Category: Uncategorized

  • When visited:            July, 2005, June, 2014, January, 2026 Date Established:     October 1, 1890 Park ranking:            2 out of 63 Highlight:                  Best waterfalls, amazing Yosemite Valley, unreal granite cliffs, Sequoia trees and alpine backcountry hiking Why not to go:         People, traffic and congestion in the valley– especially in the summer – winter not…

  • When visited:            November, 2019 When Established:   National Park October 21, 1999 and National Monument March 2, 1933 Park ranking:            46 out of 63 Why to go:                 Beautiful dark canyon Why not to go:          Access to the canyon floor is challenging and not a ton to do around the rim – and check…

  • When visited:            July, 2009 and November, 2021 When Established:   September 30, 1972 Park ranking:            47 out of 63 Highlight:                  Highest point in Texas – ancient sea reef – fossils Why not to go:          Hot, dry, not a lot of accommodations – the nearest gas station is 30 miles away We have…

  • When visited:            December, 2009 and as a child in the 1970s When Established:   June 15, 1934 Park ranking:            48 out of 63 Highlight:                  Mountains, Waterfalls and Salamanders Why not to go:           It is a highly visited park – one of the busiest in the national park system Great Smoky Mountain National…

  • When visited:          May, 2021 Date Established:    January 10, 2013 (January 16, 1908 as a National Monument) Park ranking:            49 out of 63 Highlight:                 Desert landscape, wildlife and condors Why not to go:        Sun and heat in the summer Pinnacles National Park is located in central California about 3 hours south of San Francisco, regardless of…

  • When Visited:           July, 1987 and July, 2007 Date Established:     November 10, 1978  (January 25, 1939 as a National Monument) Park Ranking:            50 out of 63 Highlight:                  Desert landscape and beautiful sunsets Why not to go:         Sand, sun and heat I need to start by saying any national park in my Top 50 is special…

  • When visited:           April 17, 2021 Date Established:    December 27, 2020 Park ranking:            51 out of 63 Highlight:                  New River Bridge, Gorge, mining history, forests Why not to go:         An eastern park with some commercialization New River Gorge Overlook from Endless Wall Trail Our son, Thomas, lives in Pittsburgh and when he suggested we…

  • When visited:            1970s as a child,  April, 2005, July, 2009 Date Established:      December 26, 1935 Park ranking:            53 out of 63 Why to go:                 Spectacular fall foliage, Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge mountain views Why not to go:          It receives a lot of visitors from the northeast and DC Shenandoah National Park…

  • When visited:            November 6. 2021 Date Established:     December 20, 2019 Park ranking:            54 out of 63 Why to go:                 White desert sand Why not to go:           If you don’t like sand Our day in White Sands National Park in New Mexico was picture postcard weather – deep blue skies met the landscape…

  • When visited:            July, 2020 Date Established:      April 8, 1975 Park ranking:            55 out of 63 Why to go:                Wilderness access, Water, canoeing, Being alone Why not to go:         Not a lot to do if you don’t want to/can’t get on the water We visited Voyageurs National Park during July, 2020, in the heart…