Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, Paddling, North America, United States, Camping, Ecotourism, Budget Travel
There is no doubt that America's national parks are popular tourist destinations. The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to the parks, and many of them have been setting attendance records as a result.With the summer fast approaching, many of us are no doubt making plans for our vacations, with many electing to visit a national park once again this year. The vast majority of those visitors will never wander far from their car, but to get a true sense of what the parks have to offer, you really should ditch the vehicle and strike out under your own power. In doing so, you'll get a much better sense of the landscapes around you, and have a better chance of connecting with nature too. Here are five ways that you can do just that.
Hike the Great Smoky Mountains
With more than 800 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, there is a route for just about everyone. From short excursions and day hikes, to multi-day epics for the backpacker crowd, this is a park that is sure to please any outdoor enthusiast. With lush green forests, crystal clear streams, and breathtaking mountain tops, the Smoky Mountains have it all. But you can't experience the best they have to offer from you car, so put on your hiking shoes and hit the trail. I recommend the 8-mile round-trip hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular mountain walk that is more than worth the effort.
Raft The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is truly one of the great natural wonders of the world. It is so vast in size and scope that you simply have to see it to truly understand just how large it really is. That size is magnified even further while you're rafting the mighty Colorado River, with the mile-high walls of the Canyon looming far overhead. Visitors have a number of options when it comes to paddling the river, ranging from short half and full day excursions to multi-day options lasting as much as 25 days in length. The whitewater in the Grand Canyon will have your heart pounding in your chest, and once you've calmed down from the adrenaline rush, you can enjoy a gentle drift down the Colorado, with those amazing landscapes completely surrounding you.
Continue reading 5 great ways to explore national parks under your own power
5 great ways to explore national parks under your own power originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/gadling/~3/Zlt8SfKXchY/
lakewood camping resort rv camping in california camping checklist survival gear
No comments:
Post a Comment