Tag Archives: National Park

National Parks, Travel

An Explanation on the United States National Parks System Nomenclature

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Yosemite National Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wright Brothers National Memorial, San Juan National Historic Site, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Oregon National Historic Trail.  All of these sites are managed by the National Park Service.  All of them are part of the United States National Park System. The names are designed to help explain their purpose and level of protection.  Sometimes the names are confusing and sometimes don’t make sense.  To most visitors, the designation doesn’t matter but learning the national park system nomenclature can help understand the importance of these American Treasures. Continue Reading . . .

Travel

A Guide to Etsy for Handcrafted National Park Traveler Gifts

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I make no bones about being a national park junkies. I have been to 45 of the 59 national parks. I love having unique items to display my love of the national parks. There is no better place to find really unique gifts online than Etsy. My friend has an online store and uses software like sam cart, she loves all things ecommerce and she’s making good money from it too! All the items are from small business by fellow national park lovers. Here are 15 of my favorite National Park Traveler Gifts from Etsy. When you’ve returned from your trip and finished shopping here you can make some Custom Bobbleheads from your photos. Continue Reading . . .

National Parks, North America, Oregon, Summer, Travel, United States

United States 59 National Park Quest #42 – Crater Lake National Park

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The sun had long since set by the time I got to Crater Lake National Park. I had made the long drive from Davis, CA to Crater Lake National Park after work to spend the weekend in Oregon’s only national park. I couldn’t wait to check out Crater Lake as it would be my 42nd national park and the last of the Cascade mountain national parks. As with most of my trips, I read up on the post of fun activities to do while camping on campingfunzone.com and headed out with the hope of this trip being better than my last one. Not to mention, this was a last minute decision to spend the weekend in Crater Lake. Continue Reading . . .

Alaska, Travel, United States

Seven Spectacular Reasons to Visit Alaska in September

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Alaska is a bucket list vacation destination. A typical visitor is coming to visit the amazing scenery, do some fishing/hunting after having read about popular fishing spots from a buying guide, or view some epic wildlife. This is the state to do all of these plus so much more.  Visitors typically come in June, July, and August with a very much needed boondocking guide with them. These are the short summer season in Alaska.  Alaska is BUSY during those months.  Avoid the popular months and check out an Alaskan September. Continue Reading . . .

American Samoa, American Samoa, hiking, National Parks, Oceanic, Snorkling, Travel, United States

59 National Park Quest #40 – The National Park of American Samoa

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I stepped off the plane and on to a South Pacific Island.  Yet, I haven’t even left the United States.  I am still ‘technically” in the United States.  I had landed at the Pago Pago International Airport on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa.  American Samoa is an unincorporated unorganized territory of the United States.  Basically, the islands are owned by the US but operate under local rule and customs.  The U.S. Federal Government has limited involvement in American Samoa politics and American Samoans are U.S. Nationals but not citizens. I have traveled to this far flung island chain south of the equator and halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii to spend four days exploring the National Park of American Samoa. Continue Reading . . .