Are you canceling your annual trek to the National Park System this year due to coronavirus?/Rebecca Latson file
If you haven't already made plans for your national park escape this year, you should be doing that now. Unless, of course, you've decided to skip the parks this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The thought of sitting in an airliner for a few hours with other potentially sick passengers is always a concern, but the hype around the novel coronavirus adds to those concerns. And the thought of visiting a park that attracts a lot of international visitors might be concerning as well. So what are you going to do this year?
Around the National Park System, staff is approaching the current situation much as it does flu season.
"While there have been no identified cases of coronavirus in any national park, the NPS Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service officers assigned to the National Park Service are closely monitoring the situation and keeping staff informed, relying on the most updated data and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Park Service staff told Traveler late last month. "Parks are informed to follow CDC guidance regarding preventative actions to help prevent the spread of viruses, particularly during flu and respiratory disease season."
Of course, on the flip side, national attention and concern could make park lodging prices fall this summer if a great number of folks start canceling their trips, making a visit more affordable. That's definitely something to watch if you are flexible with your travel plans and are willing to go ahead with your vacation in spite of the coronavirus news.
But as of today, what are you thinking of doing?
Comments
Not if I can help it. I'm hoping flights/hotels don't start canceling. If they don't I'm going to national park sites as previously planned. As other mentioned, we have one life. Live it!! Currently, I have the time to travel so here I come! :)
I'll need to make some plans before I can change them ;-) But at this point, I don't see it posing a problem.
Unfortunately until we get some truthfull answers from leaders, I think I'll postpone being in large crowds of people. I'm part of the age group that statistically has the most issues, so it seems logical to wait and see how the virus spreads and what medical experts suggest. I wouldn't put too much faith in the polititions giving us the truth.
The National Park System Advisory Board Meeting for this upcoming week has been cancelled. It was posted to be held in the National Register but was cancelled yesterday per CDC guidance.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/25/2020-03658/notice-o...
Deciding now. Do not want fear to rule us, and have been looking forward to this trip for a year----but we are seniors and want to make wise decision. Have YNP reservations end of April. Wonder what kind of plans the parks have as to sanitizing the rooms between occupants, etc. Are they doing anything different than business as usual?
As parents with young children, we don't appear to be at too much risk from this disease. However, we're very conscious of the fact that its not just about the risk to ourselves, but the possiblity that we may become a risk to others by carrying the disease. At this point, we're making sure that all of our travel plans have a cancellation plan available.
As long as our flight to Las Vegas at the end of the month isn't cancelled, we will be visiting Death Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Colorado National Monument and possibly Natural Bridges NM. Once we get past the flights/airports, all should be good.
Already have a trip booked for September to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.
We have planned a huge trip to many of the National Parks and plan to go taking the necessary precautions and using what my doctor said "good common sense is the best offense". We want to experience all life has to give. God willing we get to.