| There are so many decisions that go into | | | | Superior. Both offer great wilderness adventures |
| choosing a vacation destination. When it involves | | | | as well as canoeing, kayaking, motor boating and |
| more than just you and your friend or significant | | | | fishing opportunities. Voyageurs is considered a |
| other, it seems to get even more complicated. | | | | water park meaning you have to take a boat |
| Short and even family vacations should not drive | | | | over to the actual park, but it is a short journey. |
| you to drink or pulling all your hair out. These are | | | | There are places to camp out or lodges to stay |
| just a few tips to help you make your choice a | | | | at that will help equip you, enabling you to boat |
| little less stressful. | | | | around the waterways and find those great |
| The first and easiest thing to ask yourself is what | | | | fishing spots or spy wildlife. Isle Royale is a long |
| you and the people you will be going with like to | | | | boat ride or a short "puddle jumper" flight. It has |
| do? Are you totally outdoor people, strictly indoor | | | | wilderness camping only, but also has a lodge for |
| types, or a combination? Are all of you athletic or | | | | those who only enjoy day hiking and some |
| in good shape? Do you like hot weather, mild or | | | | comfort. There's kayaking, fishing, backpacking, |
| cold seasons? Is sightseeing something you would | | | | wildlife, with the longest running research program |
| like on your agenda or are you strictly an activity | | | | studying wolves and moose, scuba diving, and ship |
| oriented type? Do you enjoy ruggedness or do | | | | wrecks. It is truly a unique ecosystem to |
| you want more comfort? Do you like camping, | | | | observe. |
| fishing, backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, | | | | The Western US has much more to offer in |
| horseback riding, bird watching, wildlife viewing, | | | | national parks. The most famous is Yellowstone |
| history, learning how some of the unique | | | | where you will see Old Faithful and lots of other |
| formations in the parks came to be there, | | | | geothermal marvels and one of the few places in |
| snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, sailing, boating, | | | | the lower 48 to observe grizzly bears up close. |
| kayaking, whitewater rafting, photography, | | | | You'll also see bison roaming very close by so be |
| hunting, or just lazing around beautiful places? | | | | careful. It is located on the border of Wyoming |
| The next thing to consider is how much do you | | | | and Montana. There are numerous ranches and |
| have to spend and how much time will you have. | | | | lodges to stay at or you can camp out in the |
| There are so many national parks and | | | | park. There is also great fly fishing, kayaking, |
| monuments that are relatively close to people | | | | climbing and backpacking. Another biggie is Grand |
| that it is not expensive to get yourself there. | | | | Canyon National Park. This one is in Arizona, again |
| Some of the exciting wilderness areas in Alaska | | | | on the border of Arizona and Nevada, but also |
| can be expensive to get to, but if you have the | | | | close to the southern Utah border. It is part of |
| money and enjoy the great outdoors, it is | | | | the Grand Staircase, an immense sequence of |
| certainly worth going for an incredible experience | | | | sedimentary rock layers that runs south from |
| you will not soon forget. | | | | Bryce Canyon National Park, through Zion National |
| That being said, it only remains to pick your | | | | Park (both in Utah) and ends at the Grand |
| destination. Bear in mind, that almost any area has | | | | Canyon. There is camping, backpacking, day hiking, |
| inexpensive travel options and moves up from | | | | whitewater rafting, and plenty of photography |
| there to more expensive ones. Also, just because | | | | opportunities. |
| you're going to a national park, does not mean | | | | Other great parks (although all of them are super |
| you have to 'rough it'. There are plenty of options | | | | places to visit) in the west, are Yosemite, Channel |
| for day hiking, climbing, fishing, water sports, etc. | | | | Islands, Redwood, Arches, Olympic, Grand Teton, |
| that do not involve sitting by a campfire enjoying | | | | Canyonlands, Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of |
| the great outdoors if that is just not your style. | | | | the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Crater Lake, Mt. |
| Camping is generally believed to be the cheapest | | | | Rainier, and Sequoia. All of these have great wide |
| type of a vacation after you make the initial | | | | spread activities that will suit any vacationers' |
| investment of camping supplies. This can be a tidy | | | | needs and desires. Please check out our individual |
| sum, but remember that the equipment usually | | | | park pages for further information on each of |
| lasts for quite a few years. It is generally true | | | | these superb parks. |
| that camping fees at the parks are cheaper than | | | | The Eastern United States also offer splendid |
| an average hotel room. And if you own an RV, | | | | options for vacationing. Acadia National Park in |
| you can camp in true comfort. Most campgrounds | | | | Maine has unsurpassed northern oceanside views |
| are situated in gorgeous surroundings and allow | | | | and cliff climbing that you won't find in other |
| you easy access to the park's highlights. There | | | | parks. There's also fishing, island exploring, hiking |
| are very few parks that don't have some kind of | | | | and beautiful gardens to gaze upon. Further down |
| campgrounds. Also, when you camp, you usually | | | | the eastern side is Shenandoah National Park in |
| cook your own food which also saves you | | | | the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The |
| money. And no, you don't have to eat hotdogs all | | | | Appalachian Trail runs through the park for 101 |
| week unless that is what you love! | | | | miles giving you plenty of hiking and backpacking |
| Now, if you live in the Midwest, there are plenty | | | | options. There's also camping, fishing, bird watching |
| of park options within driving distances that take | | | | and horseback riding. |
| no more than twelve hours or less, depending | | | | In Florida, you will find three national parks and |
| where you live. Of course, you can always | | | | one preserve with the most famous being |
| choose to fly anywhere, but some parks are a | | | | Everglades. Everglades is so much more then |
| little distant from the nearest airport. Driving | | | | what you've seen on TV. The wildlife is |
| allows you the luxury of taking along everything | | | | phenomenal and makes it easy to get some |
| you think you need for a comfortable stay. | | | | great animal and bird shots. There's also |
| My favorite pick for the Midwest is Great Smoky | | | | wilderness camping, (watch out for alligators!) |
| Mountains National Park. This is hands down one | | | | canoeing, fishing, airboat rides, hiking, and rare as |
| of the best all-around parks for the family. It falls | | | | well as beautiful flora. Big Cypress National |
| within the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. | | | | Preserve is right by Everglades and is very similar, |
| You can choose to rough it on the Appalachian | | | | but also offers cypress stands, mangrove |
| Trail, camp out in a developed campground or | | | | forests, endangered species of wildlife like the |
| wilderness, or stay in anywhere from luxurious | | | | peregrine falcon and the Florida panther. Activities |
| suites to nice inexpensive hotels in nearby Pigeon | | | | include fishing, biking, canoeing, hiking, and hunting. |
| Forge and Gatlinburg, TN. And, speaking of Pigeon | | | | Biscayne National Park is off of the eastern tip of |
| Forge, you have Dollywood and all the | | | | southern Florida. As the world's third-longest coral |
| innumerable attractions they offer in the area. On | | | | reef tract, there are snorkeling, scuba diving trips, |
| the North Carolina side you have more | | | | sailing, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking |
| campgrounds, the city of Cherokee that has | | | | opportunities, making it a celebrated national park |
| several Indian souvenirs and museums, | | | | vacation for family vacations or outdoor |
| whitewater rafting and fly fishing (the last two | | | | adventure-seeking spring break crowds. Dry |
| are actually offered in both states). The | | | | Tortugas National Park is a unique park preserving |
| mountains are absolutely beautiful and make for | | | | Fort Jefferson that was built during the Civil War |
| great photo ops. | | | | but never finished, and the nesting places of terns |
| Another great choice is Indiana Dunes National | | | | and sea turtles. You will be able to enjoy Key |
| Lakeshore and State Park. They also have | | | | West snorkeling, saltwater fishing, swimming, |
| camping and wildlife viewing, especially bird | | | | lighthouses, ship wreaks, hiking, beach camping, |
| watching. A unique shoreline allows for walking on | | | | boating, scuba diving, bird watching, and |
| the beach or swimming in Lake Michigan. They | | | | underwater photography of some of the best |
| even have areas for you to bring your own | | | | coral reef and marine life areas down in Southern |
| horses and go horseback riding. For those of you | | | | Florida. |
| that enjoy sightseeing and history, you can see | | | | Again, I want to stress that this has been just an |
| the five World's Fair houses from 1933 or attend | | | | overview of some of the impressive parks to be |
| the Gathering At Calumic in early May, where | | | | seen in our national parks system. I urge you to |
| Eastern Woodland Indians and Western Great | | | | dig into our site and read some of the park pages |
| Lakes fur traders and Voyageurs reenact what | | | | for the areas you are interested in visiting to find |
| life was like along the Calumet River from | | | | the perfect place for you to enjoy a wonderful |
| 1730-1830. | | | | vacation full of memories and remarkable |
| If you enjoy boating, there are several places in | | | | photographs. A lot of the research has already |
| the Midwest, but the two northern ones are | | | | been done for you, so dive in! With the national |
| Voyageurs National Park and Isle Royale National | | | | parks, your choices are truly endless. |
| Park. Voyageurs is in Minnesota and Isle Royale is | | | | Corie Marks |
| off of the northern coast of Michigan in Lake | | | | Adventure-Crew. |