North Cascades National Park is in northern Washington State

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Meditating Candlestick 

Sage & Incense

Intention and Ready-Made Candles

Magical Oils

 

 

Experience the national parks in 360°

I realized recently that I haven’t spent much time visiting nor have I (at least not that I remember) visited one in the last few years.

 

 

The World’s First National Park

Yellowstone National Park is nearly 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone features dramatic canyons, alpine rivers, lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including its most famous, Old Faithful. It’s also home to hundreds of animal species, including bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope.

A Virtual tour of Yellowstone Nat Park

Tell me—have you, and your friends and/or family, been to a national park in the last 3 years—or are you like me and not done so????     But in my defense (and probably yours) a lot of that time was Covid dictated as to where one went or if you actually went any where at all and that kind of thing.

Tell me—have you, and your friends and/or family, been to a national park in the last 3 years—or are you like me and not done so????     But in my defense (and probably yours) a lot of that time was Covid dictated as to where one went or if you actually went any where at all and that kind of thing.

 Why do we go to National parks?

 

 

Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments.

1.  For the scenery:

A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK 

However, why not stay stateside this time around and get in touch with nature instead? The U.S. National Park system (there are over 400 of them) offers excitement and views equal to any of those across the ocean. From the magical beauty of the northern lights, to the breathtaking views from the highest mountaintops, and even within the deepest limestone caves—read on for the 34 most beautiful national parks you should visit at least once in your lifetime. Your bucket list awaits!                                             

34 OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL U.S. NATIONAL PARKS

 

 

NPS

 

 

A River Runs Through It

I actually went to one of these parks when visiting in West Virginia:  visited the New River Gorge—had a wonderful time and the area was lovely

Upheaval, The Story of the New River Gorge, Part One  You Tube

 

Upheaval ,The Story of the New River Gorge, Part Two

Illinois

 

Lincoln Home 

2.  For the Historical & Cultural Significance

Ok I never actually thought of Culture—I’m a big history buff but yeah Culture is so intertwined in all that—guess I’m getting shallow in my old age.

 

Harriet Tubman Home 

Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Virtual Site Visit, 2021

The national parks have so many stories to tell and lessons to teach us. Battles have been waged here and entire civilizations have lived on these lands. We must protect these places and resources that bear witness to our histories and preserve them for future generations.

 

History & Culture

 

 

Of course St. Augustine in Florida (the first European settlement in the mainland USA) has an array of historical buildings that is hard to beat in the USA—Castillo de San Marcos is a large fort setting along the river in the downtown…It is part of the National Park System (a National Monument) and is the oldest fort of its kind in the continental USA.

Castillo de San Marcos – Virtual Field Trip

St. Augustine also has 

 

Ft Matanza

which is an outlying fort built to protect the water way that eventually took you from the coast to St. Augustine.  It is also a National Monument (check at the end for an explanation of the various non-park parts of the National Park system)

Saint Augustine, Florida – Fort Matanzas National Monument (2019)

 

10 MOST VISITED US National Parks (Updated + Complete List) 2022

 

 

3.  Tranquility

 A Park of Water, Islands, and Horizons

 

 

The 22 best US national parks to escape the crowds, chosen by expert

• The 22 best US national parks to escape the crowds, chosen by experts

   

Located on Garden Key is historic Fort Jefferson, one of the nation’s largest 19th century forts in the United States.

 

Included in this group is The Dry Tortugas about 70 miles south west from Key West.  There is two ways to get there by Air (SeaPlane Tour) or water Catamaran and of course there’s the ferry.   It is a places lost in the edge of the Gulf—-If you come here to camp you must bring all your own food AND WATER as there are no facilities for water for campers—-nor restaurants—the rangers who staff this place live in brick quarters inside the fort and you must check in with them and prove that you have resources or you will not be able to stay—I never spent the night here, but my husband and some of his friends did a two day fishing trip and camped here overnight—the charter captain had all the supplies so they were good—-he said it was beautiful and the stars so visible this far from the mass of humanity we usually dwell with.

Plan Your Visit: Dry Tortugas National Park

Integrated Resources Stewardship 2022 Intern Program  

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

 

4.  Education and Recreation

 Youth and Young Adult Programs

National parks are places for fun, discovery, exploration, wellness, and service. Youth and young adult programs are designed to connect kids, teens, and young adults to opportunities at national park sites across the nation. These sites contribute to our nation’s rich natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.

The Best US National Park for Every Outdoor Activity

 

 

18 Most Visited National Parks (With Map!)

Just 20 minutes in nature improves concentration and reduces the need for ADHD and ADD medications in children. Walking through nature also improves cognitive function and memory. These benefits can greatly improve performance in school.                                                   

  Nature Makes You…

12 BEST NATIONAL PARKS TO TAKE THE KIDS 

 Here is a breakdown of the different areas of the National Park System which I promised earlier.

National Historical Sites                                             List of all National Historical Parks

In recent years, national historic site has been the title most commonly applied by Congress in authorizing the addition of such areas to the National Park System. A wide variety of titles—national military park, national battlefield park, national battlefield site, and national battlefield—has been used for areas associated with American military history. But other areas like national monuments and national historical parks may include features associated with military history. National historical parks are commonly areas of greater physical extent and complexity than national historic sites. The lone international historic site refers to a site relevant to both U.S. and Canadian history.                                                                           

What’s In a Name? Discover National Park System Designations

National Memorials

10% of parks within the National Park Service are National Memorials. Of those parks, 1/3 of them are located in the Washington DC Area. 

US NATIONAL MEMORIALS

 

 

National Monuments

The United States has 129 protected areas known as national monuments. The president of the United States can establish a national monument by presidential proclamation, and the United States Congress can do so by legislation

List of national monuments of the United States

Although many national monuments contain memorials or historic structures, these sites protect areas of land and/or water, similar to other kinds of national park sites, and are not individual statues

What Is a National Monument?

National Seashores (includes National Lake Shores)

National Seashore and National Lakeshores

national seashore, in the United States, any of a number of coastal areas reserved by the federal government for recreational use by the public. Cape Hatteras in North Carolina was established as the first national seashore in 1953….Their attractions include beaches, waterfowl and other wildlife, and fishing.

 

 

What Is A National Lakeshore? 

National Lakeshore is a coastal area recognized and protected by the federal government for its natural, historical or recreational importance. There are four National Lakeshores in the U.S., all of which happen to be located on the Great Lakes and are overseen by the National Park Service (NPS).

 US NATIONAL SEASHORES (includes list of seashores and lakes shores)
        

National Wildlife Refuges

NWR: List of National Wildlife Refuges in Alphabetical Order By State

Like their cousins the U.S. national parks, National Wildlife Refuges in Florida are preserved because they are exceptional places.  Unlike the national parks, however, wildlife refuges have a low profile. They’re sometimes called America’s best kept secret.                                 National Wildlife Refuges in Florida: 8 exceptional places

OK and finally Parks I have visited (sometime in my earlier years) that I would recommend that you might want to see:

 

 

 

Sleeping Bear Dunes named one of world’s best beaches

 Sleeping Bear Dunes                                                    

We lived near here for about a year and took several sojourns walking on the dunes and splashing in the lake.

Miles of sand beach, bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes, unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes. High dunes afford spectacular views across the lake. An island lighthouse, US Life-Saving Service stations, coasta villages, and picturesque farmsteads reflect the park’s rich maritime, agricultural, and recreational history.

 

 

10 National Park Cameos in Movies