Does outdoor beauty lure you to national parks, such as that found in Mount Rainier, or is there something else that you go in seek of when you head to the National Park System?/Rebecca Latson file
Why do you venture out into the National Park System? That's not intended to be a flip question, but one to better understand what motivates folks to head to a park.
Of course, the converse to that question is, why don't you visit the national parks? What keeps you from visiting the system often called "America's Best Idea"?
Comments
i have spent a lifetime exploring national parks but am less enthusiastic about them than I used to be. They are still amazing, but have become too crowded.
I visit to enjoy the beauty of nature. In only a few steps off the road/parking lot, you can find peace and interesting stuff.
I started visiting national parks with my parents in the 1950's. Still do so with my husband. Just wish there was more of our beautiful country preserved in this way. They are so popular and there are so many visitors now that we need more just so that none of them are overcrowded like many are today: Yellowstone, Grands Tetons and Grand Canyon for example. Used to love Canyonlands for being undeveloped, but even that is crowded these days. We now go mostly to BLM land for a better experience of being with nature, not peopel.
The wife and I just got back from a 3-week trip that included visiting Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP and Grand Teton NP - spent 3-4 days at each park. Really enjoyed visiting the 3 parks that we'd never been to before. By visiting in mid-May we were able to avoid the huge crowds and really enjoy the experience. The scenery was incredible, the park rangers were very friendly and knowledgable, and the 'critters' were everywhere! Fantastic assets for our country.
I love the beauty of nature and getting to experience it and the history that surrounds it. I am particularly drawn to mountains. We have to plan well in advance to visit the parks as we do not live particularly close to the best of them in the west (we live in Ohio).
I visit the NP because they represent the splendor of what this country was before mans ego though he could inprove on Mother Nature. They provide time to reflect.
I agree with Tom Wharton that the parks have become too crowded. As a retired park and forest ranger I now only visit during the shoulder seasons, and prefer B&Bs ideally, just outside the parks themselves. Ski areas are also a good choice. Big Sky outside Yellowstone, Crystal Mountain outside Rainier, and the Methow just east of North Cascades, for instance. Also good during the shoulder seasons are the Snow Lodge at Old Faithfull, and Lake Crescent Lodge in Olympic National Park, or Lake Quinault Lodge, just outside the park in Olympic National Forest, to name a few. Our favorite however is Mossy Mountain B&B just outside Glacier.