Park ItRanger Lundberg’s Tips on Well-Known Destinations Did you know?
Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, was the first national park. President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service (NPS) into existence later, in 1916. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, is the largest national park at 13.2 million acres. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Pennsylvania, at just .02 acres, is the smallest. Death Valley is the lowest, hottest, driest place in North America. Other extreme spots, such as volcanoes, caves and hot springs, are on the NPS list too. Alan Hogenauer, a travel and tourism professor at Loyola Marymount University in California, is the first person known to have visited all NPS sites. Grand Canyon: Head for the north rim, where the crowds are smaller, the temperature more pleasant, and peace reigns supreme. While there, stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge, an architectural marvel built in the 1920s. Be sure to make reservations far in advance. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Go west, young traveler! You’ll avoid the crowds if you keep to the west side. Zion National Park, Utah: Sure, the shuttle buses are convenient. But why not try driving yourself to Lava Point and enjoying some extra solitude and scenery? Brave travelers can hike the Zion Narrows—and they’ll come to appreciate those shuttle buses before and after the 16-mile hikes. Death Valley National Park, California/Utah: During Lundberg’s visit in March, this hot spot was a pleasant 70 degrees. Thirteen species of wildflowers bloomed and beckoned her and husband Duane out of the lodge with the idea that next time, they’ll try camping out. Don’t know a national preserve from a national reserve? A park pass from a blade of grass? Visit the user-friendly www.nps.gov for a wealth of information on all park sites.
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