What is your favorite National Park & why?

I just found out that if you are 62 years or older, you can get a LIFETIME National Parks Permit for only $10 if you purchase it at the entrance to a National Park. For $20 you can have a lifetime permit mailed to you. Your permit also covers whoever is in the vehicle with you! What a deal!

It's a great deal, for sure. We love the national parks!

i dont have one; ivenever been to one

I have two that are side by side... Yellowstone-Grand Teton~~

The two make for the most spectacular vista in all of the U. S. We love Southern Utah, as well.

Bryce and Zion...are awesome too...

I've been BLESSED to have the time .. in my Retirement years .. to revisit many different national parks .. monuments .. from east to west .. north to south ..

There's something of each .. that just screams out .. SEE me ..

From the Caves of KY (Mammoth Caves) .. the Civil War Battleground Sites too (Point Park, TN) .. from Yellowstone (WY) (OH, the wildness .. the wonders .. including Old Faithful) .. the Badlands (SD) .. Rushmore (SD) .. The Giant Redwoods (CA) .. the National Recreational Sites along the Gulf Coast .. Washington Monument .. etc ...

I don't necessarily have one clear favorite .. each has a special 'draw' .. but no matter what .. the wilder the better (I so love nature's beauty) ..

We travel a lot, as well. And, I agree that they are all quite special. Whenever we go on a road trip, we plan our route to include as many sites as possible (even the ones that we have already visited).

I've only been to Yellowstone and The Badlands, though I really want to visit more. Yellowstone was pretty amazing.

Love 'em both!

Mt. Rushmore/Black Hills National Park- because I grew up there...

Isn't Mt Rushmore a National Monument? And the Black Hills is a small mountain range, although it has a national park in it (Wind Cave). I love SD, my uncle built a house just outside Custer State Park.

I'd go with Yosemite, but like the rest of the parks, they seem to be overwhelmed with a lot of foreign tourists because of the cheap dollar. I notice more park vandalism taking place in the Western parks, especially in the primative areas. The crazies are more prevelant, taking liberties with the wildlife and ignoring most warning signs in general.

So far, Yosemite. Just the sheer size of the rock formations and thundering power of the waterfalls made me feel very small, indeed! There are still several parks that are still on my bucket list, most notably, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. I'll have to get back to you when I cross those off the list.

We still haven't been to Glacier or Bar Harbor (though we've been to many others) - Yellowstine is our #1.

You will truly love it when you get a chance to see the Tetons and the variety of sights in Yellowstone.... ;o)

Yellowstone.

#1 with me.

It's pretty amazing isn't it?

In years past, we never spent a lot of time there (always trying to cover as much other stuff as possible, too). But, in 2008, we rented a motorhome in Jackson and spent a week. It was fantastic - 8 grizzlies.

I've only been there one time and that was quite a while ago. We camped too. And could hear bears rummaging through the campgrounds at night.

Me as well!!!

You're the expert; but, I love the place - the Northeast corner is awesome - no geysers, but lots of wildlife.

Yupper~~~

YAY!!! I have been lucky enough to visit there 10 times!!! That and the Tetons are awesome!

You are lucky. I've been to the Tetons and I agree, they are awesome. I hope to go back some day.

Very fortunate....between 1968 and 1980, I was able to go out there 10 times...I have hiked in the Tetons, rising vertically about 1,000 feet in about a mile... no "climbing" involved, just uphill from one of the trails off of Jenny Lake....
Yellowstone, was incredible and went through many changed during those years.. they had to remove a lot of the Grizzly Bears because of contact with stupid tourists...
One thing I noticed is that I was able to go there in the months of May, June, July, August, and September...And it snowed upon me in every one of those months!! LOL

We were there in July, I think. And in the evening we were wearing our heavy coats. You're right about the tourists. Some were feeding the bears. When we saw that at a picnic ground we left in a big hurry.

Some bears did tear up a families tent, cooler, etc, and they left right after that. Fortunately we were in a travel trailer. I would never camp up there in a tent.

I know about bears visiting campsites... I only used tents or tarps when I went there, but I was young and fearless...

In 1968, we camped in Canyon Village Campground. One night while we were there, a bear came into our site and punctured our 2 Gallon water jug, but didn't bother us. We locked our food in the trunk.
But there was a sorry story about a 13 year old girl who went to use the restroom during the night, She ran into a bear that hit her, and she did die from the wounds.
They closed down that campground after that. Apparently, the garbage dump was not too far from that campground, and it was visited every night by bears looking for food. That was changed rather soon after the incident.

That's so sad. There were a couple times when I went to the restroom in the middle of the night and I was so afraid I would meet up with a bear. There's not much you can do to defend yourself against a bear unless you have a gun.

Or a Forest Ranger Hat!!!
Another time I was out there with my older sister and her 4 kids (boys 12 & 10, girls 8 & 6). We were sitting down for a late lunch of hotdogs and beans. Our campsite was on the outer perimeter loop. I looked up and saw a black bear mosying towards us, so I just got everyone to move away from the table leaving the food. I started to make noise by beating on a pot which seemed to confuse the bear.
A nearby camper ran and got one of the rangers who came up and started yelling at the bear and clapping his hands. The bear took one look at Mr. Ranger and hauled ass back into the woods!!! After talking with him, we come to find out that the bears know the shape of the Forest Rangers hat, and it puts the fear of God in them!!! That is a true story!!! ;o)

Thanks for the info. Next time I'm out in the wilderness I will be wearing a forest rangers hat. lol lol

At least bring one with you!! hehehe

Good idea. lol lol

Thank You... I hope you had a great day too~~~ ;o)

I did and a better Thursday. lol

HoooRaaay!!! ;o)

lol

Lake Powell...house-boaters paradise.
In 1972, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area was established. It is public land managed by the National Park Service, and available to the public for recreational purposes.

Looks excellent!