We're also heading to Yellowstone this summer. Have cabins reserved in YNP and Jackson. Plan to do some hiking and taking a raft ride.
Let's talk about National Parks
- Thread starter Kagavi
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We're also heading to Yellowstone this summer. Have cabins reserved in YNP and Jackson. Plan to do some hiking and taking a raft ride.
Seriously, CG, he's right. I know that you have your hands full right now with the house, but after that it won't be long and it will be babies. You won't want to take little ones on those trips rather wanting to wait until they are a little older and can handle it. Next you will want them old enough to remember it. Pretty soon you will have to schedule around Little League, Soccer, Boy & Girl Scout camp and everything else. Before you know it they will think they are too old and they don't want their summer with their friends ruined with a family vacation to somewhere "no one wants to go and doesn't have Wi-Fi anyway".
The family vacation is important but it is just as important for you and DH to enjoy a little unfettered vacation while you still can.
Re: Badlands NP, SD
Yep, sure did, dirt roads, no roads, Jeep trails. Got back into the boonies that most people don't see. The Land Rover would love it.
Cedar Pass Campground:
Yep, sure did, dirt roads, no roads, Jeep trails. Got back into the boonies that most people don't see. The Land Rover would love it.
Cedar Pass Campground:
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Wifey and I have just started that exploration. Did Bryce and Zion last year along with a handful of state parks in between. Off to Moab in May and will hit Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef (I think) this time.
This is a great thread. I have been to many of the US parks. I have not been to these Southern Utah, 4 corner Parks, however. Can someone give me their pref for priority/ranking? Best time of year? Overnite towns/Lodging? (Sorry, no tent grounds, this time around.)
Have not seen Great Sand Dunes NM mentioned. Not too far from Mesa Verde. OK park, those sand dunes were wild. We hiked to the top. Horrific trudge - always "one more dune" to the top. Got to the top, finally, and was so sandblasted we could only stay there for a minute or two. Irony, mother nature style.
Wife & I want to visit them all. Haven't got real organized yet.
Wife & I want to visit them all. Haven't got real organized yet.
I tried to camp in the Great Sand Dunes last May. You had to hike past the first ridge and then camp so you were out of sight. There was a storm up in the mountains by the Crestones and it was incredibly windy. We ended up packing up and heading out before our tents were shredded or blew away. It was brutal.
I will say it's only about 20th on my list of horrific trudges #humblebrag
Been to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Pikes Peak, Mesa Verde, King's Canyon, Sequoia, Theodore Roosevelt (ND), International Peace Garden (ND), Fort Union Trading Post (ND), Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Voyageurs, Smoky Mountains, and Crater Lake.
My favorite was probably Crater Lake in southern Oregon.
My favorite was probably Crater Lake in southern Oregon.
Better see Yellowstone while it's still there (or, should I say, while we're all still living)...
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/24/us/yellowstone-supervolcano-magma-reservoir-discovery/index.html
(yeah, I know, they don't expect anything to happen for thousands of years. But the thought is terrifying and fascinating all at the same time)
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/24/us/yellowstone-supervolcano-magma-reservoir-discovery/index.html
(yeah, I know, they don't expect anything to happen for thousands of years. But the thought is terrifying and fascinating all at the same time)
I have been trying to think of a destination for a bike trip this year. Maybe this should be the year I make the trek to Glacier NP. I can stop and ride Bear Tooth pass on the way up or back and maybe take a swing through the north part of Yellowstone.
Living in northern Colorado for the last 7 years, I've spent a lot of time in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hiked lots of mountains in it, including Long's Peak. Have a lot of other neat ideas for loop hikes that I haven't done yet. If you get to know the park and are willing to hike a bit, you can get away from the hordes of visitors.
I also solo backpacked the Grand Canyon for three days a couple years ago. I wrote a detailed blog about it, check it out!
http://adventuresofkendall.blogspot.com/2013/04/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html
I also solo backpacked the Grand Canyon for three days a couple years ago. I wrote a detailed blog about it, check it out!
http://adventuresofkendall.blogspot.com/2013/04/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html
Been to Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Redwood, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Everglades, Shenandoah, Mesa Verde, and Crater Lake. Once you buy a pass, definitely worth going to more within the year.
They all have their strengths. Shenandoah was pre-children and Skyline Drive was so beautiful. Went to Monticello after. The kids really loved Mesa Verde and Sequoia.
We live in a beautiful country.
They all have their strengths. Shenandoah was pre-children and Skyline Drive was so beautiful. Went to Monticello after. The kids really loved Mesa Verde and Sequoia.
We live in a beautiful country.
- Mar 27, 2006
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bump.
I was talking to my sister about this thread, earlier this week, and she just sent me this. Just another morning for her. Jealous.
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Wow. Great pic. Great comments from everyone so far. Inspiring stuff.
Headed to Death Valley shortly and was glad to see the temperature will be going from about 80s now to triple digits. I want the full Death Valley experience, however, I suspect it might be COOLER than some summers in Iowa. Will try to hit Badwater Basin (lowest point in USA), Devil's Golf Course, Ubehebe Crater, Scotty's Castle, Zabriskie Point and more. Also hope to see the Milky Way. DV is the largest park in America stretching over 3.4 million acres.
For reference, two sites with a list of spots to see in DV along with the individual pages linked above: Wiki and NPS.
Kind of difficult to see the full scope of the canyon on a day like thatFrom my time at the Grand Canyon.
This is a great thread. Bummed I'm only joining it 5 days later. Here's my thoughts. Like someone said earlier, there are thousands of National Parks that are easy to do in a day trip that you would never even think about. Plus you usually drive right by them on the way to another. Example Mammoth Caves National Park in KY, Wright Brothers National Park in NC.
Our family structure is me, my wife, and 3 boys (middle school, late elementary school) age. I believe our kids just got their 18th Junior Ranger Badge (Cheesy I know, but an excellent way for the kids to stay focused, intrigued and actually learn about the park) We are huge National Park vacationers. Every vacation usually involves a National Park. That said this year we are finally doing the trip I've wanted to do since a child. We are headed for the Redwoods.
My votes are:
Most Awe-Inspiring: Glacier.
Most Interesting: Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers National Park. Pretty fascinating if you stop and think about it.
Most entertaining for kids: Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO. All of us did the hike up the dune, my youngest got wore out half way up and did the rest on my shoulders. It's a giant sandbox for the kiddos.
Favorite: Mammoth Caves National Park: (just outside Bowling Green KY). Can't describe it, simply unbelievable. People drive right by it on their way to the Smoky Mountains and don't know it's there. Personally, it blew the Smoky Mt's out of the water for me.
I do hope the Redwoods/ Mt St Helena live up to the expectations I have in my head and the photos I've seen.
Our family structure is me, my wife, and 3 boys (middle school, late elementary school) age. I believe our kids just got their 18th Junior Ranger Badge (Cheesy I know, but an excellent way for the kids to stay focused, intrigued and actually learn about the park) We are huge National Park vacationers. Every vacation usually involves a National Park. That said this year we are finally doing the trip I've wanted to do since a child. We are headed for the Redwoods.
My votes are:
Most Awe-Inspiring: Glacier.
Most Interesting: Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers National Park. Pretty fascinating if you stop and think about it.
Most entertaining for kids: Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO. All of us did the hike up the dune, my youngest got wore out half way up and did the rest on my shoulders. It's a giant sandbox for the kiddos.
Favorite: Mammoth Caves National Park: (just outside Bowling Green KY). Can't describe it, simply unbelievable. People drive right by it on their way to the Smoky Mountains and don't know it's there. Personally, it blew the Smoky Mt's out of the water for me.
I do hope the Redwoods/ Mt St Helena live up to the expectations I have in my head and the photos I've seen.