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A Walk in the Parks
Buck Island, a small island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is an amazing place. President John F. Kennedy referred to its surrounding coral reefs as "one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea." Chances are you've seen photos of the Grand Canyon. Maybe you've even been lucky enough to see it in person. From the amazing colors and textures to its incredible size, it's an overwhelmingly impressive site. More than 12 million immigrants passed through the immigration station at Ellis Island. In fact, research suggests that more than 40 percent of current U.S. residents will find that at least a few of their ancestors entered the United States by way of Ellis Island.
So, by now you're probably thinking, "This seems a bit random. Do these places even have anything in common?" Actually, they do. Would you believe that they're all part of one national system? These sites along with 388 other areas, which together total more than 84 million acres, comprise the National Park System (NPS) of the United States. In addition to treasured natural sites like Buck Island and the Grand Canyon and historically significant sites like Ellis Island, the NPS includes battlefields, lakeshores, monuments (like the Lincoln Memorial), seashores, scenic rivers and trails and, of course, many historical, military and recreational parks. President Ulysses S. Grant established the first national park in 1872 and President Woodrow Wilson established the NPS in 1916. But, the president most often associated with the NPS is President Theodore Roosevelt, a devout conservationist. During his presidency, Roosevelt doubled the number of parks in the NPS.
According to an annual summary report, more than 275 million people visited the National Parks for recreational purposes (meaning they went for fun) in 2007. Wondering what could be so fun? Well, there's boating, horseback riding, rock climbing and snow skiing, not to mention watching a variety of wildlife and checking out all sorts of wildflowers. With so much to do, see and learn, it's not surprising that NPS locations are so popular.
For this Web quest, we've decided to join the masses and go on a field trip of our own. Read on to visit a few U.S. National Park Service sites.
Blue Ridge Parkway
It receives the most visitors – recreation and non-recreation alike – each year and it's nicknamed "America's Favorite Drive." The Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles through some of the most beautiful countryside in the United States. Flanked by two national parks, Shenandoah National Park to the north and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to the south, the parkway offers scenic overlooks, trails, camping areas and many outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, biking and bird watching. Many visit the parkway in the fall for the quilt of colors the changing leaves on the trees create. But fall isn't the only time to witness nature's beauty. Flowering-plant fans can delight in a variety of azaleas, mountain laurel and rhododendron from late spring to early summer. FYI - one of our favorite spots along the parkway is at mile post 316 – Linville falls.
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
Image Courtesy of NPS/Tahzay Jones
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From the most visited place in the National Park System, we now go to one of the least visited places. Located in King Salmon, Alaska, the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful. So, what keeps the visitor count to a minimum? It could be the weather, which even in the summer months can prompt hypothermia. Or, it could be the sheer seclusion of the preserve. But for those who do brave the elements and the faraway travel, the reward is immense – 586,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to be exact. Two highlights intrepid travelers shouldn't miss are the Aniakchak Caldera and the Aniakchak River. Hikers can traverse the caldera floor, while rafters can tackle the river.
Yellowstone National Park
Image Courtesy of NPS
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The premier national park in the United States, Yellowstone was established in 1872, 44 years before the NPS was created. This designated World Heritage Site is comprised of more than 2.2 million acres and is situated in three states (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho). Practically synonymous with Yellowstone is its famous geyser "Old Faithful." But this isn't the only hot spot in the park. Yellowstone houses more than 300 geysers and thousands of other thermal features, including an active volcano! More than 250 waterfalls, a super large petrified forest and one of the largest calderas (it measures 45 by 30 miles) in the world round out the list of highlights. And, as if the incredible sight-seeing isn't enough, visitors can also spend time biking, boating, camping, cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, picnicking and watching wildlife.
Everglades National Park
Image Courtesy of NPS/Rodney Cammauf
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Unlike its predecessors, Everglades National Park was not created because of its inherent beauty. Rather, it was established to protect and maintain a key ecosystem, which supports an amazing and distinct collection of animal and plant life. Among the rare or endangered animals that call the Everglades home are American crocodiles, Atlantic Ridley turtles, Atlantic hawksbill turtles, Florida panthers, West Indian manatees and Wood storks. Flora fans will also find many must-sees, including more than 20 varieties of orchids and more than 100 species of trees. Beyond wildlife watching and plant identification, visitors can participate in a number of other outdoor activities including biking, camping, canoeing, fishing and hiking.
Death Valley National Park
Image © Phil Schermeister/Getty
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How low can you go? In Death Valley National Park, pretty low. In fact, at 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest spot in North America. The name alone screams, "Stay away!" Factor in the super hot, dry climate and you'll quickly be wondering, "Why go there?" Actually, there's plenty to do and see. You can go on scenic drives and day hikes to check out places like Zabriskie Point, Mosaic Canyon and Scotty's Castle (a.k.a. Death Valley Ranch). And perhaps the most intriguing sight can be found at Racetrack Playa. Here, boulders weighing as much as 700 pounds mysteriously slide across the dry lakebed. Each sliding boulder leaves long grooves in its wake as evidence of the mysterious journey.
Try this:
Using the National Park Service Web site (http://www.nps.gov/), create an itinerary for at least four field trips to National Park System sites. Use a mapping Web site like MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com/) or Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/) to plot your route and estimate your travel time, mileage and expenses. Create a graph comparing travel time, mileage and estimated expenses for each trip.
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Sign of the Times
Each element of the official emblem of the National Park Service has a special significance. The overall shape, which is an arrowhead, represents "historical and archeological values." Depicted on the face of the arrowhead, the Sequoia tree signifies vegetation, the mountains and water stand for "scenic and recreational values" and the bison symbolizes wildlife.
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