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Reader Participation Day: If Cost Were No Object, Which National Park Would You Visit?

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Published Date

March 17, 2010

If cost weren't an issue, would you head to Crystal Lake in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve? Photo copyright QT Luoug, www.terragalleria.com/parks, used with permission.

We all harbor pipe dreams, ambitions that are so far out there they can best be described as dreams. With 392 units in the National Park System, it certainly can be considered a pipe dream to visit each one. But let's turn dreams to realities. If you could visit only one, which would it be?

That's right. If someone were willing to pay all your expenses, which unit of the National Park System would you choose to visit? I've long had a trip to Alaska on my to-do list, with a visit to either Wrangell-St. Elias or Lake Clark national parks. But then, visiting Hawaii Volcanoes would be nice, too, as would a canoe trip in Voyageurs National Park.

So, where would you head and why?

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Comments

Submitted by admin on March 18, 2010 - 2:00pm.

Christopher,
Great Falls Park is the northernmost site of the George Washington Memorial Parkway which is made up of more than 20 sites along the Potomac River. This is one of those National Park units that make it complicated when talking about how many total units there are to visit. I'm not a passport stamp collector but those people really get into stuff like this. You can find more info here http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/index.htm


Submitted by admin on March 19, 2010 - 1:52pm.

I've worked for the NPS for 30 years now and have visited many of the different park units throughout the system. Theodore Roosevelt, Great Smokies, and Big Bend are some of my favorites. But if I had a shot at an all expenses paid trip I would have to go for a motorcycle tour of Ireland's six National Parks - with a visit to Glenveagh NP and the Derryveagh Mountains the #1 stop. I know it's not in "The National Park system", but it's in a national park system and would make a great retirement gift.


Submitted by admin on March 20, 2010 - 9:26pm.

Denali would be first on my bucket list, but I would jump at the chance to climb Katahdin again. It was a spiritual experience.


Submitted by admin on March 21, 2010 - 8:52am.

I am going to Alaska this August and going to Denali so I would have to choose Katmai which at this time I will not be able to fit into my trip.


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