Tag Archives: national parks

Family Friendly Earth Day Activities – 2014

Posted on by

How will your family be celebrating Earth Day? There will be many interesting events taking place. You should check local newspaper (or their website) to see what is going on near you. In addition to the local activities, here are several others that will be happening across the United States. Time and Google + want to see your best photo of Earth. This gives you the perfect excuse to bring your family outside to take some photos of our beautiful planet. Pick your best one, and post it on your Google + account with the hashtag #MyBeautifulEarth. Google + will … Continue reading →

Spend Earth Day in the Great Outdoors

Uncle Sam is jumping on the Earth Day bandwagon by encouraging you to head outside this week. It may just be coincidence, but National Park Week is taking place from April 17-25, just in time for Thursday’s Earth Day celebrations. From now through next Sunday entrance fees will be waived at 392 national parks. In addition, many parks have organized events, talks, demonstrations and volunteer clean-ups to encourage visitors to check out what Mother Nature has to offer at our nation’s most spectacular natural treasures. Some of the more interesting events include: April 18th-Get ready to cheer while you watch … Continue reading →

National Park Tour—-Adventures in Nature Part 2

If your summer vacations to major malls, amusement parks and water worlds have left you searching for better ways to spend quality time with your family why not consider getting away to the great outdoors? The United States’ national park system is one of the finest in the world. Not only do our country’s natural wonders provide an alternative to long lines and stomach-turning thrill rides they also offer an affordable way to escape from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with the people that mean the most to you. So, turn off your cellphones, unplug your iPods, say … Continue reading →

National Park Tour—-Adventure in Nature

If your family is anything like mine then you are probably battling a serious case of cabin fever. We live in the Upper Midwest where spring has not yet sprung. Tomorrow the forecast calls for snow, wind, and freezing temperatures. I don’t know if Mother Nature got the memo—but the calendar says we are just a few weeks from summer! When the temperatures do begin to rise we plan to head outdoors (and stay there until fall). Our summer travel plans include hitting some of our favorite national parks, though with near record gas prices we will likely choose ones … Continue reading →

Family Forays to National Treasures

While some families are spending this weekend preparing for their spring getaways others are staying close to home and finalizing their plans for summer adventures. Whether you are doing one or the other the following family friendly vacation destinations are ones you might consider visiting if you are looking for an alternative (or addition) to theme parks and thrill rides. Starting April 14th the new museum and visitor center at Gettysburg National Military Park will open its doors to the public. The facility is part of a $125 million project that helps preserve the park’s artifacts and archives. If you … Continue reading →

National Park Service Mansion Tour

Very few of us will ever be lucky enough to live in a mansion, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to dream. I love touring other people’s homes and getting inspiration for my own. And apparently I am not alone. Did you know the National Park Service offers tours of some of the country’s most historically and architecturally significant mansions? Hampton Mansion in Townson, Maryland is one of the Park Service’s largest dwellings, though it doesn’t attract anywhere near the number of visitors that sites half its size do annually. Hampton mansion sits on 63 acres just outside the Baltimore Beltway, … Continue reading →

Winter Travel Deals at National Parks

If you’ve spent years talking yourself out of visiting the United States’ most treasured attractions, make a New Year’s resolution to stop. Here’s why: some of the country’s most popular national parks are offering amazing winter travel deals. The bargains include accommodations at highly regarded lodgings and admission to the parks. Take a look: Zion National Park, Utah This winter promotion includes discounted rates at Xanterra’s Zion Lodge, which boasts 81 rooms, 40 cabins, a restaurant, a café, and a gift shop. Parking is free, and there’s easy access to hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails, most of which remain open … Continue reading →

The Quest For Peace and Quiet

How many times has your family vacation been interrupted by the incessant ringing of your cellphone? What about that weekend trip that was meant to be alone time for you and your spouse… how many times was the peace and quiet shattered by an alert from your husband’s BlackBerry or cellphone? If you answered “many,” then you are clearly not vacationing in the right place. Believe it or not, there are places you can vacation that don’t allow you to reach out and touch anyone with a wireless device. Take for example, California’s Death Valley. Seriously, the place is 3,000 … Continue reading →

Hot Deals In A Cool Spot

In a previous blog I wrote about the rising fees at U.S. national parks—not such good news. However, this blog provides much better news—in the form of two-for-one deals and other discounts being offered at one of Alaska’s most popular national parks. Spring is a slow time in the land of the midnight sun and the Alaska Office of Tourism Development is hoping that the following deals will help sway some travelers their way this May. I know what you are thinking: Who wants to visit Alaska in May? It’s true; the average daily temperature from May 1 to June … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: Expect To Pay More At Some National Parks

I’ve spent many blogs touting the wonders of various national parks in hopes that readers would be inspired to pack up their families and see for themselves what incredible resources these areas offer. If the recounting of my adventures wasn’t enough to persuade you to make the trip sooner rather than later, perhaps this bit of news might: the government is about to raise entrance fees at several national parks over the next three summers. The National Park Service is planning to phase in higher rates for annual park passes and fees per vehicle or person at about 130 of … Continue reading →