Which Park should you visit?

When most people hear the term "National Park," they automatically think of names such as "Yellowstone," or "Yosemite," or "Grand Canyon." The big parks. Names that bring to mind vast stretches of undisturbed wilderness perfect for hiking, camping, and nature-watching. But while this vision of America's National Parks is wholly accurate and sufficiently breathtaking, there's more. Much more.

America's National Park system has an incredible 388 places to visit. This number includes not only the big parks, but also monuments, historical sites, recreation areas, battlefields, as well as scenic lakeshores, seashores, and rivers. And the Parks themselves don't just stop at geyser-fields and mule-excursions. In America's National Parks, you can climb an active volcano in Hawaii, "spelunk" the vast underground world of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, dive the exotic coral reef of Biscayne Bay in Florida, or cast your fishing nets in the far reaches of the Pacific with the locals of American Samoa. Each of these 388 places has a unique appeal - from the natural to the manmade, from the ethereal to the factual, from the subtle to the overwhelming - with the whole collection offering vacationers a nearly endless range of interests and activities in which to explore and indulge.

SeeAmerica.org is a great place to begin planning your trip to one of, or several of, America's National Parks. From the home page, you can search all of the Parks by name, region, activity, or even zip code. The site also serves as a portal to other important sites, like the National Park Service's official website, www.nps.gov, and the National Park Foundation's, www.nationalparks.org. From SeeAmerica.org, you can get to all the information you'll need to plan your trip from start to finish - from directions to the park, to park fees, to typical weather conditions.

When should you go?

Most Parks are open year round, but it's recommended you check with each individual Park to verify the times it's open to the public. Winter and Summer are generally the most popular times, depending upon which season they cater to. Fewer people means better access to the viewing areas and more time to participate in the Park's leisure activities. So to avoid crowds, consider traveling during the "shoulder seasons" - spring and fall. And aside from being less crowded, spring and fall in the parks - as in many parts of the country - can offer some of the most beautiful scenery available all year.

Peak periods in the Parks also follow the school schedule. Winter break, spring break, and the summer holidays tend to draw crowds. If it's necessary to visit the Parks during the busy season, try visiting during the week. There are generally less people then. If you're tied to certain times that you have to take a vacation, however - say, in the summer, when school is out - don't let that deter you from visiting. The Parks are fabulous in the summertime.

Where should you stay?

There are lots of options for places to stay, and will depend mostly on your individual needs and desires. Naturally, camping is popular when visiting the National Parks. Patrons can choose from tent camping, RV'ing, and backcountry camping. In some Parks, there may even be the possibility of renting cottages or houseboats. However, if "roughing it" is not your idea of vacation nirvana, there may be hotels and motels located either within the Park or very nearby.

In general, as with any trip, booking your accommodations as far in advance as you can is always recommended. And remember, all these various forms of accommodations may not be available at every Park, so we suggest you check with each individual Park to see what's available. As always, SeeAmerica.org is your one-stop resource for getting all the information you need to plan your trip.

What should you bring?

What Park you're visiting, what time of year you're visiting, where you're staying, e.g., tent or hotel, and what activities you're planning will largely determine what you'll need to bring on your trip. Being prepared for all types of weather is one of the most important things to remember when visiting any outdoor attraction. We recommend developing a packing checklist before embarking, as there will otherwise certainly be something you forget, especially when it comes to first-timers. The last thing you want is to be somewhere in the great outdoors - far from a department store, sporting goods store, or LL Bean catalog - and not have something you really need, either just to make the trip more comfortable and more enjoyable, or even for a more serious matter, like something relating to health and safety.

What can you do there?

It's a good idea to plan ahead when visiting a National Park. There's so much to see and do when you arrive, you want to make sure you don't miss anything. SeeAmerica.org can help you plan your days, and help you decide which activities you want to participate in. Activities will vary greatly, of course, depending on which Park you visit. The activities at Carlsbad Caverns (hiking through the pitch blackness with pads on your knees and a lighted hard-hat on your head) are drastically different from those at the Florida Everglades (paddling lazily through the reeds in a vintage canoe). Just keep in mind that every one of America's National Parks is different, and gloriously so - giving you a lifetime's worth of fascinating trips to make. So make sure you thoroughly investigate the particular Park(s) you are visiting before you get there. And start your planning at SeeAmerica.org.

Should You Bring the Kids?

Of course you should bring the kids. The National Parks can be a wonderful place to take your children. In most of the larger Parks, there is the Junior Ranger Program which allows children to participate in fun activities while learning about the natural habitat they are visiting. Most Parks also offer discussion sessions, nature walks, and wildlife talks especially for children. But while traveling with children to America's National Parks is highly recommended, always make sure you plan a trip which your child will be able to handle, i.e., a half-day hike to the Harding Icefield at Kenai Fjords in Alaska may not be the best activity to bring your four-year old along on, but a short walk into the Sequoia National Forest to see one of its many groves of ancient, towering trees would be perfect.

Should You Bring the Pets?

While it may at first seem counterintuitive - given that you may be planning a trip to the vast, open expanses of a National Park - traveling with your pets is not recommended. Almost no federal lands operated by the National Park Service are pet-friendly. In most areas, such as on the hiking trails, and in the back country, pets are prohibited. In areas where they are allowed, they have to be on a leash. And in Parks such as Yellowstone - where wolves, grizzly bears, and mountain lions roam freely - if your faithful friend slips his or her leash and darts into the woods, they could quickly get into trouble. Pets can also attract the local wildlife to your tent or RV.

Anything Else?

A few general points about visiting America's National Parks:

	Always visit the Visitors Centers upon arrival. They will have the latest information about safety hazards, closures, and wildlife notices. It's usually the best place to pick up a map too.
	Make sure you stay on the trails when walking and hiking. This is not only a safety precaution, it will also help to maintain the flora and fauna of the area you're visiting.
	Finally, remember to clean up after yourself. It's our job to help preserve the Parks, so that everyone can experience the wonders they have to offer for years to come.

Enjoy Your Trip to America's National Parks

There's no other country in the world that goes to the lengths the United States of America does to try and preserve the best of its natural and manmade heritage. Make sure you take the time to enjoy this privilege. So See America's National Parks this year, and use SeeAmerica.org as your starting point. You won't be disappointed with either.