<br />
<b>Zach</b> -- husband of Jenny, likes nature as long as he doesn't have to carry a heavy backpack, new to many of the parks<br />
<b>Jackson </b>-- son of Jenny, loves dirt, bugs and being outside. Went camping for the first time at the age of 6 weeks old. Named after the two towns closest to Yellowstone National Park, so the park stuff is in his blood. Current participant in the NPS's Junior Ranger/Web Ranger program.<br />
<b>NPS -- </b>The National Park Service. We will be seeing them quite frequently.<br />
<br />
<u>Supporting Characters</u><br />
<u></u><b>Jake </b>-- Jackson's dad who, luckily, is friendly with all main characters<br />
<b>Steve -- </b>Jenny's dad, instigator of epic road trips mentioned above, lover of all things historical<br />
<b>Deb -- </b>Steve's wife, usually along for the ride and a good sport too.<br />
<b>Carole -- </b>Jenny's mom, loves to camp and hang out with her grandson! <br />
<br />
<u>The Plot</u><br />
One of my goals in life is to visit as many (hopefully all) of the units managed by the National Park Service in the United States. Currently, there are 394 NPS units, including 58 National Parks. Other NPS units include National Military Parks, National Battlefield Parks, National Monuments, National Historic Sites, National Seashores, National Scenic Trails, and so on. As we visit different sites, I hope to update this blog with pictures, information and our thoughts on the site. We also love to camp and do different things outdoors, so I might include some state park information as well as general camping/outdoorsy stuff on the blog.Jennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00184140865892145672noreply@blogger.com0