THUMBNAIL TRAVELER: National Park Service

Saturday, August 27, 2016

OUR NATIONAL PARKS - HAPPY 100TH ANNIVERSARY!

Forgive me, but I'm a few days late on this little bit of news. Congratulations to the United States' National Parks Service in honor of its 100th Anniversary.

Over the years we've managed to get to a fair number of the parks, monuments and battlefields. Everything from Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts, to the Grand Canyon itself. From Gettysburg National Battlefield to the Everglades to Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii.

It's an amazing legacy and one which our country should be absolutely proud.

I've got a lot more to visit, and I look forward to the many great discoveries to come.

Just a few from my travels....

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Mt St Helens

El Yunque NP, Puerto Rico

Washington Monument

Liberty Bell and Independence Hall

Grand Canyon NP

Great Falls Park, Virginia

Mt Haleakala NP, Maui

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest NP

San Antonio Missions (The Alamo)

Valley Forge

Columbia River Gorge

Joshua Tree NP, California

The San Juan Islands NHP

Minute Man NHP

Gateway Arch, St Louis

Arlington National Cemetery

Statue of Liberty

Rocky Mountain NP

Gettysburg NB

Everglades NP

Saturday, August 1, 2015

The National Parks

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir

The Grand Canyon

The greatest single asset America has is the amazing land we have inherited from our predecessors. It allows us to be free, to go from one spectacular vista to another. In many ways we have been blessed with a diverse ecosystem that runs the gamut from the slow flowing shallow river of the The Everglades, to the slopes of Mount Rainier. From the rugged Maine Coastline to the ever-changing volcanic fields of Hawaii. It's a stunning collection of beauty and raw natural power, on a scale against which humanity is only a temporary visitor.

In America, we are fortunate that many of these lands have been set aside for the enjoyment of all people, not just a landowner or resource-exploitation. Certain lands are, and should always remain, untouched and available for everyone, regardless of economic incentive.

Visiting a National Park -- or any of the other dozens of categories of "National" treasure (forest, monument, battlefield, historic site) -- is a mainstay of American family summer vacations. We still load up the minivan and drive on down the road with the kids asking how long until "we're there?" and playing road trip games along the way.

Mount Haleakala at sunrise

Historian Wallace Stegner referred to the establishment of the National Park Service as "the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst."

They give us our sense of history, of grandeur.

Next year, in 2016, the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary protecting and maintaining our lands for the future. And the present.

It's about the time of year we all begin looking towards the next to decide what it is we're going to do. My suggestion is to pick a park -- or monument, forest, battlefield, etc -- and visit. Make a road trip out of it. (I have firm memories of long road trips with nightly stops at Holiday Inns along the way. Very fond memories.) It's a family thing, and will go far towards getting everyone out of that shell, with eyes firmly on the ground before them as opposed a the screen. Or tablet.

A few of my favorites are shown below.