They’re known as “America’s Best Idea” for a reason.
For many , natter a national parkland is a major event that involve weeks of provision . You need to book hotel , take holiday Clarence Day , and mayhap even hop on a flight of steps and rent a car . But if you ’re lucky enough to live within a two - hour drive of one of these glorious preserves , you could — and should — assemble up a grouping and head out on a daytime risky venture . National Public Lands Dayon September 28 is the perfect opportunity to do just that .
coordinate by theNational Environmental Education Foundation , this annual event come with free entrance to all national parks . It sees hundreds of volunteers clean up the parks , get in touch with their communities , and move their body . But whether you volunteer or not , being among the national park ’s prominent flora and creature with similar - given friend can be transformative .
Any home park can be a day - misstep name and address with the correct expectations and plan in situation . translate on for our bakshish — and get quick for the straits - clarification , improved sleep , vitamin D - and - motivating - boost welfare of being outside .
Yellowstone National Park.|Shutterstock.
Choose your national park
Unless you ’re willing to shell out for a ride - portion helicopter , you ’ll want to choose the park closest to you . Many home parks are reasonably accessible from urban areas via elevator car and public transportation — and if you happen to know in a gateway residential district ? All the easier .
If you subsist near Jackson , Wyoming , for example , YellowstoneandGrand TetonNational Parks provide geothermal wonder alongside furrowed mountains staring for hiking and rock mounting . ( And maybe you ’ll see a moose . )
From the San Francisco Bay Area , Yosemiteis a haven for tramper and nature lensman with its elephantine sequoia , waterfalls , and granite cliffs . Its paved paths also make it extra approachable . Further in the south , if you ’re in the Los Angeles area , you ’re a 2.5 - hour effort fromJoshua Tree ’s desert landscape and a ferry ride away fromChannel island ’ secluded archipelago . California also boastsDeath Valley(straddling the boundary line with Nevada ) , known for having the miserable natural elevation of all the national parking area , andSequoia , with its regal sequoia trees .
Yosemite National Park.|Shutterstock.
If you live near Seattle , you undoubtedly already know aboutOlympic , with its temperate rain forest and coastal views;Mount Rainier , where you may search alpine meadows and predominate superlative ; andNorth cascade , with its azure pool . They all involve day trip . Crater Lake ’s volcanic caldera near Portland , Oregon , is easy to see in an afternoon .
Near Denver , Rocky MountainNational Park offers dramatic peaks , alpine lake , and abundant wildlife . nearer to Chicago , Indiana DunesNational Park combines sandy beaches with forested trails along Lake Michigan . AtShenandoah , near Washington , D.C. , get a taste perception of the Appalachian Trail and the mantrap of the Blue Ridge Mountains . And Miami’sEvergladespresents opportunities for airboat tours and kayak through mangroves .
possibly you ’d like to pluck in the thermal features ofHot Springs National Parkin Arkansas or exploreMammoth Cave ’s cavern outside Louisville , Kentucky . If you ’re a desert denizen , Saguaro National Parknear Tucson feature towering cacti , whileZion , a shortsighted - ish drive from Las Vegas , offers drop and narrow canon .
Everglades National Park.|Shutterstock.
Plan, plan, plan
No matter what parking area you choose and when you ’re visiting , you need a clear path and a flake of enquiry to make the most of your day . What do you need to do ? hike up ? Picnic ? See wildlife ? Where in the green is that activity ? When is the best time of day , or year , to do it ?
For representative , Yosemite ’s Glacier Point shines at sunset , while Shenandoah National Park ’s waterfalls are total after intemperate rain . So check park alerts . watch the weather . Look up your closest entry and assure it ’s open and there are no road closures . think of , progress to your last destination might take extra fourth dimension once you ’re inside the park .
Tailor the adventure
If you love a intriguing hike with perpendicular scrambles or cogitate 12 - stat mi trek are fun , insure everyone in your grouping does , too . Many a well - intentioned outdoor outing has ended in strife because of unaligned desire . Ensure everyone in your group has a good metre and tailor the trip to the group ’s interests and fitness levels . Maybe that means hike 3,000 foot of elevation increase in Grand Teton , or maybe it ’s simply a relaxed walkover on the benches surrounding Old Faithful . The joyousness is being together in nature !
Enjoy the road trip
It ’s not just the goal ; it ’s the journeying , correct ? First , you do n’t have to pick the most lineal route — get originative with scenic byways , quirky landmarks , and must - essay eats . Plan with the group ; debate which roadside attraction is worth a detour . For in - car entertainment , create a share playlist , or if you ’re with a particularly nerdy bunch , listen to podcasts about the parkland ’s account . And load up on collation like freak mixes , jerky , and something fizzy and merriment likeMountain Dew .
Pack smart
The gear you need depends to a great extent on your plan and the atmospheric condition . If you ’re hiking , even if the track is only a few miles , prepare with the10 hiking essentials : hike up boots or sturdy stoolie , a mathematical function , gram calorie - obtuse nutrient ( think nut butters , confect , and protein bars ) , pelting gear , safety item like a fervor dispatcher and a pennywhistle , a first tending kit , a multi - tool , sun protection , tax shelter , and piss . If your plan rifle awry ( like you lose the track ) , these items will have you cover .
Start early and begin at the visitor’s center
Why look to get out there ? Your plan ’s in place — set it in motion . Get on the route early in the morning to get gang and maximise the daylight .
Once you ’ve arrived , lead to the parkland ’s visitant ’s center to see if there are any closures , point yourself in the commons , plug a physical map , chitchat with a ranger for track testimonial , and learn a slight about the green ’s history , wildlife , and geology .
Explore with all of your senses
America ’s Best Idea is honestly awesome . These parks are sheer and beautiful and can make you feel like you ’re on an completely different planet . They offer an escape from your everyday routine , allowing you to experience this country as it was and , unusually , is still countenance to be . To spend even a day in one of these sorcerous plaza is a treat . So while you ’re there , catch one’s breath the refreshing air into your belly , smell the wildflowers or the desert sage or the pine tree and cedar ; see the soar drop-off , iconic megafauna , and starlit skies ; feel the cool lake urine or warm Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin ; hear the birdsong , crashing waves , and canon echoes ; and savor the fleeting sweetness of quietness and adventure .
Grand Teton National Park.|Shutterstock.
Zion National Park.|Shutterstock.
