national parks
I’ve had national parks on my mind recently.
My husband and I are planning a fall trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton1 and have immersed ourselves in learning as much as we can about those glorious national parks before we visit them for the first time ever.
The National Parks system is an absolute treasure in the US and I am grateful to have visited quite a few over the years.
Note: I acknowledge that this country’s history of appropriating land historically inhabited by Native peoples, including land currently within many national parks, is shameful and appalling.2
Shenandoah N.P. is a short driving distance away from us here in Virginia and there’s nothing quite like standing at an overlook and admiring the views stretching out for miles in every direction. My entire life, I have enjoyed driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway and taking blurry photos of the vistas through the car windows as a passenger.
Assateague National Seashore is a favorite of mine and I have happily spent days and days biking all over the island and enjoying quiet beaches in the off-season.
Walking along both the Virginia and Maryland sides of Great Falls N.P. and watching the crashing rapids of the Potomac River is a lesson in the power of water and why I will never, ever, ever attempt to kayak that river or any like it.
Our national parks include so many sites related to history. Jamestown, where the official website says (apparently without any irony) “…where a successful English colonization of North America began,” is something every Virginia student learns about in elementary school
Virginia is also full of National Battlefields, including Yorktown and Manassas, and I admit that these sites are of zero interest to me, so I have visited very few.
Outside of Virginia…
Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii is a family favorite. I cannot imagine going to Maui without making the drive up there. Bonus points to anyone who bikes up the road. I salute you.
Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, and other parks out west have been awe-inspiring and even stunned us into silence.
But this trip … well, it has the potential to truly overwhelm our senses. I can’t wait.
What’s your favorite national park?
Advice on things to do, accommodations, restaurants, and so forth is welcome and gratefully received. Yes, we know that an October trip is not the best in terms of what’s open at that time, but it’s when it works with our schedule and we’re going to just roll with it and be flexible.
I highly recommend the podcast Field Trip by the Washington Post, which discusses several national parks, issues related to them, and governmental relations with the local Native tribes.
In Grand Teton, we stayed at the historic cabins at Colter Bay Village and enjoyed it very much! I’m not sure they are open in October. Have a marvelous time!
Glacier. Scott would answer Teton.