Perhaps it’s the tumultuous economy that has caused the increase in visitors exploring the U.S. National Parks, or perhaps it’s our fundamental human desire to get back to the inspiring outdoors. But the results are the same: our national parks are seeing a record increase in visits this year.
According to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, most Americans live less than a day's drive from a national park. In this first half of 2009, national parks are an increase of nearly 4.5 million over same period in 2008. In June alone, visitation to national parks increased by over 718,000 visits from the year before. National parks provide year-round opportunities for adventure, which is probably why their popularity continues generation after generation.
“America’s national parks and public lands provide affordable and accessible recreational opportunities from coast to coast,” said Secretary Salazar. “Especially when times are tough, our parks and public lands refuel the spirit and help energize local economies.”
Secretary Salazar adds, “It is great to see so many Americans, including the First Family, take advantage of the incredible natural, cultural, and historic resources that we have here at home.”
“National parks tell America’s story, and each park is a different chapter,” said Andrew N. Todd, president and CEO of national park concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts (http://www.xanterra.com). “Yellowstone, for example, tells the multi-dimensional story of Western discovery, wildlife management and human perseverance. And the Grand Canyon is an elaborately illustrated story of the earth’s evolution.”
National Parks are affordable.
“Particularly during a climate of economic uncertainty, travelers are value-driven when they take their vacations,” said Todd. “It doesn’t matter if travelers are staying in a suite or a rustic cabin. They want to feel they are spending their money wisely.”
TripAdvisor.com nailed it early in 2009 when their survey reported that 73 percent of travelers planed to visit a national park in 2009, up from 62 percent from the previous year.
If you’re like most families, you’re looking for vacations that will allow you to make some lifetime memories and to save some pennies.
At a vehicle entrance fee of $20 for 1-7 days, your family will save more than a few pennies. Or save even more, and purchase an $80 annual pass, America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, and enjoy vehicle admission for a year to Federal recreation sites for a year. The pass can be obtained in person at the park, by calling 1-888-ASK USGS, Ext. 1, or via the Internet at http://store.usgs.gov/pass.
Explore these five popular U.S. National Parks.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (http://www.nps.gov/seki)
You’ll never forget your first glimpse of the towering and majestic sequoia trees, a reminder of how small you really are in this impressive world of Mother Nature. Explore central California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and discover landscape of impressive mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees. Located in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin next to each other, several day-hikes into these two parks originate from a nearby campground, Dorst Creek Campground. Activities vary by season and elevation.
Death Valley National Park (http://www.nps.gov/deva)
If you’re like me, you associate heat, Spaghetti westerns and shootouts with Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. with more than 3.3 million acres of desert wilderness. It’s located just 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada and 275 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. 
Many overlook the inspiring beauty of its colorful and complex geography, diverse wildlife and plants, and spectacular views.
Death Valley National Park is primed for outdoor adventures for all ages, including 7-week old Kevin and his parents on his first road trip (See picture). Hike the scenic trails of Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch. Drive the 9 mile one-way loop road of Artists Drive and enjoy the highlight of the trip: Artists Palette, a multicolored hillside of reds, browns, greens and yellows. Dante’s View is a mountaintop overlooking more than 5,000 feet above the valley. 
Trek the shadowed ripples and undulating curves of the park’s sand dunes.
Enjoy in-park lodging at 4-diamond, 66-room Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort (http://www.furnacecreekresort.com) or the more family-oriented 224 room Furnace Creek Ranch.
Yellowstone National Park (http://www.nps.gov/yell/)
America’s first national park is Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone offers a plethora of sights from gushing geyser like Old Faithful to a large variety of wildlife, such as the symbol of the American West, the bison. Some 4,000 bison call Yellowstone their home, and what better long-lasting visual than spotting a lumbering bison and their playful, reddish-colored bison calves ambling around their mothers in the spring? Or how about the frosty winter sighting of a wolf stalking its prey, an elk, adult bison or moose? Since being reintroduced in the park, the 175 wolves are the most discussed and controversial animal in Yellowstone.
Experience it all first-hand with an expert guide, and sign up for Yellowstone’s complimentary ranger-guided hikes in advance at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/rangerhikes-descriptions.htm
Yellowstone’s primary in-park concessioner is Xanterra Parks & Resorts (http://www.travelyellowstone.com), offering accommodations, dining, gift shops and activities throughout the entire park. You have a choice of nine distinctly different Yellowstone lodging properties and experiences, all located in the park.
Grand Canyon National Park (http://www.nps.gov/grca)
The Grand Canyon National Park receives almost 5 million visitors per year, but you’ll feel alone with nature when you walk along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The view will astound you so much that you might forget to pull out your camera. Yet the camera really doesn’t give justice to the breathtaking sight of the canyon that almost seems to surround you. This World Heritage Site encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona.
Upon arrival at the Grand Canyon, choose from Junior Ranger programs to tours on the rim to simply taking in the national park sites. 
Some packages include narrated motor-coach tours of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, or strike out on your own for a serious hike to the bottom of the Canyon or a leisurely walk around the rim, or enjoy the Grand Canyon from a different vantage while river rafting (http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/whitewater-rafting.htm) your way through the canyon.
Travel to the blast of a train whistle and select a Grand Canyon Railway package (http://www.thetrain.com) that includes lodging at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and in Grand Canyon National Park at select Grand Canyon hotels. Learn about the new Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, or experience the Christmas magic of the Polar Express, a train ride choo-chooing its way to the North Pole and Santa Claus.
Rocky Mountain National Park http://www.nps.gov/romo/
The majestic Rocky Mountains can’t help but inspire, and with elevations ranging from the 8,000 feet valleys to the top of the 14,259 feet Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park inspires visitors of all ages with heart-pounding adventures and breathtaking vistas.
The months of June and July inspire wildflower-lovers when its meadows and hillsides are splashed with botanical palettes. Wildlife-watchers are stirred by the amazing variety of animals: elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black beers, coyotes, eagles, and hawks. And what about enjoying the annual exodus of autumn visitors the aspens changing color to greet the winter? Add 359 miles of trails to up the thrill of adventures for hikers, backpackers and horseback riders.
The communities around Rocky Mountain National Park offer plenty of accommodations ranging from rustic to historic to first-class (http://rockymountainnationalpark.com/pages/where_to_stay.html). To keep it affordable, consider the YMCA of the Rockies (http://www.ymcarockies.org). Affordable lodging in cabins or lodge rooms is available at two-year round vacation centers, both located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Estes Park Center is minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park and Snow Mountain Ranch is just a short distance from Winter Park.
Both Centers offer affordable lodging in cabins or lodge rooms, meals and tons of activities for family vacations, reunions, groups, conferences and retreats.
The most difficult decision will be choosing your national park passion out of the hundreds available, but wherever you go, you’ll see travelers of all ages and you’ll experience adventures of a lifetime.
Useful Links:
Source for great ideas for trips to national parks, wildlife refuges, public lands, and forests near their home at: http://www.recreation.gov
Find a U.S. National Park: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm
U.S. Department of the Interior http://www.doi.gov/
By Diana Rowe
