|
|
|
A Rubondo Island National Park Tanzania
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest in the world. The tiny island of Rubondo is only a speck in this vast lake; being twenty-six kilometers long and ten kilometers wide. Rubondo National Park consists of a main island...
Enjoying the Best of the Mediterranean
The calm, unspoilt and pure waters of the Mediterranean Sea are actually part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean is almost completely enclosed by the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa and the Sea connects some of the most fascinating,...
How California Couples Plan Romantic Getaways With Their Dogs
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of www.Sketchandtravel.com and www.Bookpleasures.com welcomes a most unusual author, Maria Goodavage, former USA TODAY correspondent.
Maria is the author of The Dog’s Lover’s Companion to California, and she is...
Khmer Rouge Prison 21 – The Chilling High School In Phnom Pehn, Cambodia
Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the...
Vacation in Dubai
Dubai is such an exciting and diverse travel destination that it
attracts millions of visitors annually - particularly during the
winter months when the weather is perfect for every single
activity from sunbathing and scuba diving to camel racing...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Parks – Get Out Of Your Car!
The national park system in the United States is full of beauty and surprises. Still, you’ll be wondering if they’re worth it when you run into the crowds of other visitors.
Road Side Viewing
Sure, millions of people visit our national parks each year, miles of cars creep through at a painfully slow pace, parking lots are full and busses are packed. Cars stop in the middle of the road to view wildlife, backing up traffic for miles.
Is it all worth it? Should I just get stuck in a Los Angeles traffic jam with DVD player showing some nice mountain scenery?!
I travel through the Rocky Mountain Nation Park, using Trail Ridge Road, on a regular basis throughout the summer to reach some of my favorite fly fishing spots on the other side of the divide. I also have hiked many of the park trails. Let me tell you, I have seen the frustration of the gridlock national park experience.
Do you think the national park experience is looking out the window of your car or bus? How about stopping at the most popular scenic spots that are located within a stones throwing distance from the parking lots? If you do, well, you likely have missed out on 95 percent of the park and a serine magical experience that only those willing to put on the hiking boots get to
see.
The system of roads in a National Park is designed to minimize the impact on the park. It is not designed to get you to the best places. If you do not get off your butt and hike a bit, you are not seeing the beauty of the park. Sure, you may have to deal with the cattle drive to reach your desired trailhead, but a leisurely stroll of about 1 mile leave the hordes of arm chair park goers long behind. You could be standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people looking across Bear Lake at one moment, and in near solitude one hour later if you’re willing to exert just a bit more energy than the majority of the park visitors.
Thanks goodness for the fast food armchair lifestyle!!!! Get on those boots and leave the crowds behind. It’s worth it.
About the Author: Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of hiking journals. Writing journals make great Christmas gifts for him or her. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to hiking stories and hiking articles.
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
|
|
|
|