Monday, October 31, 2011

Alcatraz Island

In honor Halloween, I've decided to cover one of the spookier National Park venues, Alcatraz. Once a high-security prison, Alcatraz offered little chance of escape for some of the most dangerous criminals. A few prisons are rumored to have escaped the prison, but no one has ever found proof as to whether they survived the cold waters.



Leaving from San Francisco aboard Alcatraz Cruises, visitors can ride over to the island and explore. Some areas of the prison are open to the public, while others are closed off. The staff working on the island can provide visitors with information about the history of the island and its prison, including escape attempts, the natives, its military history and other historical significances.

If you choose to visit the island, you will have two options: a day tour and a night tour. The day tour is self-guided and allows you to tour the island at your own leisure. It is recommended to set aside at least two to three hours for the tour. You can return to the mainland at any time. If you choose the night tour, however, you will get to ride around the entire island on the boat and learn of the island's history. During night visits, tourists can enjoy special activities, tours and even a cell door demonstration, making it an excellent Halloween choice.

Because tickets to Alcatraz are limited, the National Park Service recommends that you purchase your tickets in advance. During the busier seasons, such as summer and near holidays, you may need to make your purchase more than a week in advance. There is no cost to visit the island itself, however. The tickets are actually for the ferry to the island.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Arches National Park -- Home of the Natural Bridges

Arches National Park in southern Utah just outisde Moab is another of my favorite national parks. In this park, visitors can view natural bridges, formed from erosion and weathering. Because of the nature of these arches, the park is constantly changing. Some arches fall over time, while new ones are constantly forming in the soft rock.

The park is filled with more than 2,000 of these arches. Some are so small that they are hardly noticeable. Others are much larger and among some of the best known arches in the park. Delicate Arch is perhaps the most well-known of them all. In fact, it is found on the Utah license plate.



Other famous arches found in the park include Landscape Arch, Broken Arch and Tapestry arch. The sizes, shapes and thicknesses of each arch varies from the next, making them each unique. Visiting them again several years down the road provide you with yet another experience because they are ever-changing. In addition to the stone arches, many of the paths offer views of other stone structures, including turrets and plateaus.

Arches National Park is filled with hiking trails for visitors. You can easily see some of the arches from the road or from the designated stops along the road. However, others require you to hike to them. Delicate Arch is one of them. Some of the available trails include the Windows Loop, the Delicate Arch trail and Devils Garden.



Friday, October 28, 2011

Grand Canyon Hiking

Another of my favorite parks is Grand Canyon. I have been there a few times and can't wait to go back again. It never ceases to amaze me when I look out over the canyon. It almost seems too fake to be real. To me, it always appears as though the canyon is one big painted backdrop. It just looks so big and unreal to me. It is truly an amazing place.



Hiking the trails around the rim of the Grand Canyon offer visitors incredible views of the Colorado River far below, as well as the sites of the canyon walls. The South Rim is the most popular section of the canyon for visitors. Along this area of the canyon, you can hike along the top edge of the rim or down into the canyon. Unless you have an entire day or two, you won't be able to hike very far down into the canyon.

Unless you are planning to stay overnight in the bottom of the canyon, it is best to hike a short way down any of the trails. How far you can feasibly go depends on your endurance levels. Factor at least twice as long to go back up that it took you to go down. For instance, if you only want to hike for three hours, hike an hour down and leave yourself two hours to get back up. Take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of water. Snacks can be helpful as well. Review the hiking FAQs on the Grand Canyon website before you set out.

If you are brave and want to spend the night inside the canyon, you either need to book space at the camp or lodge in the canyon bottom or obtain a backcountry permit. The backcountry permit allows you to camp in one of several designated areas. Some people prefer to book the donkey ride into the canyon. This is a great option if you aren't one for a lot of hiking.

One of my best memories is hiking down into the canyon a ways. We didn't go very far, but it was exhausting to climb back out. If you aren't used to walking, venturing any distance into the canyon can leave you breathless and worn out. It was still a great experience, though. I would love to go back and hike further someday.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Glacier National Park

Perhaps my favorite of all of the national parks, Glacier National Park is found along the northern border of the United States in Montana. In fact, the U.S. shares part of the park with Canada. Though the park isn't completely covered by glaciers, it is named Glacier National Park because its features were carved by the glaciers as they made their way down the continent.

One of the most interesting things to me is that, due to its elevation, the park can still have deep snow throughout the summer months. I recall one trip to the park in July. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt because the weather was warm when we left the campsite that morning. However, once we were in the park, we encountered snow. The snow along the side of the road was almost twice as tall as me.

The Going-to-the-Sun road is one of the most popular drives within the confines of the park. This road takes visitors past many of the park's best features, including Logan Pass, Mount McDonald Valley and Many Glacier. Each of these landmarks provides visitors with a breathtaking view of the wilderness. Over 93 percent of Glacier National Park remains untouched wilderness.

For those tourists looking for more than just a scenic drive, Glacier National Park offers visitors over 700 miles of hiking trails. These trails lead to lakes and other scenic views that can't be seen from the roadways. Guided horseback tours, bus tours and a boat cruise are available within the park limits. Those who enjoy camping can camp in one of the park's 13 campgrounds.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my blog, Visiting America's National Parks and Beyond. Throughout my years of traveling, I have camped in many of the National Parks in the western half of the country. I have also traveled to other plces around the country, including Disney World, other areas of Florida and a few Midwestern states as well. I have a long listed of other places I can't wait to visit. The main purpose of this blog is to discuss my travel journeys and talk about other attractions. Through my travels and potential travels, I hope to instill a love of traveling and seeing the wonders this country has to offer. Join me as I recount my travels and discuss the many places that I anticipate visiting during my lifetime. If you have any specific locations you would like to see covered or have any questions for me, feel free to comment or send me a message.