Favorite National Park?

[caitycaity]

i've been to quite a few national parks, and my favorite is yellowstone. it has so much variety of scenery and so much to do, i don't think others can really compete.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by TigerBear
My brother told me the exact same thing! I think its a good enough reason for a second trip!!

Cute pic btw!

Thank you! Also BTW, there is a road off of the Beartooth where Mel Gibson has (had?) a ranch. We used to drive by it when we went over in that area.. Never got to meet him there...

Word of warning about the Beartooth, now that I have talked it up so much. The road closes sometime around the beginning of October and reopens (usually) the weekend after Memorial day. Reason: snow. After the first good snowfall, they don't keep it plowed, they just close the road. You will see the measuring sticks on the sides of the road that show how high the snow can get. The plows use the tops of the sticks to tell where the road is.

If I can find it, I have a picture of DH on his solo motorcyle ride a few days after Memorial Day with his bike next to the plowed road. The snow is about 15 feet high....

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

edited to eliminate double post...How did I do that??

sorry...

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Yosemite gets my vote -- it's my favorite place in the world.

<img width=600 src=http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd1960/yosemite-17.4.jpg>

<img width=600 src=http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd2202/vernal-falls-9.3.jpg>

<img width=600 src=http://www.uh.edu/~doan2580/Hole%20thru%20Tree.jpg>

 

[maci]

Those pics are gorgeous MJ!!!! WOW!!!

So many choices....so few vacation days!

Thanks for the great tips! Keep them coming!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

So, we may not have trees that size, but I am partial to our Wayne National Forest! We have a cave and a natural bridge!

 

[gshoemate]

I am so jealous. I haven't been to Yellowstone since 1998 when DD was 6 months old. It is so beautiful and the animals are great. My favorite are the Bison and Moose. We use to drive from Michigan and it was a great trip with stops at Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. One year we drove the Beartooth in...my oh my. As we approached the mountains area, when you looked way up you could see the cars and it was scary knowing that you were going to be driving up that high but it was so worth it. We were there in August and there was snow at the top. We also love to drive out the West entrance and visit West Yellowstone...and cute little tourist town. Anyways, Yellowstone gets my vote. I recently sent in 100 entries to ConAgra, they were giving a trip to Yellowstone away. I haven't heard anything so i must not of won.

For information, this is a great website with a chat page and webcams. www.yellowstone-natl-park.com

Have fun!!!

 

[TigerBear]

Rajah, that is a lot of parks!

Mary Jo, I do believe Yosemite will be next!!

Hipporina, Hidden Falls is definitely on our list. We plan to hike the Cascade Cavern Trail after reaching Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls (another 4.5 miles one-way). I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Hidden Falls!

Gshoemate, I've used that discussion board in the link you posted! Very helpful people.

 

[Kallison]

Just got back from Acadia and loved it, even more than the Grand Canyon.

Wanted to do Yellowstone next summer but Yosemite pics are incredible.

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by TigerBear
Rajah, that is a lot of parks!

If you haven't guessed, my parents used to take me to practically every National Park, Historic Site, or even State Park that was within reasonable driving distance either of where we lived or where we were visiting. I've come to love National Parks as a whole even more than WDW. I'd rather give up WDW than give up Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon...

I'm just still trying to get DH to Yellowstone. We've had 3 false starts, and 2 for the Grand Canyon.

Have a wonderful time, TigerBear

 

[laurajetter]

I vote for Yellowstone...

Of course, I haven't been to many National parks, but last year's trip to Yellowstone was absolutely awesome! We took the Beartooth Scenic Byway from Billings, Montana to the North East entrance, which was a beautiful experience in itself, taking you to the 10,000+ ft. high peak of a mountain. The geysers, hiking trails and wildlife of Yellowstone were just a wonderful experience. I'd recommend staying near Old Faithful (two suggestions: Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Old Faithful Inn) because you are so close to many of the geyser basins. Don't forget about the waterfalls on the East side of the park in the Canyon area; I think many people overlook that area. Also, we went in September just after Labor Day...perfect time to go. Extremely low crowds and the weather was great.

If anyone needs any info about Yellowstone, feel free to PM me and I will try to help!

-Laura

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Originally posted by gshoemate
I am so jealous. I haven't been to Yellowstone since 1998 when DD was 6 months old. It is so beautiful and the animals are great. My favorite are the Bison and Moose. We use to drive from Michigan and it was a great trip with stops at Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. One year we drove the Beartooth in...my oh my. As we approached the mountains area, when you looked way up you could see the cars and it was scary knowing that you were going to be driving up that high but it was so worth it. We were there in August and there was snow at the top. We also love to drive out the West entrance and visit West Yellowstone...and cute little tourist town. Anyways, Yellowstone gets my vote. I recently sent in 100 entries to ConAgra, they were giving a trip to Yellowstone away. I haven't heard anything so i must not of won.

For information, this is a great website with a chat page and webcams. www.yellowstone-natl-park.com

Have fun!!!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention how cool W. Yellowstone is! Have you been to Silver Heels? The guy in there makes the most incredibly beautiful jewelry. I always make sure to drag DH in whenever we are in town...

 

[maci]

That link is great!! Thanks so much! I have been playing on it off and on all day!
I am really excited about it now!!

So the "beartooth" is in the north east section? Is it actually in the park or does it lead into the park? I was looking on a map and didnt see it listed??
It sounds incredible! Cant wait to see it!

Thanks again for the info!

 

[Sonya]

I love the Tetons. So many wonderful pictures to take! But Yellowstone comes in 2nd. Many more "easy" hikes for us lowlanders. We trade off every other year between Yellowstone/Tetons and Disney World.

Rocky is where we go every Labor Day weekend, it's the closest and very pretty too!

BTW- here is a great site for live cams in the parks (Yellowstone and Tetons)
http://www.jacksonholenet.com/webcams/

 

[BrinxFam]

We haven't visited many places but LOVE the Great Smoky Mtns. as a family.

I also LOVE Carlsbad Caverns. It holds many great memories since I got to go on vacation with my grandparents one year and this is one of the places we visited. It was so amazing for a young girl. My grandpa passed away 6 yrs. later so I really have a soft spot for the places he introduced me to.

 

[ThAnswr]

For me, it's a toss-up between Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.

 

[ThAnswr]

Oops, edited because of double post.

 

[Laura]

The Grand Canyon is my favorite of the ones I've been to so far. Closely followed by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.

 

[CindyKansas]

Yellowstone of course. I worked there for 2 summers (1986 and 1987) the best 2 summers of my life. I was "stationed" at Canyon Lodge. On our days off we would go hiking, swimming, site seeing, fishing, horseback riding, river rafting (in Jackson Hole) and many, many other things. I think it's the most beautiful place on earth. And yes the road to Red Lodge is amazing.

 

[gshoemate]

Originally posted by hrh_disney_queen
Oh yes, I forgot to mention how cool W. Yellowstone is! Have you been to Silver Heels? The guy in there makes the most incredibly beautiful jewelry. I always make sure to drag DH in whenever we are in town...

I'm sure we went into it. I don't know names though. We usually spend a whole day there going in and out of the shops. We have lunch at a little cafe and then go to either Best Western or Holiday in, can't remember which, for a prime rib dinner. On our last trip while shopping, we just missed Henry Winkler by about 10 minutes. He was doing some shopping. DH wouldn't let me run around town looking for him.