Last summer our retired neighbors took a West Coast road trip to visit their three grown children and their respective families. Along the way they stopped at four national parks in three different states. They had such a wonderful time they are currently planning another summer road adventure to include visits to four more national parks (minus the stops to see their children). I’ve seen the spectacular pictures they took on their trip and vowed someday before I retire (from life) I would make the same trip with my own family.
Here’s the itinerary they followed:
Washington State’s Olympic National Park
The park is home to North America’s only temperate rain forest as well as the longest strip of undeveloped coastline in the continental United States. The rain forest receives an annual rainfall of 144 inches, and the moisture makes for an incredibly rich ecosystem as witnessed by the abundance of moss that fills the park. The area also boasts a range of picturesque mountains and glaciers. The park contains a wilderness preserve that is home to herds of elk. Since there are no roads that cut all the way through the vast interior of the peninsula, it is difficult to explore all the park has to offer in a single day.
California’s Sequoia and Kings National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is where you will find the General Sherman Tree, the oldest and largest tree in the world. While some visitors head to the park to venture deep into the wilderness, you don’t have to go too far from the main areas to experience peace and quiet. The park is home to immense mountains and deep canyons, which offer solitude. There are also more than 800 miles of marked trails that lead to the high-alpine wilderness. Beneath the surface lies over 200 fascinating caverns. If you enjoy fishing, hiking, horseback riding, photography, cross-country skiing, or snowshoe walking, a trip to Sequoia and Kings National Park is one you won’t soon forget.
Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park
If you want a memorable picture of your loved one standing next to a hoodoo then head to Bryce Canyon National Park. The hoodoos or spires stand up to 100 feet tall. The term hoodoo is derived from the word voodoo or mystical and magical.
Frost and rain have helped shape the colorful limestone rocks into the hoodoos, which create a wondrous landscape of mazes, offering some of the most exciting and memorable walks and hikes imaginable. Some of the most spectacular hoodoos have large holes, called windows, which you can see right through. The area also boasts some of the world’s best air quality. This, coupled with the lack of nearby cities, creates unparalleled opportunities for stargazing. And for all you bird watchers, the park offers views of some rare winged friends that are so content in the park that you will have ample time to grab your cameras and capture the perfect picture.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is located in Southeast Utah. The park spans 76,000 acres and includes more than 2,200 natural arches–the highest concentration in the world. The arches are a product of erosion, caused by the Colorado River. (Water trying to flow down into the river carves the landscape.) The process takes a long time and no one knows how long these arches will be around. The Delicate Arch is the park’s icon arch.
This park is easy to navigate through. A 41-mile round-trip paved road in the park leads to the major sights, including Balanced Rock, Skyline Arch, and the Fiery Furnace. There are also remote backpacking areas in Arches National Park as well as unpaved 4-wheel drive roads. Take your time and take lots of pictures. The beautiful arches are some of the most photographed (and most recognized) in the world.
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